After the murder of George Floyd, local nonprofits were overwhelmed by millions of dollars of donations. How one is still working to redistribute that money.

And taxes are due next week! We got some last minute tips in the new episode of our series, Professional Help.

Plus, a 90-year tradition is returning to the Twin Cities after a hiatus: The International Festival of Minnesota.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Mexico” by 12 Rods. Our Song of the Day was “Sometimes, Not Always” by Mike Munson Trio.

The tax deadline is less than a week away, on April 15. If you haven’t completed your taxes yet, you are far from alone. Even David Horn, the Master of Business Taxation Director at the University of Minnesota, told producer Ellen Finn that he hadn’t completed his taxes just yet as early April rolled around. He has tips on how to get started, even if you’re running behind.

If you grew up here or had kids here, you may remember attending its former namesake, the Festival of Nations. It ran nearly 90 years, and was the Midwest’s oldest and longest-running annual multicultural celebration. It drew 30,000 people to the RiverCentre when it was last held in 2019. Due to the pandemic and rising costs, the event came to an end. But now it is back and it kicks off Friday.

Steve Heckler is the executive director of the International Festival of Minnesota and he joined MPR News host Emily Bright to talk about this weekend’s celebrations.

Now, Black Visions is creating a new grant to share more of that money. Working in partnership with Headwaters Foundation for Justice, the goal is to provide immediate cash relief to Black Minnesotans facing hardship. Individuals can apply for one-time funding of $1,500, $2,000 or $5,000.

Black Visions formed in August 2017 and was at the center of an effort to replace the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

Tiffany Dykes, director of development at Black Visions, shared more about the fund.

The hospital faces a $50 million projected shortfall this year. It slashed programs and positions in January. But Hennepin County commissioners have said that without action from state lawmakers, the hospital could begin closing in June.

Lawmakers have responded with a proposal to use sales tax money to help cover the hospital’s costs. During a House taxes committee meeting Thursday, former patients and healthcare providers testified in support of the bill, including Dr. Tom Wyatt, the hospital’s emergency medicine chair.

Rep. Danny Nadeau, R-Rogers, is a co-author on the bill and he spoke with guest host Emily Bright about his legislation.

Minneapolis Public Schools students are all back in-person, with the district ending e-learning for students that were too scared to leave their homes. A district leader shared how staff are making sure kids are coming back to class.

Plus, Minnesota is celebrating 75 years of Wildlife Management Areas, lands the Department of Natural Resources says have played an important role in protecting habitat.

And we went “Out to Lunch” with a domestic violence advocate who is making sure African immigrant communities aren't left behind.

The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund will wrap up its final round of grantmaking this week. In total, nearly $14 million dollars will be distributed to more than 140 organizations.

Ambar Hanson, the executive director of the Mortenson Family Foundation, shared more about their work on Minnesota Now.

Comfort Dondo has spent her career supporting women who have experienced domestic violence in the Twin Cities and beyond. She founded the nonprofit Phumulani in 2017 and has had her hands in community anti-violence and empowerment projects throughout the twenty years she's lived in the Twin Cities, after moving here from Zimbabwe as a teen. She met MPR News host Nina Moini at a restaurant that she said reminded her of home, Bolé Ethiopian Cuisine in St. Paul.

In the mid-20th century, government policies incentivized farmers to drain or fill wetlands, and crops spread across areas that were critical to birds and other wildlife. A movement to protect and recover wetlands grew into a system of state lands called Wildlife Management Areas.

This year, the DNR is celebrating the 75th anniversary of this conservation strategy, which now includes about 1,500 WMAs across a variety of habitats.

DNR Wildlife Section Manager Dave Trauba joined MPR News host Emily Bright to talk about the history and future of these areas.

As they worked to support learning, educators raised concerns that immigrant students and students of color could experience a repeat of the academic losses and absenteeism that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. MPS Director of Student Retention and Recovery Colleen Kaibel joined MPR News host Emily Bright to reflect on the surge’s impact on attendance and talk about her office’s work moving forward.

A viral video gives a glimpse into the lives of kids in Minneapolis who are bearing the impacts of events like the Annunciation shooting and the ICE surge. We'll talk with a therapist about how trauma impacts children and how to help.

