Minnesota Now

Earlier this month Minneapolis hip-hop artist Tufawon celebrated his new album, “Waiting for You” with a release party at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis.

He talked with MPR News guest host Catharine Richert about bringing his Puerto Rican and Indigenous identities to his art and the inspiration behind his music, from long-distance relationships to protest songs.

Tufawon’s new album is on Spotify and all his music is on Bandcamp.

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.  

A cannabis raid at the White Earth Nation was the first major crackdown on selling after the legalization of marijuana. But complicated tribal law is at odds with the state. We dig deeper on the implications of the new law.

Minnesota students are getting into college and they don't even have to apply. We find out how the state's direct admissions program is opening doors for students in Austin, Minn.

Plus, we talk to a local fashion designer who is promoting healing through her art.

The Minnesota Professional Women's Hockey team is lacing up their skates for training camp. We hear from the head coach of the inaugural team.

And local hip-hop artist Tufawon shares his new music and his inspiration.

There’s a story about college applications that goes like this: to be accepted, students need to balance an impressive slate of extracurricular activities, perfect grades, high test scores and shining recommendation letters.

But the reality is that plenty of schools are not as competitive as Ivy Leagues portrayed in your favorite high school drama. But even for less selective colleges and universities, the process of applying can be arduous and costly.

This year, more graduating seniors in Minnesota are receiving letters with a list of schools that have accepted them without an application.

According to Inside Higher Ed, Minnesota is now one of 10 states with direct admissions programs, which are gaining popularity as institutions struggle to keep up their enrollment and try to make college more accessible. More than 40 high schools participated in the first year of the program in Minnesota.

For the second round this year, the number is up to more than 120. Principal of Alternative Programs for Austin Public Schools Jessica Cabeen joined MPR News Host Catharine Richert to talk about what this means for students in the district, which has a more diverse student body than the state as a whole.

 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. 

The day after recreational marijuana became legal in Minnesota, sheriff's deputies and tribal police raided a man's tobacco shop on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota. The next day, they searched his home.

It's been over three months, and still no charges have been filed against the man. That's because the state may not be able to prosecute tribal members for marijuana crimes on reservations.

Minnesota Reformer deputy editor Max Nesterak has been reporting on this story and joined MPR News Host Catharine Richert to talk about it.

 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. 

Minnesota has seen some beautiful sunny temperatures so far this November. So MPR Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard decided to escape to the cold. He is high up in the Canadian tundra in Churchill, Manitoba, the ‘polar bear capital’ of the world leading a ‘learning vacation’ of twelve Minnesotans to see the polar bears and learn about how they’re being affected by a rapidly warming climate. MPR’s Catherine Richert spoke to him about his trip to Churchill, polar bears, and climate change.

There are two types of Minnesotans. One that is itching for the snow to blanket the streets and sidewalks. And the other who will take any warm weather that comes our way in the winter. If you're the latter, the forecast is looking pretty nice for you, with above average temperatures. It could even reach the 60s this week, and lows not even going below freezing in central and southern Minnesota. But the weather isn't great news for ski and snowboard hills. Marsha Hovey is the Marketing Director for Trollhaugen, a ski and snowboard resort right across the border in Dresser, Wisconsin. Catharine Richert talked to her about the snow outlook for the season and what makes the best snow-making conditions.

Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law this year that will require Minnesota’s electricity to be 55% renewable by 2035, and totally carbon-free by 2040, due to concerns over climate change. 

What exactly that will look like is still up in the air. Under the law, renewable energy can be generated through means like solar panels, wind farms, water, and burning garbage or wood. 

Even though nuclear energy is carbon-free, it’s not considered renewable under the new law. 

Nuclear energy is controversial in Minnesota and across the country. A new series from Minnesota news startup Project Optimist is diving into all the gray areas. The series is called “Nuclear at a Crossroads.” 

Series author R.C. Drews and editor Nora Hertel joined Minnesota Now to talk about it.

It is a full circle moment for Mayo Clinic. Next week will be the 60th anniversary of the clinics first kidney transplant from a living donor. Now 60 years later, the clinic has performed it’s first robot-assisted kidney transplant. On October 4th, a woman in her 60s received a kidney from her daughter. Dr. Timucin Taner is the division chair of Transplant Surgery at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Taner joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about what it means for the transplant to be robot-assisted.

You either love or hate this extended warm weather. But for our local ski resorts at the mercy of mother nature. They’re playing the waiting game to get the slopes open. We’ll talk to an official at Trollhaugen with how the above average temps are impacting this ski season.

Next week will be the 60th anniversary of the first kidney transplant from a living donor. We’ll talk with a doctor about another milestone that took place last month — the first robot-assisted kidney transplant.

We;ll drop in on meteorologist Sven Sundgaard in Canada, where he’s learning about climate change and polar bears.

And well dig into the debate over how nuclear power should fit into Minnesota's renewable energy goals.

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.  

Joshua Dobbs kept Minnesota's injury-thinned offense on track in his first start, throwing for a career-high 268 yards and totaling two touchdowns to help the Vikings build a 24-point halftime lead and hold on to beat the New Orleans Saints 27-19 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory.

T.J. Hockenson outgained the Saints by himself in the first half with 10 catches for 128 yards and a score for the Vikings (6-4), who stalled out after the hot start and turned to Mekhi Blackmon and Byron Murphy for fourth-quarter interceptions of downfield heaves by Jameis Winston that ended consecutive Saints possessions. Winston's throw into a crowd in the end zone on the final play was knocked down by the Vikings.

After Derek Carr was forced out in the third quarter with a concussion and a shoulder injury, Winston entered with a 27-3 deficit and delivered touchdown passes to Chris Olave and A.T. Perry on highlight-reel, high-degree-of-difficulty catches in the end zone over Murphy. Alvin Kamara contributed the vital 2-point conversion runs, and the Saints (5-5) were poised to pull off a remarkable comeback.

Ty Chandler, who had his first career touchdown run in the first quarter for the Vikings, had a third-and-1 scamper for a 29-yard score called back for a questioned holding call on right tackle Brian O’Neill midway through the fourth quarter.

After Dobbs was pressed into action in Atlanta last week, with the adrenaline of the comeback victory worn off, the Vikings faced a significant challenge against a dangerous Saints secondary that entered the game leading the NFL in interceptions and passes defensed.

Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) was held out for the fifth straight game, and starting wide receiver K.J. Osborn (concussion) didn’t play. Hockenson played through a painful rib injury that was aggravated multiple times. Then starting running back Alexander Mattison (concussion) was forced out of the game.

Dobbs was only here, after all, because of the season-ending torn Achilles tendon for Kirk Cousins. He relieved Jaren Hall (concussion) at quarterback last week in leading the Vikings to victory over the Falcons.

Dobbs rushed eight times for 44 yards. He has three straight games with at least one passing and one rushing touchdown, including his last game with Arizona. The only players with longer streaks since the 1970 merger: Justin Fields (five, 2022), Kyler Murray (five, 2020) and Michael Vick (four, 2010).

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who was arrested Friday on simple battery and criminal mischief charges following an alleged confrontation with a construction worker near his home, had one catch for 9 yards before leaving in the first quarter with a knee injury.

Saints: CB Marshon Lattimore (ankle) was taken off on a cart in the fourth quarter.

Vikings: LB Jordan Hicks (shin) aggravated an injury in the third quarter that forced him out in the first quarter and didn’t return. ... CB Akayleb Evans (calf) was hurt in the third quarter. ... DL Dean Lowry (groin) was sidelined for the second straight game.

Saints: Bye week, then at Atlanta on Nov. 26.

Vikings: At Denver next Sunday night.