MPR News with Angela Davis

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...

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.

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 wh...

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, health...

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, wh...

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...

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 l...

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

Isaac Thompson grew up in the Twin Cities dreaming of becoming a professional violinist. His career took him off the stage and into arts leadership — and eventually brought him back home to lead the Minnesota Orchestra, the same institution that inspired him as a kid.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Thompson about his first year as CEO of the orchestra and his vision for making classical music more accessible.

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As artificial intelligence companies create increasingly powerful models, lawmakers are calling for rules to regulate the technology. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the debate over AI regulation, who should oversee it and what the guardrails could be.

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Four years ago, Rural Voice launched in St. Joseph, Minn., with a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of building a business in rural America.

This year, to kick off the 2026 season, Rural Voice returned to St. Joseph to talk about belonging. MPR News host and Rural Voice moderator Kerri Miller led a discussion at Krewe Restaurant on Sept. 14. Community members shared personal stories about what it means to belong — especially when you enter a small town as a newcomer.

When someone stops drinking alcohol or using drugs, it’s only the beginning.

For many people, recovery is a long journey — one that can mean rebuilding relationships, changing everyday habits and finding a new community and sense of purpose.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks during National Recovery Month with two guests who rebuilt their lives after alcohol or drug use brought everything crashing down — in very public ways.

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Tattoos can mark a memory, honor someone we love, express something about who we are — or simply be a piece of art we like enough to put on our bodies. But choosing something permanent can bring up questions about meaning, regret and how others might see us.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a sociologist who studies tattoo culture and a St. Paul tattoo artist about why people get tattoos, what they mean to us and how attitudes towards tattoos are changing.

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Most Americans believe college is too expensive. In a Gallup poll released this summer, only 12 percent of U.S. adults say four-year colleges and universities provide an affordable education. But at the same time, a majority of parents surveyed say they still want their children to get a degree.

What’s a student to do?

Here in Minnesota, relatively new programs like North Star Promise aim to close the gap for low-income students. But is it enough to make a real difference when it comes to overall affordability?

MPR News ho...

Minnesotans made more than 9 million visits to food shelves last year — setting a record for the fourth year in a row, according to The Food Group’s 2025 Minnesota Food Shelf Visits Report.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the CEO of Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S., and a regional food bank leader about the growing need for food assistance — and what can be done to help make sure people have enough to eat.

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When a parent can’t care for a child, family members often step in. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings and close family friends become caregivers — sometimes with little preparation or support. They often face unexpected challenges navigating schools, healthcare, finances and the legal system.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what these families need, how policies can better support them and what each of us can do to help.

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Minnesota’s top judge is retiring at the end of this month.

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson has been on the Supreme Court since 2015 and was elevated into her role as chief justice in 2023.

She is one of only a few Black justices in state history and is the first person of color and the third woman to lead the state’s highest court.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her about her long career and why she thinks it’s important for the public to understand and tr...

Most people have days when they want to quit their jobs. But when that feeling doesn’t go away — when you feel stuck, unhappy or unable to grow — it may be time to seriously consider leaving.

Deciding to quit can be complicated. Before giving notice, there are questions to weigh about your finances, your family, the job market and whether changes at your current workplace could make staying worthwhile.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how to recognize when it’s time to leave a job — and how to prepare fo...

For those who lived through it, the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 remains a defining moment. But an entire generation has now grown up since the attacks.

That morning, terrorists hijacked four passenger planes. Two crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one hit the Pentagon, and passengers on the fourth plane fought back before it crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, with thousands more later dying from illnesses linked to the toxic debris.

9/11 changed the United States in lasting ways. It altered the country’s...

A growing number of people are finding stress relief in sound baths.

It involves lying down, closing your eyes and letting waves of sound wash over you — usually the sounds of gongs, crystal bowls, rattles and other instruments.

Many people who have experienced a sound bath say it calms their mind and puts them in a state of deep relaxation that can also help with anxiety, sleep problems and even pain.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about some of the benefits and the science behind the go...

Minnesota voters will find a question about public school funding on their ballots this fall. A proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount distributed each year from the state’s Permanent School Fund — a $2.4 billion investment fund built with revenue generated by state-owned school trust lands.

