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Multiple Twin Cities police chiefs and county sheriffs have called for the creation of a regional task force after a string of shootings involving Somali youth. Law enforcement have described the incidents as gang violence. But what defines a gang? We talked to a researcher. A local nonprofit supporting the economic stability of immigrants is starting a new chapter in a new home. The CEO of Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants shared about their work and how they're supporting immigrants during a turbulent time. And, after the LGBTQ+ publication Lavender Magazine closed its doors, former staffers started a new magazine for the state’s queer communities. We met the creators of Q Minnesota, who published their first issue last week. The Minnesota Music Minute was “Torch Song” by Ondara, featuring the Laurels String Quartet. “Pharmakon” by Humbird was the Song of the Day.

A nonprofit that aims to help immigrants find economic stability and success has expanded its headquarters in the Twin Cities metro. Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants, or CAPI is celebrating a grand reopening this weekend. It’s the end of a yearslong process of moving the organization’s services to Brooklyn Center, which has become one of the most diverse communities in the state. CEO Mary Niedermeyer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the expansion.

A new LGBTQ+ magazine and website has launched in Minnesota, three months after Lavender Magazine shut down its operations after a 30-year run. Lavender was a mainstay for the LGBTQ+ community in the state. Q Minnesota was created by several former Lavender staffers. The very first issue came out last Thursday. For more about the launch and what’s ahead, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Q Minnesota editor-in-chief and publisher and vice president of digital content and marketing Nell Gelhaus.

A string of shootings involving Somali youth has set off questions around youth gun violence and what law enforcement are calling gang violence. Some Somali leaders say this could fuel more racist rhetoric against the Somali community. For more context and perspective on gangs and gun violence, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Metro State University professor James Densley, an expert on gangs.

A group of Twin Cities elected and law enforcement officials are calling for a regional task force to address recent shootings that they say involved Somali youth, and Somali leaders are pushing back on hateful comments that followed those events. A national exhibit debuting in St. Paul this month confronts the Catholic Church's role in slavery in the U.S. We'll talk with a descendant of one of the more than 300 people enslaved by the Jesuits, who's now helping share the story. We'll hear the story of a family navigating more than 10 months of separation due to ICE detention. A well-known Twin Cities chef competed on the Food Network show, “Bobby's Triple Threat.” MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Yia Vang before his episode airs Tuesday evening.

A new immersive exhibit opening at the University of St. Thomas this week is asking visitors to confront a painful chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and U.S. slavery. “What We Inherit: Truth, Repair, and a Promise to the Future” tells the story of more than 300 Black people who were enslaved by the Jesuits and sold in 1838 to help pay the debts of Georgetown College. The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 7, centers the voices and experiences of their descendants, including Monique Trusclair Maddox, president and CEO of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. She spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about the exhibit’s debut at St. Thomas and what she hopes visitors get out of the experience.

Tuesday night on Food Network, Minnesota chef Yia Vang will compete for $25,000 on the cooking competition show “Bobby’s Triple Threat.” The show, hosted by chef Bobby Flay, pits a challenger against three of Flay’s “titans,” or chefs selected by Flay. Vang will face each chef in a three-round competition, with the winner determined by a judge in blind taste tests. Vang, who has competed on cooking shows before, spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about his strategy for the competition, what it’s like to cook on a Food Network set and what viewers can expect from Tuesday evening’s episode, which airs on Food Network at 7 p.m. CST.

Lawyers of Minnesotans being held in immigrant detention say ICE is using a new tactic to keep people in detention. We'll hear more about two men who were arrested again by ICE after they were supposed to be released. Minnesota's agriculture commissioner was at a conference with some of the state's most important trade partners last week. We'll hear what he discussed with representatives from Canada and Mexico about trade, animal disease and high diesel prices. Plus, you may know about Minnesota's forests and prairies. But did you know our state has one of the most diverse peatlands in the world? We'll learn more about it and the important connections between peatlands and climate change. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Stormy Monday Blues” by Shirley Witherspoon. Our Song of the Day was “Hey Bud” by Charlieboy.

In northern Minnesota, the largest stretch of peatlands in the contiguous U.S. can be found. This wet terrain has taken thousands of years to form. And draws scientists and experts from around the world. That includes our Jennifer de Mooy, who spent quite a bit of time there researching for her new book: "Water, Carbon, Time: Exploring Peatlands in a Warming World." Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke to de Mooy about these important ecosystems.

From trade wars, to animal disease, and high diesel prices, there is a lot going on in the agriculture world. Minnesota's Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen just returned from a conference where all of that was discussed with some of Minnesota's most important trade partners: Canada and Mexico. Commissioner Petersen spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini with more on what he learned 35th annual Tri National Agricultural Accord.

Attorneys are warning of a new strategy ICE is using in Minnesota to keep immigrants in detention. MPR News reporter Cait Kelley joined Minnesota Now to share what she’s found out.

Becca Good has spoken publicly for the first time since her partner, Renee Good, was killed by an ICE agent in January. We learned more about her family’s lawsuit against the agent and federal officials. Also, St. Paul has released the full sexual harassment investigation of its mayor, Kaohly Her. And Minnesota band Wild Horses has a new album. We got a first listen.

The city of St. Paul released Thursday the full report of the investigation into allegations against Mayor Kaohly Her. The city’s police chief, Axel Henry, alleged Mayor Her sexually harassed him and that city employees retaliated against him after he complained. The city had previously released a summary of the investigation but this full redacted report comes after City Council members called for its release. St. Paul council member Molly Coleman, who represents Ward 4 in the northwestern corner of the city, was among those who called for the full document. She spoke with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about the release and MPR News reporter Melissa Olson shared details from the report.

For some musicians, quitting your day job to start a band might sound like a pretty big gamble. But for Jed and Ariana LaPlant of Grand Rapids, it was the beginning of a new life on the road — and the start of Wild Horses. The group draws on bluegrass, old-time and country traditions that run deep in Jed’s family. Five years after forming the band, they’re releasing a new album Friday called “The In Between.” Jed LaPlant gave Minnesota Now a sneak peak of the album.

The Justice Department filed a misconduct claim against federal judges in Minnesota for speaking to the press about Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we broke down statewide student test scores released Wednesday. The University of St. Thomas law school is looking back on Operation Metro Surge and how states can hold the federal government accountable when they break the law. Plus, we talked to the journalists behind a new media platform telling stories of the Somali community. And Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey shared the fall forecast. Plus, The Heights movie theater in Columbia Heights is celebrating 100 years of showing everything from classic films to blockbuster hits. The Minnesota Music Minute was “The Resurrection” by Andre Cymone and “This Just In” by Dilly Dally Alley was the Song of the Day.