Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, is a Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru. He was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Katie Ka Vang moved to Minnesota when she was 18 years old and has collaborated with theaters across the Twin Cities. Her plays often center around the question of what it means to be Hmong American.
NEWS ROUNDUP
🏎️ ‘Burn ‘em!’: The deafening roar of drag racing returns to Minnesota’s oldest strip. The roar of souped-up engines filled the air in Glyndon last weekend as Minnesota’s oldest drag racing strip reopened after a three year hiatus. Brothers Chuck and Kyle Rolie are bringing drag racing back to Interstate Raceway. 🐈 ‘Murphy, the Boss Cat of Little Earth’ celebrates friendship in Minneapolis Native community. A new children’s book showcases a story between a Native elder and a neighborhood cat in the community of Little Earth in south Minneapolis.
🐟 Warm weather, relaxed limits suggest strong Minnesota fishing opener this weekend. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says about half a million people are expected to fish on Saturday , the opening day of the season for walleye and northern pike.
📉 Federal job watch: So far more of a ‘He-cession’ than a ‘She-cession.' As of mid-March, federal job losses were much more notable among men than women. Our analysis shows a net loss of 15,000 federal jobs for men, compared to just 2,000 for women.
🏛️ Minnesota Senate passes bill to establish Office of Inspector General. The bill is an outgrowth of the Feeding Our Future nutrition aid scandal that led to what prosecutors say was a $250 million siphoning of money away from food distribution into the pockets of people running a major scam.
🏫 Minnesota disabilities advocates push back on plan to restore school seclusion rooms. A measure in the state Senate would give districts the option of using seclusion in kindergarten through third grade with parental permission as a last-resort disciplinary method. 🏘️ St. Paul City Council votes to exempt more properties from rent control ordinance. Supporters of the amendment said the move would spur much-needed housing development. They said the prospect of rent controls, even if delayed for 20 years, were keeping projects from moving forward in the city. 🪗 MN Shortlist: May 8-14. MN Shortlist is your weekly curated roundup of recommended events from MPR News, highlighting standout performances, exhibits and gatherings around the region. This week's list includes Mid West Music Fest, Hygge Happy Hour and the St. Croix River Pottery Tour.
🐘 Kendall Qualls enters 2026 Minnesota governor’s race as a GOP nomination contender. Qualls, 61, is a former business executive who has led conservative advocacy groups in recent years. He sought the GOP nomination for governor in 2022 but fell just short at the party’s endorsing convention.
