Minnesota Now

The United States is hosting the World Cup soccer tournament, but Minnesota is not a host city. So instead, fans are flocking to bars and breweries. And new data from the payment company Square found bars and breweries saw an 8 percent increase in revenue, and that was just during the first round of the tournament. Wes Burdine, owner of the Black Hart of Saint Paul, a LGBTQ+ soccer bar, joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the economic moment brought by the World Cup.

A growing number of young people are using AI companions and chatbots for emotional support, friendship and even virtual relationships, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota. Despite the growth, most teens aren’t advertising that they’re using it – for many, it is stigmatized. Researchers at the U of M are exploring teen use of AI companions. Xiaoran Sun, an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development and co-lead at the U of M Teen and A-I Study, joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about what her team is learning about teens and AI companions.

The National Weather Service is surveying storm damage in Becker County after a preliminary assessment found that at least an EF-1 tornado, with wind speeds of 110 miles per hour, touched down north of Detroit Lakes. During the storm, two people were injured and homes, trees and power lines were damaged in the area. Carrie Smith, the Becker County Administrator, and Abby Fostveit, photographer for the Detroit Lakes Tribune, joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the storm and recovery in the area.

Minnesota’s new paid leave program is now six months old. State officials managing the benefit offered some fresh statistics on how many people are using it for family bonding or medical-related time off. They’re also keeping tabs on how that use is lining up with earlier projections. Reporter Kyra Miles joined Minnesota Now with the latest.

Ten years ago, Philando Castile was killed by a police officer in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. His death led to calls for accountability and change in policing. His mother, Valerie Castile, threw herself into that work.Four Black-led nonprofits in the Twin Cities with a combined 300-plus years of history announced they're coming together to try to have a greater impact. We'll learn more about what they hope to do with a new collaboration. Plus, we'll meet a 14 year old boxer who just won gold at the Junior Olympics. And Mexico is out of the World Cup, but we'll hear about how the team's run inspired fans in the Twin Cities.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Are You Coming Home” by Clovers Daughter, and our Song of the Day was “Naz Reid Book Club” by League Two.

Valerie Castile lost her son ten years ago Monday. Philando Castile was killed by a St. Anthony police officer in a traffic stop in Falcon Heights a few days before his 33rd birthday. A jury acquitted the officer, Jeronimo Yanez, of manslaughter the following year.Since losing her son, Valerie Castile has worked to honor his memory by speaking out about his killing and joining calls for accountability in policing. Valerie Castile has a room in her home dedicated to other tributes to Philando: paintings, photographs and proclamations cover the walls. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with her there about how her life has changed and how she remembers her son now.

Team U.S. plays Belgium Monday in Seattle in the round of 16. Forward Folarin Balogun may join his teammates for team U.S after his one-game suspension was lifted after intervention from President Trump. Belgium has challenged this decision. Minnesota Now sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson, spoke more about the World Cup, the Twins and more.

Four Black-led Twin Cities nonprofits have come together to form something they hope will help them continue to service those in need. The Legacy Stabilization Collaborative is a new joint effort between the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, and the Urban League Twin Cities. Together, these nonprofits have more than 300 years of experience helping families in the Twin Cities. Tatiana Freeman, president of Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the new collaboration.

A school district is still grappling with being in the bullseye during Operation Metro Surge. We'll hear from them. Plus, a year after being federally charged for anti-ICE actions, Isavela Lopez has taken a plea deal. We'll talk to her about how the case impacted her life.A new kind of disaster recovery insurance uses sensors and AI to track wind speeds and flood levels. We'll learn about how cities along the Mississippi River are planning to use it.The United States is turning 250 this weekend. We'll hear from Minnesotans on how they think the nation fares and what America means to them.And veterans are celebrating 100 years of a campground in Minnesota made just for them.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Willow Weep For Me” by Bob Davis Quartet and our Song of the Day was “America” by Simon and Garfunkel.

Cities along the Mississippi River are planning to try a budding form of disaster insurance to cover things like flooding. This insurance relies on AI and satellites and sensors. And some are saying it could provide crucial help in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Minneapolis-based journalist Katie Thornton dove into the world of what’s called parametric insurance for the magazine WIRED and she joined Minnesota Now to talk more about her reporting.

The Fourth of July will be special at one Minnesota campground this weekend. Veterans Campground in Washington County is marking 100 years of serving veterans, as a place for rest, relaxation and belonging. Ken Larson is a Minnesota National Guard veteran and manager of the campground. He spoked to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about how the camp has created comradery for thousands of Minnesota veterans and their families.

