Minnesota Now

A 12-day hunger strike over a trash incinerator in downtown Minneapolis is over — but a campaign to close the facility will continue.

Activists have pushed for years to close the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, or HERC. They say the facility next to Target Field is endangering the health of residents of the area, including a predominantly Black neighborhood on the city’s north side.

In 2023, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to shut down the HERC between 2028 and 2040. Environmental and labor groups are pushing the commissioners to commit to a deadline.

Sahan Journal reporter Andrew Hazzard has been covering the HERC for years and he joined Minnesota Now to talk more about the latest developments.

Audits of two high-profile Minneapolis police investigations were released Wednesday morning. They show where the department fell short. We learn about the city auditor’s findings in the death of Allison Lussier and the shooting of Davis Moturi.

State lawmakers are looking at the future of seclusion rooms in elementary schools. We'll learn what they are and how they impact children and teachers.

Plus, on Earth Day, a state climate official shared where Minnesota stands in its climate goals.

The University of Minnesota Morris is taking a unique step to go green. We learned how they are using thermal batteries.

And it may be a record-warm Earth Day. We checked in with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard.

“Deeper Blues” by Cornbread Harris was the Minnesota Music Minute. “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” by Marvin Gaye was the Song of the Day.

Wednesday is Earth Day, which started in 1970 as a protest against pollution and habitat loss. Climate change was not a household term at the time, but it's now a number-one priority for people concerned about the wellbeing of the planet.

The state of Minnesota is chasing a set of goals to tackle the causes of climate change and cushion its impact on communities. The state is trying to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It is not on track to meet those goals, according to a recent presentation the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave to state lawmakers.

To learn more about the state’s climate plans and what it will take to get on track, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Katrina Kessler, commissioner of the MPCA and chair of the Minnesota Climate Change Subcabinet.

One of the state's greenest university campuses is getting even greener.

The University of Minnesota Morris reached carbon neutrality when it comes to the electricity that powers its campus, thanks to two wind turbines named Bert and Ernie. Now, it's taking steps to decarbonize the source of heat in its buildings.

That's led Morris to a new thermal battery that it began piloting in March. It is believed to be the first campus in the U.S. to use this technology for heating.

UMN Morris Sustainability Director Troy Goodnough joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how it works.

Seclusion rooms have been used in Minnesota for decades, as a last-resort response to student behavioral issues in the classroom. The use of these solitary rooms was banned for some of the youngest learners statewide in 2023, after they were deemed harmful and ineffective. But now, the Minnesota Senate is considering reversing that ban for children in grade three and under until 2036. That’s because, according to some administrators, schools need more time to plan alternatives to seclusion rooms.

Minnesota School Psychologists Association President-elect Tascha Just joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share context on seclusion rooms and the conflict surrounding the ban.

Federal immigration agents detained more than 70 children in Minnesota during the surge over the winter. Nearly half of those children have since left the U.S., according to a new story by Sahan Journal. We'll learn more about what happened to those children and their families.

Some Minnesota companies have made money from the war in Iran. We'll talk with a MinnPost reporter who looked into defense contracts with the military.

It's the season of senioritis for college seniors who are looking for their next steps. We'll talk with a career counselor about how AI is changing the search for entry level jobs.

10 years ago, the world lost a superstar. We'll hear stories about Prince and a new song from the vault.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “With This Tear” by Prince.

The war in Iran led to a boom in the defense industry in Minnesota. That means many companies have increased income as a result of the war, according to new reporting from MinnPost.

MinnPost data journalist Shadi Bushra spoke to MPR News Nina Moini about his reporting.

It is the time of year when college seniors are itching to graduate and looking forward to their first jobs out of school. But they're facing uncertainty in the job market. In fall 2025, a widely watched survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicted a bad employment outlook for spring graduates. But on Monday, an updated survey showed a turnaround, with employers expected to boost new-graduate hires.

Katie Jolicoeur, director of Career Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato, is helping soon-to-be college grads navigate the job market. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the advice she gives them.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 10 years since the death of Minnesota’s most beloved cultural icon, Prince. Just before 10 the morning of April 21st, 2016, he was found unresponsive at his studios in Paisley Park after a fentanyl overdose. He was 57 years old.

As the world processed the news, fans assembled outside Paisley Park and First Avenue. The downtown Minneapolis nightclub later became the scene of an all-night dance party to honor the artist.

Music journalist Andrea Swensson, formerly of The Current, was both at Paisley Park and First Avenue, helping share his legacy with the world. Andrea went on to write a book about Prince. She also hosted the official Prince podcast.

She joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to reflect on Prince’s life and legacy.

A new analysis by Sahan Journal reporters Becky Dernbach and Cynthia Tu gives us the most thorough account yet of what happened to the dozens of children who were detained during the federal immigration operation in Minnesota. Dernbach reported that more than 70 children were detained between Dec. 1 and March 10. MPR News host Nina Moini talked to Dernbach about their findings.

Read more at MPRnews.org.