Minnesota Now

A group of former diplomats and foreign policy experts shared a stage Tuesday in Minneapolis to discuss a sobering topic: the potential spread of nuclear weapons around the world.

The “Great Decisions Conference” by the organization Global Minnesota comes during a tense moment in global security. Nuclear weapons are a major part of the equation in the United States’ and Israel’s war with Iran. And a nuclear arms treaty between the U.S. and Russia expired earlier this year.

Mary Curtin, one of the panelists and a former diplomat-in-residence at the University in Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the gathering.

Film buffs around the world know the North Dakota city of Fargo thanks to the 1996 classic by the same name. The Coen Brothers filmed their darkly comedic, crime drama in Minnesota and filled it with scenes of bitter cold and exaggerated accents to represent their home state.

The film turned 30 in March around the same time that Fargo's movie theater celebrated 100 years. The theater is commemorating both those birthdays Tuesday with a screening of Fargo and a Q&A event with Swedish actor Peter Stormare. He played the bleach-blonde, silent kidnapper Gaer Grimsrud, who's most infamous for his dealings with a woodchipper at the end of the film.

Stormare talked with MPR News Fargo/Moorhead reporter Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval about the film's 30th anniversary.

We're keeping track of potential severe weather that could make its way to the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota Monday afternoon. There's possibility for large hail, damaging winds and a tornado threat. We'll check in with meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber.

This weekend marked five years since the killing of Daunte Wright by police. The city of Brooklyn Center promised there'd be changes. We'll take a closer look at whether those changes have actually been made.

The Trump administration is making more moves in an effort to assert more control over elections. One of those is the SAVE Act. We'll learn about that.

Plus, a preview of two new exhibits centering Native artists at the Textile Center in Minneapolis.

And we’ll get a preview of WNBA draft night as the Lynx look to remake their roster.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Got My Mojo Working” by George “Mojo” Buford. Our Song of the Day was “Wobbuffet” by room3.

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New Orleans Pelicans in their final game of the regular season last night. But for many fans, the main event was sitting courtside. Kevin Garnett returned to the Target Center for the first time in eight years.

The MVP played for Minnesota for 12 years starting in 1995, and again in 2015 for his final year before retirement. He’s beloved among many Wolves fans, but kept his distance from the team for years due to a sour relationship with former owner Glen Taylor.

Now that the franchise is under new ownership, Garnett has signed on as a team ambassador and the Wolves plan to retire his number 21 jersey.

Meanwhile, heading into draft night Monday, the Minnesota Lynx features a nearly entirely new roster. In the past weekend, the Lynx signed multiple players in free agency and also lost several players.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the program with those sports headlines and more.

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

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We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

Two new exhibits featuring Native artists from across the state opens Tuesday at the Textile Center in Minneapolis.

One exhibit, “TWO-SPIRIT STORIES”, brings together six different emerging, Two-Spirit artists to respond to the question: “What is your story?” Across their pieces, they offer diverse and intimate reflections on the prompt.

The second exhibit features 11 Dakota and Anishinaabe artists. From beadwork to canoes and baskets, “Mni Sóta: Traditions & Innovations” highlights the vast breadth of Native and textile art in traditional and contemporary ways.

Penny Kagigebi is the curator for community collaboration for “TWO-SPIRIT STORIES.” She is a direct descendant of the White Earth Ojibwe. Delina White is curator for “Mni Sóta: Traditions & Innovations” and is a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is also the founder of “IamAnishinaabe” fashion house as well as Native Nations Fashion Night.

Kagigebi and White joined Minnesota Now for a conversation about their exhibits.

Congress is back from spring break this week and the U.S. Senate is expected to debate the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE Act.

The legislation, which already passed the U.S. House, would set new federal standards for voting, including a new requirement that voters have "documentary proof of citizenship" in order to vote. The bill also requires states to hand over voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are firmly opposed.

This SAVE Act is just the latest effort by President Trump to assert more control over elections, as he continuously claims falsely that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Joining Minnesota Now to explain the bill and where it stands is University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs.

Members of Minnesota’s House of Representatives heard from a variety of business owners, think tank leaders and government officials to better understand the scope of “Operation Metro Surge” on the state’s economy.

State Rep. Cedrick Frazier, DFL- New Hope, is co-chair of the House Ways and Means committee, which held the hearing about the economic impact and also is the author of a bill for a $100 million economic relief program for businesses impacted by the surge.

Frazier spoke to MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon about the testimony he heard this morning and his effort to bring relief for businesses.

State lawmakers are getting involved in the financial crisis at Hennepin County Medical Center. Without action, the county warns the hospital could close by June. One lawmaker shared how he's trying to keep the busy Hennepin County trauma center open.

After the murder of George Floyd, local nonprofits were overwhelmed by millions of dollars of donations. How one is still working to redistribute that money.

And taxes are due next week! We got some last minute tips in the new episode of our series, Professional Help.

Plus, a 90-year tradition is returning to the Twin Cities after a hiatus: The International Festival of Minnesota.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Mexico” by 12 Rods. Our Song of the Day was “Sometimes, Not Always” by Mike Munson Trio.

We all need a little help to get through life sometimes. From everyday questions to more complex problems, we’re asking the experts to lend us a hand in our series called Professional Help.

The tax deadline is less than a week away, on April 15. If you haven’t completed your taxes yet, you are far from alone. Even David Horn, the Master of Business Taxation Director at the University of Minnesota, told producer Ellen Finn that he hadn’t completed his taxes just yet as early April rolled around. He has tips on how to get started, even if you’re running behind.

Imagine walking through a festival and to your right, you smell sambusas from Somalia. And then to your left you hear the music of a Mexican Mariachi band. That is the multicultural experience you can have this weekend at the International Festival of Minnesota.

If you grew up here or had kids here, you may remember attending its former namesake, the Festival of Nations. It ran nearly 90 years, and was the Midwest’s oldest and longest-running annual multicultural celebration. It drew 30,000 people to the RiverCentre when it was last held in 2019. Due to the pandemic and rising costs, the event came to an end. But now it is back and it kicks off Friday.

Steve Heckler is the executive director of the International Festival of Minnesota and he joined MPR News host Emily Bright to talk about this weekend’s celebrations.