Fourteen Minnesotans facing federal charges for anti-ICE actions were due in court Wednesday afternoon. Supporters protested the charges ahead of the court appearance. MPR News reporter Sarah Thamer shared the latest on the case. Starting Wednesday, $90 million will go to Minnesota counties to fund upgrades to computer systems that help provide social services. Plus, a new hotline is giving people quicker access to lawyers after arrest. Chief meteorologist Ben Cathey gave a Fourth of July holiday weather forecast. And you may have seen creeping bellflower in your yard. It's a beautiful, but invasive weed. One Minnesota chef controls the plant in his garden by cooking with it. The Minnesota Music Minute was “Joseph” by Bad Bad Hats and “Minneapolis Horn Power” by Scott Agster was the Song of the Day.

Minnesota gardeners are on the lookout this time of year for dark, pointy leaves and bell-shaped, purple flowers. These are tell-tale characteristics of creeping bellflower, a weed that spreads by way of sprawling roots as well as seeds. Some Minnesotans have posted yard signs and Facebook posts urging their neighbors to help keep the plant in check. And some like to cook with it. Chef and forager Alan Bergo, who specializes in cooking with wild plants and mushrooms, joined Minnesota Now to explain how to turn creeping bellflower from a maligned weed into an ingredient.

Hollywood has taught entire generations that if you’re arrested in the U.S., you have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. But many people may not realize that unless you can pay for a lawyer, you likely won’t meet with one until your first court appearance. Those early hours are critical to a case, according to the Legal Rights Center, a nonprofit Minneapolis law firm. It launched a hotline this year to help fill this gap in Hennepin County. The hotline is the first of its kind in the state. For more, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Marecca Vertin, who led the project as the Legal Rights Center’s community defense and access to justice attorney.

Starting July 1, Minnesota's counties can start a long, and some say overdue, makeover of the technological systems and online databases that keep their services running. The state legislature approved $90 million this year to help sluggish computer systems, some dating back to the 1980s, get a little zippier. Paul Verette is director of the Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to explain how this transformation is going to work and what the modernization means to county workers as well as those who benefit from county programs.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday states can ban transgender girls and women from playing on girls sports teams in schools and universities. Twenty-seven states have enacted such bans. Minnesota is not one of them. As of now, transgender girls can play on girl’s teams in Minnesota schools. For more on the ruling’s impact, MPR News host Nina Moini talked with Jess Braverman, legal director of the advocacy group Gender Justice.

Supporters of what's become known as the "Minnesota 15" are expected to gather in Minneapolis for a protest Wednesday afternoon ahead of a court hearing for 14 of the defendants. The 15th defendant, Kyle Wagner, is being held in Michigan on separate federal charges and is not expected in court today.Federal prosecutors accuse the 15 Twin Cities residents of conspiring to interfere with immigration enforcement during the large-scale federal immigration operation in Minnesota earlier this year. Protesters are calling for the charges to be dropped.MPR News reporter Sarah Thamer joined Minnesota Now from outside the federal courthouse with the latest.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship Tuesday morning in a 6-3 opinion. It ruled President Donald Trump's executive order barring citizenship to children of some immigrant parents violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. We'll hear reaction from Minnesota. A new report says police have violated the constitution in several cities where the federal government dropped reforms. We'll find out what it says about Minneapolis. Congress passed a bipartisan bill aimed at making housing more affordable. We'll talk to a Minnesota housing advocate about what impact it could have here. June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. We'll meet a health expert who is visiting all 87 Minnesota counties to share information on dementia.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Time” by Willem Dafoe Fan Club and our Song of the Day was “TWEast” by Dandelion Delivery Service.

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. More than 100,000 Minnesotans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.Since 2018, University of Minnesota professor Joseph Gaugler has been working to visit all 87 Minnesota counties to share information about Alzheimer's disease and learn how communities across the state are caring for people living with dementia.Gaugler joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his statewide tour, the latest understanding of Alzheimer's disease and why education and early planning are important for patients and their families.

The Minnesota Beethoven Festival is back in Winona for its 19th season, bringing three weeks of classical music performances and events to southeastern Minnesota.The festival, which opened Sunday and runs through July 19, celebrates the music of Ludwig van Beethoven while featuring works by many other composers and performances by musicians from around the world.Ned Kirk, the festival's artistic and managing director, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how the festival got its start and what keeps audiences coming back year after year.

