Minnesota Now

After a weeklong break, state lawmakers are back in session Tuesday, with five weeks to go in this year’s legislative session.  There are a lot of bills up in the air, and MPR News reporter Brian Bakst discusses what to expect for bills related to taxes, public safety, education, and more. Cathy Wurzer hosts.

Noor Kids is working to make children and their families excited about Ramadan. It hopes to engage young people in important religious and cultural traditions. Cathy spoke with Amin Aaser, founder and executive director of Noor Kids.

Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm joins host Cathy Wurzer to explain the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Twin Cities.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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Last week, Rep. Ilhan Omar held a community conversation about Afghan refugee resettlement and relocation at North Community High School. After the Taliban seized control of Kabul last fall, many Afghans found their way to Minnesota and were assisted by social service organizations and state agencies to find shelter. Most organizations offer around six months of support to refugees. For refugees who arrived in Minnesota shortly after the fall, that assistance may run out soon. Hibah Ansari is a reporter for Sahan Journal and has been following the story closely and joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

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Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in Minnesota, but it’s most prevalent in women 50 and older. Only five percent of all cases are people younger than 40. But for those younger women, a diagnosis is pretty lonely— like you have no one to turn to.

Sarah Beckmann and Anna Weisenberger were matched through The Firefly Sisterhood back in 2015, when they were 29. Anna had just been diagnosed, and Sarah had gone through it a few years prior. Now - seven years later- their connection continues.

A St. Cloud, Minn., resident who was among the first women to run the Boston Marathon was back in Boston Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of her historic feat.

Val Rogosheske ran the race in 1972, the first year organizers began admitting women. She was part of a small group that year — she was one of eight to register — and didn't have much experience.

"Apparently the other seven women had already run marathons and had actually gone under three hours and 30 minutes for the race, which is a pretty fast time. And I had never run a marathon before,” she told MPR News.

However, she found a lot of encouragement along the route.

"Male runners were so wonderful and supportive. And all the people along the way were supportive. Back 50 years ago there weren't the organized aid stations that there are now. So people would stand there with their garden hose running,” she said.

Rogosheske said she’d run Monday’s race with her two daughters.

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Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson from the sports talk show Ten Thousand Takes join host Cathy Wurzer to provide this week’s Minnesota sports update. They talk about the Timberwolves’ latest win, the playoffs and more.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota toss an estimated $16 million worth of safe, unexpired medication every year.

In 2019, students at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota helped to launch a medical repository with donations of unexpired medications from healthcare facilities that would otherwise be thrown away. Those medications can be given to patients who are uninsured or unable to pay for them.

Rachel Rockwell, assistant director of pharmacy operations at Roundtable Rx, talked to host Cathy Wurzer about the medical repository.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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St. Cloud’s East African population is growing, and about 70 percent of the region’s Somali residents live below the federal poverty line, reports MPR News’ Kirsti Marohn.

Shirwa Adan, executive director of the Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization, helps members of the community address language and cultural barriers and apply for jobs and housing.

Advocates say that home ownership helps to fight poverty, sustain families and community.

At the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, history professor Chad Montrie traced how racism has shaped Minnesota for his forthcoming book, “Whiteness in Plain View: A History of Racial Exclusion in Minnesota.” MPR News editor Brandt Williams sat down with Montrie to discuss his book, and what the author means by the word, “whiteness.” The interview is part of the MPR News North Star Journey series.