MPR News with Angela Davis

Leading up to election day, a record number of Minnesotans have voted early. Early voting — in person, by mail or through an absentee ballot — has become increasingly popular for people who hope to avoid lines or cast their ballots when it’s convenient for them.

And this year, Minnesota introduced a new process that allows early voters to place their ballots directly into the machine that counts them, just as they would on Election Day.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about why so many Minnesotans chose to vote early, how voting habits are changing and what Minnesotans should know if they’re heading to the polls on Election Day.

Guests:

• Amy Perna is the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to voter education and civic engagement. She leads the organization’s efforts to encourage voter participation, improve access to voting and help Minnesotans make informed decisions at the ballot box.
• Michael Minta is a professor and director of graduate studies in political science at the University of Minnesota. He is also the author of “No Longer Outsiders: Black and Latino Interest Group Advocacy on Capitol Hill.”

They’re siblings, they’re business partners and they know how to inspire generosity.

Glen Fladeboe and Kristine Fladeboe Duininck are among the most well-known and busy auctioneers in Minnesota. You may have seen them at a nonprofit gala engaging the crowd, building excitement and calling bids.

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her latest Power Pair about growing up on a farm near Willmar, Minnesota, stepping in to lead the family auction business after their father’s stroke and what it takes to inspire people to care about a cause and open their wallets.

Guests:

• Glen Fladeboe is an auctioneer and partner with his sister in their second-generation, family-owned auction business. Fladeboe Advancement runs benefit auctions and consults with nonprofit organizations on fundraising. Fladeboe Land works with families and investors on the sale and purchase of Minnesota farmland.
• Kristine Fladeboe Duininck is an auctioneer and partner with her brother in Fladeboe Advancement and Fladeboe Land. She works with families and investors on the sale and purchase of Minnesota farmland. She was named the top female auctioneer in the U.S. in 2010 by the National Auctioneers Association.

Check out Angela’s previous Power Pair conversations.

Do you know a Power Pair?

We’d love to hear your ideas for Power Pairs to interview. Send us your suggestions.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

There’s a lack of affordable housing across Minnesota. State projections say more than 182,000 new housing units across all types and prices points are needed by 2035 to create a healthy housing market.

But the problem is especially acute in rural communities, due to a complicated mix of older housing in need of repairs, seniors remaining in single-family homes and high construction costs.

MPR News host Kerri Miller devoted the final Rural Voice of 2026 to the lack of affordable housing — a problem that comes up at every town hall she moderates, no matter the topic.

The town hall discussion took place on Oct. 6, in Marshall, where community leaders said housing is needed across the board — renters need more apartments, young families need single-family homes and seniors need places where they can affordably downsize. Creative solutions could include updated modular housing and repurposing the second stories of downtown spaces.

Rural Voice: Marshall

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Leaders also linked housing to employment. Businesses can’t grow because there is no housing for more workers. Chad Adams, CEO at the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, said the business community needs to do more to help with the housing crisis and reminded local leaders that “housing is economic development.”

Do you toss and turn and have trouble falling asleep? Or do you wake in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to sleep?

About a third of adults in the U.S. report that they don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep each night. About one in ten people struggle with chronic insomnia.

As we reset our clocks on Sunday and leave Daylight Savings Time, it’s a great time to also reset our sleep habits.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a sleep expert about why sleep is so important for your body and your mind, what’s keeping people up and how to deal with common sleep problems.

Guest:

• Dr. Michael Howell is a neurology professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School focused on sleep research. He sees patients through M Health Fairview's sleep clinics and is also the chief medical officer for GEM Sleep, a Minnesota-based virtual clinic with patients nationwide.

Halloween is just around the corner, and Minnesotans are getting ready with costumes, decorations and plenty of candy. From trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins to haunted houses and costume parties, Halloween traditions have evolved over generations.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a Halloween historian about the history of the holiday. She’ll also talk with a longtime community volunteer from Anoka about why the city calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World.

Guests:

• Lisa Morton is an author and Halloween historian who researches the holiday’s origins, traditions and cultural significance. She has written several books about Halloween, including “Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween” and “The Halloween Encyclopedia.”
• Karen George is a longtime Anoka resident and volunteer with Anoka Halloween, Inc. She is grand marshal of the city’s Halloween parades this year.

Four years ago, the podcast Sold a Story sparked a national debate about how children learn to read. Its reporting helped drive changes in reading instruction across dozens of states, including in Minnesota.

