Environmental groups and concerned well owners in southeast Minnesota want to speed up meaningful regulation to mitigate high nitrate concentration, arguing it has a detrimental effect on human and ecological health.

This is an incredible story.

“Many of Johnson’s peers around the state won’t touch the subject. Some educators and administrators say it’s too politically charged to tackle, and they fear a public backlash.” Via @eshockmanwrites.bsky.social

This update from Jeanette Rupert, one of the most remarkable people I met during the pandemic, has been a high point in my week.

Would do (might not last a day). Via @mprnews.org’s Dan Gunderson.

Less than 10 percent of the Minnesota budget fell into place prior to the end of the Legislature’s 2025 session, forcing lawmakers into an overtime period with plenty to sort out before they can complete their must-do task.

“Is it possible that a fairly liberal school and a fairly conservative school could sit down at the table and learn to have constructive and civil conversations together about the world?" These students have spent the last year finding out…

Prof. Rachel Hardeman announced last month that she was resigning from the University, a process she said had been in the works for months before plagiarism accusations were made public. She criticized the U’s decision to shutter the center.

A controversial housing project in Duluth is pitting NIMBYs or "Not In My Backyard" opponents against yes-leaning YIMBYs who advocate for new housing. The Duluth City Council votes Monday on the housing development.

Leaders of the Black and Somali American communities in Rochester are calling for legal action after a video surfaced online of a Rochester woman calling a child a racial slur on a playground.

“A recent survey of more than 50 metro-area school districts showed the vast majority expect budget shortfalls for the upcoming academic year. Some rural and suburban districts are also struggling to close gaps.”

For the last week and a half I’ve been looking into how the U of MN handled plagiarism allegations against one of its most decorated professors. Read and listen below 👇

Big news for @mprnews.org! Tom is one of the kindest and funniest journalists I’ve had the pleasure to work with… good thing he’s just heading upstairs to Classical 🎶 Onward and upward, Tom!

The announcement came four days after a former protégé and colleague posted on LinkedIn that U of M Prof. Rachel Hardeman poached her work and passed it off as her own. With reporting help from Matt Sepic.

This story from @elliemroth.bsky.social is a must read. Low income housing around the state have serious problems that go unrepaired. Ellie’s investigation found that housing shortages mean city leaders are hesitant to hold landlords accountable.

JUST IN: Minnesota State University, Mankato said in an email Monday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended a student at an off-campus residence.

The international graduate student was enrolled at the school’s Twin Cities campus, according to the email sent Friday evening.

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended. But even as peace in the region seems out of reach, a group of Twin Cities Palestinian peace activists and Jewish people have continued to meet and have difficult conversations. Especially proud of this one. Give it a listen.

Wastewater sampling wasn't routinely done for public health purposes before the COVID pandemic, but as case numbers climbed, scientists and public health officials saw the value of getting a sneak peak of where the virus was spreading — and where the next hot spot might be.

In many cases, the cycle of homelessness can start with an eviction. Kids with unstable housing struggle to learn in school. So a new program in Rochester is preventing evictions from ever happening to kids and their families.

Never watched Love Is Blind before, probably won’t again. But it sure did raise some interesting questions for Talking Sense. (Audio only, writing from @mprnews.org LIB experts @samstroozas.bsky.social and Feven Gerezgiher).

The COVID-19 pandemic upended life in Minnesota and across the country in March 2020. Schools and businesses closed. Hospitals nearly reached a breaking point as deaths and hospitalizations leaped. Five charts show different ways in which the pandemic shaped us.

🧵5-ish years ago, I was at a dinner party with a bunch of doctors. We mostly talked about this coronavirus (we didn’t really have a name for it yet) that had made its way from China to the U.S. Their anxiety was palpable. I remember saying to one “well, maybe it will be over fast.” Her answer….

The Courage Kenny adaptive skiing program has been teaching people living with disabilities downhill sports for decades. A few weeks ago, they let me tag along.

This is cool. In honor of Black history month my colleagues at @mprnews.org put together a map highlighting Black history in Minnesota. This is a curated list with meaningful sites across the state. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday she will retire after next year, opting against a 2026 bid for another six-year term and putting a Democratic-held seat in play in an increasingly competitive Upper Midwest.

By the time Minnesota’s Legislature gets down to writing budget bills, there might be more clarity about federal programs. President Donald Trump’s administration is sending signals it’ll clamp down on money, including for research grants.

In Ely, the topic of mining and environmental stewardship has become so toxic that a group of residents last year started a local chapter of Braver Angels. Over the following months, the group learned skills to better communicate with people who see politics differently.

It’s been hard to keep the stale news about the #mnleg stalemate fresh. But @claymasters.bsky.social pulled it off!

Ope. Some news from the Cap. Via @bydanaferguson.bsky.social

When @kirstimarohn.bsky.social told me she was attending “Flouride, the Musical” I was like ‘wut now?’ Couldn’t be more timely.

I’m very looking forward to listening to this upcoming documentary hosted by @angeladavismpr.bsky.social. Tune in to @mprnews.org at 9!

It’s an 🦉’irruption’ up in Northern MN! Right in time for the Superb Owl this Sunday.

JUST IN: Members of the Democratic National Committee voted Saturday to make Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin their next party leader.

Just in: Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday he had contacted Trump and members of Congress to better understand the thought process behind the order. He committed to sue over the action, which could impact up to $2 billion in funding that Minnesota receives each month.

“There are some districts in the state where you cannot win unless you have talked to and convinced a few people of the opposite party, and that creates a very different dynamic for how you legislate.” @bydanaferguson.bsky.social with our latest Talking Sense installment. @mprnews.org

Today on @mprnews.org I’ll be talking to three immigration experts about how President Donald Trump has so far reshaped our immigration system. There’s a lot going on! Call in at 9 AM with your questions. We’re especially interested in hearing from folks affected by these changes.

News dump Fridays continue. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

I feel like this is a very cat friendly platform. LOOK AT THIS BABY!

“Our leaders could either choose chaos or cooperation, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a member of the chamber that chose cooperation,” Sen. Jeremy Miller said. The Winona Republican had just been elected co-president of a tied Senate, at least on a temporary basis.

Thoroughly enjoyed talking to Will Kaback of @tanglenews.bsky.social and Prof. Diana Mutz from @upenn.edu about how media contributes to political polarization - and what we can do to change that.

Love this for him. (But seriously, this guy is unreal.)

Week 2 of an unusual Minnesota legislative session gets underway with the fight over power still gripping the Capitol. The power struggle has been playing out in the judicial branch. Here’s what to know:

In one of his last official acts before leaving the White House, President Joe Biden released Leonard Peltier from prison. The action is an extraordinary move that ends a decades-long push by Indigenous activists, international religious leaders and human rights organizations.

Just to really drive home the point on this now extra long weekend cooped up inside with three kids, Rochester parents got approximately 7 phone calls and texts sharing the good news.

An absolute pleasure to speak with john a. powell this MLK/Inauguration Day.

A complicated start to the 2025 #mnleg session just got more uncertain. Via @msepic.bsky.social and @claymasters.bsky.social

@mprnews.org’s politics team is killing it this wild week at the #mnleg. Their latest on the new budget.

ICYMI: My conversation earlier on @mprnews.org about the potential cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Especially interesting convo about timing - and why Biden and Trump appear to have worked in tandem on brokering the deal.