July 6, 2016 - MPR’s John Enger reports from Deer River, a small town in Itasca county, which was hit especially hard by a storm racing across northern Minnesota on July 5, 2016. The damaging rain and wind came just days before the town’s annual Wild Rice Festival.
July 7, 2016 - After a thunderstorm rolled through the Twin Cities that created severe flash floods, MPR’s Tom Crann asks meteorologist Paul Huttner about the moisture conditions and urban landscape environment that made for the ingredients for flash flooding.
July 12, 2016 - MPR’s Matt Sepic reports that in central Minnesota, residents of Litchfield and Watkins are cleaning up after a late afternoon tornado on July 11th damaged homes and other buildings in those communities. The damage shows both the immense power of tornadoes and the precision of their destruction.
July 12, 2016 - MPR’s Laura Yuen profiles MPR journalist Toni Randolph, who passed away on July 3rd, 2016. As a longtime journalist and MPR news editor, Randolph left an indeiable positive impact, especially in her commitment to public media diversity and mentorship.
July 14, 2016 - With Hennepin History Museum hosting an exhibition on the Quatrefoil Library, MPR’s Marianne Combs profiles the library and its history. Quatrefoil is one of just a few LGBT lending libraries in the nation.
July 21, 2016 - MPR’s Dan Kraker reports on the impact of powerful overnight storms in Duluth area. Wind gusts toppled trees on top of homes and cars, downed power lines, and blocked streets.
August 2, 2016 - MPR’s Doualy Xaykaothao reports on renewed efforts of the Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce to help support Hmong-owned businesses and grow new ones. The Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce was founded nearly two decades ago, but since that time, it hasn't been very active in the Twin Cities. Some of its co-founders are looking to re-invigorate the group.
August 11, 2016 - MPR’s Tom Weber interviews Sean Christenson, Willmar's city engineer, about how the city is dealing with historic deluge on August 10, 2016…one he considers a 1,000-year rainfall event.
September 2, 2016 - MPR’s Doualy Xaykaothao reports on Hmong Day at the Minnesota State Fair. The schedule offers a kaleidoscope of events, from honoring military veterans and registering voters in the morning to Hmong dancers and rappers in the afternoon.
October 5, 2016 - On this segment of MPR News with Tom Weber program, MPR’s Doualy Xaykaothao present an interview with co-founders of Maiv-PAC, the nation's first-ever Hmong American political action committee. The group sees it as another way to engage on issues of immigration, education, gender equity, and racial justice.