A plan to expand a dairy operation in West Central Minnesota is getting pushback from some neighbors and environmental advocates. We'll talk with a reporter who's been covering the proposal and the controversy.

We’ll get the latest on Minnesota sports from our sports contributors.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Who’s This?” by Ber. Our Song of the Day was “Cut Your Hair” by Pavement.

MPR News host Kelly Gordon talked with Ana Mariella Rivera, a therapist in St. Paul about how children are processing the impact of both traumatic events.

Parham Alaei is the co-founder of the Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran. He joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon to talk about his family back in Iran and the escalation this week.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined Kelly Gordon to share the top local sports headlines.

Riverview LLP, which runs West River Dairy near Morris says it's trying to increase capacity to meet growing demand across the country and world. Meanwhile, opponents say the move will hurt smaller dairy farms and the environment.

The proposal is under review by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Michael Johnson, a news editor for Agweek who has been following the story, joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon to talk about what risks the expansion could have to the environment and what locals are saying.

Plus, a decades-old food pantry abruptly shut its doors. Why its more than 80 locations are now closed.

It's been months since the U.S. blockaded Cuba's oil supply to pressure the government to fall. It's caused power outages at hospitals there. We heard from a Minnesotan who has been there to help.

And a high schooler is the first in the state to be recognized with a language certificate in Ojibwe. He shared his educational journey with us.

Plus, there's just one finalist for a James Beard award in Minnesota. He's a sushi chef. We spoke to him about his craft.

The Minnesota Music Minute was Ludwig van Beethoven's “Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor”, performed by the Minnesota Orchestra. "Headed West" by Old Oaks was the Song of the Day.

Teddie Potter is a former nursing professor with the University of Minnesota who now she spends her time leading a health nonprofit called “Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba.” She’s been spending a lot of time in Cuba and shared more about what she’s seen as well as her work there on Minnesota Now.

Furukawa co-owns Kado no Mise, which means “corner restaurant” in Japanese. Wednesdays through Sundays, he and his team serve a tasting menu of delicate, traditional sushi. On Tuesdays, they offer a different concept: ten courses drawn from a centuries-old cooking tradition called “kaiseki.” He also has a Japanese whiskey bar tucked in the same building.

Chef Furukawa joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the nomination and his approach to food.

The program recognizes 32 languages and this year for the very first time, a student was awarded a World Language Proficiency Certificate for Ojibwe. Tecumseh Fahrlander is a senior at Hinckley-Finlayson High School and is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

He spoke with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the experience alongside Annie Huberty, the director of American Indian education at the Minnesota Department of Education.

Cait Kelley shared her reporting on a bill before the Minnesota Legislature that aims to keep parks budget-friendly.

Starting Wednesday, thousands of Minnesotans may no longer be eligible for SNAP food benefits. We talked about who's impacted and what resources are available.

Plus, there are not one but two storms in the forecast, with the potential to bring snow. MPR Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner shared details.

We learned about a local nonprofit publishing the work of incarcerated writers.

And a new archive is digitizing thousands of songs to preserve Minnesota's rich music history.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Sometimes It Snows in April” by Prince. “What a Fool Believes” by the Doobie Brothers was the Song of the Day.

These changes came as part of HR 1, the massive reconciliation bill signed into law in July 2025.

Barb Dahl, health and human services director for Scott County, and Rachel Holmes, director of advocacy and community engagement with The Food Group, laid out what people should know in an interview with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.

An ambitious new project is trying to capture all of it in one place.

The Diverse Emerging Music Organization, or DEMO, has relied on a small staff and many volunteers for years to meet one goal: to collect, digitize and preserve all music released by Minnesota artists.

The archive launched Wednesday and DEMO is throwing a launch party Thursday night to celebrate. DEMO Executive Director Mitch Thompson joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Led by an editorial board of both people impacted by the carceral system and those without these experiences, Lost Kite Editions aims to publish writing from across genres and communities.

For more about the project, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Mike Alberti, executive director of the Minnesota Prison Writing Project, and Zeke Caligiuri, a documentarian and Lost Kite Editions director of archives.

