Minnesota Now

Today is World Hijab Day. It is the annual celebration of the millions of women who wear the Muslim head covering and was started in 2013 to educate those who don't about why it is worn. The hijab is also at the heart of style for thousands of Minnesotans. And a Minnesotan happens to be the founder of one of the top luxury hijab brands in North America. Hilal Ibrahim is the CEO and founder of Henna and Hijabs. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Ibrahim about her work.

Six months ago Thursday, marijuana was legalized in Minnesota. Since then, only tribal nations have been able to sell it legally. But more and more hemp-derived edibles and THC drinks have begun to dominate the market. And the Office of Cannabis management is deep in the trenches of creating rules and regulations so selling of cannabis flower can start as soon as possible. Interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management Charlene Briner joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the road ahead. Briner said she expects Governor Tim Walz will appoint an official regulatory leader by summer 2024.

Jim Morrison, owner of Sapsucker Farms in Mora, drilled a hole and tapped his maple trees Wednesday morning to see if they are ready to flow. According to the Minnesota Grown website, there are more than 100,000 taps in the state producing roughly 35,000 gallons of syrup. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Morrison about the impact of this warm weather on maple syrup producers.

Get out your sun glasses and maybe even shed your winter coat — we are in for possibly record-breaking heat.

Plus, we learn about the effects of the warm winter on the upcoming Birkebeiner ski races and maple syrup production here in Minnesota.

The State of Minnesota is about to roll out a new housing justice plan, with a first-of-its-kind approach. We get the details on Minnesota's goals to slow the rate of homelessness.

Plus, we have some local music for you. Musician Laamar joins us to talk about his latest tunes.

A Minneapolis-based musician is a rising star in the music scene. Known as Laamar, he was named one of 2023’s Best New Bands by First Avenue and recently played with other Minnesota greats such as the Cactus Blossoms and Dan Wilson of Semisonic. Geoffrey Lamar Wilson joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about his music and inspiration.

The number of Minnesotans experiencing homelessness on a single night in January is upwards of 8 thousand people, according to a 2023 survey. The problem is persistent and complex, as shown in Tuesday’s eviction of the Nenookaasi encampment in south Minneapolis.

This all comes as the State of Minnesota is about to roll out a new housing justice plan, with a first-of-its-kind approach. The state hired people who have lived experience of homelessness to lead the way, shaping policy with their firsthand experiences. The goal is to reduce homelessness statewide by 15 percent by 2026.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Executive Director of the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Cathy ten Broeke and Mason Persons, a justice consultant hired to help the state form the new plan.

Unreal warmth has been parked across the region with potentially record-setting temperatures Wednesday.

The last day of January looked very different five years ago, when a polar vortex dropped wind chills in parts of the state to about 60 below. Jan. 31 this year is more than one-hundred degrees hotter, with highs in the 50s.

MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the record warmth.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

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We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

That forecast is doing golf courses a favor, with several in Minnesota open for business this week and tee times booked solid. But on ski trails, it’s a headache.

The largest cross-country ski race in North America is just around the corner. The 50th American Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wis., is scheduled for three weeks from now. About 13,000 people are registered including Olympic skier and Minnesotan Jessie Diggins.

After the recent cancellations of other winter events like the Beargrease and Gunflint sled dog races, you may be wondering, is the Birkie really going to happen this year?

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  Gunflint: Mail Run called off due to warm weather
  
  


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  Beargrease: Amid ongoing lack of snow, Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon organizers cancel this winter's race
  
  

“We know that the next few days, the next two weeks really are going to make people nervous when they look at those forecasts. And they make us nervous too,” Race director Kristy Maki told racers in a virtual Q&A on Monday night. “So we’re being realistic about the 2024 American Birkebeiner week of events will look like.”

Birkie organizers have laid out a few possibilities for this year's races. Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain.

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.

There's a public hearing Tuesday evening in Fosston Minnesota, which is in the northwestern part of the state, on a decision to stop delivering babies at the hospital in town. It is the second hospital this month to announce a closure of its delivery ward. Mayo Clinic in New Prague also said it intends to close it's ward. That means that pregnant people in Fosston and New Prague will have to travel unprecedented distances to find an obstetric unit that delivers babies.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Fosston's mayor, Jim Offerdahl. Offerdahl said that city officials, community members and doctors alike are upset about the decision from the organization that runs the hospital, Essentia. He argued that Essentia breached their agreement with the town.

Katy Backes Kozhimannil, a professor at U of M's school of public health, also joined Minnesota Now to talk about what it might mean for those two rural birth wards to be at risk of closing soon.

Essentia sent MPR News the following statement:

Due to a pending dispute with the City about the terms of the affiliation agreement, Essentia will not comment on matters that will be resolved through an arbitration process.

Decreasing birth volumes, the growth in high-risk pregnancies and challenges recruiting providers have resulted in Essentia Health-Fosston relocating labor and delivery care. We remain committed to providing high-quality obstetric care and continue to offer excellent access for women locally, with expert prenatal and postpartum services available in Fosston. We work closely with our patients to ensure a seamless delivery plan at Essentia Health St. Mary’s-Detroit Lakes.

We appreciate the opportunity to further explain this transition during the public hearing. We recognize that members of the community have questions about this change, and we look forward to providing additional information. Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of the patients we’re privileged to serve, and this increasingly common model of shared maternity services provides the safest care possible to our moms and newborns.

And just generally speaking and for additional background, it’s no secret that this is a significant challenge affecting health care in rural communities. Minnesota has seen a disproportionate loss of labor and delivery services in rural communities — between 2000 and 2015 alone, 15 of the state’s rural hospitals stopped delivering babies, according to this 2019 MPR article. Nationwide, fewer than 45% of rural hospitals offer labor and delivery, according to this report.

Uber and Lyft drivers spoke in front of Minneapolis City Hall before a committee hearing about driver pay rates on Tuesday. Earlier this month, rideshare drivers held a one-day strike at the Minneapolis Saint Paul airport. This month another group of workers linked to the airport are organizing for higher wages and benefits. SEIU Local 26 represents the airport staff who provide services like cleaning cabins and pushing wheelchairs. Their contract is set to expire on Thursday. Sahan Journal reporter Alfonzo Galvan is following this story and he joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.