Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer

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Minnesota Now
MPR News

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.

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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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MPR's Tim Nelson on federal military doctors bolstering MN hospitals
Dozens of military medical personnel will be pulling on scrubs and stepping into patient rooms at Hennepin Healthcare in downtown Minneapolis this week. MPR reporter Tim Nelson gave host Cathy Wurzer the latest on the medical response team from FEMA and the Department of Defense.
You don't have to be raised in Minnesota to know the stereotypes: “Oh, fer sure,” “doncha know,” hot dish — the list goes on. Comedian Charlie Berens told host Cathy Wurzer how he mines his roots in the Upper Midwest for creative inspiration.
U of M studies affordability impact of proposed Minneapolis light rail extension
The University of Minnesota is studying the impacts on housing and affordability of a possible extension of the Blue Line light rail through north Minneapolis and into the suburbs. Sahan Journal reporter Andrew Hazzard told host Cathy Wurzer why some communities are concerned about the extension.
How are Minnesota's Latino farmers dealing with stress?
With the drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, it's been a tough year for Minnesota farmers. Rodrigo Cala of the Latino Economic Development Center, a partner in a new Minnesota Department of Agriculture mental health initiative, spoke to Cathy Wurzer about stress among Latino farmers.
CAIR-MN responds to vandalism of NE Minneapolis Islamic center
The Dar Al Qalam Cultural Center in northeast Minneapolis was vandalized Sunday morning when a man ripped security cameras from its walls and smashed them. Jaylani Hussein of CAIR-MN spoke with host Cathy Wurzuer about how this incident relates to a wave of hate crimes against Muslims.
MN sports roundup with Sloane Martin: Vikings vs. Packers, Gophers football and basketball
Sloane Martin joined host Cathy Wurzer to break down the upcoming Vikings vs. Packers border battle, the ending of the Gophers football season, the beginning of the Gophers men's and women's basketball seasons, and Martin's new job as a play-by-play announcer for the Big Ten Network.
A Minnesotan with Alzheimer's plans for death on her own terms
When Cheryl Hauser of Hopkins, Minn., was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she made plans to eventually end her life on her own terms through a process called VSED, or voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, before the worst of the disease takes hold. Hauser and her daughter spoke with host Cathy Wurzer about the decision.
Magic of Dayton’s building returns with maker's market
Dayton's department store may have disappeared in 2001, but the old Dayton’s building in downtown Minneapolis is open again with a maker's market on the first floor. Kobi Gregory and her mom, Tasha Harris, told host Cathy Wurzer what it's like to be one of the Minnesota vendors back in the legendary space as part of the Departments at Dayton's project.
Doctor speaks up about the plight of health care workers as COVID cases surge
Minnesota has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country, and hospitals are overwhelmed. Last Friday, a Minnesota pulmonologist, Dr. Brian Hartz, took to Facebook to make an impassioned plea on behalf of struggling health care workers.