Essential Minnesota

Lisa Demuth on why she wants to be Minnesota’s next governor

House Speaker Lisa Demuth is in the studio talking about her upbringing and what she thinks will make Minnesota work better. This is part of a special series of conversa

Peggy Flanagan on why she wants to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate

The DFL candidate for U.S. Senate speaks about her upbringing and what she thinks matters most to Minnesotans. This is part of a special series of conversations with can

Karyn Tomlinson is creating a moment for northern cuisine

This James Beard award-winning Twin Cities chef is leading the way on one of the hottest culinary trends right now. She tells Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Joy Summers

The story behind the scandal surrounding Kaohly Her

The St Paul mayor has been accused of sexual harassment and battery by the city’s police chief, Axel Henry. Star Tribune reporters Jeff Day and Josie Albertson-Grove disc

The sextortion pandemic in Minnesota

Over the past few years there has been a 2000% increase in the number of sextortion cases reported to police. These scams have taken millions of dollars and the lives of

Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility

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.

How transfer athletes change high school sports

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 Scoggi

Tasting 104 New Fair Foods in One Day

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 trie

Inside the Making of the Annunciation Diaries

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, se

The ballots are set. What do candidates need to do now to win in November?

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

Summer Break -- we'll be back the week of August 10th

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Summer Break -- we'll be back the week of August 10th

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Minnesota elections face new challenges as federal support is pulled back

Longtime political reporter Briana Bierschbach details how the Trump administration has pulled back key support that has helped Minnesota safeguard elections while pushin

Minnesota’s Wildfires: Smoke, the Boundary Waters & Climate Change

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 T

Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve Breaks One More Record

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

Happy July 4th - see you next week

We're taking a holiday break this week but we'll be back July 10!

How Minnesota's new flag became a political flashpoint

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

The investigation into the OALC church and its abusers

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 ch

Mistakes and Mysteries: Inside the manhunt for assassin Vance Boelter

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 histo

Bonus: Assassin Vance Boelter Pleads Guilty

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 he