MPR News with Angela Davis

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 policymakers might take. Guests:James Densley is a professor and chair of criminology and criminal justice at Metro State University. He is also co-founder of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University.Dr. Marc Gorelick is a retired president and CEO of Children's Minnesota. He is a pediatrician, former pediatric emergency medicine physician and author of “Saving Our Kids: An ER Doc's Common-Sense Solution to the Gun Crisis.” He also serves on the MPR Board of Trustees.

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 host Catharine Richert and her guests will talk about how dyslexia is assessed and how resources and teaching approaches can make reading easier for children and adults with dyslexia.Guests:Liz Adams is a neuropsychologist who owns and manages Minnesota Neuropsychology, which specializes in assessing dyslexia, ADHD and other learning differences in children and adults. Evelyn Haselmann is the CEO of the 20% Club, a dyslexia tutoring center based in White Bear Township, Minn. She also serves as a board member for Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota, an organization that advocates for awareness, teacher training and stronger policies to support students with dyslexia across Minnesota.  

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 and behavioral science at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a licensed child psychologist with M Health Fairview.Amy Klinger is co-founder and director of programs for the Educator's School Safety Network, a non-profit that works with schools nationwide to identify and meet safety needs. She is also a professor of educational administration at Ashland University in Ohio. And she is a former elementary and middle-school principal.

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. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two therapists and a violence prevention researcher about why this kind of loss is so difficult and what communities can do to support each other.Guests:LaReesa Hooper is a therapist and founder of Therapeace Counseling in St. Paul. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Jillian Peterson is a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University, director of their forensic psychology program, and executive director of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University.Shanelle Wenell is a licensed marriage and family therapist with Therapeace Counseling in St. Paul. She is a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, specializing in helping people heal from trauma, including neglect and abuse as children.

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 with John B. King Jr., who says the best teachers didn't just teach him subjects — they taught him that he mattered, that his voice had value and that his dreams were worth pursuing. Guest:John B. King Jr. is the chancellor of the State University of New York. He was secretary of the U.S. Department of Education during President Barack Obama’s administration. He has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal and a college professor. He served as New York State Education Commissioner and was the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization. And he is the author of "Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives.”

Child care is one of the biggest expenses families face — and here in Minnesota, it's among the highest in the nation.Infant care in the state averages nearly $1,900 a month — that's more than most families pay for a mortgage and is more than the cost of in-state tuition at some public colleges. And Minnesota isn’t alone. In more than 40 states, parents say child care is the single biggest expense in their households. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with leaders in early childhood education and child care policy to help us understand what’s behind these rising costs and what families are doing to make it work. Guests:Angela Clair is the director of early childhood services for the Wilder Child Development Center in St. Paul, an early childhood facility that provides care, education and family support to families across the Twin Cities. Clare Sanford serves as Government Relations Chair on the board of the Minnesota Child Care Association. She is also vice president of government & community relations for New Horizon Academy, a family-owned, Minnesota-based child care provider.    Here are some more resources that were mentioned during the show:Kids Count on Us CoalitionKids Count on Us Newsletter Sign Up

We’ve all been there — you get the invitation for dinner at a friend’s place. Maybe it’s a backyard barbecue, a holiday gathering or a spur-of-the-moment picnic.Because you’re a thoughtful guest, you ask, “What can I bring?” And then you freeze. You wonder what you can pull off that everyone will love and will disappear from the table first.So, what will you bring?MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a cookbook author who shares recipes designed to travel well, taste amazing and win you the title of ‘best guest ever.’Guest:Casey Elsass is a food writer, recipe developer and cookbook author whose writing has appeared on Tasty, Epicurious, Food Network Kitchen, Delish, and Food52. His first solo cookbook is “What Can I Bring? Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life.” Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Do you feel like your phone is always in your hand, or that your laptop never really closes? Well, you aren’t alone. More people are looking for ways to step back from constant notifications, endless scrolling and that feeling of always being “on.”  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two experts about digital detoxing — what it means, why it’s so hard to unplug and how taking a break from our screens can help us feel more present, focused and connected.Guests:  Erin Walsh is the co-founder of the Spark & Stitch Institute, a Minneapolis-based organization that helps families, schools and communities navigate the connection between child development, technology and relationships. She is also the author of “It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence.”  Tyler Rice is the co-founder and CEO of the Digital Wellness Institute, an educational and training organization that helps people and organizations build more mindful and balanced relationships with technology. He is also the author of “Tactical Disconnection,” a book about rethinking how we use technology in our daily lives. 

