Minnesota Now

Gas prices across Minnesota are climbing as global oil markets react to escalating tensions in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The current average price of a gallon of gas in Minnesota is sitting around $3.25. That’s jumped up 42 cents from last week, according to AAA. And diesel prices have seen an even bigger increase over the past week.

To help us understand the outlook for Minnesotans at the pump, Tyler Schipper joined Minnesota Now. He’s an associate professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas.

In the six months since the Annunciation Church and School mass shooting, parents have been mobilizing. Last week, the Annunciation Light Alliance launched at the state capitol. It’s a nonpartisan advocacy group of 160 Annunciation parents pushing for change that will keep kids safe. One family part of that work is taking another approach.

Mike Moyski and Jackie Flavin are the parents of 10-year-old Harper Moyski, who was one of two children who were shot and killed in the mass shooting.

In the last six months, they've welcomed more than 20 state lawmakers into their home — Republicans and Democrats — to have one-on-one conversations about gun violence and school safety. Mike and Jackie sat down with me for a conversation about how they’re working to make sure no other family has to go through what they’ve gone through.

The parents of Harper Moyski, a child killed in the Annunciation school shooting in Minneapolis, have met with dozens of lawmakers in their home as they grieve. They say they're doing everything they can to end gun violence.

A group of former top DHS lawyers say an ICE policy violates the Constitution. We heard more from one of them.

And Stillwater's Jessie Diggins will retire later this month as one of the most decorated cross-country skiers in U.S, history. She shared her reflections on the end of an amazing career.

Plus, did you know Minnesota is the most represented state in the Paralympics? We'll talk to one para-nordic skier preparing to compete.

The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina kick off Friday. There are several Minnesotans vying for a gold medal. Max Nelson is 21-years-old and graduated from Madame High School. He was diagnosed at two years old with a rare genetic eye disease that left him visually impaired. Now he's competing in his second games in Para-Nordic Skiing. Nelson joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini from Italy to talk about his training for the games.

The U.S. House is expected to vote Thursday on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Senate Democrats have held up funding to push for restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol. One of the changes they want to see is a ban on federal agents entering homes without a warrant signed by a judge.

A leaked Department of Homeland Security memo from 2025 told agents they can force entry with only what’s called an administrative warrant. Legal experts have said that guidance is illegal in that it violates the U.S. Constitution.

A group of former top DHS lawyers from Republican and Democrat administrations made this argument in a New York Times opinion piece. Kara Lynum is part of that group.

She was acting DHS general counsel and deputy general counsel under former President Joe Biden. Before that, she was an immigration lawyer in Minnesota.

She spoke to host Nina Moini more about the issue.

Hundreds of cheese makers from across the world are gathering in the dairyland — Madison, Wisconsin — for the World Championship Cheese Contest. Taking place Mar. 3-5, it’s a prestigious competition that honors the best every type of cheese imaginable.

Among the competitors is Prairie Farms Dairy, which manufactures cheese in Faribault. But it’s not your ordinary manufacturing plant. The cheese is aged in caves.

Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke to the head cheesemaker at the plant, Francisco Zepeda.

A national Latino philanthropy organization created a new fund to support Latino communities in states that are experiencing a heavy immigration enforcement presence. Its first focus is Minnesota. Christian Arana is the Vice President of civic power and policy with the Latino Community Foundation, based in California. He recently visited Minnesota to help oversee distribution of the new fund and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Tense exchanges played out Wednesday in a congressional hearing on fraud in Minnesota. Governor Tim Walz and Keith Ellison testified. MPR News reporter Dana Ferguson shared what she heard in Washington.

A Minnesotan was among the soldiers killed in an air strike in the Middle East. We learned about Nicole Amor.

Plus, a national philanthropic organization is creating a new fund to support Latino communities impacted by the ICE surge.

A judge will soon decide whether to hold the U.S. Attorney in Minnesota in contempt for violating court orders in immigration cases.

And we talked to the “big cheese” who is creating award-winning cheese in caves in southern Minnesota.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Not Today” by Guytano and “Closer to Fine” by Indigo Girls was the Song of the Day.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before a congressional oversight committee Wednesday on fraud in state programs. The hearing drifted into debates over immigration law. There were heated moments and plenty of terse exchanges. MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson was at the hearing in Washington, D.C. and joined Minnesota Now with details.

People across Minnesota and the country are mourning an Army Reserve member from White Bear Lake who was one of six service members killed in Kuwait amid the ongoing war with Iran.

MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox joined Minnesota Now to share more about Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, who was killed in an airstrike on Sunday, according to the military.