Minnesota Now Minnesota Public Radio

V3 Sports will hold its grand opening on Saturday. The aquatics and recreation center is one of the largest private investments ever in north Minneapolis at $126 million.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke to the executive director of V3 Sports, Malik Rucker, and Ayanna Rakhu, who planned all of the swimming programming.

The Minnesota Twins are in a tough series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Baseball legend Willie Mays has died, and the beginning of his career brought him to Minneapolis.

Plus, we’ll take a look at the Minnesotans vying to be in Paris this summer for the Olympics.

Joining us to break down this sports news is Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Langfellow is the creator of “Minnesota Score” magazine and is the host of the “Ten Thousand Takes” sports talk show. Nelson co-hosts that show; he’s the Minnesota Vikings reporter for CBS Sports’ “Eye on Football” show.

Water is rising to dangerous levels and has resulted in a disaster declared in St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota. We’ll hear from a business owner with a flooded building and officials who are managing the crisis.

And a new north Minneapolis aquatic center is opening with an emphasis on connecting families of color to water sports.

We are spotlighting a small goat business that’s getting creative about removing buckthorn.

A long motorcycle trip gone wrong and the generosity of a stranger up north. More on that.

And Thursday means Minnesota sports! We’ll hear about the late Willie May’s impact on baseball in Minnesota and get the latest on Minnesotan's performances at the Olympic trials.

The St. Louis County Board has declared a local disaster in response to flooding and other damage resulting from recent torrential rain that swept across the region.

In downtown Cook, homes and businesses are under several feet of water with flooding from the Little Fork River. The owner of the 85 year old Comet Theater said many businesses, including theirs, don’t have flood insurance because it’s too expensive.

Ryan Horner the owner of the Comet Theater and Dewey Johnson, Emergency Support Services Administrator for St. Louis County spoke to MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

10 years ago this June, Matt Stanton figured it was time to take his motorcycle out for a ride. His dad was staying in Black Duck near Bemidji, and Stanton decided to avoid the interstates and take back roads from Minneapolis on his bike to join them for a few days of camping and fishing.

He was having a great ride up until he was right outside of Cromwell, when his motorcycle broke down. Stanton coasted in front of the only driveway for miles. And the man who owned that house, couldn’t have been the more perfect stranger to help him out.

In a recent visit to Morris, MPR senior economics contributor Chris Farrell visited several small businesses in the area. One of those businesses is Lakeside Prairie Farm in nearby Barrett, about half an hour north of Morris.

Lakeside Prairie is owned by Bryan and Jessie Simons. Their farm business? A goat grazing service. And it’s become very successful.

Farrell joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about their niche business.