MPR News

LIUNA Local 363 leaders say 85 percent of the forestry division is on strike, raising concerns about the city’s usual response to clearing fallen branches and trees after storms like the ones that swept across the state over the weekend. The board says 71 percent of arborists are out, per a hand count. Read the full story by MPR News reporter Cari Spencer ⬇

Over a week in late June, MPR News held Radio Camp, where campers explored the jobs behind the scenes at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul. Radio Campers learned to prepare for and conduct one-on-one interviews. They recorded the interviews themselves, selected quotes and wrote scripts. They then recorded narration and produced the pieces. It’s the same general process used by MPR News radio reporters. Radio Camp is held at MPR, with leadership and mentors coming mostly from the news department. Partners ThreeSixty Journalism, KRSM Radio and MIGIZI filled the crucial role of recruiting and selecting the students. You can read about each camper and listen to their news pieces here: https://lnkd.in/gE6YqYd4

More than a century's worth of sediment was unleashed downstream into the Blue Earth River after the partial failure of the Rapidan Dam last week. The impacts to water quality and wildlife may not be known for another couple years, experts say. My most recent story for MPR News.

The Rondo Community Land Trust in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood said it’s canceling its partnership with Justin Sutherland after prosecutors charged him with one felony count of making violent threats. The Trust announced it will seek a new tenant for the Golden Thyme Coffee and Café site. Read the full story by MPR News correspondent Matt Sepic ⬇

Team MPR had a blast this weekend at Twin Cities Pride! Thanks to all who said hello at our booth and during the parade. #broadcastlove Be sure to check out reporting and photos from the weekend from MPR News here: https://lnkd.in/gR8cyXcN 📷: Eamon Coyne & Jauston Campbell

For MPR News Reverb, Ben Hovland and I traveled to Marshall, Minn. to highlight drag performers returning to their rural hometowns for pride celebrations. Drag shows are now a staple of the entertainment scene in the Twin Cities and other larger Minnesota towns. Some of the performers grew up in rural Minnesota. Some of those small towns host drag shows of their own, and these performers, including Johnson, are taking the opportunity for a cathartic homecoming. 

We have been having an amazing week at MPR News with students across the metro area for MPR Radio Camp 2024. This week's long camp is in collaboration with ThreeSixty Journalism, MIGIZI and KRSM Radio a social enterprise of Pillsbury United Communities. The students interviewed the staff at the historic Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and received an exclusive behind the scenes tour. We would like to thank the staff and administration at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts for the hospitality! Stay Tuned for more ❤️ #MPRRadioCamp2024

My June news update to MPR members focuses on our launch of Reverb, an initiative to make news more approachable for 20- to 30-year-olds through multiplatform coverage. The Reverb team includes Feven Gerezgiher, Nicole Ki, Anne Guttridge, Samantha Stroozas, and Kaila White. They're producing content that we broadcast on MPR News on the radio and stream online as well as share on social media channels such as Instagram and TikTok, OnDemand content such as podcasts, live events across the state, and more.    Did you know millennials surpassed Baby Boomers in 2020 as the U.S.’s largest population and Gen Z makes up 20 percent of the population? MPR wants to meet this digital-first generation where they are.     You can read my full update here: https://lnkd.in/g-iWSgtz

The company George Modular Solutions will begin manufacturing residential and commercial modular housing next spring, said CEO Lewis Lockwood. The company is renovating a 83,000-square-foot former printing plant into a modular manufacturing plant. Read the full story by MPR News correspondent Regina Medina ⬇

Empty downtowns are not a new story in our post-pandemic news cycle. But what is new is just how empty downtown St. Paul office buildings actually are. About 610,000 square feet of vacant office space went unreported, skewing the overall picture of downtown St. Paul’s health. Listen to the conversation ⬇