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TV review: Indigo Girls get joy from their music, and Minnesota, in new documentary

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TV review: Indigo Girls get joy from their music, and Minnesota, in new documentary


The Indigo Girls have every reason to be bitter. Even in their heyday, the duo got slammed for pretentious lyrics and faced discrimination over their sexual orientation.

The documentary “Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All,” now available to stream on Apple TV+, captures many of those hurtful moments. But it’s clear that Amy Ray and Emily Saliers never let the haters completely ruin the party. And they’re not about to start now.

The folk rockers revel in the memories, even when it means rereading a negative review in the New York Times or grimacing at old hairstyles. They seem particularly buoyant when they hang out in Minnesota, visiting with Winona LaDuke, their partner in seeking environmental justice for Indigenous people (keep your eyes peeled for the quick nod to The Current).

Director Alexandria Bombach chooses not to solicit comments from the duo’s peers, focusing instead on fans and friendship. “Life After All” has plenty of music, but the film is more interested in celebrating optimism and bringing viewers one step closer to fine.

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Also this week

‘The Idea of You’

Jennifer Westfeldt’s novel about a mom (Anne Hathaway) who hooks up with the member of a boy band (Nicholas Galitzine) has been sanitized for the screen. In this adaptation, the hunk is 24, not 20; the mom’s daughter is also older and less likely to be traumatized by the affair. Those alterations take some of the eyebrow-raising drama out of the story, leaving us with a fairly conventional rom-com with super-polite, somewhat dull lovers. Those who prefer cuteness over controversy won’t mind a bit. Prime Video

‘2024 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor’

I’m not convinced Kevin Hart has churned out enough memorable movies and stand-up specials to be the 25th recipient of this prestigious award. But you’ve got to give the comic props for his work ethic and business savvy; he’s built an empire out of sheer willpower. This special features highlights from March’s ceremonies with tributes from Jerry Seinfeld, Tiffany Haddish, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. Saturday, Netflix

‘Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story’

Fans of the Oscar-winning documentary “My Octopus Teacher” may enjoy this even odder tale in which a depressed Scot befriends an otter who relishes the attention. Billy Mail’s obsession with his new pal gets a little creepy, especially when it dawns on you that he doesn’t seem to have any human friends. The real hero of the story is wife Susan, who sticks by her man even when it’s clear that she’s taken a back seat to a fish-inhaling mammal. Molly is sort of attractive, but she pales in comparison to the raw beauty of the Shetland Islands. Disney+, Hulu

‘Hollywood Con Queen’

If you’re not a resident of Tinseltown, you may not be familiar with this scam in which Hargobind Punjabi Tahilramani masqueraded as female studio executives, tricking everyone from actors, writers and photographers into forking over money and engaging in perverted acts. It’s not the most dramatic con job, but director Chris Smith keeps you hooked through all three episodes by diving deep into the psyche of Tahilramani, as well as into the stubbornness of the reporter and investigator determined to track him down. Apple TV+

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AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026

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AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026


ST. PAUL (WJON News) —  A multiplatinum indie pop trio will grace the stage of the Great Minnesota Get Together this summer. AJR will hit the stage at the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday, September 2nd.  The trio has generated billions of streams and four platinum singles, along with being one of the 500 most listened to artists on Spotify.

AJR will be joined by Quinn XCII (92) and Avery Cochrane. Quinn XCII (92) blends pop, alternative, and genre-bending storytelling and has garnered multiple platinum singles like “Straightjacket.” Tickets for AJR go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.

9 grandstand shows have now been announced for the  2026 state fair.

AJR joins Bonnie Raitt, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Sierra Ferrell, Tommy James & The Shondells with special guest Herman Hermit’s Peter Noone, Rod Stewart with Richard Marx, Brad Paisley, and the It’s Iconic tour with TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue as acts announced for the 2026 state fair.

Minnesota State Fair

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Minnesota State Fair

READ MORE FROM AUTHOR PAUL HABSTRITT


2025 Minnesota State Fair

The Great Minnesota Get Together is a rite of passage, and the first sign that summer is coming to an end. 2025 saw perfect weather for the entire 12-day run of the Minnesota State Fair.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

Kansas and Jefferson Starship at The Ledge

Two classic rock legends in Kansas and Jefferson Starship brought down the house at the Ledge Amphitheater in 2025.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

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Turnpike Troubadours at the Ledge

The American Country Band Turnpike Troubadours took the stage at the Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park with their “Wild America” tour and special guest Old Crow Medicine Show.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt





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What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration

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What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration


The successful Artemis II mission around the moon is a reminder that space exploration is built on decades of groundwork. Photojournalist Joe Van Ryn and Frankie McLister show how a University of Minnesota graduate helped pave the way for spaceflight.



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Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers

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Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are planning to investigate the actions of federal law enforcement officers in one county, potentially including a kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said they planned to release more details about the investigation at a news conference later Monday. Ramsey County includes the state capital of St. Paul.

Choi and Fletcher said they will pursue information they need for the investigation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department has refused so far to cooperate with other state and local investigations into the killings by federal officers of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The news conference announcement did not specify which incident is being investigated, but the county’s chief prosecutor and sheriff said they would ask the public for information about this and other incidents.

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The state and the chief prosecutor in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, sued the Trump administration last month to gain access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.

Minnesota and Hennepin County have also appealed to the public to share information about federal officers’ potentially illegal activities, given the refusal by federal authorities to provide evidence.

The Trump administration has suggested Minnesota officials don’t have jurisdiction to investigate those cases. State and county prosecutors say they need to conduct their own inquiries because they don’t trust the federal government.

The Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, and two officers have been placed on leave, but the agency said a similar federal probe was not warranted in Good’s death.

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