Minnesota Now

A Minnesota man has made a discovery that sheds light on the history of United States drug policy. Former President Richard Nixon, who started the war on drugs, privately said that marijuana was not dangerous.

“I know nothing about marijuana,” Nixon said in a recording from the Oval Office on March 6, 1973. “I know that it is not addictive and dangerous and all the rest of it and all the kids are in favor of legalizing it. On the other hand it is the wrong signal at this time.”

The Nixon tapes are in the public record as part of the Nixon Presidential Library, but these statements were unearthed by Minnesotan Kurtis Hanna and first reported in the New York Times. Kurtis Hanna works in the cannabis industry and is a lobbyist. He shares his findings with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

Chances are you have heard a woman poking fun at a man in her life for having a cold and — let’s just say — not handling it very well. The idea has been parodied hundreds of times in standup performances and internet comedy sketches.

But research shows there may be some biological and evolutionary factors that indeed make male and female experiences of having a common cold feel different. University of Minnesota professor of ecology, evolution and behavior Marlene Zuk says there’s evidence that many men may suffer more from the effects of infection. She joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain.

As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has stepped into the national spotlight, his rising star has brought national scrutiny, including questions about his tenure and policy decisions following high-profile police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center.

Thousands of internal emails obtained by independent journalist Tony Webster and shared with ProPublica and the Minnesota Reformer shed light on Walz's struggle to push police reform through a starkly divided legislature and a contentious political environment.

For more, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talks with Jessica Lussenhop, one of the reporters behind the piece.

Minneapolis Public School families are facing news of a measles outbreak in the district. The state epidemiologist is here to explain how serious the outbreak is and how to stay healthy. And local lawmakers are tackling a childcare shortage in Duluth.

Minnesota’s Haitian community is feeling the effects of false and offensive comments made by former President Trump in his debate against Kamala Harris last week. Plus, is fall weather finally on the way? MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner will let us know.

And to help kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, we will hear some favorite traditional Mexican tunes from a music anthropologist who has studied the roots of Mexican music in Minnesota. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Lucky 7” by OK Factor and our Song of the Day was “Waiting Room” by Amateur.

The forthcoming season of theater in the Twin Cities is full of stage adaptations, including “Back to the Future” at the Orpheum and “Cabaret” at the Guthrie.

Some people see adaptations as a cop-out, but MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi thinks some of the best works can come from adaptations. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the many adaptations and what makes them unique.

With Twin Cities temperatures in the 80s all week, it seems more like Aug. 18, not Sept. 18. But there are signs of cooler air to come with the autumnal equinox approaching this Sunday.

MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about when we can expected cooler temperatures — and also to recap the beautiful sky shows we’ve seen this week.

Since Mexicans have been living in Minnesota, traditional Mexican has been an important part of sharing culture and celebrating tradition. In fact, Minnesota’s very first documented Mexican-born resident way back in the 1880s was a musician.

Anthropologist Maya Santamaria has studied him and thousands of other Mexican-Minnesotan musicians throughout history. She is the founder and CEO of the Spanish radio station based out of the Twin Cities, La Raza.

As Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off this week, Santamaria joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the enduring popularity of Mexican Music in the state.

The city of Springfield, Ohio, has spent the week on edge. Hospitals, colleges, city government buildings and public schools have received threats linked to false, racist claims that target the city’s Haitian population.

Sen. J.D. Vance and former President Donald Trump repeated these claims on the campaign trail and in last week’s presidential debate. Vance defended his use of the rumors, which Ohio and Springfield officials say are just that — rumors — with no evidence to support them.

The rhetoric may be concentrated in Ohio, but we’re all hearing it — and it’s being amplified by a presidential and vice-presidential candidate. So, we wanted to find out how this story is landing with members of Minnesota’s Haitian population.

Djenane Saint Juste is an author, dancer and the founder of the Haitian arts organization Afoutayi. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the impact of this political rhetoric on her community.

The impending closure of three large child care centers in Duluth is raising awareness of what parents and providers are calling a crisis situation in child care. The closures have left parents of about 200 children scrambling to find new care.

But there’s already a shortage of around 1,000 child care slots in Duluth. Statewide, recent estimates put the need at more than 40,000 child care slots in greater Minnesota.

MPR News’ Duluth correspondent Dan Kraker attended a press conference following a meeting between state lawmakers, Duluth officials, parents and child care providers to talk about the situation. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to share the latest developments.

Minneapolis Public Schools has sent a message to families saying that measles has been identified in at least one of the district’s schools.

District officials say they’re working with the Minnesota Department of Health to contact people most closely impacted by measles in the district. They did not say how many cases there are, or what school they’re associated with, citing privacy reasons.

The district asked parents to make sure kids are up-to-date on their vaccinations and to watch for symptoms like a rash, fever and a cough. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that anyone with symptoms should stay home and avoid visitors.