President Donald Trump has neither signed nor vetoed a massive housing bill that recently passed Congress with extensive bipartisan support. He said on Monday it's a “yawn” compared to a voter ID law he’s pressuring Congress to approve. And he said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll sign the 21st Century Road to Housing Act. If the president hasn't acted 10 days after he receives the bill and Congress is in session, it will become law without his signature. The bill is a package of more than 50 smaller ones. Some critics say it doesn’t do enough to support low-income renters. Others say it creates too many new programs and regulations. Even housing advocates are still trying to absorb all that’s in this bill, and how it could reach the people they want to help. Elizabeth Glidden is deputy executive director of the non-profit Minnesota Housing Partnership. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to dive into the details about the bill and talk about its significance.

In May of 2025, the Department of Justice dropped its oversight of the Minneapolis Police Department. The DOJ said it no longer believed that the consent decree, or court-ordered reforms, were necessary. A new report from the ACLU has found otherwise. It looked at Minneapolis police and six other police departments across the country who also had consent decrees dropped and found unconstitutional policing continued. One of the authors of the report, Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about it.

It's expected to be a dangerously hot and humid day for Minnesotans in central and southern parts of the state — including the Twin Cities. Our chief meteorologist Ben Cathey will have what you need to know to take care of yourself in this weather.A Minnesota-based organization supporting children with disabilities is raising concern about the Trump administration's recent announcement to move responsibility over special education away from the Department of Education.And we'll hear from one Venezuelan Minnesotan working to organize local relief efforts for people in her home country affected by the massive earthquakes.Plus, a conversation with Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve on making it to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Crystalline” by Alexander Natalie and our Song of the Day was “Days” by The Drums.

Rescue crews in Venezuela are desperately searching through rubble for thousands of people still missing after two devastating earthquakes struck the country last week. Venezuelan officials say nearly 1,500 people have died, while hundreds of buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged.Minnesota's Venezuelan community is rallying to support relief efforts. Patricia Aguilar moved to Osseo as an asylum seeker in 2018 after fleeing Venezuela's political and economic crisis. She’s now raising awareness to help people affected by the disaster. She talked to MPR News host Nina Moini about it.

After Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Tennessee this weekend, she hopped on a plane to Texas for a game against the Dallas Wings. The Lynx won 85-77, making way for Reeve to tie the WNBA record for coaching wins. Joining Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the latest in basketball and other sports news are contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday. Reeve was named the Lynx coach in 2009. Since then, she's won four championships and four WNBA coach of the year awards, coached the U.S. women's basketball team to three Olympic gold medals and had six of her players inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. MPR News digital producer Anika Besst spoke with Reeve in Knoxville before the induction about what has led her to this honor.

Extreme heat is expected across much of central and southern Minnesota Monday, including the Twin Cities metro. Experts are urging people to limit time outdoors and drink plenty of water. For those who are trying to keep cool, the pool may be a popular place. MPR chief meteorologist Ben Cathey joined Minnesota Now with the latest on the heat. And Kevin O’Brien will be making sure things run smoothly at Faribault Family Aquatic Center. He’s the city’s recreation superintendent and joined host Nina Moini to talk about how they’re keeping swimmers safe.

The Trump administration announced earlier this month the Department of Health and Human Services will take over responsibility of the special education office from the Department of Education. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services oversees programs to support students with disabilities and accommodations for public education. Supporters of the move say it makes sense since the areas often overlap. But the move has drawn criticism from disability advocates, including Minnesota-based PACER Center, which advocates for educational opportunities for children with disabilities. The interim executive director of PACER Gretchen Godfrey spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about what this shift could mean.

The Minneapolis City Council decided Thursday to put a moratorium on data center projects in most of the city until November. The ordinance makes an exception for downtown, where some say data centers will help boost declining property values. The Minnesota School Safety Center has a new director. We spoke with her about her ideas for preventing violence in schools. And a new law lays out regulations for banks and credit unions in Minnesota wanting to add cryptocurrency management services. Plus, we learned how to prepare our homes for climate disaster.And the largest gathering of Ethiopians outside of Ethiopia is taking place here in Minnesota —for an enormous annual soccer tournament!The Music Minute was “It Could Happen to You” by Minneapolis pianist and composer Mary Louise Knutson. The Song of the Day was “Free” by Jillian Rae.

Thousands of people from the Ethiopian community will be in the Twin Cities for a soccer tournament hosted by the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America.Starting Saturday, June 27, and stretching through July 4, Minnesota will host to the largest gathering of Ethiopians anywhere outside Ethiopia, making the event not only a soccer tournament but also a cultural celebration.Elias Meles, who is on the board of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America, joined Minnesota Now to talk more about this year’s event.

