Minnesota Now

On Wednesday morning, attorneys and seven current and former employees of the Hennepin County sheriff’s office announced a lawsuit against the county, blasting former sheriff Dave Hutchinson. Among the plaintiffs is current Hennepin County Sheriff Dewanna Witt.

The lawsuit outlines former Sheriff Hutchinson’s alleged bigotry, erratic behavior and harassment that some say caused them to fear for their lives.

The lawsuit alleges that Hennepin County officials were aware of Hutchinson’s behavior and didn’t stop it. An attorney filing the lawsuit, Steven Andrew Smith with Nichols Caster law firm, joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to break down the case.

Seven Hennepin County employees past and present say former Sheriff Dave Hutchinson made racist and bigoted remarks and threatened their jobs and physical safety. We learned more about their lawsuit filed today against the county.

There’s a new move in the back-and-forth between Minneapolis and rideshare companies Uber and Lyft. We spoke with one of the city council members proposing a delay to the ordinance raising driver pay.

Gut health is getting a lot of hype these days, so a Mayo Clinic doctor joined us to demystify the microbiome.

And we met an acclaimed Minnesota poet who is recognized not just for his own work, but also for holding the door open for other BIPOC artists.

The state prison at Faribault is in the midst of having periodic lockdowns due to staffing shortages. During the lockdowns, inmates are kept in their cell blocks. Faribault is down 42 corrections officers. It’s worse at Stillwater state prison, where the facility’s complement of officers is down by 62.

Data from the Department of Corrections shared with MPR News shows as of Monday, the agency is short 211 correctional officers, or 12 percent of what is budgeted. Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain what is happening inside Minnesota’s prisons.

On Wednesday, The Current will be playing Minnesota-made music all day long for Minnesota Music Day.

Governor Walz declared April Minnesota Music Month back in 2019. It’s a time for recognizing the local musicians who contribute to culture and understanding of one another through music.

Minnesota Public Radio’s music station The Current is celebrating all month long with live music events along with their programs Carbon Sound and Radio Heartland.

Diane Miller is host of The Current’s Local Show and she joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to play music and talk about upcoming gigs.

A Minnesota prison is resorting to periodic lockdowns due to staffing shortages. We talked to the Department of Corrections commissioner about what’s being done.

A Minnesota author’s book is being made into a movie. He joined us live from filming in Budapest.

Mary Johnson-Roy was a hero to many after forgiving her son’s murderer. We spoke to that man about her legacy ahead of her memorial service.

St. Olaf College is training students on how to have productive political conversations. We heard from them about why that’s important.

For Minnesota Music Month, Diane Miller from The Local Show joined us to share her top regional music picks.

Lifelong north Minneapolis resident and hero to many, Mary Johnson Roy, died on March 27. She was 71.

She’s known for her powerful story of forgiveness after her son, Laramiun Lamont Byrd, was killed by Oshea Israel back in 1993.

Mary forged a lifelong bond with Israel. She also founded the group From Death to Life, which brought together other parents of children who were victims of homicide.

Israel joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about Mary’s remarkable life.

This month, Minnesota historian Jack El-Hai is seeing a book he published more than ten years ago turned into a Hollywood film and a stage play. His book “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist” tells the story of a young army doctor whose job was to evaluate top-ranking Nazi officials — and decide whether they were fit to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Author Jack El-Hai is in Budapest to observe filming of the movie Nuremberg, which is based on the book. Its cast includes Rami Malek, Russel Crowe and Colin Hanks, the eldest son of Tom Hanks. Jack El-Hai joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

Perfection. That’s what millions of sports fans witnessed this weekend with the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team in the NCAA tournament.

The Lady Gamecocks defeated Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 to become just the tenth team in history to complete an undefeated season. And the win was especially sweet for hoops fans here in Minnesota, with Albertville-native Tessa Johnson shining on the biggest stage.

Joining MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to talk all about it is St. Michael-Albertville High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach Kent Hamre. He coached Tessa while she attended there.

Just three years ago, Daniel Crawford could have never imagined that he would be walking 1,000 miles. Crawford, 55, is a Marine veteran. On February 3, he set foot on a journey from Austin, Minn. that has taken him through six states. On Monday, he’s watching the total solar eclipse from just outside Austin, Texas. His mission wasn’t one of endurance, but to raise awareness for the Minnesota organization that changed his life, and helped him become sober.

Each week in March, scholars and faith leaders from across the state joined Minnesota Now with their thoughts on the rise of Americans who check the box “none” when asked about their religion. A Minneapolis-based author got to thinking about this group of people when her husband decided to leave their Baptist church and become a religious “none”. That's when she kicked started a group in North Minneapolis that brings together Catholic nuns from the metro area with non-religious people to have spiritual conversations. The group is called “Nuns and Nones.” Stina Kielsmeier-Cook joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.