President Donald Trump, in one of his first moves in office in January 2025, issued an executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship. That led to a flurry of lower court challenges that’s made its way to the highest court in the land.

If the court rules to limit or end constitutional protections for birthright citizenship, that could mean some 250,000 children born in the U.S. each year would be without citizenship.

University of Minnesota professor and constitutional law expert Jill Hasday was listening in on the arguments and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

Tuesday would have formally celebrated the farm labor leader Cesar Chavez. But several states including Minnesota repealed the honorary day following allegations of sexual abuse. We'll talk about the complicated emotions surrounding this day.

Heightened immigration enforcement is putting pressure on Minnesota's international adoptee communities.

We'll hear from acclaimed Minneapolis author Louise Erdrich about her new book of short stories.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “What I Love the Most” by Lanue and our Song of the Day was “Dark was the Night Cold was the Ground” by Ben Gateno.

Many people, adoptees and parents included, might have assumed that anyone adopted by U.S. citizens would also have citizenship. But that’s not always the case. Gregory Luce is an attorney and founder of the Adoptee Rights Law Center, based in Minneapolis. He has been helping adoptees navigate what’s become a precarious situation for some and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain the gaps in citizenship some adoptees face.

The news has shocked and hurt many who revered Chavez, especially Latinos who are sexual assault survivors. Esperanza United is a national organization, founded in Minnesota, that is focused on ending gender-based violence in Latino communities. The organization's president and CEO, Vivian Huelgo joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how she is approaching the day.

It’s the most nuanced data the federal government has released since the surge and includes the location where at least 3,789 people were arrested, their countries of origin and whether they have a criminal history. The data was released by the Deportation Data Project via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

MPR News host Nina Moini talked to Jon Collins and Kate Martin about their reporting on the numbers.

Spring planting season is just around the corner, but with the war in Iran stretching into the second month, Minnesota farmers are facing tough decisions. We'll check back in with one farmer.

State lawmakers are on break after reaching their first major deadline Friday. Our politics reporter Dana Ferguson will have a round up of what they've managed to accomplish so far and which bills are still alive as the session nears the halfway mark.

Plus, we'll meet two Minnesota shrimp farmers who own the country's only inland hatchery. Why they're asking for help to stay afloat and what it would mean for the state's developing shrimp industry if they shut down.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Castles” by Mason Jennings and our Song of the Day was “Saving the Beard of the Dragon” by Purple Funk Metropolis.

Plus, the high school boys basketball championships this weekend had it all: a storybook ending for a Cinderella team and a last-second steal by a powerhouse.

And the sports world is mourning the loss of two Vikings greats Joey Browner and Jeff Siemon.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the program to talk about the top sports headlines.

Minnesota Shrimp got its start five years ago and they had just started to see profitability when they ran into two big setbacks: the bankruptcy of a major customer and a faulty order of shrimp. It put them on the brink of closure just as things were getting going.

Barbara Frank and Paul Damhof are the owners of Minnesota Shrimp. They spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about how the shrimp farming industry and the struggles its facing.

MPR News politics reporter Dana Ferguson joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to walk us through where things stand.

Dan Glessing is the president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. He told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini when the war began that he was hopeful the war would be short-lived. Moini checked back in with Glessing to talk about what economic impacts Minnesota’s farmers could see as a critical time in agriculture approaches.

And U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison is raising concerns about her visit to an immigration detention center in Texas, where some Minnesotans detained by ICE are being held.

Thousands are expected to gather in St. Paul on Saturday for the third No Kings rally to protest President Trump's policies. St. Paul police shared more about their safety plans.

Plus, we are just beginning to understand the wide-ranging impact of the ICE surge here in Minnesota. A new survey has some insight.

And excitement is growing for the U of M's women's basketball team and its journey to a championship. We spoke to the high school coach of a star player.

Battle’s former coaches, Tara Starks and Alexis Garcia, watched from Hopkins High School as the University of Minnesota beat Ole Miss, earning a ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than 20 years.

Hopkins head girls basketball coach Tara Starks joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Battle and the big upcoming game.

The U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California San Diego is behind the research. Between mid-February and early March, they surveyed more than 700 people in Minneapolis and more than 600 people in St. Paul.

