With so many stories in the news involving race, racism and cultural appropriation, the co-hosts of Counter Stories decided to make this week’s show a “grab-bag” of sorts, including:

Meghan Markle's experience with British media forced her and Prince Harry to exit the royal family - the Counter Stories team looks at the outright racism displayed by both tabloids and such mainstream outlets as the BBC.

Singer and rapper Lizzo graced the cover of the February issue of Rolling Stone magazine. But the photo shoot, which had her posing both as a Mexican saint and in Southeast Asian ceremonial dress, sparked a conversation about cultural appropriation.

Plus, The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it's legal to refuse jobs to people with dreadlocks... A TSA agent plays with a Native American woman's braids. And fears around the coronavirus fuel anti-Asian rhetoric.

The 2020 legislative session is two weeks away. It’s not a budget year, but there are still plenty of issues. On this edition of Politics Friday, Gov. Tim Walz sat down with political editor Mike Mulcahy to talk about the state’s readiness to combat the new coronavirus, the $1 billion budget surplus, his and his priorities ahead of the 2020 legislative session.

Guests:

Gov. Tim Walz

MPR political reporter Brian Bakst

MPR political reporter Mark Zdechlik

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Over the past 15 years, more than one in five papers in the country have folded. And last year in Minnesota, more than a dozen small newspapers went out of business because of declining ad revenue and a dwindling number of subscribers.

But many are still standing.

Three guests who work in newspapers across the state joined the program and talked about the threats facing rural Minnesota’s community newspapers.

Guests:

Marshall Helmberger is publisher of The Timberjay, a weekly newspaper located in Tower.

Jana Peterson is editor and co-owner of the Pine Knot News, a weekly newspaper in Cloquet.

Reed Anfinson is publisher and owner of the Swift County Monitor-News in Benson, the Grant County Herald in Elbow Lake and the Steven County Times in Morris. He is also a past president of the National Newspaper Association.

Only 38 percent of Minnesota fourth graders and 34 percent of eighth graders are considered proficient readers. Part of the problem may be how kids are being taught to read.

Research shows that an emphasis on phonics is the best way for children to become skilled readers, but scientifically debunked approaches to reading instruction that encourage word guessing are still being used in many schools.

Researchers and educators talk about the way children should be taught to read and why that information isn't always making its way into the classroom.

Guests:

Elizabeth Shockman, MPR News education reporter — read her latest report on reading here

Emily Hanford, APM Reports reporter and producer

Kate Walsh, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality

David Parker, vice president of research and development for Serve Minnesota

Additional resources:

Decoding Dyslexia MN

The Reading League

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The average American eats about 17 teaspoons of added sugar a day — that’s twice the recommended amount for men and triple the amount for women.

But why does our body crave it so much?

A doctor and dietitian join the program to talk about health risks that come with consuming too much sugar, how to cut cravings, and some alternative foods we should be eating instead.

Guests:

Sue Moores is a registered dietitian and a nutritionist at Kowalski's Markets.

Dr. Samar Malaeb is an endocrinologist and nutrition expert with University of Minnesota Health.

It was a prime-time moment for Amy Klobuchar.

Standing in the glare of television lights at a Democratic presidential debate last fall, she was asked about her years as a top Minnesota prosecutor and allegations she was not committed to racial justice.

“That’s not my record,” she said, staring into the camera.

John Minchillo | AP 2019

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to media in October in Westerville, Ohio.

Yes, she was tough on crime, Klobuchar said, but the African American community was angry about losing kids to gun violence. And she responded.

She told a story that she has cited throughout her political career, including during her 2006 campaign for the Senate: A little girl was killed by a stray bullet while doing homework at her dining room table in 2002. And it was Klobuchar’s office that put Tyesha Edwards’ killer — a black teen — behind bars for life.

But what if Myon Burrell is innocent?

An Associated Press investigation into the 17-year-old case uncovered new evidence and myriad inconsistencies, raising questions about whether the teen was wrongfully convicted.

The AP reviewed more than a thousand pages of police records, court transcripts and interrogation tapes, and interviewed dozens of inmates, witnesses, family members, former gang leaders, lawyers and criminal justice experts.

The case relied heavily on a teen rival of Burrell’s who gave conflicting accounts when identifying the shooter, who was largely obscured behind a wall 120 feet away.

With no other eyewitnesses, police turned to multiple jailhouse informants. Some have since recanted, saying they were coached or coerced. Others were given reduced time, raising questions about their credibility. And the lead homicide detective offered “major dollars” for names, even if it was hearsay.

There was no gun, fingerprints or DNA. Alibis were never seriously pursued. Key evidence has gone missing or was never obtained, including a conven...

Have you ever had your heart broken?

It can feel like your world is falling apart.

A “breakup coach” and a marriage and family therapist share their ideas on how to process, recover and move on from this type of pain.

Please click here to listen

Guests:

Cedric Weatherspoon is the president of Empower Therapeutic Support Services in Minneapolis. It’s a practice that has provided mental health and relational based therapy to diverse individuals, couples and families for more than a decade.

Natalia Juarez is a breakup expert based in Toronto. She provides services that include post-breakup social media strategy, 24/7 tech support and a post-breakup home cleanse.

Sierra DeMulder is the co-host of “Just Break Up,” a relationship advice podcast in the Twins Cities with a growing international audience.

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This year for the first time, the St. Paul Winter Carnival will feature drag queen bingo. It’s another sign that drag queens are becoming more mainstream. That trend started with the success of the reality TV show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Drag performance is more popular than ever, and more people are making a living at it. We will look at what it takes to be a successful drag queen and how the art form is evolving.

Guests:

Sissy Tops, a member of the Queerdo performance group

The Other Jeannie Retelle, a member of the Queerdo performance group

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Minnesota RØKKR is the newest entry in the Call of Duty esports league. The team is owned by the Wilf family, who also own the Minnesota Vikings. The team will compete for the first time at an event held this weekend at the Minneapolis Armory.

According to the technology consulting firm Activate, more than 250 million people watch esports. Last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves started an esports basketball team; now the Wilf family is getting in on the action.

We’ll talk about the future of this industry and what it takes to be a world class video game player.

Guest:

Brett Diamond, chief operating officer of Minnesota RØKKR & WISE Ventures Esports

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has elected a new leader. Keith Anderson will take over as chairman in February, replacing Charlie Vig, who is retiring after eight years.

During his tenure as chairman, Vig has worked to improve relations between the tribe and neighboring communities. For example, the Mdewakanton Sioux and the city of Prior Lake recently collaborated on a new water treatment plant that will serve both communities.

Vig hopes that Indian gaming will continue to provide jobs and money to keep his community self-sufficient. But he says that income source is not guaranteed, and his members need to be ready.

Guest: Charlie Vig, chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

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