Minnesota Now

In some Minnesota suburbs, a new kind of housing development is beginning to take shape: entire neighborhoods of newly built single-family homes designed specifically for renters. Industry experts say the developments of large, luxury homes with garages and yards managed by investment companies are becoming more common.

Supporters argue the communities offer flexibility and another option in a tight housing market, while critics worry they could further complicate affordability and reshape the path to homeownership for many Minnesotans.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Laura Russ, the executive director of the Shenehon Center for Real Estate at the University of St. Thomas, about the rise of built-to-rent housing developments and what they could mean for the future of housing in Minnesota.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing a new legal challenge after the federal government sued the state over its climate deception lawsuit against major oil and gas companies.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the complaint in early May, arguing Minnesota is overstepping its authority by trying to hold companies accountable in state court for global greenhouse gas emissions. The original lawsuit, first filed by Ellison in 2020, targets ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute. It alleges the companies misled the public about the risks of climate change in order to protect their business interests.

University of Minnesota law professor James Coleman joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss why the new federal lawsuit could have implications for climate litigation cases across the country and what options Minnesota may have moving forward.

Marquee fraud prevention legislation is on its way to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk to be signed into law.

A bill creating an Office of Inspector General received final approval in the Senate on Monday in a unanimous vote. The new office will have the power to review payments for public programs and take action if it spots irregularities. The office is expected to be fully operational by Sept. 1, 2027.

Legislative Auditor Judy Randall is familiar with this type of work. Her office conducts routine audits of state agencies. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss the potential impact of the new office and the challenges it may face as it launches.

There's only one week left of this year's legislative session. And it's been one defined by a closely divided House and Senate. From fraud to gun control and immigration, we'll check in on what state lawmakers will be pushing for as the finish line nears.

The deficit facing Minneapolis Public Schools is shrinking after district leaders say they caught a budgeting error. We'll have more on what went awry.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration's Justice Department is challenging Minnesota's lawsuit against three major fossil fuel companies.

Plus, we'll meet Minnesota's first ever youth poet laureate — Sienna Lee of Moorhead.

And get a rundown on the playoff runs for the Wolves, Wild and Frost!

Our Minnesota Music Minute was the official state song of Minnesota, “Hail! Minnesota,” and our Song of the Day was “Minnesota” by The Push Stars.

It’s never a dull moment in a Timberwolves playoff series. Minnesota beat the Spurs Sunday night after San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama was ejected from the game in the second quarter. Their series is now tied and they’ve got another game Wednesday.

Monday night though is for hockey playoffs. The Frost play Game 5 and the Wild play Game 4 in their respective series.

Joining Minnesota Now to break it all down are our sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Minnesota officially has its first youth poet laureate. Sienna Lee, a high school junior from Moorhead, was chosen for the role after a long selection process. She will serve a one-year term and become a public ambassador.

The youth poet laureate program was established in 2025 by the state Legislature and is overseen by the Minnesota Humanities Center along with its national partner, Urban Word.

Lee joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about her poetry.

Minneapolis Public Schools says a budgeting error that stretches back to 2022 led to tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue and staffing cuts. Now that the budget error has been caught, it means that the district’s $50 million deficit is now shrinking to about $38 million.

But as first reported by Minnesota Reformer, this isn’t the first big budget blunder in the district. Education reporter Melissa Whitler has looked at several issues within the district's finances. She joined Minnesota Now with more on her reporting.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is pushing for a second term for police Chief Brian O'Hara. But he'll need to get approval from the city council to serve.

We also have the story of a St. Paul family living with the aftermath of one person being detained by ICE and deported.

Teenagers are doing drugs less than they did a decade ago. A school district's health services lead spoke more about that steady decline along with her observations on drug use — and mental health — for Bloomington's high schoolers.

Plus, Minnesota's favorite bird is back for the season and looking for a nice place to raise their chicks. But the DNR has spotted fewer loon babies recently and is encouraging more human-made, floating nests to help.

Minnesota teens report using cannabis at half the rate they did a decade ago. That’s according to survey data the state collected in 2025 and published this spring.

Four percent of students in grades 8, 9 and 11 said they had used cannabis in the last year, compared to about 10 percent in 2013. It’s continued to decline since the state legalized marijuana for adults in 2023.

Lani Lovas oversees school nurses and sets policies as health services director for Bloomington Public Schools. She joined to provide more perspective on the findings.

During this time of year, Minnesota’s beloved loon is settling back onto the state’s many lakes after wintering between the Gulf of Mexico and along the southern Atlantic coast. They’re looking for a good place to nest and raise their young over the next few months.

But volunteers with the DNR have spotted fewer and fewer chicks growing up on Minnesota lakes in recent years. It’s led the agency to study ways to make raising a loon family on one of Minnesota’s lakes more desirable.

One option they’re looking at: human-made floating homes that loons can nest in. The DNR’s loon program coordinator, Tim Mitchell, told MPR News host Nina Moini more about it and what the state bird is up to this time of year.