MPR News with Angela Davis

In 2023, Minnesota passed a law requiring free menstrual products in all public school bathrooms for grades four through 12.

But when the law went into effect last year, some schools weren’t sure how best to put it into practice.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two graduate students who created the Minnesota Menstrual Products in Schools Toolkit to help school staff navigate implementing the law.

The Federal Reserve recently cut its key interest rate for the first time since December 2023. 

The move marked a shift in monetary policy as the central bank responds to what Fed Chair Jerome Powell described as a “really cooling off” labor market, while continuing to monitor inflation.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert and senior economics contributor Chris Farrell talk about the reasoning behind the Fed's de...

Thinking about adding attic insulation, swapping your old air conditioning system for a heat pump, or putting solar panels on your roof?

Federal tax credits can cut the cost, but the clock is ticking.

President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill passed this summer is doing away with several energy incentives that encouraged homeowners to reduce their energy use and switch to cleaner energy sources.

MPR News...

Rural Voice, the statewide town hall series amplifying perspectives from greater Minnesota, launched its 2025 season at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College on Sept. 3, with a robust conversation on tribal rights and sovereignty in rural Minnesota.

Moderated by Rural Voice co-founder and MPR News host Kerri Miller, the discussion featured a variety of voices and opinions emphasizing the inherent nature of treaty ri...

As we head into fall and winter, COVID-19 is still with us — even if it looks different than it did a few years ago.

Case numbers often rise when we spend more time indoors, so what can you do to keep yourself and others COVID-free?

Just last week, an advisory panel with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surprised many by not recommending COVID-19 vaccines for high-risk groups like seniors. Instead, t...

Kids and teens spend a huge part of their lives in digital spaces — on apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram and even using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. Gaming platforms like Roblox have become virtual playgrounds, too. 

These tools can be fun, creative and social, but they also carry real risks, ranging from misinformation to cyberbullying and grooming by online predators. 

MPR News guest host Ca...

In the days following Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, many people took to social media to share their feelings and thoughts.  

People expressed sorrow, shock and anger. They shared critiques of Kirk’s conservative views. In some cases, what people said or posted about his death got them in trouble at work.  

Last week ABC pulled comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show off the air “indefinitely” after Kimmel’s comments on how M...

Have you ever felt dizzy? You're not alone.  

Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people show up at a hospital emergency room.  

But there are different kinds of dizzy. A lot of people, especially as they age, live with the feeling of being just a little unsteady or off balance.  

Others have experienced true vertigo. That's when the room seems to swirl and tip to the point where you might feel nauseous...

Big waves are part of the fun of summer, but they can also stir up big debates.  

Wake boats are designed to create large waves for surfers to ride. But those waves don’t just disappear. A new University of Minnesota study shows they can stir up sediment, muddy the water and release phosphorus, which causes algae blooms.

MPR News guest host Kirsti Marohn dives into the science and what it means for lake lovers.

In the wake of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, questions about political violence in America are once again front and center. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell and his guests ask: Why is political violence on the rise and how do we respond?

Guests:

• John Hinderaker is the president of the Center for the American Experiment, a conservative policy advocacy group based in Minnesota.
• David Schultz ...

The latest vaccines for COVID-19 have reached Minnesota. But should you get one? Can you find one? And will your insurance pay for it?

These are just some of the questions flying around following turmoil at federal health agencies.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, laid off workers, overseen changes in COVID-19 va...

Parenting can feel like a rollercoaster — equal parts joy and chaos.

We often second-guess ourselves: Am I doing this right? Am I messing my kid up forever?

Trust us, you are not alone.

And maybe you’ve heard the term “attachment” thrown around in parenting circles — the deep emotional bond that can form between a child and their primary caregivers.

But what does it really mean? And how does it shape a chil...

Minnesota lawmakers from both parties say they’re open to returning to the Capitol to consider policy changes after last week’s deadly school shooting in Minneapolis. But what might come out of a special session — if one materializes — is harder to gauge.

MPR News guest host Catherine Richert talks with a pediatrician and a researcher about what we know about what works to prevent gun violence and what steps policymake...

Reading is often called the gateway to learning. It opens the door to almost every subject, from history to science.

But what happens when the words on the page or screen don’t come easily — when they blur, flip, or just don’t make sense?

For as many as one in five students, that’s the reality of dyslexia. It’s one of the most common learning differences, yet it’s still widely misunderstood.  

MPR News guest ho...

It's back-to-school time, and for many families, the excitement is mixed with worry. 

Will my child make friends? Keep up with the schoolwork? And underneath it all — will they be safe? 

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the signs and causes of back-to-school anxiety and what parents can do to support their children and teens.

Guests:

• Katie Lingras is an associate professor of psychiatry...

Another mass shooting has left families devastated and neighborhoods shaken. 

Wednesday morning, a shooting during a worship service at the Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis left two children dead and 17 injured.

We hear about the violence and the investigation, but what often gets less attention is what comes after — the grief, anger, fear and the long and difficult process of healing. 

MP...

Students are getting ready to head back to school next week. Some have already started classes.

As teachers kick off the new school year, they may ask themselves, “Will I be able to reach that one struggling student? Will I make the difference they need?”

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a former secretary of the U.S. Department of Education who says teachers saved his life.

Join Angela when she talks wit...