As the MSR looks back at our major news stories from 2024 — with its tragedies, uplifts, and everything in between — we wanted to take a moment to thank you, our readers. With your unwavering support and that of the many who came before, the MSR celebrated its 90th year in 2024, making our community newspaper the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and one of the longest-running family-owned newspapers in the United States.
In the heart of the Great Depression, amidst the economic turmoil and the harsh realities of Jim Crow segregation, Cecil E. Newman founded the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder, which merged in 2020. These weren’t ordinary newspapers: They were a lifeline, a platform, and a voice for the Black community.
Throughout its history, the MSR witnessed the changing landscape of the Black community. It documented the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement, the struggles of the Black Power era, and the continuing fight for equality. It has been a platform for community leaders, activists, and everyday citizens to share their stories, express their concerns, and advocate for positive change.
At the dawn of 2025, we at the MSR are committed to continuing the legacy of my grandfather, Cecil E. Newman, by providing you with stories that reflect the rich tapestry of Black life and by using our voice to advocate for equality and opportunity for all.
– Tracey Williams-Dillard, Publisher
January: ‘Emergency’ or not, Covid is still killing people
Four years after the global pandemic, Covid was still taking its toll: by Jan. 18, 2024, 160 people had died from respiratory illness, including 24 from Covid-related variants.
February: Ousted Civil Rights Director Alberder Gillespie addresses recent firing
Alberder Gillespie, the city’s Civil Rights Director, was fired on Feb. 16, roughly two years into her four-year term. Reports indicate that Mayor Jacob Frey terminated Gillespie on the belief that she posed a threat to the city’s ability to meet its responsibilities in the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement.
March: Housing Stability Act aims to bar discrimination against Section 8 voucher users
Minnesota lawmakers advanced legislation to bar discrimination against individuals who use rental assistance and reaffirmed the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the status of public assistance.
April: Black families disproportionately affected by Child Protection Services
The MSR published a series of stories on Child Protection Services disproportionately impacting and possibly targeting African American families for interventions.
May: George Floyd: His death moved the world — but the community he died in is still standing
Every Monday at 5:30 p.m., a powerful act of remembrance takes place in South Minneapolis at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, known to the world as George Floyd Square. A makeshift group of percussionists, Brass Solidarity, gathers and fills the somber air with melodies that transcend grief and call for justice.
June: Feeding Our Future fraud audit faults Minnesota Department of Education
The state’s Office of the Legislative Auditor determines that the Minnesota Department of Education’s oversight of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future was lacking, following a major investigation and trial that found individuals linked to the Saint Anthony-based organization guilty of crimes including bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering.
July: Joe Biden drops his bid for president; endorses Kamala Harris
In news that was predicted but nonetheless sent shock waves around the world, President Joe Biden announced on July 21 that he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
August: MSR 90th anniversary: Tracey Williams-Dillard guides MSR into the future
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder celebrated its 90th anniversary in grand style, as Publisher and CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard looked back at the legacy of her family’s newspaper.
September: Can more be done to help find women of color who are missing?
The MSR published a three-part series on murdered and missing Black women, culminating in the state’s new Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office ramping up its work. Legislation to establish the office was introduced during the 2023 legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, making Minnesota the first state to establish an office to end the systemic neglect and violence faced by Black women and girls.
October: Police negligent in reign of terror
The Minneapolis Police Department admits failure in the aftermath of the shooting of 34-year-old Davis Moturi by neighbor and known white supremacist John Sawchak. Following a year of escalating threats, intimidation and assaults, Sawchak shot Moturi once in the neck—fracturing his spine, breaking two ribs, and causing a concussion.
November: The Minnesota Paradox
Minnesota is celebrated as one of the best places to live in the United States. With its high-performing schools, strong social services, and reputation for inclusivity, Minnesota seems to embody the American ideal. And yet, research shows that Black Minnesotans are worse off here than in virtually every other state in the nation. This is the “Minnesota Paradox.” The MSR launched a six-part series detailing racial disparities in the state.
December: Reimagining policing – How Brooklyn Park is paving the way
In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, elected officials across the state vowed to make changes to policies and practices that govern interactions with police. From a statewide ban on chokeholds to the removal of student resource officers in St. Paul Public Schools, policies were implemented to reduce harm and instill trust within the Black community. One Minneapolis suburb has found success by focusing on initiatives that cultivate relationships, trust, wellness and accessibility in unprecedented ways.