St. Paul’s largest current homeless encampment sits on a site with toxic chemicals in the soil. We spoke to the reporter behind the story.

We also looked back at an MPR documentary about teens looking for adoptive parents and got more on the organization trying to help 18 years later.

And with Halloween coming up, we learned all about Minnesota’s mysterious and helpful animals — bats — ahead of a festival honoring them this weekend.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Down the Highway” by Bob Dylan. The Song of the Day was “The Man Who Forgot to Die” by The Walking Beat String Band.

Bats have a spooky reputation but they’re very important to Minnesota’s ecosystems. If you want to learn all about these intriguing animals, the Minnesota Bat Festival is Saturday at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington.

Mammal ecologist Melissa Boman with the Minnesota Biological Survey helped put on the annual festival and shared more about it on Minnesota Now.

Shortly after the documentary, Braun co-founded an adoption agency called Ampersand Families. She worked on a pilot program called the Homecoming Project. It aimed to prove it was possible to find people who were willing to adopt teens, rather than leaving them to age out of foster care and begin adult life on their own.

Ampersand Families turned 18 this month and executive director Christina Zeise spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about the milestone.

As local leaders continue to grapple with what to do, residents there say they’re dealing with mounting health issues from the toxic chemicals found in the soil.

Maddie Robinson reported on the situation for MinnPost. She told us more about what she found on Minnesota Now.

Dr. Charles Reznikoff, who works in addiction medicine at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis and at Northfield Hospital, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the numbers and what’s happening on the ground.

Several major health systems in Minnesota are looking to merge. An expert shared what drives consolidation and how it impacts your healthcare.

Plus, from the potential start of driverless taxis like Waymo, to the end of the car share service Evie, we looked at the future of transportation in the Twin Cities.

Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey shared details on potential severe weather.

And a St. Paul movie theater is celebrating spooky season with Hmonglloween, a series of horror movies by Hmong filmmakers.

On Friday, the brand new microcinema will host a Hmonglloween. The event will showcase horror films by local Hmong filmmakers.

Filmmaker Lucky Cha made a movie for the event and Kang Vang curated the lineup. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share all the gory details.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis and St. Paul are wrestling with whether to allow driverless taxis. And the long-awaited Green Line extension is expected to open next summer after years-long delays.

Bill Lindeke is an urban studies lecturer at the University of Minnesota and a longtime observer of transportation in the Twin Cities. He joined MPR News to explain what the changes mean for the future of transportation in the metro.

Just last week, central Minnesota's largest healthcare provider CentraCare announced it will acquire Stellis Health. The news followed an announcement last month from HealthPartners and Essentia Health saying they will combine their operations in the Upper Midwest.

California-based Sutter Health plans to acquire Allina Health, which is headquartered in Minneapolis and operates in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Sanford Health and North Memorial Health completed their merger in early September.

For a closer look at consolidation in healthcare, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Yale University professor Zack Cooper.

James O’Keefe and Cameron Higby face felony charges for unlawful voting and identity theft.

Jon Collins joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain.

One of the speakers was Valerie Tiberius, a philosophy professor at the University of Minnesota. She talked about the rise of people forming friendships with artificial intelligence.

Her book, called "Artificially Yours," explores what happens when people turn to AI chatbots for companionship. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her says she plans to eventually clear what's now the city's largest homeless encampment but does not have a specific timeline. We'll hear more from the mayor.

We'll talk about the big questions surrounding AI friendships, with a Minnesota philosophy professor who wrote a book on the subject.

A new podcast tells the story of a Somali sprinter and Olympian whose career was cut short. We'll talk to a Twin Cities running coach who once inspired her.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Motorola" by Miloe.

The podcast, called "The Fastest Girl in Somalia," features Abdi Bile, a former world champion runner who inspired Samia. Today, Abdi lives in Minnesota, where he mentors young runners in the Somali community.

Abdi Bile joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the life of Samia Yusuf Omar and a new generation of Somali American runners in Minnesota.

Minnesota Now host Nina Moini talked to the mayor in her first sit-down interview with MPR News since these events unfolded.

Researchers say northeastern Minnesota lost an estimated $9 million in economic activity due to this summer's wildfires. We'll check in with a Cook County official on how they're recovering.

And proposed changes to the U.S. Census could mean immigrants will no longer be counted.

Plus, some residents on the west side of St. Paul say they're living with an unhealthy level of dust due to nearby industrial activity. How they're pushing for a dust mitigation ordinance.

The Vikings, Wild and Timberwolves are all sitting in 1st place. Our sports contributors break down a winning weekend.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “punchline” by Anna Houston and our Song of the Day was “Birds of Prey” by Ben Rosenbush & The Brighton.

Under a proposed rule announced last month, the census would no longer include immigrants who aren’t U.S. citizens or permanent residents. And it would stop collecting data on race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

In Minnesota, the nonprofit Hmong American Partnership is urging people to submit public comment. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about why is the group’s president and CEO, May yer Thao.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Duluth looked at Ely and Grand Marais, and in July alone, estimated an economic loss of $9 million.

Using cell phone ping data, the study looked at the number of visitors to each city. Because the data looks at the number of pings per day, visitors in the region for multiple days were counted more than once giving a measurement researchers called “visitor days.” In Ely, at the height of the wildfires, there was a more than 50 percent drop in visitor days.

UMD research assistant Michael Vasichek and executive director at Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce Linda Jurek joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the numbers and recovery since then.

The Timberwolves are just at the start of their season. But the Vikings are one-third of the way through and are sitting undefeated. And the Wild are sitting on top of their division. Plus, for the first time in decades the Minnesota Gophers have all three Big Ten trophies.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson shared all of the good Minnesota sports news with host Nina Moini.

A spokesperson for the Minnesota Secretary of State's office told MPR News the U.S. Department of Justice has notified Hennepin and Ramsey counties of its plans to observe voting locations in November. The agency gave similar notice to elections staff in at least four other states, according to NPR.

MPR News host Kelly Gordon talked with Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon about what this means for Minnesota voters.

A new report says Minnesotans are travelling further and waiting longer to receive medical care. We heard more about what hospital leaders are calling a crisis of care.

And a local climate scientist shared how her work has changed during the Trump administration.

Plus, a woman shouts out a thoughtful cashier on our series, “Thank You, Stranger.”

And we dove into the rich world of our state’s community education programs.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “That’s All” by Mary Louise Knutson. The Song of the Day was “Hard as Nails” by Peter Wolf Crier.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full program.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Roze Mulen was grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s in Bloomington when the cashier helped make her day a little bit better. She shared her story on TikTok and it got more than 50,000 views.

Minnesota Now producer Aleesa Kuznetsov spoke with Mulen about the help she received 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.

Melissa Kenney is a part of a group of scientists trying to continue similar work on their own. The new paper, recently published in Earth’s Future and the Journal of the American Meteorological Society, is their first publication with Kenney as lead author.

Kenney spoke to Minnesota Now about the paper and why she felt it was important to keep the work going.

Backed by data from 2024, it says Minnesotans are having to travel further and wait longer to get care. It’s the result of hospitals facing rising costs they’re struggling to absorb all while seeing record need.

The report warns that the system could reach a breaking point next year.

Minnesota Hospital Association president and CEO, Dr. Rahul Koranne, joined Minnesota Now to talk more about the findings.

Minnesota school districts offer an incredible variety of classes for people of all ages, interests and skill levels.

Community education professionals from across the state gathered in Rochester this week for the Minnesota Community Education Association’s annual conference to share ideas and prepare for the year ahead.

Annette Sallman, president of the Minnesota Community Education Association, shared more with Minnesota Now.

A new partnership aims to train more doctors to provide obstetric care in rural communities in Minnesota.

Plus, an anthology out this week shares stories of aging from Minnesota women over the age of 65.

We've had lots of sunshine and warm fall days. How long will the warmth stick around? MPR Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey gave the forecast.

And from the North Star State to the stars in space, a Minnesota native is on his first mission with NASA. We talked with the astronaut while he was in space.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “666” by jeremy messersmith and “Money Doesn’t Matter” by Six Mile Grove was the Song of the Day.

The collection was edited by Morgan Grayce Willow, Julie Landsman and Debra J. Stone. Landsman and Stone joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon with a look inside the book and the story behind it.

Now, CentraCare and UMN are launching a new fellowship to train family medicine doctors in obstetrics, with a focus on rural communities in the state. The first fellows will begin training next summer.

Dr. Christine Goudge, the program's director, joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon with details.

A federal notice describes the deaths of as many as eight Red Lake Nation children since 2021. It says tribal officials refused to cooperate with federal investigators, while children remained in danger.

Last month the federal government took over Red Lake Nation's child welfare program. Since then, Red Lake Nation has seen statements from tribal leaders, a dispute over who leads the tribe and a community coming together to grieve.

MPR News reporter Melissa Olson has been following all of it, and she joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon from Bemidji.

Since blasting off into space for his very first time in July, Dr. Menon has done his first spacewalk. As a physician, he's also been conducting medical experiments in zero gravity.

MPR News Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey talked with Dr. Menon as he dialed in from the International Space Station. The astronaut also answered questions from kids at Farnsworth Aerospace school in St. Paul.