If you’ve heard a young person say someone has “rizz” or something is “mid,” you might’ve nodded along — all while secretly wondering … what on earth were they talking about? Every generation has its own way of speaking, but Gen Z slang is unique. Influenced heavily by social media trends, it’s shaped by internet culture and can spread at lightning speed. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests break it all down. Where does this generation’s slang come from? What does it say about how young people connect, express themselves and even challenge the way we use language?Guests:  Tish Jones is a poet, emcee and hip-hop theater artist from St. Paul. She’s the founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks, a St. Paul arts and culture organization that provides mentorships, workshops and other opportunities for artists and art leaders.Alayo Tripp is a linguist and cognitive scientist studying language development. They are also an assistant professor of computational language science at the University of Florida. Was there any slang you’re curious about that we missed in the show? Check out the list below for more words and phrases.100 Current Slang Terms Teens and Gen Z Use Daily

Ten years ago, when you needed a ride across town or to the airport, you might have called a taxi. Now, you’re more likely to open an app on your phone. Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have been growing at breakneck speed. But the fast growth — and increased focus on profits — has changed the experience for some drivers and riders. It’s also prompted some states, including Minnesota, to pass minimum wage guarantees for drivers. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how rideshare works and how it’s changing. Guests:  Sergio Avedian is senior contributor for The Rideshare Guy, a driver advocacy blog and YouTube channel. He drives for multiple ridesharing and food delivery services in Los Angeles.Said Mohamed has been a rideshare driver for nine years and is a former taxi driver. Since moving to the Twin Cities from southern California three years ago, he’s driven over 11,000 rides. He’s also an organizer for SEIU Local 26, a union that wants to represent rideshare drivers.

This week, we’re sharing an episode of a show we think you’ll enjoy: “Worth It” from the Minnesota Star Tribune and Lemonada Media.We’ve got the inside scoop on why the Guthrie’s “Cabaret” is getting rave reviews. Also, as “The Great Gatsby” turns 100, why is this novel with Minnesota roots worth another read? Plus, we’ll tell you about the Culinary North Stars that are pushing the boundaries of the Twin Cities’ dining scene.Read more about the Culinary North Stars, Gatsby’s centennial, Gatsby remixes and the Guthrie’s production of “Cabaret”.This week our guests are taste editor Nicole Hvidsten, general assignment reporter Zoë Jackson, interim books editor Chris Hewitt, theater critic Rohan Preston and digital food and culture producer Abby Sliva.To support “Worth It” and the important work of the Minnesota Star Tribune, subscribe today by visiting Startribune.com/WorthItToSubscribe.Stay up to date with the Minnesota Star Tribune at @startribune on TikTok, Bluesky, X, Facebook, and Instagram. Lemonada Media is on X, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

When we think about what makes a strong community, it often comes down to one thing — people showing up for each other. Across Minnesota, thousands of volunteers are showing up every day — to stock food shelves, tutor students, plant community gardens, organize donation drives and more.And the way we serve is changing.Today, it’s easier than ever to sign up for one-time events, find projects that line up with your skills or passions and even volunteer virtually from your computer.  MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why volunteering matters, how it strengthens communities and how you can find opportunities that fit your interests and schedule. Guests: Niila Herbert is the executive director of the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement.Melissa Wilson is the senior director of engagement at Greater Twin Cities United Way. She leads the United Way’s Volunteer United program, which promotes volunteer opportunities and events.  

Do you get discouraged and overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? Do you finish your days feeling like you didn’t get anything done? Maybe it’s time to think about how you manage your time. MPR News Host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how to reflect, set priorities, plan and create new habits so you can spend more time on what matters. Guests: Theresa Glomb is a professor of organizational behavior and chair of the Work and Organizations Department in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She researches and speaks about how small changes at work can improve performance, meaning and well-being.  Anna Dearmon Kornick is a time management coach and public speaker based in New Orleans. Her podcast “It’s About Time” has been downloaded nearly 1 million times since it was launched in 2019. She’s also the author of “Time Management Essentials: The Tools You Need to Maximize Your Attention, Energy and Productivity.”  

