Minnesota Now

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.

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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. 

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. 

There’s mixed news Tuesday from Minnesota finance officials about the shape of the state’s budget.

In the short run, another surplus is expected. But down the road, there could be a possible deficit. Budget officials will answer questions reporters Wednesday afternoon when they discuss the economic forecast.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst broke down the numbers with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

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  Minnesota budget projected surplus at $2.4 billion, but warning lights blinking
  
  

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. 

You may or may not already know this fun fact: the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of only 17 certified International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world. Every year, adventurers, artists and photographers from around the world travel to Cook County to experience the night sky.

Thursday marks the beginning of the fifth annual Dark Sky Festival in Cook County, where locals and visitors will celebrate one of the darkest skies in the world.

Jim Knutson-Kolodzne is an American Indian Education consultant and member of the Native Skywatchers program. And Jessica Heim co-leads the Community Engagement Hub of the International Astronomical Union's Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference. They both joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about their presentations at the festival.

Winter brings cold and flu to mind, but Fargo is seeing a big increase in whooping cough cases. We found out why and how you can protect yourself and your kids.

Tuesday marks 60 days of the Israel-Hamas war. For Jews in Minnesota, conversations inside the community are fraught. We heard from Jewish Minnesotans on what that's been like to navigate.

Cities all over Minnesota have their eyes on forever chemicals, but removing it from drinking water is a costly problem. How more than a dozen cities are trying to manage PFAS.

People from all over the world travel to the boundary waters for its especially dark skies. Thursday is the fifth annual dark sky festival.

Whooping cough is on the rise in Fargo. In just the past month, Cass County has reported twelve cases of the virus -- more than they typically see in an entire year.

Dr. Tracie Newman and epidemiologist Brenton Nesemeier are both with Fargo Cass Public Health. They joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

Hanukkah begins on Thursday, and Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years will be hear before you know it. While the weather this time of year might make you want to stay indoors, there is plenty to explore, from holiday markets to pop-up holiday bars.

Kristen Glazer has all the top spots in across Minnesota. She runs a blog called “Expedition Kristen” along with an Instagram page that has more than 33,000 followers. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk all things holiday markets, light displays and more.

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 have young kids in your life, you may have noticed that they’re learning to read in ways that are different than the way your learn.

That’s because Minnesota legislators recently passed a historic law that requires schools to adopt a new reading curriculum — all with the goal of closing Minnesota’s vast reading gap.

In Rochester’s public schools, some of these tools are already in use. MPR News reporter Catharine Richert reported the story, and discussed it with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer and Emily Hanford of APM Reports, where she hosted and led production of the podcast Sold a Story.

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.