We'll get the latest in a series about the lives that led top candidates to this year's ballot. This time, we’ll hear from Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan.

A food shelf in north Minneapolis is trying a new approach to helping people get food after hours through lockers. We’ll learn more.

We’ll talk to Minnesota songwriter Charlie Parr about his new album, “Rooming House.”

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Up Country Blues” by Charlie Parr and our Song of the Day was “Count Your Trees” by Eustace the Dragon.

He joined MPR News host Emily Bright in the studio to listen to some of his music and talk about why he calls this album a “conceptual folk opera.”

It’s opening a row of food lockers that can be accessed with a code anytime. For details, MPR News host Emily Bright spoke with Pastor Jalilia Abdul-Brown, executive director of Change Starts with Community at Shiloh Temple church, who led the project.

James Densely is a professor at Metropolitan State University who researches gang violence. He joined MPR News host Emily Bright to explain the nearly 20-year-old New Jersey Strategy, what has made the model successful in the past and how it could be applied to the Twin Cities metro area.

Election Day is just about two weeks away. We'll learn more about Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya.

And what role should gambling platforms have when people start to become addicted? We'll hear from a reporter who set out to answer that question.

Plus, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is looking to cut $4 million from climate programs to help close a budget gap. The public will get a chance to weigh in Monday night at a city council meeting.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Eraser” by the band Tuffie.

And as the Vikings come off their bye week, they'll face the Indianapolis Colts -- who just this morning announced they've fired their general manager. Joining me to talk about this and other sports stories are our weekly contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson spent 10 weeks testing the sports betting apps DraftKings and FanDuel. Even after losing thousands of dollars, he was invited to join DraftKings’ VIP program, which offered perks and promotions.

Pearson joined Minnesota Now to talk about what he found in his reporting.

Joining Minnesota Now to explain why and how some of Minnesota's refugees are experiencing this is Rachel Kohler. She's the immigration services supervising attorney at the International Institute of Minnesota.

U.S. Senate candidates Michele Tafoya and Peggy Flanagan are set to debate Friday on MPR News. We got analysis on this closely watched race.

As Minnesota’s climate continues to change, University of Minnesota researchers are looking at ways to help forests adapt.

Plus, remember when we used walk through video stores, browsing for movies to watch? Well, that experience is coming back to Minneapolis through Saturn Video, which opens this weekend.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Rooming House” by Charlie Parr. The Song of the Day was “The Chemic Drop” by GREYCOATS.

MPR News will be hosting a debate Friday between Democratic candidate Peggy Flanagan and Republican candidate Michele Tafoya. It is the only debate between the two scheduled so far.

For a closer look at this race ahead of the debate, Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke with University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs.

But while these changes of the seasons are expected, the effects of Minnesota’s changing climate on our forest ecosystems could bring challenges.

It’s something two University of Minnesota Extension educators are looking into in order to help our trees become more climate resilient.

Anna Stockstad and Angela Gupta shared more about the “Climate-Ready Woodlands” program on Minnesota Now.

A new video rental store in Minneapolis is looking to bring that experience back at a time when some people are discovering physical media like VHS for the first time.

Saturn Video is set to open a permanent storefront Saturday. Sierra Parham, the founder of Saturn Video, gave Minnesota Now a preview.

Trump administration officials have suggested the investigation relates to alleged immigration fraud. The Department of Justice searched Omar’s Washington D.C. home Monday.

A spokesperson for Omar said the investigation is politically motivated and that, “Trump’s push to strip her of her citizenship and deport her has no basis in the law and has no precedent.”

There’s a lot we don’t know about the DOJ’s investigation. But it’s happening alongside a wider effort by the Trump administration to bring forward more denaturalization cases.

Immigration attorney David Wilson joined Minnesota Now to help explain what that process entails.

An alleged sexual assault at Cornell University has brought conversations about prevention and healing to the forefront. We'll talk to a local campus support center.

Plus, Minnesota-based Cambria is the leading manufacturer of quartz countertops. But the process behind artificial stone products is leading to illness and in some cases death. Now, California may ban the product.

And we learned about a local publishing company producing sheet music for small choirs around the world.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Half Like A Shadow” by Mae Simpson and “Come Down Oh Maid” by Kelley Smith was the Song of the Day.

Twenty years ago, Twin Cities composers Tim Takach and Jocelyn Hagen set out to help answer that question. They started Graphite Publishing, a company that gives composers a way to distribute their sheet music while retaining a bigger share of the royalties.

Today, the business represents composers from Minnesota and around the world, while Takach and Hagen continue to write music themselves. They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their work.

