Minnesota Now

The Twin Cities Film Festival opens Thursday for its 30th year with more than 140 films. The films will stream online and in-person at Showplace ICON theater in St. Louis Park.

MPR News Editor Euan Kerr spoke with the festival's founder and executive director, Jatin Setia to hear what's special about this year's run.

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. 

Since we last talked with MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner, it’s gotten downright frosty out there. Paul Huttner joined Cathy to explain Minnesota’s cold snap and what’s in store.

Stillwater is the oldest. Faribault is the largest. St. Cloud has the longest wall: one and a half miles long. Shakopee houses women. And Oak Park Heights is maximum security. These are prisons in Minnesota - but Michael Kleber-Diggs calls them classrooms. He’s a poet and essayist and he works with inmates who are part of the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop. Some of their work will be featured this weekend so Cathy spoke with Michael about the work and the upcoming annual student reading event on Oct. 22.

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. 

The majority of Minnesota communities are experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Two sections of southern Minnesota are in extreme drought - including southwest Lyon and Redwood counties. Hennepin, Carver, Sibley and Scott counties are also facing serious drought. And late fall is a critical time to get moisture into the ground— but it hasn’t come yet. Pete Boulay is the Assistant State Climatologist with the state Department of Natural Resources. Ralph Sievert is Director of Forestry for the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. Both Boulay and Sievert joined Cathy to talk about the Minnesota’s grim climate situation.

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. 

A student leader reacts to negative comments about campus diversity from a member of University of Minnesota Board of Regents; the local award-winning author Bao Phi's children book is now a theatrical production in Hopkins; two leaders in the state's Black communities speak on the issues they care about most in this year’s midterm elections. And today this show turns one year old! We're celebrating with some highlights from the past year, fantastic poetry from listeners and a conversation with one of Cathy Wurzer’s favorite guests - girls high school wrestling champ, Nari Miller.

As of today - this little show has been on the air for one full year! That's more than 700 conversations about what's happening in Minnesota now. Cathy Wurzer shares some of her favorite moments from the past year.

Last spring, host Cathy Wurzer talked with Edison high school senior Nari Miller about becoming the first Minnesota high school girls wrestling champ. Cathy reconnects with Nari who is now a first generation college student in Texas wrestling under a superstar coach.

Classie Dudley, President of the NAACP, Duluth Branch and Adair Mosley, CEO of the state-wide African American Leadership Forum speak on the issues they care most about and how they are getting out the vote for the November eighth midterm elections.

Bao Phi’s children’s book “In a Different Pond” won the Caldecott Medal in 2018 and has now been adapted for theater and is currently playing at Stages Theatre in Hopkins. Bao Phi talks with Cathy Wurzer about his work and watching it come alive on stage.

Morris student body president Dylan Young responds to negative comments about campus diversity from a member of University of Minnesota Board of Regents. Dylan Young speaks with Cathy Wurzer about the comments, his letter and if he feels Sviggum should resign.