Tom Wong, the director of the center, joined Minnesota Now to break down the economic, health, education, and public safety impacts the study found.

The political protest at the State Capitol is the flagship event on a day when thousands of other rallies are planned across the country. The event is protesting Trump administration policies. It will feature local officials and activists, alongside celebrities like Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez.

This is the third No Kings rally since President Donald Trump took office and organizers expect Saturday’s event to be the biggest.

State and local law enforcement are making security plans to keep the event here in St. Paul safe. St. Paul Police Deputy Chief Kurt Hallstrom spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the plans.

A proposal before the council would allocate close to $5.6 million to acquire land for the facility. The money would come out of other parts of the city budget, including animal control and traffic safety.

MPR News reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox joins Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to provide an update.

Read the latest on this story at MPRnews.org.

Plus, the city of Brooklyn Park is having a group home boom, but city leaders are questioning how well some of these facilities are caring for vulnerable residents.

Two women in Minnesota died in domestic violence incidents 12 days apart. Their cases bring to light the legal limitations of orders for protection.

Plus, a new business incubator has opened in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul.

Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner shared how long the warm weather may last.

And an event series uses headscarves as a starting place for connection and storytelling.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “butterflies” by runo plum. “Bona Fide“ by Charlieboy was the Song of the Day.

She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about a Headscarf Story Circle happening in Rochester Saturday. The event is the second of a three-part series organized by the Minnesota Humanities Center and Rochester Women’s Magazine.

The Rondo Community Land Trust is behind the incubator, which aims to provide retail space and support to creative entrepreneurs. The land trust's larger mission is to foster community wealth and stability in Rondo, a community that was fractured more than 60 years ago when the construction of I-94 displaced many long-term residents from the predominantly-Black neighborhood.

Mikeya Griffin, president and CEO of the Rondo Community Land Trust, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about Rondo Exchange.

Jennifer Marsaw and her 5-year-old son, were allegedly killed by her husband in Anoka County on March 18. Marsaw’s husband has been charged with two counts of murder.

Their two cases share a common thread. Both women filed orders for protection from the men accused of killing them.

Violence Free Minnesota co-directors Nikki Engle and Katie Kramer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about legal systems of protection and how they’re advocating to make those systems function better.

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. The number to call Minnesota Day One is (866) 223-1111 or you can text (612) 399-9995.

Minneapolis has been in the global spotlight this year, again. We'll learn how the city's tourism agency is trying to convince people to visit after the ICE surge.

The Trump Administration canceled a report about the health of nature across the country. But scientists are publishing it anyway. We'll talk to a Minnesota professor who's part of the project.

It's syrup season! We'll head north to hear about the joys of tapping trees and boiling sap in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Dicey (The Floor Song)” by Bryn Battani and our Song of the Day was “Seven Corners” by Mucilage.

This time is not just about making a sweet treat to add to our pancakes. It's a long process that invites people to pause to observe details of the earth waking up from winter. That's what an upcoming event in Grand Rapids, Minn., aims to encourage. The Forest History Center is celebrating this spring with an event called Maple, Music and Phenology.

The center's program supervisor, Bryan French, is boiling gallons upon gallons of maple sap to make syrup for the event on Saturday afternoon. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

University of Minnesota associate professor of forest resources Danielle Ignace is a lead author of a chapter about the human causes of environmental change. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Meet Minneapolis, the city’s tourism agency, is tackling how to present itself to tourists after months of upheaval. The agency is launching a new tourism campaign this month.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis about his plans.

Rep. Matt Norris, DFL-Blaine, is the author of the bill in the House. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about why he thinks the state needs an Office of the Inspector General, sticking points around law enforcement and getting the bill passed.

State lawmakers are taking up a bill that would limit zoning rules in order to potentially get more homes built in Minnesota. It's the third time supporters have tried to get legislation of this kind passed.

Also at the Legislature, a bill to repeal César Chavez Day in Minnesota. It comes after an investigation revealed allegations of sexual abuse.

And the Minnesota’s sports world is mourning the loss of hockey reporter Jessi Pierce today. We'll check in with our sports contributors who crossed paths with Pierce.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide” by The Cactus Blossoms and our Song of the Day was “Castle Danger” by Tim Dallman.

