How do we restore trust in civic institutions and nurture a renewed sense of possibility in a shared future? That was the central question animating the Rural Voice community discussion MPR News host Kerri Miller led at the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing on Thursday. She was joined by political scientist and Minnesota native Brian Klaas, who set the s…

Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a law that requires all school districts and charter schools in Minnesota to implement a student cell phone policy by the middle of next March. As districts work to develop student cell phone policies, there are different ideas about what’s the best approach. Should schools ban cell phones completely …

Have you ever felt like you had to choose between your political convictions and a friendship? Or that you had to hide what you really believe to protect your marriage or other family ties? Talking Sense is an MPR News election year project to help Minnesotans maintain their relationships and have those hard political conversations better. MPR News…

Being a parent has always been a mix of joy and worry. But these days, it’s the worries that seem to be growing. Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory calling attention to the dangerous levels of stress facing parents and others who care for young children. He called the state of their mental health a public health concern…

More than a quarter of Minnesota’s middle and high school students miss at least ten percent of the school year — which is about 18 days. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about chronic absenteeism — why it matters, who it impacts and what we can do to boost school attendance. Guests: Kent Pekel, superintendent of Rochester Public Scho…

The third season of Rural Voice kicked off at the Minnesota State Fair on Monday, Aug. 26. It was a steamy day, but it didn’t discourage rural change makers who gathered at the MPR booth for a lively and hopeful town hall with moderator Kerri Miller. The question before them: How is rural Minnesota changing, and how are rural communities thriving i…

Join Angela Davis at the Minnesota State Fair for a North Star Journey Live recording to celebrate the music, the man and the mischief of James “Cornbread” Harris. Cornbread is now 97 years old, which means he’s been playing his beloved piano at gigs all over the Twin Cities for more than 70 years. Music journalist Andrea Swensson recently released…

Addiction was seen as a moral failing in 1949 when what’s now the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation opened its sanctuary for alcoholic men in Center City, Minn. In the 75 years since then, much has been learned about what leaves people vulnerable to substance use disorders. At least some of the stigma connected to addiction has lifted. And, there’s mo…

Cutting taxes on tips may sound like a good idea, but many economists don’t love it. Earlier this summer, former President Trump proposed eliminating federal taxes on tips. A few weeks ago, Vice President Harris said if elected, she would also seek to end taxes on tipped income for service and hospitality workers like servers, bartenders and barber…

It’s back to school time. Over the last year, campuses across the U.S. became the center of protests. At some schools, that led to peaceful discourse. Others saw unrest and police intervention. MPR News host Kerri Miller talked with three higher education leaders at Macalester College. You’ll hear their plans for the new academic year and how they …

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the key takeaways from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago—including Wednesday night’s speech by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The week started with a surprise early appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris. In very brief remarks, the vice president thanked President Joe Biden for his “his…

College students are starting to head back to school this month, and along with a laptop and maybe posters and a dorm fridge, many young people also are bringing mental health struggles to campus. About one out of every five college students experience what mental health professionals call “serious psychological distress,” according to this past sp…

In 2020, Minnesota broke a record when 79.9 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the general election and has led the nation in voter turnout three of the last four years. In 2022, Maine, Oregon and Wisconsin beat us for the top spot — they were all above 60 percent voter turnout, while Minnesota was at 59 percent. So, what can we expec…

Barbers are people of many talents. They need to have a range of skills to serve customers with different hair textures, facial shapes and style choices. But at its core, being a barber is about much more than just cutting men’s hair. Being able to make conversation is also important — whether it’s light-hearted banter or just being a good listener…

MPR News host Angela Davis takes a peek behind the scenes of our favorite movies, television shows and live theater productions. Sound design immerses us in a story. It can make us feel things. Who could forget the whir of the light sabers in the “Star Wars” movies? Or the swish and swirl of the water in “Finding Nemo” that made you feel like you w…

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we’ve lost about half of the state’s natural shorelines. And researchers say natural shoreline continues to disappear at an alarming rate. When we lose natural lakeshore, it affects the lakes we love. Mowed shorelines allow seven to nine times more pollutants to enter the lake than one wit…

If the business model of local news needs an overhaul, what can the journalists who work inside the system do to change it? Listen to part two in our Report for America conversation about the state of local news. Our first conversation was with local and national philanthropy leaders who want to build new ways for local news to thrive. This time, t…

MPR News host Angela Davis recently moderated two panels about the state of local news in Minnesota. The first is with funders who are pushing for new models to reinvigorate newsrooms across the state and the country. The second brings the conversation to news leaders across Minnesota. How can journalists themselves reinvent the way they do their j…

Did you know in the late 1800s and early 1900s, one-third of Minnesota’s population was born in another country? Polls show immigration is a key election issue with voters having sharply different views. Assumptions and misinformation also cloud discussions about immigrants and immigration. What’s accurate and what’s not? MPR News host Angela Davis…

If you’ve ever watched a kid at play, you’ve probably seen a happy kid. Maybe you’ve watched children at your local park building forts out of sticks, or on the basketball court going for layups and pretending to be their favorite Timberwolves player. Maybe you’ve seen your own child lost in focus on a Lego creation or playing restaurant with dolls…

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. And she will launch a multistate tour with him at a rally in Philadelphia Tuesday night. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talked about the Harris-Walz ticket and how much impact vice presidential candidates can have on a presidential campaign.…

Imagine being so shaken up by a detour sign on your regular route to work that you had to pull over to fight against a panic attack. Or imagine not recognizing when someone was sarcastic with you or flirting with you. These can be common experiences for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder — a broad range of conditions characterized by ch…

Join us for a discussion hosted by our colleagues at Sahan Journal — a nonprofit dedicated to reporting for immigrants and communities of color in Minnesota — about how to thrive as a business in Minnesota. Mukhtar Ibrahim, the founding publisher and CEO of Sahan Journal, talks with a panel of Black, immigrant entrepreneurs in tech, farming, fashio…

Every year, thousands of people visit the Boundary Waters and other remote, wild areas of northern Minnesota. Every year, lots of people run into trouble and call for help. Those who respond are often nurses, police officers and other volunteers who sometimes spend several days on missions. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talked with two volunteer r…

One year ago this week, cannabis was legalized for recreational use in Minnesota. So, how’s it going? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests also looked ahead to see what changes are expected in the next year. Guests:  Charlene Briner is interim director for Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management. Ben Halley is chief operating officer (COO) o…