Anika Besst

A puppet, a poet and a dreamscape: A new operetta at Open Eye Theatre A new operetta at Minneapolis’ Open Eye Theatre reimagines the life and poetry of Pulitzer Prize–winning University of Minnesota professor John Berryman through a dreamlike staging that explores the w...

Late poet and educator John Berryman is being remembered in a new jazz-infused operetta premiering at Minneapolis’ Open Eye Theatre.

I discussed with artists what it was like to explore the prolific poet's life and work. They told me they sought a dream-inspired show to honor his memory.

Township elections guide: Voting and annual meeting March 10 Township elections are being held across Minnesota on March 10. They are uniquely hyper-local with voters serving two purposes: electing their town board and deciding the future of their township thro...

Wondering where your township election will be held? Find info here about registering, absentee voting and polling places.

Minnesota township elections are March 10. Here's what you need to know to vote Township elections are being held across Minnesota on March 10. They are uniquely hyper-local with voters serving two purposes: electing their township board and deciding the future of their township ...

Township Elections are a week away! Wondering what they are? Here's a township 101.

For one Globetrotter, the game is as much about connection as basketball As the Harlem Globetrotters tour the country, veteran player Fatima “TNT” Lister reflects on a career built around performance, community connection and the responsibility of being a highly visible wo...

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to chat with a player from the Harlem Globetrotters. Fatima “TNT” Lister has been apart of the team for 15 years and still adores seeing the missing-tooth smiles and gleaming eyes of the Globetrotter's youngest and more fiery fans.

Vigils were held across the state to remember Alex Pretti after he was fatally shot by a federal agent Saturday in Minneapolis. Many also gathered to protest increased federal immigration enforcement happening in Minnesota.

For our latest coverage visit www.mprnews.org/live-updates.

Some criminals ICE takes credit for arresting were already in Minnesota prisons Several of the 13 “worst of the worst” criminals that the Department of Homeland Security said were arrested in Minnesota through its immigration enforcement operation were actually handed over to ICE...

Several of the 13 “worst of the worst” criminals that the Department of Homeland Security said were arrested in Minnesota through its immigration enforcement operation were actually handed over to ICE by state prisons before Operation Metro Surge began.

Privacy advocates: ICE using private data to intimidate observers and activists MPR News has looked into reports that federal agents have accessed private data to track and intimidate anti-ICE activists since the immigration crackdown surged in Minnesota in December. Privacy advo...

Activists allege ICE tracked and intimidated Minnesotans observing their operations using private data like license-plate and car-registration info — data that, advocates say should only be accessed during active criminal investigations. The ACLU of Minnesota calls for answers and accountability.

What to do if ICE stops you: An attorney answers some questions With immigration enforcement activity increasing across Minnesota, many people are asking a simple but urgent question: What are my rights if ICE or other federal agents approach me?

Can I stay silent? What kind of warrant do they need? What documents should I carry?

We asked an attorney what to do if you get stopped by ICE.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's directors voted the organization out of business Monday. The private agency, which has distributed federal funding to PBS, NPR and hundreds of local television and radio stations across the country for more than a half-century, saw its appropriations from Co

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's directors voted the organization out of business Monday.

Kaohly Her makes St. Paul mayoral history as she looks toward the future History will be made in St. Paul on Friday when Kaohly Her becomes the city’s first Hmong mayor and the first woman to hold the title. On top of all that, St. Paul’s entirely elected leadership is now...

History will be made in St. Paul Friday when Kaohly Her becomes the city’s first Hmong mayor and the first woman to hold the title. With her inauguration, all of St. Paul’s elected city leaders will be women.

Olympic rosters for ice hockey include a slew of Minnesotans With the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan just weeks away, the rosters for U.S. ice hockey and Paralympic Sled hockey have been announced. The ice hockey teams host a slew of Minnesotans and...

Minnesotans and players on Minnesota's pro teams made Team USA's hockey rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Minnesota Frost players Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein and Wild players Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes are all in.

Feeding Our Future defendant connected to taxpayer-funded group homes in Twin Cities A company allegedly used to launder money stolen from the government in the Feeding Our Future fraud case owns five houses where taxpayer-funded group homes operate. Those group homes have collected m...

A company allegedly used to launder money stolen from the government in the Feeding Our Future fraud case owns at least five houses where taxpayer-funded group homes operate. Those group home businesses have collected millions of dollars from the government.

