Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer

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Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer is journalism that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s reporting that puts people first with live, down-to-earth, unscripted interviews that aim to inform and entertain. Tune in to Minnesota Now weekdays at noon on the radio or the live audio stream at mprnews.org.

Listen: Missed the show? Want to hear a specific conversation? Check out past episodes and segments on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Minnesota music: One of the pillars of Minnesota Now is featuring great Minnesota-based music. Here’s this year’s playlist of songs heard on the show.

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January 10, 2022 5:20 PM

The longtime director of the NDSU marching band hangs up his whistle

For 15 years, the Gold Star Marching Band at North Dakota State University was led by a tall man with a shock of long white hair: Sigurd Johnson. But Johnson’s last day as band director was Saturday, and on his first day off, he sat down with host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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January 10, 2022 4:45 PM

Mayor Frey calls for unity as new, diverse Minneapolis City Council sworn in

The new Minneapolis City Council and second-term mayor face challenges to getting the city back on track amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, crime surge and public calls for police reform.

by Jon Collins and Cathy Wurzer

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January 10, 2022 3:55 PM

Osterholm: Omicron variant bring 'viral blizzard' to Minnesota

According to the University of Minnesota’s Michael Osterholm, the first weeks of 2022 could be the equivalent of a “viral blizzard” due to the fast-spreading omicron variant. Osterholm spoke with host Cathy Wurzer about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 10, 2022 3:39 PM

How a health equity activist is fighting gun violence against women

After her sister was shot in 2016, Pastor Jalilia Abdul-Brown founded the Minneapolis nonprofit Change Starts With Community, which runs programs centered on women and gun violence. In the midst of rising gun violence against women, Abdul-Brown sat down with host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her work and solutions.

by Cathy Wurzer and Alex Cheng

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January 6, 2022 6:00 PM

As COVID-19 surges in schools, will districts return to distance learning?

As the omicron variant races through Minnesota, we're seeing more kids getting sick, and school staff, too. MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman joined host Cathy Wurzer with the latest on how schools across the state are managing the pandemic — and whether some might go back to distance learning.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 6, 2022 5:54 PM

MN sports roundup: Wave of COVID-19 cancellations continues

Another week, another sports update. Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson talked Vikings, Lindsay Whalen and the wave of COVID-19 cases and cancellations that continues to wash over all of sports.

by Cathy Wurzer

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January 6, 2022 5:01 PM

Former Republican Rep. Vin Weber reflects on Jan. 6 Capitol attack

One year has passed since a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Minnesota’s current Republican congressional lawmakers are unwilling to talk about this day, so host Cathy Wurzer called a well-known former Republican Minnesota congressman, Vin Weber.

by Cathy Wurzer, Ariana Rosas and Julia Franz

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January 6, 2022 4:46 PM

One year later, Rep. Dean Phillips recalls shock, violence of Capitol attack

On Jan. 6, 2021, an angry mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, leading to five deaths and interrupting the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in American history. One year later, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who was in the U.S. Capitol that day, shared his memories with host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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January 6, 2022 4:23 PM

Sharon McMahon on Jan. 6: 'We will remember this day for the rest of American history'

With over 700,000 followers on Instagram, Sharon McMahon is known by some as “America’s government teacher.” On the one-year anniversary of the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, she remembered and reacted to the events of that day with host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

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January 5, 2022 5:02 PM

What it's like to keep a restaurant going during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has done a number on restaurants across the state and around the globe — so how do you make it in this incredibly difficult time? Paige Alexander and Sophia Munch, the owners of Zettas and Yeah Yeah Taco on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, reflected with host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend

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