Minnesota Now

Today is move-in day for thousands of freshman at the University of Minnesota. As new students move in this afternoon on the Minneapolis campus, about fifteen hundred University of Minnesota custodians, dining workers, mechanics, research attendants, gardeners and other service workers will picket and rally. Cathy Wurzer talks with one worker about why.

Last week, a Bismarck judge temporarily blocked an abortion ban from taking effect in the state, but a “trigger” law passed by lawmakers in 2007 dictates that the procedure should become illegal with the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this summer to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Next door in Wisconsin, the Roe decision made abortions illegal. We’re continuing our series looking at abortion in neighboring states. Devi Shastri is a health and medical science reporter with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and she joined Cathy to give us the latest from Wisconsin.

More than 7,000 Minnesota youth are with their animals at the State Fair this year. They come with their families, their 4H clubs or FFA chapters. It takes a lot of time and some money to get yourself and your animal to the fair and be part of a competition and hopefully win that blue ribbon.

A little extra financial help goes a long way. So the Minnesota State Fair foundation has a grant program for first time fair goers to bring their animals to show at the fair. They are called BELLE grants, which stands for Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience. The $250 to $500 grants defray the cost of travel, feed and animal show supplies.

This year Denica Sleiter of Morris, Minn. is one of those lucky grant winners. On Friday, Cathy talked to Denica and her mentor, Kianna Dolezal. Kianna is an experiences hand at showing all kinds of livestock. Both young women showed rabbits at the fair this weekend.

Denica: I have a Flemish giant here at the State Fair. It's light gray and it weighs 10 pounds.

Kianna: So I went to her house and I helped her with some showmanship tips. So in showmanship, you present yourself to show your animal off the best. And so there are a lot of tips and little tricks to like do that really well.

Kianna: Yes. I've shown every animals showmanship. And rabbit is the hardest, like, in my opinion, my personal experience, rabbit is the hardest because there's a book that they can ask you anything in that book about any of the breeds, and they can know the right answer. And so it's it's quite a challenging thing. But it's also a lot of fun when you do well.

Denica: I learned that when you're bringing your rabbit up to the table for it to get judged. I thought the people that standing there with their rabbit in their arms were just like, didn't know what was happening. But I learned now that people know what they are doing.

Kianna: So when you get to the table generally you won't set the animal down until the judge invites you because it shows you're a bit more professional and you're waiting for the judges. Because maybe the table the previous rabbit peed on it so they want to clean that off first. Maybe they're switching tables or something, so if you stand there and wait until you're invited then the judge is ready to judge and do stuff.

Kianna: It can be yes because you don't know what questions you're gonna be asked, you don't know who's in the ring with you,

Danica: They've all been pretty hard especially when you're under pressure. You completely forget everything you know.

Kianna: I think it's been done previously one year before in the BELLE Grant program and I think they’re trying to keep it going because it's really good to get somebody who’s been to the State Fair and can tell you a little bit more.

Kianna: So when it's not showmanship the rabbit can be judged on what the standard says the perfect breed is for that rabbit. So I have satins and so when I go into the ring, the judge is looking to make sure my satins have their guard hairs and their hairs is shiny, which happens because of a mutation, it's what they're known for. And that the body type that their back arches the correct way.

Kianna: Only in showmanship in the normal classes you put your rabbit on the table immediately. You immediately pose them, it's to get them to show off the best thing. And then the judge will come in, they'll feel the rabbit and they'll pose them their way.

Danica: Well, first, that's really fun. And you learn a lot of different skills with different kinds of animals. It's fun, really enjoyable,

Kianna: It lets you get out there, meet people and try new things. Get out of your comfort zone in a good way. That's fun. And if you decide to do livestock or horses, anything like that, you can just try things.

School started today in some Minnesota districts. 371 of those public schools will receive extra support to help students boost achievement. We'll find out what help is being offered.

And access to abortion is changing in the states surrounding Minnesota since the Supreme Court overturned the Roe decision. We'll hear what's changing in Wisconsin.

More than seven thousand young people are at the State Fair to show off their animals in competition! We'll talk with a first time fair-goer and the mentor that's helping her navigate the great Minnesota get-together.

Speaking of the fair — the amazing Twin Cities based musician Annie Mack is playing Aug. 29 and Aug. 30. We’ll talk with her about her latest work and her musical inspirations.

Minnesota singer-songwriter Annie Mack’s EP, “Testify,” mixes blues, country, rock and soul. It’s a beautiful combination.

Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mack ahead of her two shows at the Minnesota State Fair, Monday, Aug. 29 and Tuesday, Aug. 30.

The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Click the audio player above to listen to their conversation.

