Minnesota Now

In the Twin Cities theatre scene, there are two must-see shows at the holidays. “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie in Minneapolis and the play that features that song — “Black Nativity” at Penumbra Theatre in St Paul. Lou Bellamy founded Penumbra Theatre 46 years ago in 1976. He is the current co-creative director and he joined MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about Penumbra and this holiday classic.

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

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

Host Cathy Wurzer talks with Markus Flynn from Black Men Teach about ways to draw BIPOC teachers to Minnesota schools.

Minnesota Now producer Melissa Townsend talks with UMN Children’s Literature expert about how to select a good book for the children in your life (and their parents).

Cathy Wurzer talks with two meteorologists about the latest weather details about the storm system moving across Minnesota.

An impressive blizzard is battering the north shore of Lake Superior. What can we expect next from this storm both on the north shore and across the state? Minnesota wanted to attract BIPOC teachers to the state but only hired six. Where do we go from here? And many of us are approaching gift giving season and struggling to find the right thing. We'll have some recommendations for you. Plus host Cathy Wurzer talks with the legendary Lou Bellamy founder and creative director of the Penumbra Theater.

Brooke Asleson is the director of the chloride program at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and she told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer that Minnesotans should avoid using too much ice to maintain snowy roadways, sidewalks and parking lots. If overapplied, salt can send too much chloride into our waterways and wreak havoc on fish and other wildlife.

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.

More than 120 students from eight northern Minnesota high schools of all abilities and backgrounds came together Tuesday for the first ever Unified Indigenous Games Invitational at Bemidji High School.

Sherry Holloway is one of the coordinators for the event as well as the coordinator of Adaptive Physical Education at Bemidji State University. She spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about the Indigenous games the high school students played.

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.

You’ve probably heard about NASA’s Artemis mission. But did you know that bumblebees play with balls just for fun? Or that Tiger Sharks are carrying cameras to map the ocean floor? Sometimes you just need to ask a science teacher to find out more.

Jill Jensen is the president of the Minnesota Science Teacher’s Association, and a 7th grade life science teacher at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley. She joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the latest news in science.

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.

We love history here on Minnesota Now and we've got a little seasonal history here for you about an entertainment legend who hails from Grand Rapids, Minn. Minnesota Now producer Gretchen Brown spoke with Janie Heitz about Judy Garland, who performed for the first time ever in Grand Rapids on Dec. 26, 1924.

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.

We’re in for a messy weather week — between snow, ice and rain. We'll have the latest from our meteorologist Sven Sundgaard.

And a lot of people are sick with RSV, flu and COVID-19. We'll talk with a doctor from Mayo who will answer your questions.

Jean Tretter was a lifelong advocate and historian for LGBTQ communities in Minnesota. He died last week. We find out how his legacy is living on.

And it's almost Kwanzaa time! There's a big celebration at North High in Minneapolis this week. We talk with one woman who decided to center her life around the celebration.