Morning Edition

Morning Edition, with Cathy Wurzer in St. Paul and NPR hosts in Washington and Los Angeles, brings you all the news from overnight and the information you need to start your day. Listen from 4 to 9 a.m. every weekday.

Morning Announcements | Weather chats with Mark Seeley

July 26, 2021 6:27 AM

‘Attention please’: The new voices of MSP airport

The airport decided to take a different approach to its public address system — holding open auditions for employees to become the voices reminding and instructing travelers.

by Matt Sepic

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July 26, 2021 5:22 AM

Drought threatens to empty water wells in parts of Minnesota

Parts of Minnesota saw much-needed rain over the weekend, but it wasn't enough to break the ongoing drought. And the abnormally dry conditions are threatening some private water wells that rely on rain to recharge. In severe cases, shallow wells are out of water.

by Will Matuska

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July 23, 2021 10:55 AM

Minnesota prepares for lingering drought

Retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley participated in the state drought task force meeting earlier this week. He told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer that based on current models, he’s expecting the drought to persist at least through October.

by Cathy Wurzer, Will Matuska and MPR News Staff

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July 23, 2021 7:15 AM

New effort aims to hold back water to slow ‘flashy’ Minn. rivers

Unlike this year, Minnesota often has had to contend with high water. Scientists attribute flash flows to more intense rain events and the loss of wetlands that act as natural sponges. New state funding aims to help landowners store more water on their land.

by Kirsti Marohn

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July 22, 2021 6:27 AM

Art Hounds celebrate summer performances, and an indoor escape from the heat

Walking Shadow Theatre Co. puts on “Reboot,” a virtual interactive play with puzzles. The Zephyr Theatre’s “Mamma Mia!” uses the St Croix River as a backdrop. Plus, a performance by Minneapolis singer Brooke Elizabeth.

by Emily Bright

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July 22, 2021 5:57 AM

Low water makes it harder to play on Minnesota lakes

Going to the lake is a time-honored summer tradition in Minnesota. But this summer, low water on some Minnesota lakes makes launching watercraft more of a challenge than usual.

by Dan Gunderson

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July 22, 2021 5:17 AM

MSU Mankato takes video gaming to the next level

When COVID-19 took traditional contact sports off the table, it led to a huge boost in another form of competition: video gaming. A program at Minnesota State University, Mankato helps students learn about the ever-evolving world of esports — and some are taking the leap into cyber sports.

by Hannah Yang

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July 21, 2021 4:00 AM

Weight of thousands of Minnesota COVID deaths falls on those examining every one

Every day, a small team of Minnesota Department of Health employees have been the first to see the bleakest consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic — the death certificates of people old and young, from around the state and of every race who have succumbed to the virus.

by Catharine Richert

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July 21, 2021 4:00 AM

Lax oversight, no-bid contracts and mysterious pricing: Inside the black box of COVID testing

More than a year into the pandemic, many details about COVID testing remain unclear to the public, including how much the tests will cost taxpayers and how effective they really are. Nowhere is that more evident than in Minnesota.

by Tom Scheck

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July 20, 2021 11:52 AM

Audio postcard: Scents of summer on the prairie

We get occasional reports on Morning Edition from wildflower chasers Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root, as they roam around Minnesota on the hunt for what’s in bloom. Their latest dispatch is from a hike at Schaefer Prairie near Glencoe, where they went looking for milkweed at the height of summer.

by Cathy Wurzer

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