Every time thunder booms or the wind thrashes trees around, anxious minds wonder, will my roof survive this storm? It’s a reasonable thought. Last summer, five severe weather disasters in Minnesota caused an estimated $13 billion in total damage, according to the nonprofit research group Climate Central. In this next installment of Professional Help, we learn about a new resource that aims to help homeowners get ahead of the damage.Our ask: Help me climate-proof my homeOur professional: Heidi Roop, director of the Climate Adaptation Partnership

Many people use banks or credit unions to manage their money. But soon, these same institutions could help some people manage their cryptocurrency. A new law taking effect Aug. 1, 2026, in Minnesota lays out the rules for financial institutions wanting to become so-called “crypto custodians.”Advocates for the legislation say it’s an important step in ensuring local banks and credit unions stay competitive against national crypto companies. Minnesota Department of Commerce Deputy Commissioner Michael Crow spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the new regulations and what it could mean for the state’s economy.

Minnesota has a state agency dedicated to helping schools prepare, respond and recover from all kinds of threats and emergencies. From school shootings to cyberattacks, the Minnesota School Safety Center’s mission is to keep schools safe. MPR News host Nina Moini spoke to the agency’s new leader, Connie Forster, about her ideas as she steps into the role.

The Minneapolis City Council voted 7 to 5 on Thursday to put new data centers on hold for most of the city until November. Council member Aurin Chowdury introduced the ordinance.The moratorium exempts downtown data centers that take up 350,000 square feet or less. Supporters of that carveout say data centers could be the answer for declining property values and a shrinking tax base downtown. We spoke to the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Adam Duininck, about the possibilities he sees.

Twin Cities Pride returns this weekend with the annual festival in Loring Park and parade in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday. Over the past 53 years, the festival has grown to attract thousands of people to come see performers, check out vendors, and celebrate with friends and family. This year's celebration comes during a challenging moment for many LGBTQ+ people, with ongoing political battles over transgender rights nationwide. Andi Otto is the executive director of Twin Cities Pride. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about this year's festivities and what holding a pride celebration means in 2026.

Under current law in Minnesota, kids have to be at least 10 years old to be prosecuted for a crime. On Aug. 1, that bar will be raised to 13. The change is a result of legislation originally passed in 2024. Once it takes effect, Minnesota will become one of only three states with a minimum age of delinquency of 13, joining Maryland and New Hampshire. But some county officials say their agencies are not prepared for the change. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with two people who have raised concerns. Nicole Kern is director of community corrections in Morrison County in central Minnesota. And Anne Broskoff is director of human services in Brown County in southern Minnesota.

Starting July 1, Medicare will begin a new pilot program that will allow some users to access popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications at a reduced cost. Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1 medications like Wegovy have exploded in popularity. Dr. Carolyn Bramante is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School who specializes in obesity and weight loss. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about how GLP-1 drugs have changed medicine and what broader access for older Americans could mean.

Google will host an open house Wednesday night for its proposed data center in Hermantown, in northern Minnesota. The project has become a hot-button issue for the small town of 800 residents, and is one of many data center proposals popping up in greater Minnesota. MPR News reporter Dan Kraker has been following the story in Hermantown and joined Minnesota Now with details.

A group of Minneapolis City Council members is asking the mayor's office to share its plans for the Minneapolis Police Department, after Chief Brian O'Hara resigned amid misconduct allegations. MPR News host Nina Moini talked with council member Robin Wonsley ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.Minnesota-born journalist Justin Ellis is out with a new book exploring the history of racism in his home state, a place known for being nice.Native Americans are working to reclaim tribal tobacco while addressing the harms of the commercial kind. A conference focused on this work is happening this week in Minneapolis.The Special Olympics USA Games kicked off in Minneapolis this week. We met a coach for Minnesota bocce ball to talk about the competition.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Gunflint Lake” by Maygen and the Birdwatcher, and our Song of the Day was “The Envelope” by Funk N Spuds.

Minnesota is hosting thousands of athletes, coaches and fans this week as the Special Olympics USA Games get underway in the Twin Cities. The games bring together athletes from across the country to compete in more than a dozen sports, from swimming and gymnastics to bocce ball. Bocce ball may not be as widely known as some other sports, but for many athletes, it's a chance to compete, build confidence and create lasting friendships. Kymm Salwasser is a Special Olympics bocce ball coach. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the games.

Following the murder of George Floyd, many asked the question: “How was Minneapolis, of all places, at the center of a global racial reckoning?” For Minnesota-native Justin Ellis, it wasn’t surprising. And now, the journalist is out with a new book that lays out Minnesota’s long quiet history of racism to help answer that question. The book is titled “The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis Is the Story of America.” Ellis joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.He’ll host a reading and discussion of the book June 30 at 7 p.m. at Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis.