Supporters say it would provide additional money without raising taxes, but critics say that the increase would only cover a fraction of the broader financial pressures facing school districts.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how Minnesota schools are funded, where that money goes...

Community land trusts make it possible for land to be owned collectively while individuals own the homes and businesses on it.

The model grew out of the civil rights movement, when Black farmers in the rural South used collective ownership to build economic independence despite barriers to credit and land access.

Today, community land trusts help preserve affordable housing and commercial spaces while giving communities more control over their future.

The Rondo Community Land Trust in St. Paul is one example. It is working to rebuild community wealth and preserve...

Confidence can be hard to find when you're facing a new challenge, recovering from a mistake or simply hearing that critical voice in your head. But confidence isn't a personality trait. It's a skill that can be developed.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guest talk about how to quiet your inner critic, learn from mistakes, recognize your wins and take action — even when you don't feel ready.

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The Mississippi River has provided water, food, transportation and a place of connection for generations of Minnesotans. But its history is also marked by displacement, environmental damage and decisions that have often prioritized industry and commerce over communities and the health of the river.

A new documentary, “We Are the River: How the Mississippi Shaped Minnesota,” explores the complicated history of the river and the people who have lived alongside it. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about what that history can teach us about caring for...

Many Americans are finding it harder to stretch their budgets — and wondering when they’ll feel some financial relief.

Inflation, higher gas prices and difficulty keeping up with bills and other payments — like buy now, pay later loans — are straining household budgets, while tariffs and changing trade relationships, including with Canada, raise concerns about additional costs.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why so many people feel financially squeezed, what’s driving these pressures and what they reveal about the broader economy.

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The first day of the Minnesota State Fair brings a chance to see thousands of creative works made by Minnesotans — including quilts that showcase remarkable skill, artistry and imagination.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two quilters about what goes into making a quilt, how quilting has evolved and the community and personal stories that can be stitched into every finished piece.

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A string of foodborne illness outbreaks has raised new questions about the safety of fresh produce. A major cyclospora outbreak has sickened thousands nationwide, salmonella linked to jalapeños has infected more than 100 Minnesotans and recalled alfalfa sprouts grown in the state have been connected to cases of both E. coli and salmonella.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with food safety experts about what’s behind the recent outbreaks, how produce becomes contaminated and what consumers can do to reduce their risk of getting sick.

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In the 1980s rural Minnesota was struggling with the farm crisis and the McKnight Foundation launched an experiment — the Minnesota Initiative Foundations.

These six independent regional foundations across greater Minnesota were created to listen to their communities and invest in local economic development.

Over four decades, they’ve distributed hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and loans to help address housing and child care, support entrepreneurs, train up new leaders and create a sense of belonging.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the heads of two of the regi...

Thursday will mark one year since the shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis when a shooter opened fire during a back-to-school Mass. One hundred and sixteen bullets shattered windows of the building in less than two minutes.

Two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, were killed. Twenty-eight other people were injured.

On Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talked with two parents of children who attend the school about how they plan to remember Aug. 27, 2025.

“It's feeling really heavy,” said Brittany Haeg, whose first-grade son was shot...

Your local library has more to offer than a good book. A library card can connect you with job-search help, classes and events, computers, free or discounted tickets to museums and even 3D printing.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about the wide range of resources libraries provide, how to access them and how the role of public libraries is changing.

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We all need someone to talk to. But as we get older, it can be harder to find opportunities to build meaningful connections.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about programs that bring older adults and volunteers together through phone conversations, virtual coffee chats and in-person visits.

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Schools across Minnesota are starting the new school year. For families with a child entering high school, the transition can bring harder classes, changing friendships and new social pressures — along with more independence and opportunities to grow.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how parents can support teenagers through the transition into high school. They’ll discuss how to keep communication open, when to step in and step back, and how to recognize when a child may need additional support.

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American Indians on tribal lands in the United States have historically faced some of the nation’s worst economic conditions.

Casinos have helped improve bring jobs and development to many Minnesota tribes over the past four decades. And, now, the number of other types of businesses owned by Native entrepreneurs and tribal governments is growing — and becoming more diverse.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with MPR News senior economics contributor Chris Farrell and two Native business owners featured in the new series from MPR’s Upper Midwest Newsroom “Beyond the Bet,” exploring the divers...