Local Democrats will see a number of candidates for Rochester City Council on their primary ballot next month. We've invited all of the candidates in that race to join us on the talk show to discuss their platforms and priorities and to answer questions from community members. This is part one in our series. In studio: Miquel Powell, candidate for …

By Minnesota Public Radio

While much of the state budget will get sorted out in a special session, lawmakers passed a bill to fund several state government agencies last night. Heavy rains that have fallen in parts of the state today will ease drought and abnormally dry conditions. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meiste…

The Seneca Park Zoo recently welcomed the first-ever North American river otters to be born at its facility. Leaders say it's a conservation success story that has been decades in the making. It comes at a time when a shift in federal priorities has affected environmental and wildlife protections: funding cuts to USAID and a funding freeze for the …

In a report earlier this month, the group Reporters Without Borders said, "Trump's second term as president has brought a troubling deterioration in press freedom." For two decades, the number of American journalists has been in decline. The Star-Ledger in New Jersey is an example of a high-profile newsroom that stopped producing a print edition an…

By Minnesota Public Radio

Crews battling wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have had to contend with windy conditions today. East winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour have been accompanied by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour. And meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says that while a system will bring rain to the state today through Wednesday, it's expected to miss the region where fi…

President Biden's cancer diagnosis has prompted prayers and well wishes, and it keeps the political spotlight on the former president and his health. Biden recently said that he would have beaten Donald Trump in 2024, and he's not surprised that Vice President Harris lost. Meanwhile, a new book details the ways that the Biden team concealed his cog…

By Minnesota Public Radio

Gov. Tim Walz is promising residents in the fire ravaged areas in the northeastern part of the state will get help in rebuilding. Public sector unions are expressing frustration over a proposed plan to close the state prison in Stillwater. Those stories and more in today’s evening update. Hosted by Emily Bright. Music by Gary Meister.…

It's prom season, and for high schoolers across the region, prom isn’t just a rite of passage anymore. It’s a stage. We’re talking crystallized corsets, embroidered tuxedos, motorcades, professional photographers, and send-off parties that look more like weddings. In many Black communities, prom has become a dazzling display of creativity, self-exp…

Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. It’s a crisis fueled by systemic racism, medical bias, and structural inequities. But there’s also a growing movement to push back. Community-based doulas are stepping in to support Black mothers throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond. They’re…

By Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz say they have a budget deal. Leaders say the negotiations brought a bipartisan plan that balances the budget into the future. And the University of Minnesota will close a research center focusing on racial health disparities following a plagiarism scandal. Those stories and more in today’s evening upd…

For the past four years, former Democrat and Chronicle journalist Erica Bryant has turned her attention to reporting on the dream world. Bryant has gone deep, interviewing people about their dreams, and collecting hundreds of dream stories. She's preparing to debut her exhibition "Other People's Dreams" at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center. But…

By Minnesota Public Radio

Two large wildfires burning uncontrolled in northeastern Minnesota grew significantly overnight. The Jenkins Creek fire more than doubled in size and has now burned more than 20,000 acres of forest, or about 31 square miles. It's burning north in a long, narrow band east of Hoyt Lakes and south of Babbitt. Meanwhile the Camp House Fire grew modestl…

A member of the New York State Assembly has proposals for how to regulate artificial intelligence. The AI Training Data Transparency Act would require AI firms to make their safety testing protocols visible, and it would protect whistleblowers who call attention to AI dangers. Is it enough? The Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act would …