Minnesota Now

A lot of people know the name Caitlin Clark, the Iowa basketball superstar who has broken NCAA records held by women and men.

Have you ever heard of Cheryl White? She was also a trailblazer athlete.

At 17 years old she became the first Black woman to race horses professionally. White died in 2019 at 65 years old.

Now her younger brother is trying to make sure people remember her name and her story. He co-wrote a middle grade book called “The Jockey and her Horse” with New York Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir.

Raymond White is traveling to Minnesota this coming weekend to share his sister’s legacy with members of The CREW, a nonprofit equestrian program for Black, Indigenous or youth of color in the Twin Cities.

He and The CREW board member Toni McWilliams joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about what Cheryl White’s story means to young equestrians today.

Did you get your tan on Tuesday? It was warm and sunny enough in much of the state that we spotted a lot of people out in short sleeves. It was the last day of sun this week before we were supposed to get some much needed rain. But by Wednesday, it looks like that may not happen. MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain.

A grand jury has been convened in connection to the Burnsville shooting that took the lives of three first responders, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with the latest.

Grand Marais is located on the north shore of Lake Superior. The lakeside town with its small harbor has long attracted artists and crafts people, including visitors drawn to taking classes at the North House Folk School and the Grand Marais Arts Colony. Grand Marais is the gateway to the Gunflint Trail and outdoor activities ranging from canoeing in the summer to cross country skiing in the winter — except this past winter.

Like other small towns in Minnesota dependent on seasonal tourist trade, Grand Marais went through a rough patch with the pandemic. A fire also destroyed three well-known downtown businesses in 2020 and another familiar business burned down in 2023. MPR’s senior economics contributor Chris Farrell recently spent time with several small business owners in Grand Marais. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about what he learned.

The landscape of a Duluth neighborhood could be drastically changing. The Cargill family has been buying up property in Park Point, a long narrow strip that extends from Canal Park and extends about eight miles into Lake Superior.

According to the Duluth News Tribune, billionaire Kathy Cargill has bought upward of 20 properties on Park Point, getting the attention of neighbors and now City Hall.

Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain the situation.

Is guaranteed basic income coming to Minnesota? This morning a bill to pay low-income Minnesotans up to 12-hundred dollars a month cleared its first committee in the state legislature. But Republican and DFL leaders have said they want to tap the breaks on spending this year. We'll learn more.

Fox 9 sports anchor Dawn Mitchell is highlighting women's sports in a new podcast. We'll talk to her.

In many rural areas, religious leaders end up the front lines of mental health care. We'll meet a pastor who is working to provide support and take down stigma.

And what can improv do for democracy? We'll talk to the organizer of a civic comedy tour of the state.

A new podcast is peeling back the curtain of Minnesota sports, with an emphasis on empowering women. “Dawn of Sports” is hosted by FOX 9 sports anchor and reporter Dawn Mitchell and co-hosted by Star Tribune’s Jim Souhan.

Minnesota has had a long history of support women in sports. But the recent buzz with Caitlin Clark, the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament in town and the new Professional Women’s Hockey League has created more opportunities for Minnesotans to support women.

Mitchell joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her new podcast. You can listen to “Dawn of Sports” on all podcast platforms.

A recent Pew Research study shows that more and more Americans are not religious – more than 40 million Americans have left religious life behind in the past 25 years. The reasons for that decline are, of course, complicated.

We're continuing our series of conversations with faith leaders across the state about how they're adjusting their leadership to meet modern spiritual needs. Joining me now is Pastor Seth Perry from Elim Lutheran Church. He noticed that his community in Scandia Minnesota was facing unprecedented mental health challenges. And he is using his personal experience to fill in the gaps. Pastor Seth Perry joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about how he’s creating community by addressing mental health.

The Minnesota Humanities Center is partnering with a local improv production company to host a civic-improv comedy tour.

In each city or town, Danger Boat Productions will produce a unique event that brings residents together for meaningful conversation about their hometown and reflects their thoughts and feelings back at them through improv comedy. The goal is to promote dialogue, bridge divides and work across differences.

Applications are open through Friday for Minnesota communities to apply. Trygve Throntveit with the Minnesota Humanities Center and Tane Danger with, Danger Boat Productions joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the “Sketches of Minnesota” tour.

A Minnesota House committee advanced a new bill that would establish a guaranteed monthly income statewide.

The bill, moving through the state house, would grant Minnesotans who meet low-income requirements at least $500 each month for more than a year. In the current text of the bill, to be eligible you must be at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

St. Paul tested the concept for more than a year, giving 150 residents $500 a month. Minneapolis is currently testing the concept; their pilot will end in June.

DFL Representative Athena Hollins from St. Paul authored the statewide bill. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the legislation.