Minnesota Now is kicking off a new series called Connect the Dots. We’ll ask community elders in Minnesota to share their wisdom and lessons learned about what really matters in life. MPR’s senior economics contributor Chris Farrell has been interviewing people 70 years and older for insights that might prove useful to younger generations.  

Chris’ inspiration for the title of the series comes from the commencement address at Stanford University by the late Steve Jobs. Jobs tells this story about how he formally dropped out of college, but informally still took courses that intrigued him, most notably a calligraphy class. Ten years later what he learned about calligraphy informed the wonderful typography designed into the first Mac computer. Jobs noted that you can only connect the dots looking backwards.  

The phrase “connect the dots” also suggests hard-earned wisdom. Chris asked people to look back on their experiences and to draw critical lessons about what they’ve learned about what truly matters.

Feven Gerezgiher, reporter and producer for MPR News, and Chris Farrell talked with William “Bill” English. He’s 89 years old. Bill was born and raised in Brooklyn, Illinois, which you might now know as Lovejoy. It’s one of the oldest Black towns in the U.S., founded by slaves who crossed the Mississippi River for freedom.  

 Bill moved to Minneapolis in the early 1960s with the idea of getting a graduate degree in sociology. However, he needed to support his growing family and instead got a job as the first Black salesman hired by 3M. Four years later he moved to the computer company Control Data, where he worked for 32 years in several positions, including vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer.   

Listen for Bill’s ‘connect the dots’ story.

Dayton, Minnesota-born Olympian Briana Scurry was recently honored by the Sports Museum, which awarded her its Soccer Legacy Award at a fundraising gala in Boston. Scurry played for the University of Massachusetts and became a starting goalie for the U.S. national team. She was one of the first players to compete in a women's paid professional league. She's made a big impact since being a star player at Anoka High School. But she has another legacy: as an advocate for treatment of traumatic brain injuries.

You’ve likely seen holiday lights strung up on the houses in your neighborhood. And maybe you have a holiday tradition to pack into the car and see the best displays in the area. An annual guide can help you map out your road trip. Mike Marcotte is an Executive Producer at KSTP and runs the blog, Give Me The Mike. For the 7th year in a row, he is back with the Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide.

St. Paul City Council will erase $100 million in medical debt. Not every council member was in favor of that decision. The city’s mayor joined the show to chat about what it means for the city's new budget.

Minnesota elders have learned endless lessons through the years. Our new series asks them to "connect the dots."

The holiday season is inspiring some of us to look for the best light displays. The author of an annual holiday lights guide joined the show.

Minnesota-born Olympian Brianna Scurry has a fascinating story. We'll bring you it in today's "Minnesota Now and Then."

Watching the Twins and Timberwolves could get easier soon, as Axios Twin Cities reported earlier this week. Both teams are ending contracts with the parent company behind Bally Sports, which streaming services have dropped.

Of course, when you miss a game, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson can help you get caught up. Wally is the founder of Minnesota Score Sports Magazine and co-host of the sports talk show Ten Thousand Takes. Eric is the other host of that show and Vikings reporter for CBS Sports radio's Eye on the NFL.

The Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip has surfaced a wide spectrum of emotions for Jews. Some know where they stand, others are changing their perspectives, and some are unsure where to even begin. But people are guarded. Amid the tension, Jews are seeking opportunities to come together and they’re looking for guidance.

A new report on the shape of Minnesota’s budget. A surplus is likely in the short-term, but there could be trouble in the long run.

Minnesota college students are in Dubai for the annual united nations climate change conference, or COP28. They tell MPR News what they’ve learned so far.

It doesn’t feel or look like winter out there yet. What’s going on? MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard breaks it down for us.

And the first night of Hanukkah is Thursday — and a local musician is celebrating with a series of sing-alongs. We also have our song of the day and the Minnesota Music Minute.

The first night of Hanukkah is Thursday, and a local musician is celebrating with song.

Sarina Partridge is a musician, song-leader and educator in Minneapolis. And throughout Hanukkah she is hosting several sing-alongs for the Jewish community to take part in.

She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her music and how it plays a role in Jewish tradition.

Partridge is hosting a Hanukkah sing-along Dec. 7 in St. Louis Park and a Yiddish song circle on Dec. 9 in St. Paul.

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. 

If you look outside it doesn’t feel like winter — and doesn't really look like winter in most of the state.

To break down why this is happening and our next chance for snow is MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard, in for Paul Huttner this week.

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. 

Among those watching the world try to get on track with climate change is a group of students from St. Paul’s Macalester College. They traveled more than 7,000 miles to watch the UN’s annual climate meeting, COP28.

On day one, world leaders reached an agreement on what’s called a loss-and-damage fund to help vulnerable countries recover from disasters and sea level rise. But there’s still a lot to work out — including a key question of what nations plan to do about fossil fuels.

More than 70,000 delegates, plus spectators are gathered there at the end of what’s expected to be the hottest year on record. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer checked in with Macalester Environmental Studies Professor Roopali Phadke and student Camellia Schwartzman from their hotel in Dubai.

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.