Traditional tobacco is at the core of many Native American cultural and spiritual practices. But commercial tobacco, packaged in cigarettes or vapes, contributes to higher rates of lung cancer among Native Americans.Many of the people working with these two sides of tobacco are in Minneapolis for the National Tribal Tobacco Conference, held Tuesday and Wednesday on the University of Minnesota campus. Mat Pendleton, otherwise known by his Dakota name Wakiyan Waste', is an enrolled member of Lower Sioux Indian Community and led prayer at the conference. Colin Welker works on commercial tobacco policy with the Public Health Law Center at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and is presenting at the conference. They both joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about their work at the conference.

Leadership is in limbo at the Minneapolis Police Department after the abrupt resignation of former Chief Brian O’Hara. On Tuesday, city council members asked Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for more information on the direction of the department. Council member Robin Wonsley is the lead author of the request to the mayor about MPD’s path during this period of change. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.After Council member Wonsley spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini live on the air, Mayor Jacob Frey announced that the city aims to select a new chief within the next 16 weeks, after engaging with community members and city leaders, and that a search firm will conduct a nationwide search and consider internal applicants.

Months after the peak of the surge of immigration agents this winter, mutual aid groups and organizers helping Minnesotans stay in their homes say there's still a crisis as eviction filings look on pace to break last year's record high. A 48-year-old Hmong man from St. Paul was deported to Laos in May. A new story from Sahan Journal follows his journey and looks at how his wife and five kids are navigating the reality of being separated from him indefinitely. A Minneapolis writer is honoring her brother in a new memoir that traces his battle with ALS and his career as the so-called Dream Doctor.Thousands of athletes are in Minneapolis this week to compete in the Special Olympics. We'll get a glimpse of this weekend's opening ceremony.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Celebrated Summer” by Husker Du and our Song of the Day was “Key Lime Special” by MN Dub.

A story by Sahan Journal out Monday follows a Hmong family separated by deportation. It starts with the day in February when Linda Yang learned ICE agents planned to detain her husband Zong. He’s now in Laos. Linda and their five kids live in St. Paul. Sahan Journal Reporter Katelyn Vue plans to keep telling the story of how the family is dealing with this new reality in a series of articles this year. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about her reporting.

In the early 2000s, people all over the country could get insight into their dreams by calling up a different radio program. The Dream Doctor was a nationally-syndicated show hosted by Charles McPhee. He died of ALS in 2011 at the age of 49.His sister, Larkin McPhee, lives in Minneapolis. She’s won Emmys and Peabody Awards for her documentary films. But for her brother’s story, she turned to writing. McPhee is out with a book this month about their relationship. It’s called “I’ll See You in My Dreams: A Sister’s Memoir.” She joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the book.

More than six months after Operation Metro Surge began, many mutual aid groups and organizers are still triaging a crisis. The state recently passed $40 million in rent relief, but it likely won't reach local providers until late in the summer. Rent organizers worry many who need that help won't qualify or get it soon enough, as eviction filings threaten to pass last year's record. Cari Spencer spent time at a church in Burnsville where the need is worse than it was at the peak of the ICE surge and spoke with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about how the need for help has become even greater after thousands of ICE agents left the streets of Minnesota.

A group documenting human rights abuses around the world released a report Thursday focused on Operation Metro Surge. It found violations that took place in Minnesota and shared recommendations for state and federal officials. We spoke with the leader of the research team.Federal prosecutors say 15 Minnesotans conspired against federal agents during this winter’s immigration surge. We took a look at what conspiracy means under the law and how it applies to protests.And Annunciation Church and School parents are hosting a public conversation along with the creator of an Oscar-winning film about the impact of school shootings. Plus, we heard about a Juneteenth play that's been showing since before it was a federal holiday.The Music Minute was a performance by the Minnesota Orchestra of “Worship: A Concert Overture for Orchestra.” The Song of the Day was “Don't Leave” by Peter Wolf Crier.

For the better part of 2026, Annunciation Church and School parents were engaging with lawmakers to advocate for policy change following a mass shooting in their community. The legislative session has ended, but the work of the Annunciation Light Alliance has not. They are now turning to public engagement. On Monday, the group is partnering with CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman to show his Oscar-winning documentary “All the Empty Rooms,” followed by a panel discussion with Hartman and Annunciation parents at the Main Cinema in Minneapolis. Kristen Neville, co-chair of the Annunciation Light Alliance, and Steve Hartman spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the event.

The federal government has indicted 15 Minnesotans on charges of conspiracy, among others, for efforts to allegedly “violently oppose immigration law enforcement” during the immigration surge this winter. To take a closer look at the case being made against these individuals, MPR News spoke to Richard Painter, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota, about what conspiracy means under the law.