The nation's largest manufacturer of artificial stone is Cambria, a company based in Minnesota. But California is the epicenter of silicosis cases in the U.S. and regulators in that state could soon ban the making of these products.

For more on what health professionals in California are seeing in silicosis patients, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Dr. Sheiphali Gandhi. She leads the California Silicosis Support and Research Network at the University of California-San Francisco, where she is an assistant professor of medicine.

MPR News reached out to Cambria, which has faced hundreds of lawsuits related to silicosis, and has not received a response. The company has said repeatedly that it maintains safe working conditions, partly by wetting facilities to keep dust out of the air.

At Cornell University, a former student filed a lawsuit alleging that seven fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her at a party in 2024. The case has drawn renewed scrutiny after no criminal charges were initially filed.

In the Twin Cities, the Aurora Center at the University of Minnesota and Augsburg University works to prevent sexual violence and advocates for survivors. Director Katie Eichele joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what this national conversation means for Minnesota students.

To reach the Aurora Center’s 24-hour helpline, you can call 612-626-9111.

There is also a statewide sexual and domestic violence hotline available. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995 to connect to resources closest to where you live.

Minneapolis Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams said at the meeting that the choice was based on community feedback. She added that changes still needed to happen and the upcoming budget process might be difficult.

Minneapolis school board members say in addition to not closing any schools in the 2027-2028 school year, they're committed to pursuing enrollment growth and considering changes to school start and end times.

MPR News host Nina Moini checked in with a Minneapolis Public Schools parent who was at the meeting. Shakiya Carter has three kids in the district and she’s one of the founders of Minneapolis Families for Public Schools.

As rural health care options dwindle across the state, we'll talk to a leader of one health system that just opened a new clinic in southern Minnesota.

This week, a new housing waitlist is open for applications. It's part of a statewide program rolling out this year. We'll learn more about what it takes to get on the waitlist and move into housing.

A library in Minneapolis is celebrating 40 years of sharing LGBTQ+ books and media. We’ll talk to a volunteer at Quatrefoil Library.

Our Minnesota Music Minute is “Wool Suit” by Wren + Wilde, and our Song of the Day is "City of Ghosts" by Midnight Hounds.

Quatrefoil Library started in 1986 as a personal collection shared among friends. Today, it has more than 25,000 items and more than 11,000 library card holders. And the library says that number doubled just in 2026.

Iggy Gehlen is the board vice president and programming chair at Quatrefoil. He talked with MPR News host Nina Moini about the importance of the library and its recent enormous growth in members.

Fairmont Clinics has opened its doors in southern Minnesota. To start, it will offer general surgery, OB-GYN and urology care. Down the line, patients will also be able to receive primary and urgent care as well as higher level surgeries.

Windom Area Health is behind the new clinic. Windom's chief growth and strategy officer Dan Blue joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the changing landscape of rural health care services and what patients can expect at the new clinic.

Medicare Advantage is essentially an alternative to Medicare offered by private insurers. HealthPartners, Humana, United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield are among the insurers that are discontinuing or restructuring their Medicare Advantage plans.

Minnesota Board on Aging Chair Maureen Schneider joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how this change is impacting seniors ahead of open enrollment starting on Thursday.

Minnesota Aging Pathways can be reached for questions about loss of Medicare Advantage coverage at 800-333-2433, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday, the city’s public housing agency is taking applications for its housing voucher waitlist for the first time since 2019. Back then, applicants were aiming for the federal program known as Section 8, where tenants pay 30 percent of their income in rent and the government covers the rest. Eligible tenants can now receive similar help from the state.

The Minnesota Legislature approved a new voucher program in 2023 with funding from the state government as well as a sales tax in the Twin Cities metro area. In 2025, the state awarded grants to 49 agencies that are now rolling out the program across Minnesota.

Minneapolis Public Housing Authority Executive Director Abdi Warsame joined MPR News host Nina Moini with more information.

It may have felt like summer this weekend but we're in the thick of fall — which means the start of cold and flu season. An expert will join us to talk about vaccines as some public health experts say they're seeing rates of respiratory illness pick up earlier than usual.

Plus, it's Indigenous Peoples Day. We'll take a look a why terms like "Indian" and "Indian Country" are still used.

And our sports contributors will be here to give us the latest on the still undefeated Vikings.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Star” by Chute and the Song of the Day was “This is for Real” by Motion City Soundtrack.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full program.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Joining Nina Moini to talk more about this and other Minnesota sports stories are Minnesota Now weekly sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Reporter Melissa Olson joined Minnesota Now to share a story that'll help us understand why certain words and phrases have stuck around.

