Minnesota Now

Our “Thank You, Stranger” series is about the people who come into our lives and lend a little support, maybe make our days a little brighter.

This time, we’ll hear about a young group of friends who wanted to take a trip together — and the Minnesotans who made it possible. Tom Johnson told his story to MPR News producer Alanna Elder.

Several new laws go into effect Thursday in Minnesota. One of them is “Jetson’s law,” named after the 1960’s space age cartoon. The law includes provisions for the use of flying cars.

It makes Minnesota the second state, after New Hampshire, the establish regulations for these vehicles of the future.

One company played a crucial role in helping make this law a reality: Samson Sky, the creators of a flying sports car. They’re based in Oregon, but provided insights to Minnesota lawmakers about the industry.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with CEO Sam Bousfield.

Today marks one year of legalized recreational marijuana. The process to get cannabis to the market has been slow, as expected — except for tribal nations. They are the only places allowed to grow for commercial use and sell, and they began as soon as they could.

White Earth has grown since then as the biggest adult-use marijuana operation in the state.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Zach Wilson, CEO of the White Earth operation known as Waabigwan Mashkiki, to reflect on this first year and look forward to what's next.

A law goes into effect Thursday that makes it a felony in Minnesota to buy a gun for someone who is not legally eligible to own one. This is called straw purchasing, and it was a misdemeanor offense until state lawmakers passed a bill to increase the penalties and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law.

Just as this year’s legislative session was getting underway, three first responders were killed in Burnsville. It later came out that the gunman had used a weapon he acquired through straw purchasing.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans about the new law.

It's been nearly two weeks since Twin Cities-based Rainbow Health suddenly announced it was shutting down due to financial problems.

The closure of the LGBTQ+ and HIV health clinic opens a huge gap in services like housing programs, benefits counseling, legal services and case management.

Many of those services operated with funding from state and local governments, which are now looking for different organizations to run them. The Aliveness Project, another HIV services organization in the Twin Cities, is taking on state contracts to offer financial assistance.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke to Matt Toburen, the executive director of The Aliveness Project about how they’re hoping to close the gap in HIV services.

James “Cornbread” Harris, Sr. is a living legend. At 97 years old, the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer still plays weekly gigs in Minneapolis. Harris is not only known for shaping the Minnesota music scene, but as the father of famous music producer Jimmy Jam.

In her new book, music journalist Andrea Swensson takes on the 70-year journey of Harris making music, from his first gig during world war two to putting Minneapolis on the music map in the 1980s to playing in bars even today.

Swensson joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to discuss the making of the book “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs and Salvation of Cornbread Harris” which comes out Aug.12.

The subject of where to get the best pie in Minnesota is controversial. There’s a squabble between those who love Betty’s Pies on the north shore and the pies made by The Rustic Inn. The Aroma Pie Shop in Whalen along the Root River Trail has a lot of fans. But perhaps the city of Braham has everyone beat.

Back in 1990, former Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich weighed in when he named the town of Braham, an hour north of St. Paul, the Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota. Braham Pie Day began that year and it’s the latest in our series highlighting summer festivals around the state.

This Friday, volunteers will serve somewhere around 700 pies in Freedom Park along Main Street. There are other events planned too — a car show, a quilt show, and a performance by the Pie-Alluia chorus — to name a few. Pie Day entertainment coordinator Marie Grundberg joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with more on how you can celebrate.

St. Paul’s Suni Lee is once again a gold medalist. On Tuesday, Team USA won gold in the team competition.

Lee has several more chances to win individual medals. Thursday she’ll be competing in the all-around final. And on Sunday she’ll be competing for a medal in her specialty, uneven bars, as well as beam.

The road back to the Olympics has been anything but easy for Lee. She was diagnosed with two kidney diseases in 2022 and had to stop training. And a new, New York Times profile reveals she was also dealing with stalkers and mental health issues.

Juliet Macur is the reporter behind the profile. She also is in Paris, and was at the team finals on Tuesday. Macur joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to share more about her inside look into Suni’s career.

It's hot and muggy this morning, and severe storms and high temperatures are looming in this afternoon's forecast, with a hail risk in Northern Minnesota. We'll get the latest forecast from MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner.

St. Paul's Suni Lee is once again a gold medalist. A New York Times journalist who wrote about Suni's long journey to get back on the bars will join us live from The Olympics.

The closure of Rainbow Health left many HIV positive Minnesotans without care resources. We'll hear from the director of an organization trying to fill the gap.

We'll talk to the biographer of one of the most influential musicians in Minneapolis history.

And we're continuing our small town summer festival series with Braham Pie Day.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Brass Flight” by Libby Larsen and our Song of the Day was “Spandrel” by Jacob Pavek.

It’s going to be an oppressively hot and sticky day Wednesday with highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. There’s a chance for severe weather bubbling up because of the volatile atmospheric conditions.

Chief meteorlogist Paul Huttner is tracking all of it for us. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to break down the forecast.

You can get the latest on weather conditions on the Updraft blog.