From TikTok trends to Hollywood mergers, the media world is evolving fast. Most Americans — 83 percent of U.S. adults — use streaming services, according to the Pew Research Center.Social media is competing with traditional outlets for our attention and trust.  And mergers are reshaping who creates, distributes and profits from the content we watch, read and listen to.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a media analyst and a pop culture critic about how technology, business and culture are transforming the media landscape and what it means.Guests:Eric Deggans is TV critic, media analyst and guest host at National Public Radio. Next month, he begins teaching as the Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. His book on how media outlets use racial issues to draw audiences is “Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation.”Neal Justin is the pop culture critic for the Minnesota Star Tribune. He is also an adjunct instructor at the University of St. Thomas. 

If you’ve been on the fence about whether to get an electric vehicle, now might be a good time to buy or lease one. A federal tax credit that lowers the cost of EVs is set to expire at the end of September — much earlier than planned. The change is part of President Donald Trump’s major tax and spending bill, which eliminated several incentives for electric vehicles. EVs have come a long way in the last few years. They made up nearly 8 percent of new cars sold last year in Minnesota and more than 100 electric vehicle models are now for sale in the U.S. (A side-by-side comparison of models can be found here.) MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how public funding changes could affect the shift to electric, if now is a good time to swap the pump for a plug, and how far you can really go on a charge. Guests: Jukka Kukkonen is the founder of Shift2Electric, a Minnesota-based electric vehicle consulting and training company. He’s also an instructor at the University of St. Thomas where he teaches courses about the EV market and technologies.  Katelyn Bocklund is the facilitator of Drive Electric Minnesota, a coalition that works to make electric vehicles more mainstream and easier to use in Minnesota. She’s also a senior program manager of transportation at the nonprofit policy organization Great Plains Institute.   

Youth sports can’t happen without coaches and officials. But some are hanging up their whistles — not because of the players, but because of the parents. The sidelines have become a source of frequent criticism, confrontations and stress — driving some coaches and officials to walk away from the game entirely. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two coaches about how they set expectations for parents, players, and fellow coaches — and what it takes to cool down when behavior off the field gets too heated. Guests:Hisham Sorour is the director of coaching and player development for Mankato United Soccer Club, which has teams for players who are 5 to 18 years old.Russ Turner is the director of The Training Institute at People Incorporated Mental Health Services. He is the head coach for boys’ soccer at Cretin Durham-Hall High School, and a boys and girls coach at St. Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club.   A caller recommended the book, “My Mom Thinks She's My Volleyball Coach… But She's Not!” by Julia Cook.

Chances are, you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with ADHD. About one in 10 kids live with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and among 14-year-old boys, that number jumps to nearly one in five.The commonly prescribed medications can make a big difference in behavior and self-esteem, but they don’t always lead to better learning or performance in school.So, what are we getting right — and wrong — about ADHD? MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a journalist and a pediatrician about how researchers and clinicians are changing how they think about and treat ADHD.  And we want to hear from you, too. Does your child have a diagnosis of ADHD or were you diagnosed when you were young? What is your experience with stimulant medications? What else helps you manage symptoms?

This fall, a new wave of kindergarteners enters the classroom — most born in the early days of the pandemic. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the challenges they may face and how schools and parents can help them thrive.  Guests: Lauren Girard has been a kindergarten teacher for 15 years. She teaches at Overland Elementary School in Rochester, Minn. She is also the parent of a child born during the early months of the pandemic.Lelandra Ross is a lead specialist in early childhood education at Bruce Vento Elementary School in St. Paul, Minn. She works with staff and parents to support early childhood family education, early childhood special education, three-year-old Head Start and pre-kindergarten programming. She has also been a pre-K teacher.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work — faster than many of us expected. From writing emails to screening job applications, AI tools are showing up in offices, warehouses and other workplaces. But are employers ready? How are they setting expectations and drawing ethical lines around using this powerful technology? MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the growing role of AI across different industries and how organizations are responding. Guests:James Holmberg is the co-founder of VILAS, an organization focused on helping businesses understand, navigate and explore using artificial intelligence. Eran Kahana is an attorney for Maslon LLP, a business law firm based in Minneapolis. He specializes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy and intellectual property law. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.  Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the power of poetry with Junauda Petrus, the poet laureate for the city of Minneapolis. Junauda says poetry is “soul medicine” that can unite us in our shared humanity. Angela also hears from poet and performer, Tish Jones, about what poetry means to her.Guests:Junauda Petrus is the poet laureate for the city of Minneapolis. She is an author, playwright, filmmaker and co-founder of the experimental artist collective, Free Black Dirt. She is the author of the Coretta Scott King Award-winning young adult novel, “The Stars and the Blackness Between Them,” and the children’s book, “Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers?” Tish Jones is a poet, performer and educator in St. Paul. She’s also the founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks.