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.

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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.

That includes our Jennifer de Mooy, who spent quite a bit of time there researching for her new book: "Water, Carbon, Time: Exploring Peatlands in a Warming World."

Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke to de Mooy about these important ecosystems.

Minnesota's Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen just returned from a conference where all of that was discussed with some of Minnesota's most important trade partners: Canada and Mexico.

Commissioner Petersen spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini with more on what he learned 35th annual Tri National Agricultural Accord.

Also, St. Paul has released the full sexual harassment investigation of its mayor, Kaohly Her.

And Minnesota band Wild Horses has a new album. We got a first listen.

The city’s police chief, Axel Henry, alleged Mayor Her sexually harassed him and that city employees retaliated against him after he complained. The city had previously released a summary of the investigation but this full redacted report comes after City Council members called for its release.

St. Paul council member Molly Coleman, who represents Ward 4 in the northwestern corner of the city, was among those who called for the full document. She spoke with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the release and MPR News reporter Melissa Olson shared details from the report.

The group draws on bluegrass, old-time and country traditions that run deep in Jed’s family. Five years after forming the band, they’re releasing a new album Friday called “The In Between.”

Jed LaPlant gave Minnesota Now a sneak peak of the album.

The University of St. Thomas law school is looking back on Operation Metro Surge and how states can hold the federal government accountable when they break the law.

Plus, we talked to the journalists behind a new media platform telling stories of the Somali community.

And Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey shared the fall forecast.

Plus, The Heights movie theater in Columbia Heights is celebrating 100 years of showing everything from classic films to blockbuster hits.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “The Resurrection” by Andre Cymone and “This Just In” by Dilly Dally Alley was the Song of the Day.

Co-owner Ryan Oestreich joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the centennial celebration.

Two Minnesota journalists aim to combat racist misinformation and fill coverage gaps with true stories about Somali American life, with a new digital platform called The Somali Brief.

Founder Mukhtar Ibrahim has been rethinking how to cover immigrant communities in Minnesota for years. He worked for the Star Tribune and at MPR News before founding Sahan Journal in 2019.

Journalist Ubah Ali became the Twin Cities' first Somali-American TV news reporter when she started at WCCO a few years ago. Now, she’s lead reporter for The Somali Brief.

They joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the new venture.

The event looks at the power and limitations states have to hold the federal governmental accountable for unlawful actions.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran, who was a part of shaping the event and will moderate one of its panels.

Then, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with MDE Assistant Commissioner Bobbie Burnham about the test results as well as changing literacy standards and curriculum in the state.

One Minnesota university was the first to offer a master’s degree in artificial intelligence and another is now joining them. We met two professors who championed these programs.

A local author grew up hearing stories of the 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters strike from his dad. His effort to learn more about what happened led to a new book.

We talked to a Minneapolis runner who's uplifting other Native women in her sport and organizing a remembrance run on Wednesday.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was "spitball girl" by the band ditch pigeon, and our Song of the Day was "I Will Dare" by The Replacements.

Now, author John Hanson has written a new book about the strike, called “Fight & Win: Minneapolis Teamsters Strike, 1934." He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his personal connection to the story.

People in both countries wear orange shirts in remembrance each Sept. 30. Verna NezBegay Volker started the Run for the 215 event in 2021. She’s from the Navajo Nation and founder and executive director of Native Women Running. MPR News host Nina Moini talked to her about five years of the event.

In greater Minnesota, two professors have recently pushed to add new master's degree programs on AI at their universities. They say it's needed to meet the challenges and opportunities of our time.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Minnesota State University Mankato professor Rajeev Bukralia, who helped launch the school’s master's in AI program last year. Moini also spoke with Minnesota State University Moorhead professor Andrew Chen, who is helping the school launch its master's in AI program in fall 2027.

MPR News reporter Harshawn Ratanpal was at the meeting and joined MPR News host Nina Moini with the latest in Detroit Lakes.

St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her is facing sexual harassment allegations from the police chief. We'll hear from one city council member on why she's calling for the release of the full report from a city investigation into the allegations.

Plus, you may have heard about forever chemicals and just how hard they can be to remove. Researchers in St. Cloud may have found a way to actually destroy PFAS.

Also, the Minnesota Vikings are off to a hot start for the season, while the Minnesota Lynx went cold for their playoff opener.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Stranger Blues” by Lamont Cranston Band and our Song of the Day was “Blue Sky” by Push and Turn.

The council members’ call for the full report comes after St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry last week sued the mayor and the city, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with St. Paul City Council member Molly Coleman about the report and why she wants it released.

Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx are off to a rough start in their playoff run. They lost 91-75 to the New York Liberty. Tuesday’s game is a must-win for the Lynx to stay in the playoffs.

Minnesota Now sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini with the latest on local sports.

They’re still seen as difficult and expensive to remove from wastewater, a common place for the PFAS to be found. A pilot project in St. Cloud tested a technology to do just that, and researchers found that the process they used destroyed more than 99 percent of the PFAS they tested.

Luke Langner, the public services director for the city of St. Cloud and Andy McCabe an environmental engineer with Barr Engineering who conducted the pilot, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the technology.

This fund is a trust, that supports every single public and charter school student in the state. Lawmakers are now asking taxpayers to vote to change the calculation of how much money is distributed to schools. This would allow schools to get access to more funding without raising taxes.

Denise Dittrich is the director of government relations for the Minnesota School Board Association and a former Democratic state representative. She joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the ballot measure.

We also spoke to a midwife who helped support pregnant women whose families went into hiding during Operation Metro Surge earlier this year — and how her work has continued six months later.

And the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is celebrating 50 years of protecting thousands of acres along the Minnesota River.

Plus, a preview of the final Minnesota Lynx game ahead of the playoffs and a new micro-cinema opening on the East Side of St. Paul.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Hey Big Dipper” by Humbird. The Song of the Day was “Forgiveness/Forgetness” by We Are the Willows.

The theater comes out of TriLingua Cinema, which has been running pop-up screenings for the last six years. It’s located in the same building as the East Side Freedom Library.

TriLingua Cinema executive director Sidney Pisano and board member Kazua Melissa Vang shared more about the theater on Minnesota Now.

This weekend, it’s celebrating 50 years of habitat conservation and restoration.

The manager of the refuge, Sonja Jahrsdoerfer, spoke more about the refuge on Minnesota Now.

Volunteers delivered groceries. Kids stopped going to school. And some immigrants were skipping doctor's visits.

Some of the immigrants in most need of care, were those who were pregnant. That's where Fernanda Honebrink stepped in. She's a midwife and founded Conexión during the surge. More than six months later, is continuing to help dozens of families.

Honebrink spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about her work.

On Capitol Hill, Renee Good's mother and a witness to Alex Pretti's killing testified in hopes of accountability.

Plus, a new report looks into how private equity has tapped into a popular autism therapy.

We took a history tour of the St. Paul Downtown Airport as it celebrates 100 years.

It's officially fall! Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey shared the forecast.

And we talked to the Minnesota Wild's new emergency back up goaltender and learn about the critical role that may never be used.

For years, EBUGs have typically been local hockey players or fans who volunteer to suit up in the extremely unlikely event that a team loses both of its regular goaltenders. But the NHL is changing the way it handles that role this season, with every team now having a designated EBUG as part of its staff.

Thome joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how the role works, how he ended up with this very unusual job and what happens if he actually has to play.

Bruce Kitt, archive manager of the Northwest Airlines History Center, joined MPR News host Nina Moini for a history tour of the St. Paul airport, which commemorates a hundred years of service Thursday.

A new report finds a different phenomenon in autism therapy nationwide: a treatment dominating the industry, driven partly by private equity. The education news site The 74 found that between 2019 and 2024, annual Medicaid billing for what’s called Applied Behavioral Analysis grew from $400 million a year to nearly $2 billion. Many of the largest providers were backed by private equity firms.

Beth Hawkins, the Minnesota-based senior writer and national correspondent for The 74, reported the story with data journalist Nicholas Perez.

For more on postpartum mental illness, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Dr. Helen Kim, a psychiatrist and co-founder of the Hennepin Healthcare Mother-Baby Program and Redleaf Center for Family Healing in Minneapolis. Then, she spoke with Naomi Gaines-Young, a mother whose own experience of the condition led to the death of one son and more than a decade in prison.

The Lindsay Clancy trial in Massachusetts set off a nationwide conversation about postpartum mental illness. A doctor will join the program to talk about signs and treatment. We’ll also hear from a Minnesota mother whose symptoms led to tragedy more than 20 years ago.

The driverless taxi company Waymo is testing in Minneapolis, but the city council is considering a rule that would require monitors behind the wheel.

We'll meet a playwright who is workshopping a new musical in St. Cloud.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Eureka Rd.” by Raymnd and our Song of the Day was "Home" by Clay Fulton and the Lost Forty.

Eliza Lynch is the subject of “REINA: A New Musical” by Jorge Delgado. He talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about what drew him to Lynch’s story and what he hopes audiences will take away from the musical.

New Richland city administrator Tyler Lendt joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about flooding recovery.

Dozens of people looking into the impacts of this winter's immigration surge will gather Tuesday to share their findings.

Plus, Mark Dayton is adding another title to his resume: author. The former U.S. senator and Minnesota governor sat down with MPR News to talk about his new memoir and his career in politics.

And more changes are coming to federal food assistance. We heard how one county is preparing for what's ahead.

Also, the Vikings are now 2-0 for the season after beating the Chicago Bears in the rain.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “Darling” by Buffalo Galaxy and “Autumn Love” by Death Cab for Cutie was the Song of the Day.

County staff have implemented the work requirements and eligibility changes to SNAP that Congress passed in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year. On October 1st, they’ll also take on more of the administrative costs of food aid. The federal government will provide a quarter of that funding, instead of half, a change the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families says will result in $32 million in cuts to counties.

Counties are also preparing their budgets for October 2027, when they're expected to take on additional costs: a portion of the benefits people receive. Minnesota’s Democratic U.S. Senators have pushed to delay the changes in the Farm Bill, a massive package of agricultural and food policy that passed out of committee last week.

Scott County Social Services Director Barb Dahl is watching that debate and preparing for the cuts to federal SNAP funding. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini on Minnesota Now to talk about what the changes will mean for her county.

On Tuesday, dozens of researchers, journalists and community leaders will convene at the University of Minnesota to share findings on how the events of this winter continue to affect people across the state.

The gathering is called “Documenting the Impact of U.S. DHS in Minnesota.” The progressive think tank North Star Policy Action was one of the organizations behind the event.

For more, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with the group’s executive director, Jake Schwitzer about the types of research included and how the data will be used.

Ahead of November’s midterm elections, leaders that supported Minnesotans during the surge this winter say they’re now building on their goal of protecting democracy.

Plus, community leaders are considering options for a long-term memorial to Alex Pretti.

We also heard from Minnesota’s champion skier Jessie Diggins about her grueling 100-mile trail run on the North Shore.

And this weekend, thousands of inline skaters will be along the North Shore to skate a marathon.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “2sday” by Rabeca. The Song of the Day was “Free” by Jillian Rae.

Well, this weekend, thousands of rollerblades will hit Highway 61 for the longest point-to-point inline skating marathon in the world. The race stretches from Two Harbors to Duluth. This Saturday, the NorthShore Inline Marathon will also celebrate 30 years.

Joe Haggenmiller helps organize the event and Greg Ash is a longtime board member who has skated every previous marathon. They both joined Minnesota Now to talk more about the event and the milestone.

Jadah Green lives nearby and has been taking care of the makeshift memorial since the beginning. Now, she and the neighborhood group called Whittier Alliance are calling on their neighbors to help plan for a more permanent memorial for Alex Pretti.

She shared more with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.

The effort evolves out of the response to this winter’s surge of federal agents.

COPAL, an organization centered on supporting Latino communities across the state, launched the Immigrant Defense Network, or IDN, last year. IDN trained some 30,000 constitutional observers to document and record interactions between ICE and Minnesotans during the surge.

Now, they’re leveraging the learnings to train “democracy protectors.”

Francisco Segovia, executive director of COPAL, shared more about the initiative on Minnesota Now.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension took Christian Castro into custody Wednesday. He also faces federal charges for allegedly lying about the circumstances that surrounded the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis.

Reporter Matt Sepic joined Minnesota Now with the latest.

We checked in with the city of St. Paul on homeless encampment closures, police drones, the budget and other issues in a conversation with City Council President Rebecca Noecker.

A new report tracks the paths of high school students after graduation in greater Minnesota.

And, is fall weather here to stay? MPR Chief meteorologist Ben Cathey shared the forecast.

Plus, we talked to therapist Resmaa Menakem about his new Afrofuturist play, "Mothership," now showing at Penumbra Theatre.

The Minnesota Music Minute was “American Midnight” by The Jayhawks and Turn Turn Turn’s “Magnolia Tree” was the Song of the Day.

Menakem has a new creation. He teamed up with playwright Kristen Adele Calhoun to write an Afrofuturist play called “Mothership,” about five humans who flee Earth aboard a sentient spaceship. It is showing from Sept. 8 through Oct. 4 as the opening production of Penumbra Theatre’s 50th anniversary season. Menakem joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his latest work.

Kelly Asche led this work for the Center for Rural Policy and Development. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the findings and what lessons they may hold for educators, policymakers and rural communities facing workforce gaps.

Many former Pig’s Eye residents have moved to other, remaining encampments in the city. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s office said this summer it planned to clear encampments “on a rolling basis”, but it has not released a timeline for the other sites.

For an update on the situation and other issues facing the capital city, including police drones and downtown development, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker.

Minnesota Now also requested an interview with Mayor Her to talk about these issues but she was not available.

Minneapolis has a new fire chief. Reginald Freeman is taking over a department that's facing staffing challenges and responding to a range of emergencies, beyond fires.

If you're in southeast Minnesota, a blue cargo van called the Justice Bus may soon come to your town. We'll meet the staff behind the mobile legal office.

And we'll hear from Lynx forward Natasha Howard, who has a new book out today about her life.

Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Feelin It” by Tearra Oso and our Song of the Day was “Villain” by Betty and the Rubble.

He's taking over a department facing questions about staffing and firefighters who have responded to unprecedented emergencies since 2020. Freeman discussed those topics and more in a conversation with MPR News host Nina Moini.

Her memoir, “The Vision Through My Lens: My Life in Basketball and Beyond,” is out Tuesday. Howard spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about her new book and this Lynx season.

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services has one. The group’s outreach coordinator Jenna Saverynksi and family law attorney Jocylyn Poehler are taking it to stops around southeast Minnesota this fall. They spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about their effort to make legal services more accessible.

The in-depth report is based on interviews with people who worked in and around the administration, as well as testimony from a congressional investigation.

Ryan Faircloth led the reporting for this piece and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about his reporting.

Minnesota is ending the use of hotels for people facing mental health crises. Hennepin County had already stopped turning to hotels before this change. We'll hear more about what they've learned.

A new MPR report shows how removing aquatic plants from our beloved lakes could have negative impacts.

The Vikings beat the Packers in a thrilling comeback game, but their quarterback is now sidelined with a concussion. Our sports contributors have more on that, plus news about the Twins and the Gophers.

Our Minnesota Music Minute is "Flight Simulation" by Absolutely Yours and our Song of the Day is "See You in September" by The Happenings.