Minnesota Now

The Minnesota State High School League wrestling tournament looked a little different this year. That's because, for the first-time ever, there was a girls division.

Edison High School senior Nari Miller took home the championship title in the 152lb. weight class and joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her path to the tournament and what's next for her after she graduates this spring.

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

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Art tells us the story of who we are. At least that’s what Tim Gihring believes. He is the host of the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s award-winning podcast called The Object. The fourth season launched yesterday. It’s about the surprising true stories behind the artwork in the museum’s collection. One listener described the podcast as being like a private tour of Mia that is both lighthearted and informative. Tim Gihring joined host Cathy Wurzer on the show to let listeners know what they can look forward to this season.

Youa Vang has been a music and culture writer for years in the Twin cities and she talks with Cathy Wurzer about a gig honoring Grant Hart, a new recognition for Annie Mack and a new song from Annie Enneking.

Dr. Peter Hayden's return to the United States after serving in Vietnam is, sadly, a tale many have heard before. The young man said he found himself back in Minneapolis without a home, no plan for his future and a drinking problem. And then, as Dr. Hayden says, God took over. A drinking-and-driving accident in front of a police station found him in treatment and while the 12 steps worked for him, he also noticed he was always the only person of color in the room. He wanted to change that.  

The Veteran now had a path forward. Dr. Hayden said used the G.I. Bill to help pay for his undergraduate degree and went to receive a master's in public administration and a doctorate in psychology. Then in 1976 he started Turning Point, an African American agency that focuses on providing culturally-specific substance use disorder treatment as well as housing and support services in North Minneapolis.

To date, Turning Point has helped more than 24,000 people.

Last month, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers announced that moving forward, the Diversity, Inclusivity and Racial Equity Award will bear his name. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Now to talk about the honor.

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

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MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic joined Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Now to break down the latest on the police contract, yesterday's ruling on the number of required officers and Mayor Frey's announcement on a new proposal to end no-knock warrants.

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Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

A recent report that looked at the response to the unrest after George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis police showed that Minneapolis officials were disorganized and did not follow their own emergency protocols when violence erupted during protests. Prior to the trial of the former officer who killed Floyd, various state agencies held a news conference to announce Operation Safety Net. Officials said it was a temporary effort to keep people and property safe during the trail of former officer Chauvin, but a recent report from the MIT Technology Review said it went well beyond its stated goals and strategies. Sam Richards is an independent investigative reporter who co-authored the article investigating Operation Safety Net for MIT Technology Review. His piece with Tate Ryan-Mosley, The secret police: Cops built a shadowy surveillance machine in Minnesota after George Floyd’s murder, was published on March 3rd and is the first in a series they plan to release looking into public safety and leadership in Minnesota.

The heartbreaking videos of bombings in Ukraine added to other bad news we've waded through recently is a lot for many of us to take in. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 68 percent of U.S. adults feel exhausted by the news cycle.

Host Cathy Wurzer talked with University of Minnesota professor emeritus Pauline Boss about how we can cope. Boss is the author of the book “The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a time of pandemic and change.”

Eight years ago, Roman Polishchuk was an exchange student at Hastings High School. Currently, he is the head of sales for the American company Join It, living and working in Lviv — a major city on the western side of Ukraine. Polishchuk joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about his experience over the last two weeks living through the war that is unfolding in his home country.

She's no stranger to television and radio but a Twin Cities mother, activist, author and Emmy Award-winning comedian added another title to her already-packed resume over the weekend. She can now call herself Woman of the Year.

Yesterday, USA Today announced its list of women -- one from every state -- that have made a significant impact in their communities. The program is a continuation of Women of the Century, a 2020 project that commemorates the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.  

This year, Minnesota is represented by Sheletta Brundidge, the powerhouse talent behind media company Sheletta Makes Me Laugh where she focuses on advancing Black creators through her podcast network.

Sheletta joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Now to talk about the honor.

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

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

MPR News on Monday launched a series of stories exploring the history and culture of Minnesota communities. MPR News editor Brandt Williams joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the reporting behind North Star Journey. He also talked about his report on Minnesota names.