Fifty years ago Wednesday, Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army and the U.S. war in Southeast Asia came to an end. In the aftermath, more than three million people to fled their homes in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Many eventually came to the United States and Minnesota. Now, a group of writers is using poetry and creative writing to document the stories of Lao refugees and their descendants over the last 50 years.

Bryan Thao Worra is leading this effort by the SEALit Center, a literary organization, and the Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota. They received one of 14 grants from the Minnesota Historical Society to recognize the state’s Southeast Asian diasporas. Worra is the Lao Minnesotan poet laureate and chair of the community board of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans.

He joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the project — and why poetry and prose are his chosen tools for working with history.

President Donald Trump has now been in office for 100 days. He held the first rally of his current tenure last night in Michigan to mark the milestone.

MPR News has been fanning out across the state to find out what Minnesotans think of Trump’s job performance so far. MPR News editor Annie Baxter spearheaded the effort and joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

The Twin Cities missed out on the severe weather that came through the state earlier this week. But the weather ahead has the potential for rain and temperatures in the 80s. MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins MPR News host Nina Moini with the forecast.

The race to fill Democratic Sen. Tina Smith's seat in Washington just got more crowded. U.S. Rep. Angie Craig announced Tuesday she is pursuing the job, joining a growing field of candidates. We find out what this means for Minnesota politics.

We hear from Minnesotans about President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office.

Plus, a Minnesota medical system is taking racial information out of pregnancy tests and screenings in an effort to remove bias.

And two podcast hosts are keeping track of new medical breakthroughs in the state.

A new girls flag football league launched last weekend. We talk to a father-daughter duo who are part of one of the fastest growing sports in the country.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Who Walks in When I Walk Out” by Sugar on the Roof. The Song of the Day was “Return of the Swamp Thing” by Oof & BRUTE.

Between Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota Medical School, and companies like 3M, it's no secret that Minnesota is a hub for medical startups and innovation. But it often takes years for new treatments and practices to hit the mainstream.

Two Minnesotans in the health care industry started a podcast called “Patient Innovations” to inform patients and medical providers about the cutting-edge medicine coming out of the state. Co-hosts Rashmi Kandwal and Mary MacCarthy joined Minnesota Now to talk about the podcast.

There haven’t been many options for girls who want to play football on a team. But that’s changing thanks to the explosive rise of flag football, one of the nation’s fastest-growing high school sports.

Fifteen states have created official high school programs. While Minnesota is not one of them, 51 schools across the state are now competing in a league supported by the Minnesota Vikings.

Sartell High School head football and flag football coach Scott Hentges and his daughter, Maya Hentges, joined Minnesota Now to talk about their flag football team and the impact its having at high schools around the state.

M Health Fairview says it’s found a way to help eliminate racial and ethnic bias in pregnancy and delivery care by removing race as a factor for various screenings and tests related to pregnancy.

By July, all pregnant patients at M Health Fairview will be universally screened for various maternal and fetal conditions. That includes diseases that are usually prominent in a certain racial group, like sickle cell disease or spina bifida.

The goal is to make sure no patient gets missed for diseases that may normally only be screened for people of certain backgrounds.

Melissa Hassler, the director of nurse midwives at M Health Fairview, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the changes.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig announced Tuesday she will skip a run for a fifth term and instead throw her hat into the race for U.S. Senate.

Craig is among a few prominent DFL candidates hoping to succeed U.S. Sen. Tina Smith in 2026. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and former state Senate Minority Leader Melisa López Franzen have also joined the race.

MPR News senior politics reporter Dana Ferguson joined Minnesota Now to discuss the news and the state of the race.

Republicans held onto a state Senate seat after a special election. Keri Heintzeman was elected Tuesday to replace Republican lawmaker Justin Eichorn, who resigned a month ago after criminal charges.

Heintzeman won the seat with nearly 60 percent of the vote. She will represent the Nisswa area in the Legislature. Senator-elect Heintzeman joins MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her priorities.

Severe thunderstorms are forecasted to move in across Minnesota, with a significant threat of tornadoes, heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail. We'll talk to MPR meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber about what to expect and how to prepare.

The rate of Black home ownership has fallen over the past 50 years in Minnesota. We'll learn more about a new study examining disparities with Census data.

Plus, the University of Minnesota is facing accusations that it mishandled plagiarism allegations against a star professor. We'll hear the latest.

A new program is bringing dance education to elementary schools in Minneapolis.

And the Timberwolves are one win away from moving forward in the playoffs. We'll get the latest sports news from contributors Wally and Eric.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “RED EYE” by anni xo and our Song of the Day was “Lights On” by Enemy in the Sky.