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Minnesota Now with Nina Moini

Nina Moini from Minnesota Now
Nina Moini.
Chris McDuffie for MPR News

Minnesota Now with Nina Moini is journalism that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s reporting that puts people first with live, down-to-earth, unscripted interviews that aim to inform and entertain. Tune in to Minnesota Now weekdays at noon on the radio or the live audio stream at mprnews.org.

Listen: Missed the show? Want to hear a specific conversation? Check out past episodes and segments on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Minnesota music: One of the pillars of Minnesota Now is featuring great Minnesota-based music. Here’s this year’s playlist of songs heard on the show.

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Minnesota Now series

Out to Lunch | Thank You, Stranger | Connect the Dots | State of Democra-Z | Professional Help

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Rising musician Sophie Hiroko getting ready to record her debut album

Rising musician Sophie Hiroko getting ready to record her debut album

Duluth native Sophie Hiroko started 2026 by releasing a new single. And she shared at the MPR State Fair Stage that she has secured studio space to record her first album.
by Nina Moini and Ellen Finn

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How a first-time 4-H state fair exhibitor prepares her lamb for the competition

How a first-time 4-H state fair exhibitor prepares her lamb for the competition

12-year-old 4-H participant Madelyn Donnelly said that facing a big day at the state fair for the first time is stressful, but luckily her lamb is a “chill dude.” She’s hoping her sheep impresses the judges, and she’s getting help from her 19-year-old mentor through a program called a BELLE grant.
by Nina Moini and Ellen Finn

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How the ever-growing State Fair crop art exhibit comes to life

How the ever-growing State Fair crop art exhibit comes to life

Since the pandemic, the number of crop art submissions has continued to grow, to nearly 600 this year. Marta Shore, assistant superintendent of crop art and scarecrows was on the MPR stage to talk about the craft of crop art and its growing popularity.
by Nina Moini and Aleesa Kuznetsov

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Sen. Tina Smith on midterms, Farm Bill and her final Minnesota state fair as a senator

Sen. Tina Smith on midterms, Farm Bill and her final Minnesota state fair as a senator

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith kicked off one of the year’s the most significant statewide races when she announced in 2025 she would not seek reelection. With a few months left in her term, she joined MPR News host Nina Moini live from the state fair.
by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

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Minneapolis police officers on responding to Annunciation shooting, one year later

Minneapolis police officers on responding to Annunciation shooting, one year later

Inspector Ryan Kelly and officers Valeria Perez Martinez and Liban Ibrahim were among the first responders on the scene of the shooting at Annunciation Church and School. Minnesota Now heard from the three officers in interviews conducted and shared by the Minneapolis Police Department.
by Nina Moini and Ngoc Bui

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Annunciation, Sandy Hook parents reflect on turning from tragedy to action

Annunciation, Sandy Hook parents reflect on turning from tragedy to action

A group of Annunciation Church and School parents became advocates for preventing gun violence after a mass shooting took the lives of two children and injured 29 people in their community. They found allies in Sandy Hook parents who began a similar journey more than a decade ago.
by Nina Moini and Alanna Elder

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At Harper Moyski’s memorial bench, her sister and best friends find healing together

At Harper Moyski’s memorial bench, her sister and best friends find healing together

Harper Moyski was one of two students killed in the Annunciation Catholic Church and School mass shooting nearly one year ago. Since then, her younger sister Quinn and Harper’s three best friends have become a support system for each other as they grieve and heal.
by Aleesa Kuznetsov and Nina Moini

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