Minnesota Now

State lawmakers are considering creating a new state office focused on stopping fraud. That proposal passed in the Senate with support from both parties. But in the House, it's been stalled. We’ll learn about the sticking points and where things stand.

Minneapolis has been in the global spotlight this year, again. We'll learn how the city's tourism agency is trying to convince people to visit after the ICE surge.

The Trump Administration canceled a report about the health of nature across the country. But scientists are publishing it anyway. We'll talk to a Minnesota professor who's part of the project.

It's syrup season! We'll head north to hear about the joys of tapping trees and boiling sap in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Dicey (The Floor Song)” by Bryn Battani and our Song of the Day was “Seven Corners” by Mucilage.

Many Minnesotans are currently experiencing the sweet spot of a generations-old springtime tradition. The time to tap for maple syrup comes each spring, as the temperature is wobbling between freezing overnight and thawing during the day.

This time is not just about making a sweet treat to add to our pancakes. It's a long process that invites people to pause to observe details of the earth waking up from winter. That's what an upcoming event in Grand Rapids, Minn., aims to encourage. The Forest History Center is celebrating this spring with an event called Maple, Music and Phenology.

The center's program supervisor, Bryan French, is boiling gallons upon gallons of maple sap to make syrup for the event on Saturday afternoon. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Scientists are taking feedback on a report about the health of nature across the country. It’s the first of its kind, and it started as a federal government project under the Biden Administration. When President Trump took office and canceled the report last year, its authors decided to finish it anyway.

University of Minnesota associate professor of forest resources Danielle Ignace is a lead author of a chapter about the human causes of environmental change. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Minneapolis started out the first months of 2026 in the global spotlight. The ICE surge brought an unprecedented number of federal agents to the city, which led to illegal detainments and harassment by agents, and the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti. Many of the city’s residents got a lot of attention nationally for their organized resistance against ICE actions and mutual aid efforts, as well.

Meet Minneapolis, the city’s tourism agency, is tackling how to present itself to tourists after months of upheaval. The agency is launching a new tourism campaign this month.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis about his plans.

Combatting fraud is one of the central topics at the State Capitol this legislative session. One of the marquee bills, establishing an Office of the Inspector General, would create an independent agency to investigate fraud in state programs.

Rep. Matt Norris, DFL-Blaine, is the author of the bill in the House. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about why he thinks the state needs an Office of the Inspector General, sticking points around law enforcement and getting the bill passed.

The Trump administration has sent ICE agents to more than a dozen airports across the country. We'll hear from a travel expert on what role federal agents could play at these airports and what he is seeing at MSP.

State lawmakers are taking up a bill that would limit zoning rules in order to potentially get more homes built in Minnesota. It's the third time supporters have tried to get legislation of this kind passed.

Also at the Legislature, a bill to repeal César Chavez Day in Minnesota. It comes after an investigation revealed allegations of sexual abuse.

And the Minnesota’s sports world is mourning the loss of hockey reporter Jessi Pierce today. We'll check in with our sports contributors who crossed paths with Pierce.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide” by The Cactus Blossoms and our Song of the Day was “Castle Danger” by Tim Dallman.

ICE agents showed up to work at airports across the U.S. Monday morning. The Trump administration says agents are there to help move along slow security lines due largely to the dwindling of TSA agents. Thousands of TSA agents are working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown. The federal government has not mentioned Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as one of the airports that will see ICE agents Monday.

Kyle Potter, editor of the website Thrifty Traveler, said in an interview with MPR News host Nina Moini that he visited the airport early Monday morning, a typically busy time with long wait times to get through security checkpoints, and he didn’t see any ICE agents — or long security lines.

State lawmakers moved Monday toward a quick repeal of a law celebrating the late labor movement leader César Chavez following reports that he had sexually abused women and girls.

A group of legislators and community leaders said the Legislature should take rapid action to pull the March 31 honor to Chavez from the books.

Lawmakers are busy this week to have committees act on policy bills in the narrowly split Legislature. Despite that House DFL leaders pushed to advance it on the day it was introduced through an agreement with Republicans to accelerate consideration. 

The bill passed 129-0.

The New York Times published a lengthy investigative story last week that included on-the-record accusations of rape and child sexual abuse by women who worked around Chavez in the farm worker rights movement. Chavez died in 1993.

Efforts are also underway in St. Paul to rename a road and a school named after Chavez. Mayor Kaohly Vang Her said those could take longer as city officials are aiming to draw community feedback on which name should replace Chavez in those spaces.

Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, said many are still reeling from the news of allegations against Chavez. But she said it’s important that Minnesota lawmakers work together to drop the holiday in his honor.

“It was gutting. It still is. We're grieving but when we grieve, we don't let go of each other. We actually hold on to each other even stronger. And this is not a weakness for us,” Pérez-Vega said. “This repeal is empowering, and it's to show strength and to leave a message for not just Minnesotans, but across the nation right now, to speak up, take action, and let's bring healing.”

Emilia González Avalos, executive director of Unidos Minnesota, said it’s important that the state take action.

“Honoring our history does not mean we stop telling the truth about it. It means that we tell the whole truth because our communities, especially our children, deserve nothing less,” González Avalos said. 

“Repealing César Chavez Day is about drawing a clear line that no legacy, no matter how powerful, no matter how important, stands above the safety and dignity of our children and our community,” she continued. “We can honor farm workers. We can honor the movement — La Causa. We can honor the struggle of labor rights, but we don't have to enshrine a single figure in a way that leaves no room for truth, complexity or accountability.”

Republicans agreed it was the correct move to act fast.

“It’s an unfortunate circumstance in front of us but it’s the right thing to do,” said Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville.

A Senate committee has a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, meaning a vote in that chamber is likely this week as well.

Gov. Tim Walz told WCCO Radio last week that he plans to withhold an annual proclamation but he can't make the law change independently. Instead, it would be up to state lawmakers.

"This certainly clouds that legacy, and we should reassess it,” Walz said. “I would hope they would do something on that, but we won't be putting out anything. And I just want to make sure I stay in line with what the Legislature and statute says."

Governors in other states that observe Chavez's birthday have said they will not do so this year in light of the accusations. 

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, there is a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call Esperanza United's confidential, bilingual crisis line at 651-772-1611.

Use the audio player above to hear a conversation with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini and Rep. Pérez-Vega.

Correction (March 24, 2026): An earlier version of this story misspelled Jon Koznick’s last name.

Minnesota’s sports world is mourning the loss of hockey reporter Jessi Pierce. She and her three children were killed in a house fire this weekend at their home in White Bear Lake. Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson worked closely with Pierce and shared their remembrances.

Plus, they shared the latest in basketball, including the Timberwolves big win in Boston and the start of the Minnesota high school boy’s basketball tournament.

Monday afternoon state lawmakers will discuss the latest attempt to get more homes built in Minnesota by limiting local zoning rules. Supporters say those rules block development, making it harder for people to find homes they can afford.

This is the third year in a row that a group of housing advocates and Republican and DFL lawmakers tried to loosen zoning restrictions from the state Capitol. The previous bills failed, with opposition from local government leaders. This year’s version includes some compromises.

One group that fought previous bills is the League of Minnesota Cities, which is now taking a softer stance. Joining Minnesota Now to explain the shift is League of Minnesota Cities lobbyist Daniel Lightfoot.