Walgreens sales of cold and flu medicine are up more than 20 percent compared to this time last year, according to ABC News. And doctors are recommending getting vaccinated against viruses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV by the end of October.

For more information, Minnesota Now reached out to Katherine Montag Shafer. She's a pharmacist and associate professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

It’s not clear what Department of Homeland Security agents were looking for or the scope of their investigation, but the raid comes as President Donald Trump has been increasing anti-Somali rhetoric in the runup to the midterm election next month.

MPR politics reporter Peter Cox joined Minnesota Now with the latest on the investigation.

Journalists with ProPublica tracked down evidence of hundreds of U.S. citizens who have been detained by federal agents while the Trump administration carried out its immigration enforcement agenda. We spoke to one of the reporters.

Plus, a local dance theater is debuting a piece that explores the emotions and response of Twin Cities residents during Operation Metro Surge.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Haven't Left” by Luutsön. The Song of the Day was “Violet Hour” by Harlow.

Now, the company is turning its attention to recent crises here in the Twin Cities, focusing on Operation Metro Surge over the winter.

Their show called “Prem | Love: An Occupation” premieres Saturday at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis.

The company’s founder and choreographer, Ananya Chatterjea, shared more about the show on Minnesota Now.

They are U.S. citizens and were eventually released, but suffered injuries during the arrest.

They are among the more than 500 U.S. citizens who were detained and held during the current administration as it carried out its immigration enforcement agenda. Fifteen percent of those people are Minnesotans.

That’s according to a new investigation by ProPublica. For more on what was uncovered, Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke to one of the reporters of the story, Liliana Michelena.

For additional context on this story, Minnesota Now spoke to Mark Osler who was an assistant U.S. attorney in Michigan in the late 1990s. He was also a former deputy Hennepin County attorney. Now, he’s a law professor at the University of St. Thomas.

A local nonprofit supporting the economic stability of immigrants is starting a new chapter in a new home. The CEO of Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants shared about their work and how they're supporting immigrants during a turbulent time.

And, after the LGBTQ+ publication Lavender Magazine closed its doors, former staffers started a new magazine for the state’s queer communities. We met the creators of Q Minnesota, who published their first issue last week.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Torch Song” by Ondara, featuring the Laurels String Quartet. “Pharmakon” by Humbird was the Song of the Day.

Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants, or CAPI is celebrating a grand reopening this weekend. It’s the end of a yearslong process of moving the organization’s services to Brooklyn Center, which has become one of the most diverse communities in the state.

CEO Mary Niedermeyer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the expansion.

Q Minnesota was created by several former Lavender staffers. The very first issue came out last Thursday.

For more about the launch and what’s ahead, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Q Minnesota editor-in-chief and publisher and vice president of digital content and marketing Nell Gelhaus.

Some Somali leaders say this could fuel more racist rhetoric against the Somali community.

For more context and perspective on gangs and gun violence, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Metro State University professor James Densley, an expert on gangs.

A national exhibit debuting in St. Paul this month confronts the Catholic Church's role in slavery in the U.S. We'll talk with a descendant of one of the more than 300 people enslaved by the Jesuits, who's now helping share the story.

We'll hear the story of a family navigating more than 10 months of separation due to ICE detention.

A well-known Twin Cities chef competed on the Food Network show, “Bobby's Triple Threat.” MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Yia Vang before his episode airs Tuesday evening.

“What We Inherit: Truth, Repair, and a Promise to the Future” tells the story of more than 300 Black people who were enslaved by the Jesuits and sold in 1838 to help pay the debts of Georgetown College.

The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 7, centers the voices and experiences of their descendants, including Monique Trusclair Maddox, president and CEO of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. She spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the exhibit’s debut at St. Thomas and what she hopes visitors get out of the experience.

The show, hosted by chef Bobby Flay, pits a challenger against three of Flay’s “titans,” or chefs selected by Flay. Vang will face each chef in a three-round competition, with the winner determined by a judge in blind taste tests.

Vang, who has competed on cooking shows before, spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about his strategy for the competition, what it’s like to cook on a Food Network set and what viewers can expect from Tuesday evening’s episode, which airs on Food Network at 7 p.m. CST.

Minnesota's agriculture commissioner was at a conference with some of the state's most important trade partners last week. We'll hear what he discussed with representatives from Canada and Mexico about trade, animal disease and high diesel prices.

Plus, you may know about Minnesota's forests and prairies. But did you know our state has one of the most diverse peatlands in the world? We'll learn more about it and the important connections between peatlands and climate change.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Stormy Monday Blues” by Shirley Witherspoon. Our Song of the Day was “Hey Bud” by Charlieboy.