Minnesota Now

A musical from St. Paul’s History Theater is telling the story of one of Duluth’s most notorious murders. On June 27, 1977, at Glensheen mansion, Elizabeth Congdon - heiress to a vast mining fortune - was killed along with her night nurse. The mystery became a media sensation and one of the city’s most infamous crimes. Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher speaks with guest host Chris Farrell about the revival of the play.

A windstorm with gusts up to 85 miles an hour blew through South Dakota, southern Minnesota and Iowa Tuesday evening. And the evening sky across the region was an unreal shade of yellow and orange. Why and what weather is in store next? MPR's Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner talks with guest host Chris Farrell.

There have been so many tragedies recently, this is a good time to focus on ways to take care of yourself and your community. Host Cathy Wurzer talks with Dr. Joi about what to do when life makes you want to stay in bed with the covers over your head! Dr. Joi is a community healer, speaker, and founder of Joi Unlimited and the Healing Justice Foundation and author of the book Healing: The Act of Radical Self-Care.

Alison Bechdel is the author of a comic strip that - nearly 40 years after its creation - is still getting attention. “Dykes To Watch Out For” ran from 1983 to 2008 and gained a worldwide cult following for its game changing portrayal of American queer life set in Minneapolis.  She sits down with Minnesota Now producer Ellen Finn to talk about the enduring popularity of her work.

There have been so many tragedies recently, this is a good time to focus on ways to take care of yourself and your community. Host Cathy Wurzer talks with Dr. Joi about what to do when life makes you want to stay in bed with the covers over your head! Dr. Joi is a community healer, speaker, and founder of Joi Unlimited and the Healing Justice Foundation and author of the book Healing: The Act of Radical Self-Care.

Residents in Grand Marais are raising alarms that vacation rental homes are pricing them out of their home town. We’ll hear how and what Cook County officials are trying to do about it.

An organic farmer in Moorhead is trying to find ways to turn commercial food waste into fertilizer and energy. We’ll find out why and how she’s doing.

You may have noticed a national spike in union organizing - eight Minnesota Starbucks have voted to unionize this year. Why is unionizing gaining back it’s popularity?

And we’ll talk with an Anishinaabe designer about her growing Minnesota-based fashion business.

For many BIPOC people wearing their traditional cultural clothing in their everyday lives can be a way to express their cultural heritage, honor the legacy of their families and send a powerful message about creating more representation in traditionally white spaces.

Today on Minnesota Now, we’re featuring one Native designer who draws inspiration from her Ojibwe heritage in the knitwear she creates.

Maggie Thompson is a textile artist and owner of Makwa Studio. She joins me now to talk more about her work and her thoughts on the growing movement.

Last week, employees at an Eden Prairie Starbucks store announced that they’re pursuing unionization. And the week before, the Mall of America Starbucks workers voted to unionize. In all, eight Minnesota Starbucks stores have pursued unionization this year.

And you may have noticed - nationally - 2022 saw a spike in workers organizing for more benefits, pay and say at work. Gracie Nira works at a Starbucks in St. Paul that recently unionized— they’re now a shift leader and union organizer at their Starbucks store.

They joined host Chris Farrell to share what’s behind the growing movement.

Noreen Thomas and her husband, Lee, have been organic farmers in Moorhead since 1997. Now Noreen has a new challenge: turning commercial food waste into fertilizer – and energy. And it’s a bit more complicated than traditional composting.

Noreen joined host Chris Farrell to talk about her long-held passion for sustainability and plans for her Initiators Fellowship.

As more vacation homes and rentals pop up along Minnesota’s North Shore, it’s harder for locals to find a place to live.

To try and solve the housing shortage some residents are facing, a county committee has been formed to decide how vacation rentals fit into the future of Cook County.

Joe Friedrichs is the news director at WTIP in Grand Marais. He joined host Chris Farrell for a conversation about the problem, and what happens next.

Click the audio player above to listen to their conversation.