Minnesota Now

Thousands of people from the Ethiopian community will be in the Twin Cities for a soccer tournament hosted by the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America.

Starting Saturday, June 27, and stretching through July 4, Minnesota will host to the largest gathering of Ethiopians anywhere outside Ethiopia, making the event not only a soccer tournament but also a cultural celebration.

Elias Meles, who is on the board of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America, joined Minnesota Now to talk more about this year’s event.

Every time thunder booms or the wind thrashes trees around, anxious minds wonder, will my roof survive this storm? It’s a reasonable thought.

Last summer, five severe weather disasters in Minnesota caused an estimated $13 billion in total damage, according to the nonprofit research group Climate Central.

In this next installment of Professional Help, we learn about a new resource that aims to help homeowners get ahead of the damage.

Our ask: Help me climate-proof my home

Our professional: Heidi Roop, director of the Climate Adaptation Partnership

Many people use banks or credit unions to manage their money. But soon, these same institutions could help some people manage their cryptocurrency.

A new law taking effect Aug. 1, 2026, in Minnesota lays out the rules for financial institutions wanting to become so-called “crypto custodians.”

Advocates for the legislation say it’s an important step in ensuring local banks and credit unions stay competitive against national crypto companies.

Minnesota Department of Commerce Deputy Commissioner Michael Crow spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the new regulations and what it could mean for the state’s economy.

Minnesota has a state agency dedicated to helping schools prepare, respond and recover from all kinds of threats and emergencies. From school shootings to cyberattacks, the Minnesota School Safety Center’s mission is to keep schools safe.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to the agency’s new leader, Connie Forster, about her ideas as she steps into the role.

The Minneapolis City Council voted 7 to 5 on Thursday to put new data centers on hold for most of the city until November. Council member Aurin Chowdury introduced the ordinance.

The moratorium exempts downtown data centers that take up 350,000 square feet or less. Supporters of that carveout say data centers could be the answer for declining property values and a shrinking tax base downtown.

We spoke to the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Adam Duininck, about the possibilities he sees.

Twin Cities Pride returns this weekend with the annual festival in Loring Park and parade in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday. Over the past 53 years, the festival has grown to attract thousands of people to come see performers, check out vendors, and celebrate with friends and family. This year's celebration comes during a challenging moment for many LGBTQ+ people, with ongoing political battles over transgender rights nationwide.

Andi Otto is the executive director of Twin Cities Pride. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about this year's festivities and what holding a pride celebration means in 2026.

Under current law in Minnesota, kids have to be at least 10 years old to be prosecuted for a crime. On Aug. 1, that bar will be raised to 13.

The change is a result of legislation originally passed in 2024. Once it takes effect, Minnesota will become one of only three states with a minimum age of delinquency of 13, joining Maryland and New Hampshire. But some county officials say their agencies are not prepared for the change.

MPR News host Nina Moini talked with two people who have raised concerns. Nicole Kern is director of community corrections in Morrison County in central Minnesota. And Anne Broskoff is director of human services in Brown County in southern Minnesota.

Starting July 1, Medicare will begin a new pilot program that will allow some users to access popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications at a reduced cost. Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1 medications like Wegovy have exploded in popularity.

Dr. Carolyn Bramante is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School who specializes in obesity and weight loss. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how GLP-1 drugs have changed medicine and what broader access for older Americans could mean.

Google will host an open house Wednesday night for its proposed data center in Hermantown, in northern Minnesota.

The project has become a hot-button issue for the small town of 800 residents, and is one of many data center proposals popping up in greater Minnesota.

MPR News reporter Dan Kraker has been following the story in Hermantown and joined Minnesota Now with details.

A group of Minneapolis City Council members is asking the mayor's office to share its plans for the Minneapolis Police Department, after Chief Brian O'Hara resigned amid misconduct allegations. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with council member Robin Wonsley ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

Minnesota-born journalist Justin Ellis is out with a new book exploring the history of racism in his home state, a place known for being nice.

Native Americans are working to reclaim tribal tobacco while addressing the harms of the commercial kind. A conference focused on this work is happening this week in Minneapolis.

The Special Olympics USA Games kicked off in Minneapolis this week. We met a coach for Minnesota bocce ball to talk about the competition.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Gunflint Lake” by Maygen and the Birdwatcher, and our Song of the Day was “The Envelope” by Funk N Spuds.