Minnesota Now
Live, down to earth, unscripted interviews that aim to connect, inform and entertain. Real people share real stories with MPR News host Nina Moini. It’s journalism that doesn’t take itself too seriously and puts people first.
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Minnesota Now: Sept. 14, 2026
<p>Leaders of major artificial intelligence companies are calling for more regulation of AI. President Donald Trump is dismissing those concerns and says more regulations would put the U.S. behind China. A local AI ethics expert weighs in. </p><br/><p>Minnesota is ending the use of hotels for people facing mental health crises. Hennepin County had already stopped turning to hotels before this change. We'll hear more about what they've learned.</p><br/><p>A new MPR report shows how removing aquatic plants from our beloved lakes could have negative impacts.</p><br/><p>The Vikings beat the...
Vikings win home opener after Kyler Murray injury, plus Gophers and Twins news
<p>For the Minnesota Vikings, the very beginning of the new NFL season was rough. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray left the field with a concussion early in Sunday’s home opener against the Green Bay Packers. But Carson Wentz came in as backup and helped the Vikings win 39-22.</p><br/><p>Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the program with those sports headlines plus other Minnesota sports news, including the latest on the Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota Gophers.</p>
Minnesota to stop use of hotel rooms to house people in mental health crises
<p>Starting this week, Minnesota will no longer allow the use of hotel rooms to provide what’s called “crisis respite.” It’s a Medicaid-funded program aimed at providing care and supervision to people experiencing mental health crises. </p><br/><p>Case workers have turned to hotels for help in some cases since 2020, but after concerns about oversight and safety, the state stopped allowing new hotel placements in June. Starting Tuesday, all existing hotel placements must end. </p><br/><p>Hennepin County had already stopped using hotels for crisis respite before this change. Debbie Ackerman, the area manager for Hennepin County H...
St. Thomas AI ethics expert: Independent body needed to regulate fast-growing technology
<p>The CEOs of the country's top AI companies are unifying in their call for a global slowdown on AI development, after two former researchers at Anthropic shared concerns that AI is becoming too powerful too quickly and could ultimately threaten humanity's survival. </p><br/><p>Manjeet Rege is the director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of St. Thomas and also author of the book "Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence: Frameworks, Risks and Society." He spoked to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about AI technology, its risks and regulation. </p>
Minnesota Now: Sept. 10, 2026
<p>It’s been 25 years since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 unfolded and left nearly 3,000 people dead. We reflected on how that day forever changed our lives.</p><br/><p>We heard stories about Minnesotans who were on hijacked planes, inside the Twin Towers, and watching with horror from home.</p><br/><p>We also spoke to a Minnesota social studies teacher and his former student, who belongs to a generation born after 9/11, about the impact of that day.</p><br/><p>Plus, fires that burned through northern Minnesota this summer are now contained. We got an update from Ely’s mayo...
Selby Ave. JazzFest marks 25 years of bringing people together through music
<p>This weekend will be the 25th annual Selby Ave. JazzFest in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. What started as a way to bring people together post-9/11 has now grown into a community celebration. </p><br/><p>We got a preview this year’s big festival from Ernest Bisong, festival director and the artistic director at Walker West Music Academy, which hosts the festival. </p>
'A new season': Ely prepares for fall festival as it continues to recover from wildfires
<p>The wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are officially fully contained after nearly two months. That doesn’t mean all the fires are fully extinguished. There are likely some hot spots smoldering, deep in the soil that won’t be out until the first snowfall. </p><br/><p>However, it’s good news ahead of the fall tourism season for the region. </p><br/><p>This weekend, the city of Ely is celebrating fall with their 32nd annual Harvest Moon Festival. The festival will hopefully be a business boost as the region continues to recover from wildfires. </p><br...
Teaching 9/11 to a generation of students born after that tragic day
<p>As the tragic events of 9/11 began to unfold 25 years ago, millions of teachers and students were just starting their school day.</p><br/><p>Among them was Waseca High School social studies teacher John Hanson and his students. They were in the midst of class when a colleague came knocking on the door.</p><br/><p>She told him something had happened and that he needed to turn on the TV.</p><br/><p>That was when Hanson and his students saw what was going on — and what began as just another Tuesday quickly became a day unlike any ot...
Minnesota Now: Sept. 9, 2026
<p>A Somali man who had been living legally in the Twin Cities is now in ICE detention in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Adam Abdullah was arrested in St. Paul in December and has no criminal record. MPR News reporter Matt Sepic talked with him from detention.</p><br/><p>Dunwoody College of Technology is launching a new program to help high school students learn trade skills.</p><br/><p>Plus, the pastor of a rural Lutheran church is trying to reduce mental health stigma by talking with his congregation and producing a podcast. </p><br/><p>The state has had...
Hispanic Heritage Foundation to recognize 'the people of Minnesota' in 39th annual awards
<p>Hispanic Heritage Month officially begins next Tuesday. Congress established the month in 1988 to celebrate Latino history, identity and culture in the U.S. Since then, it’s kicked off with an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. </p><br/><p>This year, the Hispanic Heritage Awards are leaving D.C. for the first time and coming to Minneapolis. During Thursday’s ceremony at Orchestra Hall, the people of Minnesota will receive a humanitarian award for resistance to Operation Metro Surge. </p><br/><p>Other honorees include singer-songwriters Mon Laferte and Ximena Sariñana, musician Oscar D’León, rapper Eladio C...
