Minnesota Now

This week has been soggy for much of Minnesota. Whether you are celebrating some long-awaited rain or bummed about the dark and cloudy days, MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner has both good and bad news for every perspective. He joins Minnesota Now host Nina Moini with the forecast.

On Wednesday, federal employees will receive their first paychecks since the nation's government shut down more than two weeks ago. The money they are taking home is significantly less than what they normally get. As the shutdown continues, food shelf leaders in the state are preparing for potentially increased demand.

At the same time, a national leader on ending hunger in the United States happens to be visiting Minnesota. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot is CEO of the nonprofit, Feeding America. She met with Second Harvest Heartland CEO Sarah Moberg to discuss the shutdown and other issues facing their network of organizations. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with them both on Minnesota Now.

Mayors across the Twin Cities metro and beyond are calling for the Minnesota Legislature to repeal a state law that prevents cities from enacting their own gun regulations.

The call comes in the wake of the August shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School. Two children were killed, and dozens of others were wounded during a back-to-school mass.

MPR News host Nina Moini talked with one of the mayors pushing for a state law change, Kim Norton of Rochester.

A new show on Apple TV features Minnesota’s Dallas Goldtooth taking on a much more serious role than what you may have seen him in. Goldtooth is Diné and is a member of Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton, Minn. He currently lives in Chicago.

Goldtooth’s roots are in comedy, with roles in TV shows “Reservation Dogs” and “Rutherford Falls.” His newest role is in the show “The Last Frontier,” where he plays the character Hutch, a U.S. Marshal tasked with protecting his Alaskan community in the aftermath of a prisoner transport plane crash.

Goldtooth sat down for an in-studio conversation with MPR Native News editor Leah Lemm and MPR Native News reporter Melissa Olson.

Municipal elections are around the corner and one seat that's contested is the mayor of St. Paul. We got the scoop on that race ahead of an MPR News and Pioneer Press debate Tuesday afternoon.

We found out how the federal government shutdown might affect MEA week travel.

We learned how state law enforcement is responding to problems with the use of breathalyzers.

Some Twin Cities police departments are beginning to use AI to help write police reports. We talked with one officer about how it works.

We met the winner of a recent startup competition. Her company is working on a medical device for babies in intensive care.

With the season behind us, we talked about why the WNBA may be at a turning point.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “BRISKET WEEK” by Juice Lord and the Song of the Day was “idk i just work here” by Durry.

The WNBA Finals ended in a win for the Las Vegas Aces. It’s their third championship in four years. Now, attention in the league has turned to a different countdown.  

The players union and WNBA administrators contract expires at the end of October. Negotiations have been tough so far. Some players, most notably Lynx star Napheesa Collier, have gone public with their frustrations with leadership.  

Adam Minter has been thinking and writing about Collier’s role in this moment for the WNBA. He’s a sports business writer for Bloomberg Opinion, and is based in Minnesota. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what Collier has said and what she’ll do next.

Artificial intelligence is changing how many people work. In several Twin Cities area police departments, it’s taking on some of the paperwork that comes with law enforcement by helping write police reports. 

Axon, the company behind Taser, has an AI tool that helps officers write reports using body camera footage. The tool is called Draft One. As KSTP first reported, three departments in the metro are using it. But some prosecutors and civil rights advocates have raised concerns. 

Spokespeople for Bloomington and Brooklyn Park police said a group of officers within their departments are piloting the tool. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Lieutenant Nate Tennessen from the Eagan Police Department, which has been using Draft One since June.

A new startup in Minnesota’s medical technology hub recently won an annual statewide business competition. Twin Cities based AcQumen Medical walked away from this year’s MN Cup with $100,000 in prizes. Its winning idea is a device to measure blood flow in babies who are in neonatal intensive care.

Clinical trials for the device will begin later this week. AcQumen Medical co-founder and CEO Dori Jones joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

The use of breathalyzer tests are being paused statewide after errors were found that produced unreliable results in more than 100 DWI cases. The defense attorney who first flagged this issue will join us with his reaction to the suspension.

Monday is Indigenous People's Day. We'll chat with author Janis Fairbanks about her new memoir that details her relationship with her Ojibwe grandmother. We'll also check in with Native News reporter Chandra Colvin, who has more on celebrations happening in the Twin Cities.

Plus, we'll hear how a local nonprofit is helping new Latino immigrants connect to and enjoy the Twin Cities' park systems.

And the Vikings had a break this week, but face a tough team ahead. That story from our sports contributors.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “If I Do My Own” by Black Market Brass and Obi Original and our Song of the Day was “Mountain Laurels” by Rogue Valley.

It's Indigenous Peoples Day in Minnesota. From Moorhead to Mankato, Duluth to the Twin Cities, communities are celebrating the day.

Chandra Colvin was at a school American Indian Magnet School Saint Paul where people are spending the afternoon outside for cultural teachings and a feast.

Colvin joined Minnesota Now to talk about how the school is honoring Indigenous ancestors.