Minnesota Now

Each year, over 20,000 horses from across the country compete for just 20 spots to run in the Kentucky Derby.

This year, two Minnesota-owned horses have made it into Saturday’s race: Zandon and Zozos. Zozos’ owner, Barry Butzow, joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about Zozos and the opportunity to compete in one of the country’s biggest sporting events.

A human in Colorado has tested positive for bird flu. What’s that mean for transmission? We asked a University of Minnesota expert about it. A former Ukraine Peace Corps member talked about how a sleepy Peace Corps alumni page has turned into a crisis helpline. We heard how office space real estate is making a comeback along with other business stories from Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal reporter Patrick Rehkamp. And the St. Paul Civic Symphony celebrates its relationship with a sister orchestra in Nagasaki, Japan.

A new report from JLL Real Estate found that office leasing deals in the Twin Cites are picking back up to levels not seen before the pandemic.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal reporter Patrick Rehkamp joined host Cathy Wurzer for more on this story and other top business stories from the week.

This weekend, the St. Paul Civic Symphony will be performing Minnesota-based composer Steve Heitzig’s new piece, “Green Hope After Black Rain,” in their annual Mother's Day concert at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul.

It marks the symphony’s 75th anniversary and celebrates its relationship with a sister orchestra in Nagasaki, Japan. Heitzig dedicates the piece to atomic bomb survivors.

He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk more about the upcoming performance.

Since the avian flu was first detected in Minnesota in March, nearly 3 million birds are known to have been infected and subsequently destroyed. Officials have repeatedly said humans are at low risk, but a man in Colorado has tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Carol Cardona, professor and endowed chair in avian health at the University of Minnesota Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, spoke with host Cathy Wurzer about what this means for human transmission.

The sun is finally out Minnesota and warmer days are ahead — finally. In fact, there will be a couple of days of spring before summery temperatures hit. Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner to get the full weather report.

Outside of Ukraine, international leaders are making plans to send more aid to the county under siege since Russia invaded. Here in Minnesota, former Peace Corps members who were stationed in Ukraine are mobilizing to help wherever they can.

Jamie Hopkins joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about how a sleepy Facebook page of retired Peace Corps volunteers has turned into a crisis helpline.

Listen to to the full show on Minnesota Now.

Minneapolis-based author Kelly Barnhill is now releasing not one but TWO new books - one for young adults and another for adults called “When Women were Dragons.” Barnhill sat down with MPR editor Euan Kerr to talk about her new work.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a serious strain on healthcare systems across Minnesota. From hospitals to ambulances - staff, resources and care were stretched so thin. Kelly Asche is a research associate with the Center for Rural Policy and Development. He joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk more about the impact.