Now, the investigative podcast from American Public Media is back for a second season. And this time, the focus goes beyond reading to look at teaching itself. Sold a Story: What Happened to Teaching explores why so many schools have ignored an effective teaching method called direct instruction.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Emily Hanford, the senior correspondent and host of Sold a Story, about the new season and what happens when deeply held beliefs about education clash with evidence.

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At a northern Minnesota tribal school A highly structured reading program gets results

Guest:

• Emily Hanford is a senior correspondent and producer at APM Reports and host of the investigative podcast Sold a Story, one of Time Magazine’s top podcasts of the year and winner of numerous honors including a duPont, an Edward R. Murrow and a Peabody nomination. A longtime public media journalist and education reporter, she is based in Washington, D.C., where she’s been journalist-in-residence at Planet Word, the museum of words and language.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Data centers are coming for rural America.

In the past, data centers tended to be built in urban areas, close to power grids and technology workers. But with the rise of generative AI, more data centers are needed, and this time, tech companies are eyeing rural communities.

MPR News host Kerri Miller moderated a Rural Voice town hall discussion about data centers at Corks & Pints in Faribault, Minn. on Sept. 29. The conversation was lively, to say the least.

Rural Voice: Faribault

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Community members, who live in a variety of towns across southern Minnesota, were skeptical about the energy and environmental impact data centers would have on rural areas. Many said they care more about natural resources than the money that development might bring. And almost everyone said they don’t trust technology companies to tell the truth or do the right thing when it comes to protecting and investing in rural communities.

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More from MPR News Data centers in Minnesota

Minneapolis Public Schools last month recommended closing more than a dozen schools — and then last week put the plan on pause.

The proposal to shutter schools was put forward as a way to make better use of limited funds and half-empty buildings after years of enrollment declines and budget challenges.

But at a recent school board meeting, after intense community feedback, Minneapolis Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams told the board not proceed with school closures.

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Superintendent Sayles-Adams about why that plan was proposed, why it was put on hold and what comes next for students and families.

Guest:

• Lisa Sayles-Adams is the superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. She started the job in early 2024 after serving during the pandemic as superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools west of the Twin Cities. She started her career in education 30 years ago as a classroom teacher in Minneapolis and later worked in several districts in Minnesota and Georgia as a principal and assistant superintendent. She was selected by Minnesota Association of School Administrators as the 2026 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year.

Pets can bring so much joy. But there’s also a lot to learn about how to train and care for a dog, cat or other animal companion.

How do you help an anxious rescue dog? Do indoor cats need vaccines? What’s the etiquette at the dog park? What do I feed a rabbit?

And, if you’re thinking about getting a pet, what should you be thinking about ahead of time?

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a veterinarian about how to help your pets stay happy, healthy and well-behaved.

Minnesota launched a major new benefit for workers in January.

The statewide paid family and medical leave program allows eligible workers to receive part of their pay while taking time off to recover from a serious illness, welcome a new child or care for a loved one.

More than 100,000 Minnesotans have applied for benefits so far, but questions remain about how smoothly the program is working and how employers are adjusting.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about what we’ve learned in the first nine months, who’s using the paid leave program and what needs to be improved.

Guests:

• Alice Mann is a DFL state senator who represents District 50, which includes Edina and Bloomington. She is also an emergency room physician.
• Evan Rowe is the deputy commissioner for workforce services and transformation at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, also known as DEED.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Do local businesses still own Main Street in Minnesota’s rural communities? Or are national chains and large corporations changing the fabric of what it means to be a small town?

That’s the question MPR News host Kerri Miller posed during her most recent Rural Voice town hall, held Sept. 28 at The Broadway event center in downtown Albert Lea, Minn.

Business owners and community leaders agreed that keeping local businesses local is key to maintaining small town feel and charm. But doing that is no small feat.

Business owners say they work long hours, money is always tight and even if the business is a success, figuring out how to grow sustainably is a challenge.

Organizations designed to support local businesses, like the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, say it’s a story they hear a lot. They pointed to the critical role community support and innovative financing models play in sustaining rural businesses.

Last year, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping tax and spending bill — originally called the One Big Beautiful Bill. It included significant changes to Medicaid, the government health insurance program that helps people with lower incomes pay for medical care.

Some changes to eligibility rules have already taken effect while changes to work requirements are scheduled to begin in 2027.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what the changes mean for Minnesotans who rely on Medicaid and for the healthcare system as a whole.

If you’re looking for affordable medical care, you can find local resources here: Community Health Centers.