Minnesota, the land of women’s sports 🏒🏀⚽️🏈🏉🏐

What a way to spend a Saturday morning. A music legend and Minneapolis Sound mainstay, "Jellybean" Johnson's wealth of contributions were celebrated today at a remembrance.

‘Reminded of what we’ve lost’: Hortman tribute will be reminder to deescalate Capitol rhetoric A display outside the Minnesota House of Representatives and at the late House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Legislative leaders have decided it should...

A display at the late Minnesota House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman’s desk cropped up in the wake of her assassination. Leaders decided it should remain as a reminder of the impact of political violence.

4 facts about 'I Feel Down Today,' the new single from Ponderosa Minneapolis musician Josh Lavonn says his latest album came from one place: love. The Ponderosa frontman credits his wife and the relationships around him as the spark behind “Woman,” a retro-soul rec...

Minneapolis musician Josh Lavonn’s “Woman” is a retro-soul record built on devotion, vulnerability and long-term partnership.

“You don't need to fix one another or have all the answers, but just being there for one another,” Lavonn said about the inspiration for his work.

Got to chat with Ryan Kemp of Chutes about one of his latest singles "Lawn." The inspiration for the song about nostalgia came out of the downtime of a season that looks much like the one Minnesota just entered. ❄️

The tournament's first round starts Thursday. The University of St. Thomas faces Iowa State Friday and the University of Minnesota will also be playing in the tournament, facing off against Fairfield.

Dallas Wings win the WNBA draft lottery, the Minnesota Lynx will pick second The Dallas Wings won the WNBA draft lottery for the second consecutive season on Sunday night. Minnesota, which had the best record in the league last year, will pick second.

Missing Lynx basketball? Here’s a draft pick update to fill the Lynx-o-meter. 🏀

Chatted new music with Minnesota band Sleeping Jesus. Hear the story behind their latest release 🎶

U of M’s Mapping Prejudice Project reveals racist deeds around Sherburne County lakes Researchers found 356 properties with racial covenants in Sherburne County, nearly all clustered around lakes. Most were added after 1948, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled such restrictions were unen...

Research by the University of Minnesota's Mapping Prejudice Project has uncovered hundreds of racist property deeds in Sherburne County. Nearly all the properties were clustered around lakes, and 90 percent were added after 1948. Racial covenants became illegal in Minnesota in 1953.

Events planned in Minnesota to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance Observances are planned in Minnesota on Thursday for the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. It’s an annual event to honor the memory of lives lost to anti-transgender violence.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is Thursday. Queer community members say the remembrance events carry a different weight this year as changes are introduced in other states — and on the federal level — designed to attack transgender rights.

Hennepin Healthcare adds more prayer stickers for Muslim patients Hennepin Healthcare piloted a program to add qibla stickers, which help orient Muslim patients for prayer, to its ER in 2021. It is now expanding the program to its in-patient and acute psychiatric se...

Hennepin Healthcare piloted a program to add qibla stickers to its ER in 2021. It is now expanding the program to its in-patient and acute psychiatric services department.

Northern lights lovers didn’t have to go far to see them ripple across the sky Tuesday evening. A show that included vivid red auroras visible to the eye, not just the camera.

We want to see your aurora photos. Message them to us or email them to tell@mpr.org.

How a band captured Winona’s natural beauty What began as a musician falling in love with Winona’s bluffs has become an album that captures the region’s voice itself — a melodic love story to a place.

Had the chance to talk with Winona-based band Afflatus about the inspiration behind their new album ”Painted Turtle.” Check it out here 🦢

A bright red dragonfly stands on a brown leaf on the ground.

A dragonfly! In November?! Yup, it’s called the Autumn Meadowhawk for good reason
#invertebrates 🌿

Tomorrow is Election Day! Check out the MPR News Voter Guide for information about what you'll see on your ballot.

From a rough week to a good party: Hiahli turns hard times into joy Hiahli’s latest single, born from one broke week and a van jam session, turns struggle into a celebration.

Hiahli’s latest single, born from one broke week and a van jam session, turns struggle into a celebration.

Calls for changes in the WNBA follow a history of advocacy in women's sports Fans across the league have watched the press conferences from players and coaches, and there has been an outpouring of support on social media. Their concerns echo long-held qualms players and coache...

Fans across the WNBA have shown an outpouring of support on social media for players and coaches since recent press conferences have emphasized disparities in the league. And in Minnesota, Lynx Forward Napheesa Collier and head coach Cheryl Reeve have reignited calls for change.