Minnesota Now

Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services say they will delay their proposed merger until the end of May, two months later than originally planned. We'll find out where talks go from here.

Minnesota has a historically diverse legislature, and some Black community leaders finally feel like they have a seat at the table. We’ll look at whether historic inequities can be remedied.

Minnesota could play a key role in our country's electricity grid. And it all comes down to batteries. Cathy Wurzer spoke to an expert for more on the pilot project that could pave the way for cleaner energy.

Did you know the very first Black football player in the NFL grew up right in Minnesota? We’ll hear all about Bobby Marshall’s fascinating life.

Vice President Kamala Harris is on her way to St. Cloud, Minnesota. We check in with reporter Mark Zdechlick about why she's here.

A new report shows the number of people using food shelves across the state jumped by more than 50 percent last year. Why are people still struggling to find food?

You know your pet’s veterinarian has a license but what about the vet technicians who also handle our animal friends? We find out about a push in the legislature to establish a certification program for vet techs.

And we finish off our winter play series with a bang. World-famous arctic explorer Ann Bancroft skiis with MPR News reporter Catherine Richert.

Some people tolerate the cold, some people love it, and some people, like polar explorer Ann Bancroft, have made a career out of living in it.

You might know Bancroft from her many accomplishments. She is the first woman to cross the North and South Poles, and the first woman to traverse Antarctica with skis and sails.

She also happens to be a lifelong Minnesotan who invited reporter Catharine Richert along for an activity she does closer to home: hoke skiing. Capping off our Winter Play series, Cat joins us to tell us about her adventure with Bancroft.

If you want to become a veterinarian in Minnesota, you need to pass both state and national licensing exams. If you want to become a veterinary technician – a vet clinic’s equivalent of a nurse – you don’t need any of that.

Minnesota is one of 10 states that does not require licensure or certification for veterinary technicians. A veterinarian in New London, Minnesota is pushing to change that.

Al Balay, PhD., is a veterinarian and a teacher in the vet tech program at Ridgewater College. He talked with host Cathy Wurzer about the licensure bills just introduced in the state House and Senate this month.

Several bills dealing with the growing problem hunger in Minnesota are up Thursday in the state house. One bill would send $5 million to food shelves, and it comes on the heels of a new report that shows there was a dramatic jump in the use of food shelves in Minnesota last year. 

Host Cathy Wurzer talked with Colleen Moriarty, executive director of hunger solutions Minnesota, the advocacy group that published the report.

While February is the shortest month, it can sometimes feel like the longest and dreariest in Minnesota. That's why MPR news reporters and producers are focusing on fun things to do in the cold weather in our series Winter Play!

MPR News reporter Simone Cazares and Samantha Matsumoto decided to go the indoor route to find their winter joy. They checked out one of Minnesota’s newest bath houses: Watershed Spa.

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

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

MinnesotaCare, the state's health insurance program, could see some big changes. The bill’s chief author told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about the proposal to let anyone sign up.

Minnesota is seeing blue skies and sunshine out there! Will it last? MPR’s Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joined Cathy with the details.

If you've got a pile of schoolwork, using artificial intelligence to complete it all might be tempting. And that's concerning teachers and professors in Minnesota. We’ll learn more about ChatGPT.

February can be dreary, but we're focusing on the fun part of winter this season! For two MPR staff, that meant staying indoors. Cathy spoke to them about the dip they took in one of Minnesota's newest bath houses.

Minnesotans are enjoying blue skies, sunshine, and warmer temps.

For more on how warm it will get this week, how long the warm spell will last, how much the current snow cover will help with Minnesota’s drought this Spring, and how much snow cover will affect this week’s temperatures, MPR’s chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

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

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

Minnesota lawmakers in the House Commerce Committee held a first hearing on a bill that would allow more people to access MinnesotaCare, the state’s insurance program for lower income residents. The new bill would create a public option and allow anyone to enroll. Recipients would pay on a sliding scale based on income.

DFL Representative and House Majority leader Jamie Long is a lead author on the bill. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain how the bill could change healthcare in Minnesota, who would be eligible for the program, and how much it would cost the state.

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

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   

We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

Some 60 Ramsey County jail inmates are on their way to other facilities after pressure from the state. We'll find out why.

Plus, a bill to preserve more Native American families just passed a state senate committee this morning. More on that measure.

 We'll look back at a somber anniversary - the last state-sponsored execution in Minnesota happened this month in 1906. We find out how it led to a ban on executions that stands today.

Minnetonka-based United Health is under scrutiny for not paying on a needed service for a Mayo patient. We'll find out what's going on.

And we continue our series of ways to play in the snow and cold in Minnesota. Winter lasts a long time around here... might as well enjoy it!