Minnesota Now

A research team through the group Physicians for Human Rights combed through social media and news reports to understand exactly what happened during protests against federal immigration agents in the Twin Cities and other parts of the country last winter. Specifically, the researchers looked at the weapons law enforcement used on crowds.

Chemical irritants and projectiles fall into a category called crowd control weapons or less lethal weapons. They come in a variety of products with different mechanisms, and the researchers found that some law enforcement have used them in ways that are especially dangerous to the health and safety of protesters, journalists and passersby.

Scott Reynhout worked on the project with Physicians for Human Rights, and he joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

It's graduation season across Minnesota, and for many students, walking across the stage represents years of hard work, support and perseverance.

At North High School in Minneapolis, Friday's commencement comes with another reason to celebrate. Just a few years ago, the school's graduation rate lagged more than 20 points behind the state average. Today, according to Minneapolis Public Schools, North is on track to meet or may even exceed state benchmarks. It’s a dramatic turnaround that school leaders say reflects years of investment in students and staff. North High School’s principal, Mauri Friestleben, talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about the change.

Multiple Minnesota disability and addiction recovery services providers are scrambling to figure out what’s next after they received notice on Monday they were removed from 14 high-risk Medicaid programs.

The removal came from a state Department of Human Services process to revalidate 5,000 providers by May 31. DHS was required to do so through an agreement between the state and the federal government’s Center for Medicaid Services, which was part of the Trump Administration’s campaign to address fraud in Minnesota.

Jordan Hansen, CEO of YourPath, an addiction recovery services provider and Cari McCann, executive director of Great River Homes, which provides care to individuals with disabilities, say their organizations were kicked off of the Medicaid programs. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what comes next.

Read more at MPRnews.org.

Republican and DFL party leaders have made endorsements in major statewide races. But internal divisions remain after this weekend's party conventions in Duluth and Rochester.

Residents of the Twin Cities were recognized this weekend for their response during the surge of federal immigration agents. We heard from one community leader who accepted the award on behalf of his community.

Teens looking for a job this summer may find a tougher job market than in the past. The teen unemployment rate has nearly doubled over the past year.

Plus, a Minneapolis theater is bringing a classic American novel to the stage.

And the Minnesota Now team visited a special central Minnesota gift shop just off Highway 10.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Balloon” by Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon. “Looking for Something” by Castlebeat was the Song of the Day.

The matchup in the NBA Finals is set. The San Antonio Spurs knocked out the Timberwolves earlier in the playoffs. Now, the Spurs will face a notable former Wolves player Karl-Anthony Towns, along with the rest of the New York Knicks.

It’s the Knicks first time in the finals since 1999, when they lost the title to the Spurs. The rematch starts Wednesday in San Antonio.

Sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the finals, the Minnesota Vikings’ new general manager and why the Lynx can’t seem to help but be on top.

The Minnesota Now team recently had a live show at the new public library in Moorhead. To get there, we took scenic Highway 10 from St. Paul to learn more about the state from the road.

The Moorhead show will air Thursday. Each day until then, we will make a stop along the way, with audio postcards from notable roadside places.

First, we visit a place that promises to have something for everyone. Just an hour and a half north of the Twin Cities, tucked between St. Cloud and Brainerd, Treasure City is a gift shop unlike many others. Treasure City's Jennifer Janski gave us a special tour.

A beloved American novel about immigration and the Great Plains is getting a new life on stage in Minneapolis. Theater Latté Da will premiere a musical adaptation of Willa Cather’s classic novel “My Ántonia” at the Ritz Theater this week.

The 1918 novel cemented writer Willa Cather as one of America’s defining literary voices. It follows a lifelong friendship between first generation immigrants on the Nebraska prairie. More than a century later, the story still resonates across the Midwest for its portrayal of resilience and belonging.

Director Jessie Austrian and composer and lyricist Kate Kilbane joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the production. It will premiere Wednesday and run through July 12th at the Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis.

The school year is wrapping up for high schoolers. Soon, some teens will put down their backpacks and pick up an ice cream scoop, or maybe a lifeguard whistle. It’s the season of the summer job. But this year, it may be a bit harder to find one.

Over the past year Minnesota lost more than 5,000 jobs in leisure and hospitality – sectors that tend to hire youth. In March, the teen unemployment rate was 13.2 percent, nearly double what it was in March 2025, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The higher unemployment rate could be a return to what was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Oriane Casale, assistant director of DEED’s Labor Market Information Office. Casale joined Minnesota Now along with Billie Jo Greene, who helps teens find jobs as team leader of the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program in Bemidji.

Four Twin Cities leaders have received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on behalf of their communities. The JFK Library Foundation presents the annual award to elected officials and others who have shown courageous leadership. This year, the award committee recognized the people of the Twin Cities for the response to the surge of federal immigration agents this winter.

“Their compassion and unwavering commitment to the ideals that sustain our democracy inspired communities across this country and forced the federal government to back down,” Caroline Kennedy said of Twin Cities residents when she presented the award Sunday night.

MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Imam Yusuf Abdulle, one of the Minnesotans who went to Boston to accept the award. He leads the Islamic Association of North America and co-founded the Somali American Leadership Table in response to the surge.

Monday marks six years since a former Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd, setting off waves of protest and civil unrest across the country.

Several memorial events this weekend are happening in south Minneapolis at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, where Floyd was killed — and where activists and neighbors are still at odds with the city over how best to remember him.

MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox has been tracking the story for years. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about that debate and also the events planned this weekend.