Kyle Potter, editor of the website Thrifty Traveler, said in an interview with MPR News host Nina Moini that he visited the airport early Monday morning, a typically busy time with long wait times to get through security checkpoints, and he didn’t see any ICE agents — or long security lines.

A group of legislators and community leaders said the Legislature should take rapid action to pull the March 31 honor to Chavez from the books.

Lawmakers are busy this week to have committees act on policy bills in the narrowly split Legislature. Despite that House DFL leaders pushed to advance it on the day it was introduced through an agreement with Republicans to accelerate consideration. 

The bill passed 129-0.

The New York Times published a lengthy investigative story last week that included on-the-record accusations of rape and child sexual abuse by women who worked around Chavez in the farm worker rights movement. Chavez died in 1993.

Efforts are also underway in St. Paul to rename a road and a school named after Chavez. Mayor Kaohly Vang Her said those could take longer as city officials are aiming to draw community feedback on which name should replace Chavez in those spaces.

Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, said many are still reeling from the news of allegations against Chavez. But she said it’s important that Minnesota lawmakers work together to drop the holiday in his honor.

“It was gutting. It still is. We're grieving but when we grieve, we don't let go of each other. We actually hold on to each other even stronger. And this is not a weakness for us,” Pérez-Vega said. “This repeal is empowering, and it's to show strength and to leave a message for not just Minnesotans, but across the nation right now, to speak up, take action, and let's bring healing.”

Emilia González Avalos, executive director of Unidos Minnesota, said it’s important that the state take action.

“Honoring our history does not mean we stop telling the truth about it. It means that we tell the whole truth because our communities, especially our children, deserve nothing less,” González Avalos said. 

“Repealing César Chavez Day is about drawing a clear line that no legacy, no matter how powerful, no matter how important, stands above the safety and dignity of our children and our community,” she continued. “We can honor farm workers. We can honor the movement — La Causa. We can honor the struggle of labor rights, but we don't have to enshrine a single figure in a way that leaves no room for truth, complexity or accountability.”

Republicans agreed it was the correct move to act fast.

“It’s an unfortunate circumstance in front of us but it’s the right thing to do,” said Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville.

A Senate committee has a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, meaning a vote in that chamber is likely this week as well.

Gov. Tim Walz told WCCO Radio last week that he plans to withhold an annual proclamation but he can't make the law change independently. Instead, it would be up to state lawmakers.

"This certainly clouds that legacy, and we should reassess it,” Walz said. “I would hope they would do something on that, but we won't be putting out anything. And I just want to make sure I stay in line with what the Legislature and statute says."

Governors in other states that observe Chavez's birthday have said they will not do so this year in light of the accusations. 

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, there is a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call Esperanza United's confidential, bilingual crisis line at 651-772-1611.

Use the audio player above to hear a conversation with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini and Rep. Pérez-Vega.

Correction (March 24, 2026): An earlier version of this story misspelled Jon Koznick’s last name.

Plus, they shared the latest in basketball, including the Timberwolves big win in Boston and the start of the Minnesota high school boy’s basketball tournament.

This is the third year in a row that a group of housing advocates and Republican and DFL lawmakers tried to loosen zoning restrictions from the state Capitol. The previous bills failed, with opposition from local government leaders. This year’s version includes some compromises.

One group that fought previous bills is the League of Minnesota Cities, which is now taking a softer stance. Joining Minnesota Now to explain the shift is League of Minnesota Cities lobbyist Daniel Lightfoot.

St. Paul Public Schools students returned back to fully in-person class after some opted for virtual learning during the surge of federal agents. We got an update on the transition back.

Figuring out how to pass down the family farm brings up a lot of emotions — and logistics. We talked to someone who helps families sort through it.

And a man with cancer unexpectedly got life-saving help from a snow plow.

Plus, a former state senator is detailing her love of partner dance and its health benefits in a new book.

At one point, about 7,000 students, roughly a fifth of the district’s student body, had taken the online option. By March 9, the number of virtual learners had shrunk to about 1,800, according to the district.

