Minnesota Now

Like it or not, the sound of your voice can say a lot about you. For some transgender people, a key part of their journey is getting their voice to reflect their identity. Those who use hormone therapy to change their appearance and voice to affirm their gender, and even those who don’t, may want tips to get more comfortable with their voice. Some doctors even say it is medically necessary. That’s where M Health Fairview vocologist Lisa Butcher comes in. Lisa is dedicated to helping her clients, many of whom identify as transgender or gender nonbinary, through the journey of finding their true voices. She’s also a former opera singer. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about how our voice is part of our identity.

Dairy farmers around the region are facing an oversaturated market. It’s been made worse for some farmers in the region when the Metropolitan Council temporarily cut off sewer service to the Hastings Creamery, after the company was notified of six violations of industrial waste permits including a recent leak of milk into the city’s sewer system. Now the creamery is hauling wastewater to a plant in St. Paul. The situation is affecting about 45 dairy farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

The Minnesota Twins finish up their four-game series at Target Field today. They're also catching heat for trading away Luis Arraez, the reigning American League batting champ. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer catches up on that sports news and more with Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

June has been abnormally dry and nearly half the state is under some kind of drought. We'll look at how this drought stacks up and whether relief might be on the way.

Public records show Minnesota's food companies are especially vulnerable to cyberattacks. And hackers have seriously threatened operations at big food companies over the past few years — which means Land O’Lakes or Hormel could become targets. The reporter digging into the documents tells MPR News host Cathy Wurzer what that means.

Swedish settlers have a long history in Minnesota. A tiny Wisconsin border town got a big win at the legislature this year that will help them tell that story.

And sports guys Wally and Eric talk Timberwolves, Minnesota Aurora and that head shaking Twins trade.

General Mills, Land O’Lakes, Hormel… sound familiar?

Minnesota is home to quite a few giant food companies. Here’s something you may not know: Meatpackers and other food processing companies are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

That’s what Madison McVan found when she dug into records following one hack of a high-profile company. McVan covers the meat industry for the news organization Investigate Midwest.

She shared her findings with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced that the driver in Friday's crash that killed five young women in south Minneapolis has been charged with 10 felonies related to the crash. Derrick John Thompson who is 27, faces five counts of criminal vehicular homicide and five counts for leaving the scene of the crash. Thompson has other driving incidents on his record, including a 2018 crash in California that seriously injured a woman. He was released from prison earlier this year. Thompson is the son of former state legislator John Thompson, who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023, and lost re-election after several controversial events.

The U.S. Justice Department’s report listing civil rights violations by the Minneapolis police department confirmed what many in the city’s Native American community say they have experienced. The impending consent decree, which could put some legal teeth into policing reform, may help repair relations with Twin Cities BIPOC communities.

Host Cathy Wurzer speaks with MPR News reporter Melissa Olson, who has been talking with community leaders and gauging reaction to the report.

Drought conditions continue to expand across Minnesota, according to the latest US Drought Monitor Update, released this morning. More than 90 percent of the state now is considered to be abnormally dry or in formal drought status. The area considered to be in severe drought has doubled since last week

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer speaks with Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay about the latest drought findings and forecast.

The town of Scandia in northern Washington County, near the Wisconsin border, is small--it has fewer than 4000 people--but it got a big win from the legislature this year. Tucked into the state bonding bill are $2.2 million toward rebuilding Scandia's iconic water tower barn and creating an arts and cultural heritage center in the town’s center. The water tower barn is an example of A group of dedicated volunteers have been dreaming and planning about this center for over a decade...and the story they want to tell encompasses the first Swedish settlers in Minnesota.

Host Cathy Wurzer speaks with Susan Rodsjo, a founding member of the Scandia Heritage Alliance, who has been working on this project since its inception.

This week marks the one year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the federal right to abortion. MPR News reporters look back at how that decision has effected Minnesota this year.

It’s been a long week of temperatures above 90 degrees in many parts of the state, a doctor explains how to stay safe in extreme heat.

This week hasn't been just hot — it's been hazy, too! MPR's chief meteorologist Paul Huttner gives the latest on air quality and weather.

One of the groups making day-to-day weather decisions: summer camps. The leader of one camp will join us to talk about how theirs is adjusting to climate change.

And the Twin Cities Jazz Fest is this weekend, get ready to listen to some great music.