MPR News with Angela Davis

Minnesota Public Radio

4.6 (128)
DAILY NEWS
UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing, weekdays from MPR News. Programming note: Our colleague Angela Davis is taking a leave of absence after a recent breast cancer diagnosis. Thank you to all who have checked in and shared kind words. Angela is touched by your support as she focuses on her recovery.

22H AGO

What it takes to make elections secure and accessible

The midterm elections are still months away, but voting is already a major focus. President Donald Trump has claimed that non-citizens vote illegally in large numbers, though there’s no evidence of widespread fraud. Still, he has backed the SAVE Act, which would require in-person proof of citizenship to register. It passed the House, stalled in the Senate and some Republican-led states are moving ahead with similar requirements. At the same time, the federal government is seeking access to state voter rolls, the president’s attacks on mail-in voting have ramped up and the Supreme Court may weigh in on mail-in ballot deadlines. So how secure are elections in Minnesota and across the country? Are new laws needed — or not? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how our election systems can balance security with access. Guests: Steve Simon has been Minnesota’s Secretary of State since 2015. He oversees elections and partners with township, city and county officials to organize elections on behalf of Minnesota’s four million eligible voters. He previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing St. Louis Park and Hopkins. He’s a past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.Jennifer Morrell is the CEO and co-founder of The Elections Group, which works with election officials from across the country on how to conduct fair and secure elections. She is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs in its graduate Certificate of Election Administration program. She’s also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served as an election official in Utah and Colorado.

47 min
1D AGO

One year later: How tariffs are changing trade, travel, and ties between the U.S. and Canada

It’s been one year since the U.S. raised tariffs on Canada. MPR News host Angela Davis and senior economics contributor Chris Farrell take a look at the impact — on both sides of the border. Angela and Chris will talk again with some of the people they first interviewed last April in Thunder Bay, Ontario and Grand Marais, Minn. Guests: Livio di Matteo is a professor of economics at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.Charla Robinson is the president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.Chris LaVigne is the manager of the Grand Marais Municipal Liquor Store.

47 min
5D AGO

Historically Black colleges and universities and the role they play today

Historically Black colleges and universities — known as HBCUs — are schools that were created to educate Black students at a time when most colleges would not admit them. While “HBCU” might not be a household name in Minnesota, students and graduates of these 107 schools represent a thriving culture and network, especially in the southern United States. And, their impact is significant. A recent report by Forbes magazine reveals that HBCUs have produced about 80 percent of Black judges, 70 percent of Black doctors and dentists, 50 percent of Black engineers, and 40 percent of Black lawyers. And about half of the nation’s Black teachers graduated from an HBCU. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with several graduates of HBCUs and a leader from an organization that supports these schools. They’ll talk about the history of these institutions and why they still matter today. Guests: Laverne McCartney Knighton is an area development director for the United Negro College Fund. She oversees fundraising and scholarship programs in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas. James Burroughs is the senior vice president of government and community relations and the chief equity and inclusion officer at Children’s Minnesota — Minnesota’s largest pediatric hospital. He also attended Morehouse College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Ga. Zarina Sementelli is a recent law school graduate who grew up in Minnesota. She graduated from Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia, and California Western School of Law.

47 min
6D AGO

Understanding addiction and recovery

Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Stress, fear, instability and isolation can shape how people cope and recover. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how some people living with substance use disorders support others in recovery. Guests: Caddy Frink is the director of programs for Minnesota Recovery Connection, a nonprofit that works to increase access to the support, care and resources needed to achieve long-term recovery from substance use disorders. Edward Hovelman is a peer recovery specialist and the director of bilingual programs at the Minnesota Recovery Connection. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. To find a treatment facility or provider go to FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).

46 min
APR 14

Turkeys, coyotes and other city critters

We think of wildlife as separate from urban life. But there are a lot of wild critters living all around us in the city. Turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the last few decades after being driven entirely out of Minnesota. Deer, squirrels, rats and racoons are regular visitors to many people’s back yards. And, a relatively new research project is documenting how coyotes and foxes are vying for territory in city neighborhoods. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the secret lives of wild animals in our midst and how they interact with each other and with us. Guests: Geoff Miller is a post-doctoral associate in the department of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at the University of Minnesota, where he works with the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project. His research focuses on how coyotes and foxes live in urban areas, and interact with each other and humans. Marlene Zuk is a professor in the department of ecology, evolution and behavior at the University of Minnesota. Her newest book is “Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us.” Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

47 min
APR 13

Behind the scenes with 911 call takers and dispatchers

When most of us think about 911, we picture flashing lights and first responders arriving on the scene. But that fast emergency response starts somewhere else — with a person answering the phone. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a 911 call taker, a dispatcher, and the director of Minneapolis’s 911 call center about what happens after the phone rings — how they gather critical details, move information through the system and send help where it’s needed. Guests: Joni Hodne is the director of the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Minneapolis. She oversees the city’s 911 operations, including staffing and training.Lori Patrick is a dispatcher who has been working at the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Minneapolis for over 30 years. She dispatches first responders in the field, relaying crucial information in real time. Ben Jacobs is a call taker for the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Minneapolis. He takes emergency calls, gathers critical information and often helps callers stay calm in emergencies.

46 min
APR 9

What will bring visitors back to the Science Museum of Minnesota?

The Science Museum of Minnesota has wowed generations with its dinosaur fossils, including an 80-foot Diplodocus. And tens of thousands of people have visited its other exhibits explaining everything from outer space to the history of race. But these days, fewer people are visiting. Like other cultural institutions across the country, the St. Paul museum has struggled to lure people back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance is half of what it was in 2019, forcing the museum to eliminate summer camps, lay off employees and make other cuts. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what contributed to the drop in visitors and how the museum is trying to sell more people on its cool collections, current exhibits and educational programming. Guests: Alison Rempel Brown has been the president and CEO of the Science Museum of Minnesota since 2016. She was previously chief of staff at the California Academy of Sciences.Colleen Dilenschneider is founder and managing member of IMPACTS Experience, a market research firm that works with cultural organizations, including museums, zoos, aquariums and science centers. She is based in Chicago. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

47 min
APR 8

Getting ahead of the sneeze: Preparing for spring allergy season

Snow is still on the ground across parts of Minnesota, but it’s not too early to start thinking about spring allergies. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two allergists about what’s coming this season and how to get ahead of it. Guests: Dr. Alice Knoedler is an allergist and immunologist at Midwest Allergy and Asthma, which is part Midwest Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists, a group of clinicians based in and around the Twin Cities. Dr. Zachary Rubin is a pediatrician and allergist who practices at Oak Brook Allergists in Chicago. He is also author of the recently published book, “All About Allergies: Everything You Need to Know About Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More.” Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

47 min

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4.6

out of 5

128 Ratings

Urban animals

Apr 14

Marigold135

Great podcast. I learned so much and improved my understanding of local animal behavior. Thanks! Love this podcast
Good

02/17/2024

Jhfhdjfjjfjfdn

You have to losing to it
Are you a victim?

06/27/2024

Night Soul Train

If you are, npr will bend head over heels to share your story, never willing to examine the other side of such stories, narratives. It makes for easy reporting, news gathering, but leaves us all less informed at the end of the day
Appointment listening

11/18/2023

Pocketfullofpocketsand

Angela Davis is a wonderful interviewer with a lovely voice and pace. She keeps the conversation moving and the topics discussed vary but are always interesting and informative.

Conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing, weekdays from MPR News. Programming note: Our colleague Angela Davis is taking a leave of absence after a recent breast cancer diagnosis. Thank you to all who have checked in and shared kind words. Angela is touched by your support as she focuses on her recovery.