Minnesota Now

May 1 is also known worldwide May Day, a day that commemorates workers' rights and achievements. In Minneapolis, it’s a colorful community celebration that has been around for 50 years. Sandy Spieler, the founder of May Day Minneapolis, joined Minnesota Now to talk about May Day’s history in the city and the celebrations happening this weekend. Center for Healing and the Arts co-executive director Sofía Padilla also joined the program. The organization is helping with this year’s festivities.

Two deadly shootings have taken the lives of four people in the Minneapolis Native community, upending celebrations that were set for American Indian Heritage Month. We hear about how they're mourning the loss. Minnesota State University Moorhead is jumping into the world of Artificial Intelligence, with a new institute launching this fall. Plus, the city of Minneapolis has added several new protected classes to its civil rights ordinance. It's time for spring planting season, we get some professional help to grow your garden. And this year marks 50 years since the first Minneapolis May Day celebration. We talk to the founder and learn about the festivities planned for this weekend. The Minnesota Music Minute was “Sacred Rage” by Annie Humphrey and our Song of the Day was “This Just In” by Dilly Dally Alley.

We all need a little help to get through life sometimes. From everyday questions to more complex problems, we’re asking the experts to lend us a hand. Throughout the series Professional Help, we’ll hear some direct advice, for us not-so-direct Minnesotans. This week, the Twin Cities experienced what was likely the last frost of the season. Minnesota Now producer Ellie Roth asked an expert for advice on spring planting. Our ask: Help me garden Our professional: Meg Cowden, self-taught organic gardener behind gardening blog Seed to Fork and author of “Plant Grow Harvest Repeat”

The Minneapolis City Council voted Thursday to ban discrimination based on criminal record, housing status, height and weight. The new ordinance will go into effect Aug. 1. One result of this new ordinance is that employers and schools in Minneapolis won’t be allowed to reject applicants based on a previous arrest, conviction or incarceration. Council member Robin Wonsley noted in the meeting that Minneapolis is the third city to pass such protections. Back in 2022, Atlanta approved a similar ordinance after a campaign led by formerly incarcerated people. Denise Ruben was instrumental in leading that campaign in Atlanta. She traveled to Minneapolis for the city council meeting and joined Minnesota Now to talk about how the ordinance has had an impact in Atlanta.

Artificial intelligence is having a growth spurt and there are a few ways to approach the quickly evolving technology. You can resist it, help advance it, ignore it or learn to use it. Minnesota State University Moorhead is going with that last option and launching a new Institute of Applied AI. An anonymous donor provided funding to start the institute, which the university plans to open in the fall. For a closer look at these plans, Jason Trainer, the university’s vice president of enrollment management and strategic efforts, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the program.