I wanted to write a love song that was for myself and to encourage other women to think about ourselves in a loving way. I think on the radio and just kind of what we're accustomed to, we hear a lot of love songs about somebody else. How cool would it be to write about myself with my head in the clouds, it'd be kind of mushy. I'm not the most mushy person, but I took a stab at being kind of whimsical and loving and romantic just with myself — what would it feel like to just have these really great things to say and just to take some ownership of my own path and journey and to be grateful for that.

It feels really good. I was thinking about the words of what I wanted to say to myself and then also make it accessible to others. Like, for instance, there's a line that says “I'm not giving my energy no more to what no longer serves me.” I'm choosing to let things go, just really speaking edification to my spirit and honoring my journey. And that it’s not perfect, and it's mine. I get to claim it.

It was powerful, humbling, beautiful, intense — it was really important to me to create something that was beautiful and Black from Minnesota. And it was really important to me to honor my contribution to liberation, my contribution to encouragement and my contribution to my own way of saying, you know, as a Black woman, I am here and I won't be silenced by violence and murder. And so it was my own declaration, my own militancy if you will.

I went to school at the Minnesota Bible College. At that time, I was going to school to study Christianity and spirituality, and I thought I was going to be a missionary worker and all these things. And I ended up staying, it was a very big change of scenery. I think it was important for me to kind of get out of my environment.

It was a really hard adjustment. At first, there weren't a lot of people of color or a lot of Black people. It was not the established city that it is now, it's come a long ways. As a matter of fact, I don't even think the buses ran after 6 p.m. and this is a place that has the Mayo Clinic and IBM and it was not accessible to me.

I love truth tellers. I love people that push the envelope in their innovation and creativity. So I'm a big fan of Taj Mahal and Etta James and Ray Charles. Individuals that can kind of do everything. And then you know, I love Valerie June and Ruthie Foster. You know, these are some of my favorite artists that just kind of pay attention to,

I have a good sized ego on me, but I'm not foolish. I struggle with that tremendously, especially if I'm on the same lineup, which did happen when I was down in Florida. But you know, I'm honored. I walk in those realms of a truth teller but I have my own distinctive voice and delivery. But you know, I am so inspired by her, but I made sure to do my own thing.

I am so grateful. I'm grateful that I need to show up and that's good enough. It’s just really beautiful, it speaks to my spirit. And just to continue, you know, showing up. I tried to play the game, whatever that is, for a while and it didn't feel right. It wasn't authentic. I love all kinds of music. I love pushing myself as an artist, I'm inspired by these local peers, whom I've come to respect and just really admire. And so it's always an honor and privilege to be here to share space with creatives.

It's gonna be hot, sweaty, soulful, loud — we are here to take care of business, we are here to handle it. We do not phone it in. We really try every show, maybe the first song or two I'm going to ease into it but then after that, I'm the hot sweaty mess. And I love that, I love that we have a reputation for being live performers and that really means a lot to me.

I mean to engage and to tell stories and to know what to do with your energy and your stamina that comes with time. I work with amazing musicians and it feels good to get hired to do my thing. Eighty percent of songs we do are all originals. And I'm so incredibly grateful for that. In the covers we do our own obscure things to pay respect. When people hire me or they want to work with me, they know exactly where they're getting.

Yes, I am excited about live music I do have some really cool opportunities. We're just going to continue to have a good time and show up and work on an album in the fall and winter.

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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. 

For 75 years, one of the most popular spots at the Minnesota State Fair has been the Agriculture Horticulture building – the home of seed art, and displays of corn, apples and honey among other crops.

Digital producer Sam Stroozas has been covering the fair and the Ag building’s anniversary – she joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

School started today for some Minnesota students. As kids go back to class, their standardized test scores from last year are coming in — and the news isn’t good.

The state education department says most Minnesota students are not proficient in math, and just over half are proficient in reading. It’s yet another sign of the pandemic’s lasting impacts on education.

The state department of education has identified 371 schools, including 15 entire school districts, for training and support over the next three years based on their results from standardized tests, graduation rates and attendance.

St. Paul Public Schools have about two dozen schools on the list of those needing support, and that’s an improvement from last year. Host Cathy Wurzer talked with Stacey Gray Akyea, chief of equity, strategy & innovation for St. Paul Public Schools.

It’s time once again to test how much you know about Minnesota weather and climate.

Cathy Wurzer and Mark Seeley presented the annual Minnesota State Fair Weather Quiz Event live at the fair and on air Thursday. Listen to the recording above and play along or test your knowledge in our digital version below!

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer previewed the weather forecast ahead of the Minnesota State Fair with chief meteorologist Paul Huttner.

Click the audio player above to listen to the full episode. 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. 

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer was joined by Bad Posture Club, a Twin Cities based duo of Maren Day and Morgan Kavanagh — two artists who met through music in high school and use their friendship to launch their latest project.

Click the audio player above to listen to the full episode. 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.