Whooping cough is on the rise in Fargo. In just the past month, Cass County has reported twelve cases of the virus -- more than they typically see in an entire year.

Dr. Tracie Newman and epidemiologist Brenton Nesemeier are both with Fargo Cass Public Health. They joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

Hanukkah begins on Thursday, and Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years will be hear before you know it. While the weather this time of year might make you want to stay indoors, there is plenty to explore, from holiday markets to pop-up holiday bars.

Kristen Glazer has all the top spots in across Minnesota. She runs a blog called “Expedition Kristen” along with an Instagram page that has more than 33,000 followers. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk all things holiday markets, light displays and more.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here. 

If you have young kids in your life, you may have noticed that they’re learning to read in ways that are different than the way your learn.

That’s because Minnesota legislators recently passed a historic law that requires schools to adopt a new reading curriculum — all with the goal of closing Minnesota’s vast reading gap.

In Rochester’s public schools, some of these tools are already in use. MPR News reporter Catharine Richert reported the story, and discussed it with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer and Emily Hanford of APM Reports, where she hosted and led production of the podcast Sold a Story.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.  

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here. 

Starting Monday, Metro Transit will begin tougher fare enforcement. Community Service Officers will begin asking riders for their fares. Those who haven't paid will be issued a citation. Fines start at $35 for a first violation to $100 for a fourth. It's part of a push to clean up light rail platforms and trains, and bring ridership back up. Part of that also includes a new rider code of conduct, which will be voted on December 13th. Metro Transit General Manager Lesley Kandaras joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the changes and how fare enforcement impacts rider experience.

As Minnesotans many of us have taken a walk through the woods to relieve stress. But a new study from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse found forest therapy – also called forest bathing -- had significant health and well-being benefits for kids with mental health challenges.  

For more on what we can learn from the new research, a Minnesota forest bathing practitioner joined Minnesota Now. Leigha Horton is the co-founder and program director of Silvae Spiritus.

Metro Transit says it's getting tough on fare evasion, starting Monday. Why now? We talked to general manager Lesley Kandaras about efforts to boost enforcement -- and ridership -- on metro buses and trains.

Some Minnesota schools are already using new reading tools that will be required by law. We talked to Catharine Richert -- a reporter and parent in Rochester -- about what she's hearing, along with Emily Hanford, host of the podcast that helped cause the change in curriculum.

Feeling stressed? We learned about the science of forest bathing and a new study on its potential to help kids with their mental health.

We checked in with a Minnesota blogger about what holiday pop-ups there are to see this season.

The Minneapolis-based jazz pop band Rabeca releases a new album called ‘Junk’ on Dec. 1. They will perform an album release show at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis on Dec. 2.

Anna Dolde is a Minneapolis jazz and pop saxophonist. She co-leads the band and joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the new album.

There are calls to cut Minnesota's financial ties to Israel by moving pension accounts and other investments that benefit its economy. On Wednesday, protestors met at the state capitol to call on the State Board of Investment to do so. They echoed a wider movement known as BDS for "boycott, divest, sanctions." The Jewish Community Resource Council also gathered at the capitol yesterday to voice opposition to this idea. The investments in question are about 116 million dollars -- or .14% of the state's portfolio -- according to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's office. The governor is on the investment board along with other top state officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon and State Auditor Julie Blaha. Auditor Blaha joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

The movie Priscilla has earned more than $19 million since its late October release. The film tells the story of the teenage girl who met and later married Elvis Presley, one of the pioneers of rock n’ roll. Priscilla’s movie comes less than two years after Elvis had a biopic of his own. Both have stirred up attention over the King’s legacy.

Elvis died at the young age of 42 of a heart attack. When he came through Minnesota on one of his final tours a few months earlier, drug use and chronic illness were taking a toll on his body. For the latest story in our history series, Minnesota Now and Then, MPR contributors Robbie Mitchem, Jamal Allen, and Britt Aamodt take us to Elvis' 1977 concert at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

The state of policing in the city of Minneapolis is once again under scrutiny. We heard from one of the people tasked with making change.

Calls continue for Minnesota to withdraw over one hundred million dollars in investments from Israel. State Auditor Julie Blaha joined the show for more.

What happens when a small town loses its ambulance service? An Iron Range city may soon find out.

Elvis is back in the public lexicon with the movie, "Priscilla." We travelled back to the time Elvis visited Duluth just months before he died.

Minneapolis-based jazz pop band Rabeca joined the show to talk about their new album out on Friday.