St. Paul Public Schools Office of School Support Director Kathy Kimani joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the transition back to in-person learning.

She did find one, but it turns out, he doesn't dance. However, she did find a lifelong passion: a deep connection to partner dancing.

Years later, she looked into its impact on health and wellbeing — and wrote a book about it. In "The Dance of Resilience," Reichgott Junge explores the surprising ways dance can transform people’s lives and health.

She gave Minnesota Now a closer look at the book.

As the March blizzard made its way to the state, Jim Gausman was reminded of another storm that hit 20 years earlier — when he unexpectedly got life-saving help from a snow plow driver as he was fighting cancer.

Minnesota Now producer Alanna Elder spoke with Gausman about the help he received on that day in this installment of “Thank You, Stranger.”

If you have a story to share about a stranger who made your life a little brighter, we want to hear it.

Contact us at minnesotanow@mpr.org or ‪(612) 361-1252‬.

Over the winter, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture along with University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, are helping farmers with that transition through retreats.

Jim Molenaar supports farmers with succession planning and presents at the retreats. He joined Minnesota Now to talk more about his work.

The south Minneapolis Uptown neighborhood is struggling, and a new organization is hoping to revitalize the once-bustling business district.

Plus, more and more rentals in the Twin Cities metro are owned by investors. We break down the data.

With warmer weather on the way, Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner has the forecast.

Plus, Minnesota Hmong artists will share music and poetry in a benefit concert for those impacted by the ICE surge. We talk to an organizer of the event.

The newly-formed group “Uptown United” is hoping it can turn that pattern around and revitalize the neighborhood by bringing together neighbors, business owners and local leaders.

Kevin Norman is the leader of the organization, and he joined Minnesota Now to talk about his efforts.

MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Tou SaiKo Lee, a local artist and organizer of the event titled Interwoven: A Tapestry of Resilience and Resistance.

The finding comes from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, which has been tracking investor ownership from 2006 to 2024.

It’s one marker of a changing real estate market amid ongoing conversations about housing affordability and ownership possibilities. The Minneapolis Fed will host an event Thursday morning where it will share more about the data.

MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Ben Horowitz, one of the presenters and part of the team behind the project.

Plus, George Washington University law professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson shares context on how police departments around the country are using AI and what could prevent mistaken arrests.

Read more here: Questions swirl around Fargo PD’s use of AI

Lawmakers in the state House and Senate are set to discuss potential regulations for self-driving taxis on Minnesota roads Wednesday. Waymo, the company behind these autonomous cars, has been doing tests in the state since last fall. One expert talked about the future of Waymo in the state.

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa celebrated the return of nearly 90 acres of land on Monday.

Thousands of Minnesotans are out on the streets of downtown St. Paul for the 60th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. We got a glimpse of the festivities.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Farewell to Nova Scotia" from The Inland Seas and our Song of the Day was “Danny Boy” by Johnny Cash.

Members of Congress have taken up her cause, but they have not been able to reach her. That’s in part due to a measles lockdown at Camp East Montana, where she is being held. 

Minnesota Reformer Deputy Editor Max Nesterak wrote about her story and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Frank Douma researches autonomous vehicle policy at the University of Minnesota. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to chat about the future of Waymo in the state.

Last fall, the Trump administration moved to end TPS for Somalia. It was set to end Tuesday, but a court ruling earlier in the month paused that. Additionally, on Monday the Supreme Court ruled to temporarily block the end of TPS for Haitians and Syrians.  

Ana Pottratz Acosta is an immigration law expert and visiting clinical professor of law at the University of Minnesota. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to sift through the meaning of the legal back-and-forth.

The snow also led a hunger relief advocacy day at the state capitol to move online. We'll talk with the leader of The Food Group about priorities this year, as some Minnesotans stand to lose their SNAP benefits.

And some business owners want the federal government to pay them back for tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were illegal. We'll talk with a trade lawyer and a St. Paul manufacturer.

Plus, the NCAA women's basketball tournament is coming to Minnesota this week.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Winter Builds Character” by USPOP and our Song of the Day was “Deep Dark Water” by Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees.

Meantime, the Gophers women’s basketball team has made it to the NCAA tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined the program with basketball headlines and other sports news.