Minnesota Today

Jury selection begins Tuesday in the trial of Kimberly Potter, a former Brooklyn Center police officer charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright.

Skyway and tunnel connections to the government center will remain shut down during the trial and parking in the underground ramp is closed to the public. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 29, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

The battle over vaccine mandates is heating up in Minnesota, as Senate Republicans ask for Walz to back off and St. Paul police sue over their city’s policy. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

There’s been a steady stream of COVID-19 cases in many schools across Minnesota. Some districts are seeing so many cases that they've decided to extend the Thanksgiving break to tamp down the spread of the virus. Substitutes are in short supply, and school positions aren't being filled. This is a stressful time for teachers, staff, students and parents.

Some districts in the state, including Rochester Public Schools, are adding extra days off in the school calendar in an effort to combat stress. In Rochester, they are being called “planning and wellbeing days.”

Kent Pekel, Rochester's interim school superintendent, told host Cathy Wurzer how his district is working to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Nearly four dozen doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists from the U.S. military are on the ground in Minnesota to ease the strain on the state’s health care system. On Thursday, they'll start providing patient care at two hospitals. This is an MPR News morning update for Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

State leaders say they’re getting more monoclonal antibody treatments for Minnesotans who have contracted COVID. MPR News evening update for Nov 23, 2021. Hosted by Natasha Senjanovic.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister. 

Minnesota legislative leaders have been going around and around on whether or not there will be a special session this year to address hero pay for frontline pandemic workers, drought relief and nursing home stability measures.

But on Tuesday, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller told host Cathy Wurzer he's willing to set aside Republican threats to oust health commissioner Jan Malcolm in exchange for other agreements, which DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman called a big move forward.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

Minnesota poet, teacher and men’s movement founder Robert Bly was a major figure in American literature for decades. He died Sunday. This is an MPR News morning update for Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.

Military medical staff are arriving in the Twin Cities to help with COVID and the state calls in the National Guard again to help with long term care, as the fall pandemic surge prompts yet more alarm. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Tim Nelson. Music by Gary Meister.

Sunday morning, the Dar Al Qalam Cultural Center in northeast Minneapolis was vandalized when a man ripped security cameras from its walls and smashed them.

Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), joined Minnesota Now host Cathy Wurzer to discuss how this incident relates to a wave of hate crimes against Muslims.

Theme music by Gary Meister.

The number of people expected to pass through the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is nearly double last Thanksgiving's peak travel day, and about 70 percent of pre-pandemic holiday travel. Airport officials predict Wednesday will be the busiest day, with nearly 32,000 travelers passing through airport security checkpoints. This is an MPR News morning update for Monday, November 22, 2021. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer.

Our theme music is by Gary Meister.