Minnesota Now

It’s been one month since the war in Iran began. And financial concerns are growing for farmers as we inch closer to spring planting season.

Dan Glessing is the president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. He told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini when the war began that he was hopeful the war would be short-lived. Moini checked back in with Glessing to talk about what economic impacts Minnesota’s farmers could see as a critical time in agriculture approaches.

Minneapolis is considering building a new police training center.

And U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison is raising concerns about her visit to an immigration detention center in Texas, where some Minnesotans detained by ICE are being held.

Thousands are expected to gather in St. Paul on Saturday for the third No Kings rally to protest President Trump's policies. St. Paul police shared more about their safety plans.

Plus, we are just beginning to understand the wide-ranging impact of the ICE surge here in Minnesota. A new survey has some insight.

And excitement is growing for the U of M's women's basketball team and its journey to a championship. We spoke to the high school coach of a star player.

It was one of those sports moments that felt like magic: a close game that would decide who went home, and who moved on in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Then Gopher guard Amaya Battle got the ball and shot a perfect, game-winning swish with less than a second left on the clock.

Battle’s former coaches, Tara Starks and Alexis Garcia, watched from Hopkins High School as the University of Minnesota beat Ole Miss, earning a ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than 20 years.

Hopkins head girls basketball coach Tara Starks joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Battle and the big upcoming game.

Findings from one of the first comprehensive surveys of the impacts of the surge of federal agents are out — and they show there were broad negative effects on people in the Twin Cities.

The U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California San Diego is behind the research. Between mid-February and early March, they surveyed more than 700 people in Minneapolis and more than 600 people in St. Paul.

Tom Wong, the director of the center, joined Minnesota Now to break down the economic, health, education, and public safety impacts the study found.

Tens of thousands of people from across Minnesota and across the country are expected in St. Paul on Saturday for the No Kings rally.

The political protest at the State Capitol is the flagship event on a day when thousands of other rallies are planned across the country. The event is protesting Trump administration policies. It will feature local officials and activists, alongside celebrities like Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez.

This is the third No Kings rally since President Donald Trump took office and organizers expect Saturday’s event to be the biggest.

State and local law enforcement are making security plans to keep the event here in St. Paul safe. St. Paul Police Deputy Chief Kurt Hallstrom spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the plans.

The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote Thursday on funding for a new police and emergency responder training facility.

A proposal before the council would allocate close to $5.6 million to acquire land for the facility. The money would come out of other parts of the city budget, including animal control and traffic safety.

MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox joins Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to provide an update.

Read the latest on this story at MPRnews.org.

Minnesota officials are suing the Trump administration for access to evidence in the three shootings by federal officers.

Plus, the city of Brooklyn Park is having a group home boom, but city leaders are questioning how well some of these facilities are caring for vulnerable residents.

Two women in Minnesota died in domestic violence incidents 12 days apart. Their cases bring to light the legal limitations of orders for protection.

Plus, a new business incubator has opened in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul.

Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner shared how long the warm weather may last.

And an event series uses headscarves as a starting place for connection and storytelling.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “butterflies” by runo plum. “Bona Fide“ by Charlieboy was the Song of the Day.

The clothes people wear often tell stories about who we are and that can be especially true with what we wear on our heads. Headscarves, headdresses and other head coverings hold religious and cultural significance across many groups. For years, Rose McGee has gathered Minnesota women together to share about their lives, backgrounds and style, with headscarves as a starting place.

She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about a Headscarf Story Circle happening in Rochester Saturday. The event is the second of a three-part series organized by the Minnesota Humanities Center and Rochester Women’s Magazine.

A new retail and business incubator space has officially opened in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. Rondo Exchange on Selby Avenue is now home to four new businesses that span photography, visual art, self-care products and digital illustration.

The Rondo Community Land Trust is behind the incubator, which aims to provide retail space and support to creative entrepreneurs. The land trust's larger mission is to foster community wealth and stability in Rondo, a community that was fractured more than 60 years ago when the construction of I-94 displaced many long-term residents from the predominantly-Black neighborhood.

Mikeya Griffin, president and CEO of the Rondo Community Land Trust, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Rondo Exchange.

This month, two women were killed in domestic violence incidents 12 days apart. Ashley Kittelson was allegedly killed by her husband in International Falls on March 6.

Jennifer Marsaw and her 5-year-old son, were allegedly killed by her husband in Anoka County on March 18. Marsaw’s husband has been charged with two counts of murder.

Their two cases share a common thread. Both women filed orders for protection from the men accused of killing them.

Violence Free Minnesota co-directors Nikki Engle and Katie Kramer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about legal systems of protection and how they’re advocating to make those systems function better.

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. The number to call Minnesota Day One is (866) 223-1111 or you can text (612) 399-9995.