Minnesota Now

There's a spike in calls to a mental health hotline for Minnesota firefighters after the deaths of three first responders in Burnsville.

It's the first full day of Ramadan—we'll talk to a local restaurateur about what he's cooking to break the fast tonight.

Can new regulations actually remove forever chemicals from Minnesota? We heard from an expert.

An independent nonprofit began monitoring the Minneapolis Police Department on Monday to make sure it complies with all new police reforms. We learned how the implementation process works.

Monday marks the fourth anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 at global pandemic. We reflected on that time with a local author’s new novel.

An independent organization will soon begin work to oversee the city of Minneapolis’ court-enforced settlement agreement with the state over Minneapolis police. The nonprofit Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA) will be known as the “independent monitor” in this situation.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed off on the contract last week.

The group will now begin years of work to ensure the city and police department are complying in required reforms. Co-founder and attorney David Douglass joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to outline ELEFA’s plans moving forward.

New regulations are in place in Minnesota to crack down on forever chemicals.

PFAS are a large class of human-made chemicals originally developed in Minnesota by 3M back in the 1940s. Some PFAS have been linked to health effects, including some types of cancer, thyroid disease, and low birth weight.

Starting this year, PFAS are banned from food and beverage packaging such as take-out containers and microwave popcorn packages. That list will grow next year to include carpeting, cookware, cosmetics and more. And by 2032, nearly every intentional use of PFAS will be banned in Minnesota.

But is it that easy to completely remove the chemicals from our lives? New research from University of St. Thomas professor estimated the cost of truly getting rid of PFAS. Professor Ali Ling joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to share her findings.

Monday is the first day of Ramadan. For the next 30 days, Minnesota Muslims will focus more deeply on their faith by fasting during the day. Each evening, communities will break the fast with a meal called Iftar at sunset.

Because so many Minnesotans are fasting right now, we’re tweaking our “What’s For Lunch?” segment and talking with one of many chefs hard at work across the state preparing a big meal for when the sun sets this evening.

Mohamed Shehata is the head chef at Marhaba Mediterranean Grill in Minneapolis. He joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer for “What’s for Iftar?”

A mental health hotline for firefighters in Minnesota has seen more demand after three first responders were killed in Burnsville last month.

The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) is a nonprofit that advocates for the wellbeing of firefighters in Minnesota. In a typical 30-day span, the organization says calls to its assistance program add up to more than eight hours.

In the three weeks since the shooting in Burnsville, there have been more than 13 hours of calls. That’s about a 60 percent increase.

MnFIRE’s president George Esbensen joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about increasing mental health needs for Minnesota firefighters.

Minneapolis writer Anne Ursu has made her name writing fantasy books for middle-grade readers, but in her new novel, “Not Quite a Ghost,” she side-steps into a different genre: horror.

MPR News reporter Emily Bright sat down with Ursu to talk about what she hoped to accomplish with her new novel.

Minnesota is sending 11 uncommitted delegates to the Democratic National Convention after this week’s presidential primary. Gov. Tim Walz tells us what that means and mending divisions over Israel-Hamas in the democratic party.

Cannabis dispensaries might open sooner than we think. We’ll talk to the leader of the state’s cannabis office about tweaks to the new state law.

A doctor joins us to explain why cancer screenings are so difficult for transgender patients.

Our arts reporter got a behind-the-scenes look at the Guthrie’s ambitious reimaging of Shakespeare.

Plus, a star player is out for the Wolves, and the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament is in town and the Boy’s State Hockey tournament.

More than 45,000 Minnesotans voted “uncommitted” in the presidential primary on Super Tuesday — a symbolic act protesting President Joe Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza.

In an interview with MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer on Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz called those uncommitted voters “civically engaged.”

In downtown St. Paul, the Boys State Hockey tournament is on day two, and it is loud at the Xcel Energy Center with excited fans from competing teams.

The Target Center in downtown Minneapolis is also rocking with the Big Ten Women’s college basketball tournament.

And the Timberwolves may be in trouble with a star player now out indefinitely.

Joining MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to break it all down is Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Langfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score Magazine and the co-host of the Ten Thousand Takes sports talk show. Nelson is the other host of that show and the Vikings reporter for CBS Sports.

No one likes mammograms or prostate exams, but they can help spot cancer when it’s treatable.

For transgender patients, these cancer screenings are more than just uncomfortable, they force trans people to acknowledge body parts they no longer identify with. Not to mention the vulnerability and distrust trans patients have in navigating health care settings.

Dr. Jamie Feldman is on the faculty at the Institute for Sexual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota. Her published research primarily explores transgender health and medicine. She also co-authored versions seven and eight of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care.

Dr. Feldman joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the barriers that transgender patients face to cancer screenings.