Thinking about adding attic insulation, swapping your old air conditioning system for a heat pump, or putting solar panels on your roof?

Federal tax credits can cut the cost, but the clock is ticking.

President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill passed this summer is doing away with several energy incentives that encouraged homeowners to reduce their energy use and switch to cleaner energy sources.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about the tax credits and home energy efficiency.

You can also find more information on home energy audits, how to get started on home energy efficiency projects and rebate, tax credit and financing programs at the Center for Energy and Environment.

Rural Voice, the statewide town hall series amplifying perspectives from greater Minnesota, launched its 2025 season at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College on Sept. 3, with a robust conversation on tribal rights and sovereignty in rural Minnesota.

Moderated by Rural Voice co-founder and MPR News host Kerri Miller, the discussion featured a variety of voices and opinions emphasizing the inherent nature of treaty rights and the importance of Native Minnesotans relationship to the land.

Participants also touched on the challenges of building a Native middle class, how current tribal members are dealing with generational trauma and the importance of Native businesses in the area to create true economic vitality.

As we head into fall and winter, COVID-19 is still with us — even if it looks different than it did a few years ago.

Case numbers often rise when we spend more time indoors, so what can you do to keep yourself and others COVID-free?

Just last week, an advisory panel with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surprised many by not recommending COVID-19 vaccines for high-risk groups like seniors. Instead, they said decisions should be made individually — in consultation with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks with an infectious disease physician about what you can do to lower your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 as the weather turns cold.

Kids and teens spend a huge part of their lives in digital spaces — on apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram and even using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT. Gaming platforms like Roblox have become virtual playgrounds, too.

These tools can be fun, creative and social, but they also carry real risks, ranging from misinformation to cyberbullying and grooming by online predators.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about how to keep kids safe without shutting them out of the digital world.

She’ll talk with her guests about what’s working, what isn’t and how families can find some balance online.

In the days following Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, many people took to social media to share their feelings and thoughts.

People expressed sorrow, shock and anger. They shared critiques of Kirk’s conservative views. In some cases, what people said or posted about his death got them in trouble at work.

Last week ABC pulled comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show off the air “indefinitely” after Kimmel’s comments on how MAGA was characterizing Kirk’s killer. The announcement came just hours after the chair of the Federal Communications Commission suggested in a podcast that the FCC could use its power against ABC unless the network acted against Kimmel.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about freedom of speech — and workplace issues. When can something you say get you in trouble on the job?

Guests:

• Phillip Kitzer is an employment law attorney in Minneapolis. He served on the board of directors of the Minnesota affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association and sits the governing counsel for the Labor and Employment Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
• George Vergolias is a workplace resilience consultant and chief clinical officer at R3 Continuum, a Minnesota-based company that develops behavioral health solutions for organizations that need help managing workplace disruption and stress.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Have you ever felt dizzy? You're not alone.

Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people show up at a hospital emergency room.

But there are different kinds of dizzy. A lot of people, especially as they age, live with the feeling of being just a little unsteady or off balance.

Others have experienced true vertigo. That's when the room seems to swirl and tip to the point where you might feel nauseous.

Dizziness shouldn’t be ignored. Depending on the cause, it can often be treated with medication, surgery or physical therapy exercises. And, it could be a sign of a serious underlying medical issue.

MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks with medical providers to sort through our dizzy symptoms.

Big waves are part of the fun of summer, but they can also stir up big debates.

Wake boats are designed to create large waves for surfers to ride. But those waves don’t just disappear. A new University of Minnesota study shows they can stir up sediment, muddy the water and release phosphorus, which causes algae blooms.

MPR News guest host Kirsti Marohn dives into the science and what it means for lake lovers.

Guests:

• Jeff Forester is the executive director of Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, a nonprofit that represents lake associations and property owners.
• Jeff Marr is the associate director of engineering and facilities at the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. He was a lead researcher on a recent study that looked at what happens under the lake surface when different types of recreational boats travel at different speeds.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.