Minnesota Now with Nina Moini

Minnesota Now with Nina Moini is journalism that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s reporting that puts people first with live, down-to-earth, unscripted interviews that aim to inform and entertain. Tune in to Minnesota Now weekdays at noon on the radio or the live audio stream at mprnews.org.

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January 11, 2022 12:32 PM

Reporter Kirsti Marohn on whistleblower case against MN pollution agency

A former employee at the state agency that monitors pollution has filed a whistleblower lawsuit, saying officials have not done enough to clean up contamination and protect drinking water. With more on that story, MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn joined host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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January 11, 2022 12:28 PM

'Kids need a lot of support': A Minneapolis student's view on school life, COVID

Tenth grader Lucy Heagle attends Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis. She spoke with MPR’s Morning Edition about what school has been like lately in era of COVID-driven uncertainty.

by Cathy Wurzer and Kyle Shiely

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January 11, 2022 12:16 PM

Suburban mayors on Hennepin County Attorney's approach to crime wave

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman is rebooting a 1990s-era initiative in response to a spike in violent crime in the Twin Cities. Plymouth mayor Jeff Wosje, one of several suburban mayors who has been in conversation with Freeman, joined host Cathy Wurzer to talk about concerns he’s seen in his community.

by Cathy Wurzer and Alex Cheng

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January 10, 2022 5:20 PM

The longtime director of the NDSU marching band hangs up his whistle

For 15 years, the Gold Star Marching Band at North Dakota State University was led by a tall man with a shock of long white hair: Sigurd Johnson. But Johnson’s last day as band director was Saturday, and on his first day off, he sat down with host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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January 10, 2022 4:45 PM

Mayor Frey calls for unity as new, diverse Minneapolis City Council sworn in

The new Minneapolis City Council and second-term mayor face challenges to getting the city back on track amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, crime surge and public calls for police reform.

by Jon Collins and Cathy Wurzer

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January 10, 2022 3:55 PM

Osterholm: Omicron variant bring 'viral blizzard' to Minnesota

According to the University of Minnesota’s Michael Osterholm, the first weeks of 2022 could be the equivalent of a “viral blizzard” due to the fast-spreading omicron variant. Osterholm spoke with host Cathy Wurzer about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 10, 2022 3:39 PM

How a health equity activist is fighting gun violence against women

After her sister was shot in 2016, Pastor Jalilia Abdul-Brown founded the Minneapolis nonprofit Change Starts With Community, which runs programs centered on women and gun violence. In the midst of rising gun violence against women, Abdul-Brown sat down with host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her work and solutions.

by Cathy Wurzer and Alex Cheng

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January 6, 2022 6:00 PM

As COVID-19 surges in schools, will districts return to distance learning?

As the omicron variant races through Minnesota, we're seeing more kids getting sick, and school staff, too. MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman joined host Cathy Wurzer with the latest on how schools across the state are managing the pandemic — and whether some might go back to distance learning.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 6, 2022 5:54 PM

MN sports roundup: Wave of COVID-19 cancellations continues

Another week, another sports update. Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson talked Vikings, Lindsay Whalen and the wave of COVID-19 cases and cancellations that continues to wash over all of sports.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 6, 2022 5:01 PM

Former Republican Rep. Vin Weber reflects on Jan. 6 Capitol attack

One year has passed since a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Minnesota’s current Republican congressional lawmakers are unwilling to talk about this day, so host Cathy Wurzer called a well-known former Republican Minnesota congressman, Vin Weber.

by Cathy Wurzer, Ariana Rosas and Julia Franz

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