Minnesota Now

On February 12 2023, Minnesota-based inventor, writer, teacher, creativity expert and Jewish holocaust survivor died. Fred Amram was 89 years old. We revisit a story about Fred from 2018 when he reclaimed his German citizenship.

Black women participate in the workforce at much higher rates than most other women, but currently make fifteen percent less money than white women and 40 percent less than white men for doing the same work. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Kenya McKnight-Ahad about her work to close this gap as founder of the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance in North Minneapolis.

Bill Endersen has the week’s snowy forecast. We’ll get details on a vote in the Minnesota house on 2-20-23 on a bill to establish an office of Missing and Murdered Black women. St. Paul City Councili member Nilsey Yang outlines the next steps for the Hmong community after police shot Yia Xiong [YEE-ah ZHONG]. An exhibit at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery presents visions of Black joy in traditional quilts. And Kenya McKnight Ahad talks about her work building wealth among Black women in Minnesota.

Quilting is an art form in many cultures, but a new exhibit at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum in Minneapolis features a new spin on the traditional art form as it's practiced in Black communities.

To hear more about these unique artworks that tell compelling stories — host Cathy Wurzer talked to Tina Burnside. She is co-founder and curator of the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery in Minneapolis.

Many schools, businesses and government offices are closed Monday, but it’s business as usual at the Minnesota legislature. One bill up for debate would create an office for missing and murdered Black women and girls.

Black women in Minnesota are nearly three times more likely to be murdered than their white peers and those cases go unsolved far longer than cases for white victims. The chief author of the bill, Rep. Ruth Richardson, talked with host Cathy Wurzer.

The deadly shooting of a Hmong man by police in Saint Paul has fueled calls to fire the officers involved and institute police reforms. Councilmember Nelsie Yang joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the impact of Yia Xiong’s killing on the Hmong community and her next steps in calling for accountability.

There are several gun control bills moving through the Minnesota legislature. Supporters hope this will be the year for passage. And on National Caregivers Day, we hear from two women who quit their jobs to care for their parents. Finally, our sports guys Wally and Eric give their take on the Wild’s losing streak.

A big crowd was expected to rally at the Minnesota capitol today in support of of two gun safety bills. One would expand background checks to all firearms purchases. The other, coined a "red flag" law, could take firearms away from people deemed a threat. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with the lead author of that red flag bill and a gun control advocate who worries it goes too far.

Friday, Feb. 17 is National Caregivers Day. President Biden outlined his support for caregivers in his State of the Union address earlier this month, and that includes those who take care of their aging parents. MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer talked with two notable guests who know about that role all too well.

Physicians at two Allina healthcare centers have taken moves to unionize.

Chief meteorologist Paul Huttner wraps up that storm and looks ahead at the week’s forecast.

We hear from a St. Paul restaurant owner who is near the Turkey-Syria border finding ways to provide relief to survivors of a heartbreaking earthquake.

And the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Capri Theatre are teaming up for the Northside Celebration concert. We talk with organizers about the fusion of gospel, spirituals and classical music.