Minnesota Now

The Public Health and Safety Committee of the Minneapolis City Council is looking at a new report Wednesday afternoon. It’s a blueprint to help the city transform public safety. The report, from Harvard University researchers, calls on the city to create a new model of services that enable community safety and wellness.

Former state representative, Carlos Mariani Rosa was the chair of the Minesota House Public Safety Committee who had a hand in state efforts around police reform. Mariani-Rosa is the current Executive Director of the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership. He joins MPR News Cathy Wurzer to talk about the report.

You may have heard a lot of chatter in the media and amongst friends about spotting the northern lights in Minnesota this week. But it might be too soon to tell, and some meteorologists say those predictions are just wrong.

Writer Bob King writes the blog “Astro Bob” for the Duluth News Tribune, and joins Cathy Wurzer to break down the technique in spotting the northern lights.

Businesses are preparing for legal cannabis — that brings up questions about drug tests, expungement and more. We'll get answers from a person who is advising Minnesota companies on the big change.

Minnesota trees are facing all kinds of ailments — we'll talk to an arborist who is coming to the rescue.

And you've probably heard some hype around the northern lights coming to Minnesota this week. But some astronomers are warning us not to get too excited. We'll hear from one about why the aurora is so hard to predict.

Plus, problems with special education teacher training in the state. We look into why that’s an issue— and where the state goes from here.

Hundreds of Minnesota special ed teachers don't have formal teacher training. Because of that, they're out of compliance with federal guidelines and because of that, the state is at risk of losing millions of federal dollars if they don't make a plan by this Sunday.

That’s according to Sahan Journal reporter Becky Dernbach. She talked with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about her reporting, and where the state might go from here.

Maybe you've seen this walking through the forest: an oak tree, green and normal-looking on the bottom, dead on top. Or this: A grand old black ash tree with a yellow ribbon tied around it, signaling that this tree has been selected for removal to prevent the spread of emerald ash borer. There is a lot that our trees are facing due the insects and extreme weather, and those who work with trees are worried.

The Minnesota DNR's forestry health program, working with the state Department of Agriculture and other partners, are the CDC of tree health in Minnesota. Together they survey state forests and work to problem-solve issues and pests addressing tree heath.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Brian Schwingle about the problem. He is forest health program coordinator with the DNR.

Three weeks from today, lighting up a marijuana joint, vaping weed or ingesting marijuana edibles will no longer be a crime in Minnesota. And that means businesses have until then to determine how they are going to approach recreational cannabis use among their employees.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has been meeting with employers around the state to answer questions about drug testing, workplace bans, and how the federal government fits into all of this.

Lauryn Schothorst is the chamber's director of workplace management and workforce development policy. She talked with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

David Housewright of St. Paul has received national recognition for his tales of murder and mayhem set in Minnesota. MPR News regional editor Euan Kerr talked with Housewright about his secret for keeping the same character interesting, book after book.

There has been a new twist in the story of the hiring and firing of Minneapolis police officer Tyler Timberlake. Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Sunday that when he agreed to hire Timberlake, he was aware of an incident in which the officer was accused of assaulting on unarmed man. But O’Hara said at that time, he had not seen a video that captured the incident. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to parse out the details of the situation.

Chief Brian O'Hara has admitted to knowing about an officer's use of force history when he was hired last fall. We get more details on the controversy and where the Minneapolis Police Department goes from here. The Supreme Court recently struck down affirmative action and that is changing how Minnesota students and their families think about their next steps. Phyllis Wheatley Community Center ran Minnesota's only African-American-owned summer camp for more than 40 years. With new funding from lawmakers, the camp may finally reopen. Plus, if you're a fan of a good murder mystery, we have a Minnesota author you should meet.

In the 1960s, a woman named Carrie Hoffman Wallace drove kids from North Minneapolis to Minnesota’s only African American-owned summer camp.

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center ran Camp Katharine Parsons in Watertown for more than 40 years as a place for young people to canoe, swim, build fires and build relationships to nature.

The camp closed in the early 2000s, but the community center held onto the land. Lawmakers this past spring set aside $550,000 for the organization to restore the camp, which it plans to reopen by 2025.

Organizer Anthony Taylor joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about these plans and former camper Autumn Frazier shared her memories of visiting the camp with Wallace, who was her grandmother.

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

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