Minnesota Now

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Nov 2026

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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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November 12, 202653 min

Minnesota Now: Nov. 12, 2026

Minneapolis may soon have a new police chief. The city council is deciding Thursday whether to appoint department veteran Bill Peterson. And Todd County, Minnesota is the epicenter of a large measles outbreak. We talked to a doctor on the frontlines. A pilot program is training YMCA after-school staff to support children’s mental health. We heard more about the challenges the program hopes to address. DFL lawmakers want to ask voters to seal state protections for race, sex and gender identities among others. A law professor spoke more about what they’ll need to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Plus, remember the days of bubbling volcanoes and electric potatoes at the science fair? One group is bringing that back … for adults! The Minnesota Music Minute was a cover of The Pretenders’ “2,000 Miles” performed by The New Standards. The Song of the Day was "Regret" by the band New Order.

November 12, 20269 min

Doctor on frontlines of Todd County measles outbreak says it could ‘overwhelm’ health system

A measles outbreak has sent cases soaring in central Minnesota this fall, particularly in Todd County, which has 85 percent of the cases in the state. As of new data out Thursday, that number has climbed to 136 cases in the county since mid-September. It's the biggest measles outbreak the state has seen since 1990. Lakewood Health System in Staples has been on the frontlines of the outbreak. Dr. Christine Albrecht is the health system's chief medical officer and she spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about the health system’s response.

November 12, 20269 min

Event gives adults the chance to relive the nostalgia of science fairs

Some grown-ups will have a chance for science fair nostalgia Thursday evening in St. Paul. Dual Citizen Brewing Company is hosting an adult science fair. The event is also a fundraiser for Starbase Minnesota, a program that educates 5th graders in the Twin Cities and Duluth about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It’s the brainchild of Dual Citizen events manager Caitlin Searls, who spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about why she wanted to organize it along with Melanie Peters, executive director of Starbase Minnesota.

November 12, 20268 min

Law professor breaks down what would change if MN passes the Equal Rights Amendment

Minnesota DFL lawmakers plan to bring back the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, during the next legislative session, which starts in January. The bill would ask voters to amend the state constitution to seal protections for race, sex and gender identity among others. Democrats have introduced the ERA dozens of times at the state legislature. It came close to passing in 2024 when the party held a slim majority. But the DFL has a wider majority after the 2026 midterms. Jill Hasday, a constitutional law professor at the University of Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to explain what it would mean for the state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

November 12, 20269 min

Training looks to expand mental health support in after-school YMCA programs

When the school day ends, some students go to after-school programs. But if a student has a hard day, after-school staff aren’t always equipped with the tools to respond. To help address that, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health is partnering with the YMCA of the North to pilot a program that trains non-clinical, after-school educators in mental health support. Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke with two guests about the program: Katie Hendel, associate professor at the School of Public Health at the U of M, and Jenny Collins, vice president of educational impact with YMCA of the North.

November 11, 202654 min

Minnesota Now: Nov. 11, 2026

An ICE detention facility three hours west of the Twin Cities is open. MPR News went to Appleton, where the new center is located, and heard from an immigration lawyer about they are preparing to represent clients. On Veteran's Day, we learned about a unique program that helps military medics attend medical school at the University of Minnesota. Plus, a new fellowship will help Dakota youth preserve their Native history for generations to come. When is winter coming? MPR meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber shared the forecast. A new documentary looks at how basketball became a symbol of resilience for Native communities at the University of Minnesota Morris. The Minnesota Music Minute was “Don’t Give Up Yet” by Semisonic and “Red Flowers” by Sarah Holdyn was the Song of the Day.

November 11, 202610 min

New film follows Native American basketball players whose campus was a boarding school site

A documentary out this week follows the experience of Native American basketball players at the University of Minnesota Morris. Director Leya Hale joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the film, which is called Medicine Ball.

November 11, 20268 min

Winona-area group to train Dakota youth fellows in research, oral history and interpretation

A new fellowship set to begin next year will provide six Dakota youth ages 18-24 with the opportunity to research and tell stories of their communities' history in the Winona area. The program comes from the Winona County History Center in partnership with Prairie Island Indian Community and Lower Sioux Indian Community. The goal for the fellows is to answer the questions: What do I want Winona to know about my community? And what do I want my community to know and honor? Stephen Curley, director of partnership initiatives at the Winona County History Center, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk more about the five-month program , which will take applications through Nov. 30.

November 11, 20269 min

Minnesota program aims to strengthen the pipeline from military medic to medical doctor

Growing up in New Prague, Lauren Kitner was interested in science. After high school, she joined the Minnesota National Guard as a medic. “It seemed really interesting to be able to learn how to take care of patients in more resource-limited environments,” she said, adding that working alongside physicians as a medic “solidified” her interest in a medical degree. Now in her first year of medical school, Kitner is in the second cohort of a University of Minnesota program designed to help military medics become doctors. Her goal is to specialize in emergency medicine. The program’s director of education and training, Chris vanBrenk, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the path from military service to an M.D.

November 11, 202610 min

Minnesota immigration lawyers 'ramping up' capacity as Appleton ICE detention center opens

The first detainees have arrived at a new western Minnesota immigration detention center. Observers and lawyers say the center in Appleton, Minnesota opened earlier this week. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has not added the facility to its public list of detention centers or responded to requests for comment. MPR News immigration reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox went to Appleton Tuesday and joined Minnesota Now to share what she learned. Then, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota legal director Tracy Roy for her perspective on the facility.

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