Essential Minnesota

Essential Minnesota

Every Friday host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune. Together they dig into interesting and important local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what the Minnesota Star Tribune does best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central.

Episodes

Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility

September 11, 2026 • 28 mins
The privately owned prison in Appleton, Minnesota had a troubled past. Now that the U.S Department of Homeland Security has bought it, its future is anything but certain. Journalists Chris Magan and Jeff Hargarten walk us through the history of this prison turned detention facility, and what it means for the town of 1,300 people, whose future is now tied to ever-changing national immigration policy.
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How transfer athletes change high school sports

September 4, 2026 • 21 mins
One of the hottest issues in high school sports right now is student athletes who transfer schools to position themselves for college and the pros. Journalist Chip Scoggins digs into the debate over what's fair and what’s breaking the rules. This episode was originally released on May 15, 2026.
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Tasting 104 New Fair Foods in One Day

August 28, 2026 • 23 mins
You want to know what's worth trying at the Minnesota State Fair and our food and drink reporters want to deliver. That’s why, on the first day of the fair, our team tries Every. Single. New. Dish. Reporter Sharyn Jackson is the mastermind of the mission and she takes us behind the scenes on the big day – the good, the bad and the brick wall she hits mid-way through. See all the official new foods with a map of where...
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Inside the Making of the Annunciation Diaries

August 21, 2026 • 38 mins
On Aug. 27, 2025, a gunman opened fire through the windows of Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis as students gathered for all-school Mass. Over the past year, several families filmed their experiences in video diaries. We hear some of their reflections and come to understand how this community is working to move forward. Video Journalist Amanda Anderson Reporter Reid Forgrave
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The ballots are set. What do candidates need to do now to win in November?

August 12, 2026 • 27 mins
Minnesota voters delivered historic and surprising results in the primary elections. Politics Editor Brooks Johnson looks ahead at the statewide match ups and the impact the winners will have on Minnesotans and our state’s political scene for decades to come.
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Summer Break -- we'll be back the week of August 10th

August 7, 2026 • 34 secs
We hope you are enjoying your summer!
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Summer Break -- we'll be back the week of August 10th

July 31, 2026 • 34 secs
We hope you are enjoying your summer!
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Minnesota elections face new challenges as federal support is pulled back

July 24, 2026 • 29 mins
Longtime political reporter Briana Bierschbach details how the Trump administration has pulled back key support that has helped Minnesota safeguard elections while pushing changes based on unproven allegations that could make it harder for legitimate voters to cast ballots.
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Minnesota’s Wildfires: Smoke, the Boundary Waters & Climate Change

July 17, 2026 • 24 mins
This week wildfires forced the closure of the Boundary Waters, sent smoke across the Midwest and pushed air quality to hazardous, record-breaking levels. Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Kristoffer Tigue chronicles the evacuation and fire fighting efforts and what decades of data reveal about the growing connection between our wildfires and climate change.
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Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve Breaks One More Record

July 10, 2026 • 22 mins
This week she capped off an historic month becoming the winningest coach in WNBA history. We go behind the scenes with reporter Cassidy Hettesheimer to Reeve’s early days and the secrets to her success. Corrections: In this conversation there are two errors to correct. First, Cheryl Reeve is not head of Business Operations. That was a slip of the tongue. She is actually head of Basketball Operations. Second, Natasha Howard ...
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Happy July 4th - see you next week

July 3, 2026 • 29 secs
We're taking a holiday break this week but we'll be back July 10!
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How Minnesota's new flag became a political flashpoint

June 26, 2026 • 26 mins
Acceptance of the new flag among Minnesotans is divided mainly along party lines. But how much of that comes from partisan fervor fueling the culture wars and how much is from a rushed and imperfect design process? Reporter Briana Bierschbach was there every step of the way and breaks it down.
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The investigation into the OALC church and its abusers

June 19, 2026 • 34 mins
After a tip from an attorney, two investigative reporters look into the leaders of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. They ask - what did they know about abuse against children in the pews and how did church doctrine put kids at risk.
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Mistakes and Mysteries: Inside the manhunt for assassin Vance Boelter

June 12, 2026 • 32 mins
Boelter's escape was full of near misses, enduring mysteries and questionable decisions by law enforcement. Reporter Jeff Day digs into the largest manhunt in state history.
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Bonus: Assassin Vance Boelter Pleads Guilty

June 11, 2026 • 10 mins
Reporter Jeff Day takes us inside the courtroom and details what happened when Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to the shootings that killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
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Behind the fall of the Minneapolis Chief of Police

June 5, 2026 • 28 mins
The scandal that led to Brian O’Hara’s resignation was a surprise to many. Reporter Liz Sawyer tells the behind the scenes story of what led to him leaving and why so many people knew so little about it.
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We're taking a break - back next week

May 29, 2026 • 56 secs
Our small team is taking a short break this week. We'll be back with a fresh episode on June 5!
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Three Republicans, one endorsement: Inside the GOP's fight for Minnesota Governor

May 22, 2026 • 26 mins
As Minnesota Republicans head into their state convention, three very different candidates are vying for the party’s endorsement for governor: House Speaker Lisa Demuth, businessman Kendall Qualls and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. Minnesota Star Tribune reporters Walker Orenstein and Nathaniel Minor break down who these candidates are and what their campaigns reveal about the future of the Minnesota GOP.
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The debate over high school transfer athletes

May 15, 2026 • 24 mins
One of the hottest issues in high school sports right now is student athletes who transfer from school to school. Columnist Chip Scoggins digs into what’s going on, what rules are being broken, and asks – is the current system fair? Guest: Columnist, Chip Scoggins
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How the ban on mining near the BWCAW was reversed

May 8, 2026 • 35 mins
A vote in late April opened the Boundary Waters watershed to copper nickel mining – again. Two reporters describe the family behind the mining proposal, how they worked with lawmakers to reverse a federal ban on mining in the “crown jewel” of Minnesota and what will happen next.
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