Guests:

• Robin Rudowitz is a senior vice president and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF, an independent source for health policy research, polling and news.
• Jonathan Watson is the CEO of the Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Generations of children have run and climbed their way through the Minnesota Children’s Museum.

They've shopped for plastic food at the pretend farmers' market, launched ping-pong balls, whooshed down the giant spiral slide and blown bubbles at the wacky car wash.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the museum’s president Dianne Krizan about how the museum is doing following its post-COVID attendance slump, why play is so important for kids and how the museum is trying to help address anxiety in young children.

Guest:

• Dianne Krizan is the president of the Minnesota Children's Museum and a champion for children's wellbeing and play. The museum announced earlier this fall that she'll be retiring in June 2027 after leading the St. Paul institution for more than 17 years.

Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to celebrate the history, cultures and contributions of Native people. But it’s also an opportunity to reflect on what’s happening in Native communities today.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two Native leaders about the ways Native communities in Minnesota are thriving, the challenges they continue to face and what the future holds for the next generation.

Guests:

• Amber Annis is the executive director of Native Governance Center, where she works to support Native leadership and tribal sovereignty. She is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
• Nikki Love is the executive director of the Tiwahe Foundation, a Minnesota-based organization that supports Native leadership, cultural preservation, and economic opportunity through grants, leadership opportunities and community programs. She is Bois Forte Anishinaabe.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

You know their voices, but what do you know about the people behind them? MPR News host Angela Davis talks with three MPR newscasters about their paths to journalism and who they are off the air.

Guests:

• Elena See is the afternoon newscaster on MPR News. She’s on the air during All Things Considered, Marketplace and other evening shows.
• Emily Reese is the midday newscaster on MPR News. You hear her during the late morning and afternoons, including during Minnesota Now and All Things Considered.
• Phineas Pope is the morning newscaster on MPR News. He delivers newscasts during Morning Edition, MPR News with Angela Davis and 1A with Jenn White.

Every Wednesday, MPR News with Angela Davis explores health and wellness topics with experts and listeners across Minnesota.

Listen to highlights from recent broadcasts on colorectal cancer, the potential health benefits of fermented foods and breaking down barriers to dental care.

From Twin Cities art crawls to small-town galleries, fall offers plenty of ways to explore Minnesota’s arts scene. But behind the art and performances are the artists — working to find audiences, afford studio space and make a living. What helps them thrive, and how can we support creativity in our communities?

MPR News host Angela Davis explores what’s happening in Minnesota’s arts scene, how local artists are supported and where to discover art across the state this fall.

Guests:

• Mariusz Kujawski is the executive director of the St. Paul Art Collective, an organization that supports local artists and connects them with audiences.
• Michele Anderson is the senior director of partnerships and rural strategy at the nonprofit Springboard for the Arts, where she leads programs and partnerships supporting artists and creative communities in greater Minnesota.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The way we build careers and make money is changing. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with journalist Lee Hawkins about how people create businesses, move forward after career setbacks and make financial decisions — and what we can learn from their journeys to success.

Guest:

• Lee Hawkins is a contributor to American Public Media — a unit of American Public Media Group, the parent company of MPR News — and a Spencer Education Fellow at Columbia University. He is a Minnesota native and a journalist who spent 19 years at The Wall Street Journal. He is the host of “Must Be the Money,” a podcast produced by Marketplace, and author of the book, "I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family's History Set Me Free.” He is also host of the podcasts, “What Happened in Alabama” and “Unlocking the Gates: How the North Led Housing Discrimination in America,” produced by APM Studios.
• Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Kerri Miller is on the road again for her Rural Voice town hall series — a project that highlights the joys and challenges of living in rural Minnesota.

On Sept. 21, Miller moderated a discussion at Rapids Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, with parents, teachers and community leaders about what can be done to retain young talent in rural communities.

The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is several years behind us, but many Minnesotans are still living with its consequences in the form of long COVID.

Long COVID is a chronic condition that can last for weeks, months or even years after a COVID infection. A major symptom is extreme fatigue, and other symptoms can include everything from blood pressure changes and brain fog to joint pain and depression.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a doctor and a public health leader about long COVID and other other post-infection chronic conditions that doctors are only beginning to understand.

Guests:

• Dr. Tanya Melnik is an internal medicine doctor and director of the M Health Fairview Adult Post-COVID Clinic. She is also a clinical associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
• Kate Murray manages the Long COVID and Post-COVID Conditions program at the Minnesota Department of Health, one of the first public health initiatives focused on understanding the impacts of long COVID and related conditions and improving access to support.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on:Apple Podcasts,Spotify orRSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.