Minnesota Now

Osseo Public Schools changed its policy to allow community members to challenge books in school libraries. We'll talk about what opponents are calling a "book ban."

And as Minnesota wrestles with its policy on marijuana, public health experts are raising concerns about addiction.

Some voters in small towns are keeping their political opinions to themselves to keep the peace with their neighbors. We'll hear from the brave few speaking out in Grand Rapids.

A bride is sharing her story about how strangers came together to pull off a wedding in eleven days after their venue abruptly closed.

And we'll hear from a local author about how her fiction about our climate is becoming a reality.

Several viral videos targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are Russian disinformation, according to the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence in a briefing to the press.

The videos included claims that Walz “groomed” a former student. Multiple news sources have determined the man in that video was not who he claimed to be.

U.S. intelligence officials warned us several times this year already that Russia would attempt to interfere in the election.

For more, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talks with Renee Buhr, a professor of international studies and political science at the University of St. Thomas.

Local journalism is in trouble. We have talked about that many times on this program. But here’s some good news: eight local journalism outlets across Minnesota have each won $100,000 to further their work.

The grant comes from Press Forward, a national organization aiming to close local coverage gaps. And the money was competitive, with more than 900 applications.

The winners from Minnesota were BLCK Press, WTIP North Shore Community Radio in Grand Marais, ICTV in Grand Rapids, the Pine Knot News in Cloquet, SPEAK MPLS, the Swift County Monitor-News in Benson, ThreeSixty Journalism in St. Paul, and Project Optimist in Central Minnesota.

Nora Hertel, founder and executive director of Project Optimist, joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her plans for the grant money.

We have the latest on a shooting spree that started in Minneapolis and ended two hours west in Willmar.

Plus, intelligence officials say Russia was behind a viral post with disinformation about Gov. Tim Walz. We talk to an expert about foreign influence in this election.

A new grant is helping fund small local news outlets. We find out what one recipient in central Minnesota plans to do with the grant money.

This time last year it was snowing across Minnesota. Chief meteorologist Paul Huttner shares details on the unseasonably warm weather.

And we meet two Minnesotans involved in a youth orchestra exchange with Cuba. They just returned after a nationwide blackout and tropical storm hit the country.

Cuba is suffering a nationwide blackout after the collapse of its electrical grid on Friday, days before Tropical Storm Oscar hit the island as a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday. The first night of the blackout, a handful of Minnesotans — along with other American and Cuban classical musicians and teachers — were set to play a concert celebrating a diplomatic exchange between young Cuban and American performers. Let’s just say the concert did not exactly go as planned.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Minnesota high school sophomore and violinist Mary Hess and her mother, Anne Marie Hess. They were in Cuba through the historic Cuban American Youth Orchestra program, also known as CAYO.

The weather has felt warm for late October. This very week last year, parts of the state got more than half a foot of snow. This year temperatures reached 80 degrees in the Twin Cities. They are dropping off quickly, but may bounce back to the 70s next week. MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer for an update.

More details may emerge Wednesday about a violent rampage that police say began with a domestic assault in south Minneapolis and ended in Willmar hours later with one person dead, another wounded, and the suspect in custody. MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic has been following the story and joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with what is known.

A Minnesota charter school is on the brink of closing. Monday night at a board meeting for STEP Academy, KARE 11 reported that two board members resigned and the finance director admitted the school is bleeding cash.

At the beginning of the school year, its deficit was $800,000. It is now $2.1 million. If STEP Academy closes, the Star Tribune reports it would be the largest charter school failure in history. How did STEP get to this point? The Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Jeffrey Meitrodt joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain.

DFL State Senator Mary Kunesh representing the New Brighton area is the chair of the Education Finance committee and she joined Minnesota Now to talk about how the state can prevent issues like these with charter schools in the future.

Early voting starts Tuesday in Wisconsin. And just over the Minnesota border, a consequential congressional race is underway. Wisconsin’s third district makes up most of western Wisconsin, including Menomonie, La Crosse, Eau Claire and even Stevens Point. The region has historically been a swing district the elected Barack Obama and later Donald Trump.

On the ballot this year, voters will choose between incumbent Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke. The race is being watched closely nationwide. Wisconsin Public Radio La Crosse reporter Hope Kirwan joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the latest in the district.

There are exactly two weeks left for voters to cast their ballots in national and local elections. No matter who the next president turns out to be, what happens in Washington will also depend on the results of a few close races for Congress. One of those is in Montana, where 18-year Democratic Senator Jon Tester is defending a challenge from a native Minnesotan.

Tim Sheehy is a former Navy Seal and businessman who moved to Montana ten years ago to start an aerial firefighting company. He’s now running as a Republican to be that state’s next senator. And he’s leading in the polls.

Montana Public Radio capitol bureau chief Shaylee Ragar joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer for a closer look at the race.