Minnesota Now

The Minnesota Supreme Court discussed the rights of convicted felons to vote on Monday. We'll hear about the root of the controversy and how soon we can expect a ruling.

And Minnesota State University Mankato is celebrating today after a double men’s and women’s basketball victory! A champion coach and player are here to talk.

A local journalist featured in the new documentary exposing abuse at the Nickelodeon network is here. We'll hear about his unanswered questions.

A network of small food shelves are banding together amidst a surge of need.

And a new novel reimagining Minnesota is hitting bookshelves, we'll hear from the author of the tale of an epic journey.

On Monday, Minnesota State Mankato is hosting a welcome home celebration for it’s national champion men’s and women’s basketball team. Mankato State became the first Division II program in 40 years to win both the men’s and women’s basketball championships in the same season.

Friday night, the women's basketball team won the NCAA division two women's basketball tournament. That wasn't the end of the celebration for MSU. The boy's basketball team also won the NCAA division two championship on Saturday night. It's the first championship win for the men. It’s the second national championship for the women’s team. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer spoke to the women’s head coach Emilee Thiesse.

A network of food shelves in south Minneapolis are coming together to save money and feed more people amid a surge in need. Sabathani Community Center, Joyce Uptown Foodshelf, Community Emergency Service, Calvary Food Shelf, and Harvest from the Heart get some of their food from bigger food shelves, like Second Harvest. But that is becoming more expensive and difficult.

To explain the changing landscape and the impact it has on the people they serve is Chris Pangle, who works at Harvest from the Heart. He joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer.

For about 75 minutes Monday morning, the Minnesota Supreme Court discussed the right of felons to vote. Justices heard oral arguments in a challenge to the state law that allows people convicted of a felony to vote after they complete their time behind bars.

Reporter Dana Ferguson was in court and joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer us now to discuss the hearing.

The new documentary “Quiet on Set: The Dark Sides of Kids TV” is creating shockwaves, exposing open secrets of abuse and harassment at Nickelodeon.

The docuseries created by Investigation Discovery will have a fifth bonus episode airing next Sunday, April 7.

The series talks to producers, writers and actors who were part of some of the most iconic children’s shows in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

It pulls back the curtain on the empire built by producer Dan Schneider, and the culture he created that includes allegations of abuse, sexism and inappropriate dynamics with underage stars.

Also featured in the documentary, is Rick Ellis. A Minnesota freelance journalist, who was one of the few writing about what was happening at Nickelodeon. Ellis is the journalist behind “All Your Screens” and he joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer.

New figures show Minnesota’s high school graduation rate dropped a little in 2023.

Last year, graduation rates rebounded to levels seen prior to the pandemic, but in 2023 it dipped slightly, with about 83 percent of high school students graduation in four years. There were slight decreases in graduation rates for BIPOC students.

We wanted to zoom in on one district to talk about this in more detail. Christine Tucci Osorio, superintendent of North St. Paul Maplewood Oakdale school district joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her district.

The region has been in a drought that started in 2020. Until this week, nearly all of the state was abnormally dry and 75 percent of the state in a moderate drought.

Then rain and snow hit and Thursday morning’s drought monitor report contained some good news. On Thursday, 43 percent of the state is in a moderate drought thanks to that multi-day storm system.

Jeff Strock joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about what that means for soils — and farms — around Minnesota. Strock is a soil scientist who shares information with farmers in his role with the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center.

The U.S. drought monitor shows drought conditions have improved across much of Minnesota. That’s good news after months of bare ground and open water where most years there is snow and ice. Sandra Lichter and Erin Steinhibel pay a lot of attention to the changing of the seasons as they guide people through two different sections of the Mississippi River. Sandra Lichter is a naturalist at Itasca State Park and joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about what’s happening at the headwaters. And further downstream, Erin Steinhibel is a park ranger with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in the Twin Cities.

This is the story of a race against time — and all the strangers who helped Carrie Yeager from New Hope say goodbye.

Thank You Stranger is our series about unexpected kindness in our lives. If you have a story to share about a stranger who made your life a little brighter, we want to hear it.

Contact us at [email protected] or ‪(612)-361-1252‬.

The snow and rain earlier in the week was a drought buster. A soil scientists will share the impact on farmers as they start planting.

High school graduation rates took a dip statewide. We'll hear from one superintendent who is tackling absenteeism to turn things around.

We continue our religion series with a Rabbi who is helping Jewish people find their spiritual home.

Two naturalists will share the impacts of this year’s winter on the Mississippi river's ecosystem.

Stranger after stranger stepped up to help a Minnesota woman say a final goodbye. We'll share her story in a new episode of Thank You, Stranger.

Thursday is opening day for Twins baseball. Minnesota Now sports contributors will talk about that plus a deal to buy the Timberwolves and Lynx that fell through.