Proposed Medicaid cuts could exacerbate existing health disparities in Minnesota, particularly affecting Black Minnesotans who already face significant health challenges compared to African immigrants.
Clint Combs
Posted inEducation
Child care crisis heats up over high costs, low wages
Child care workers in Minnesota are struggling to afford the high costs of child care, with the state’s wage statistics revealing that Black or African American workers make up 13% of the workforce in child care, and the federal funding freeze has threatened the funding for child care assistance.
Posted inLocal & State
Angry Minneapolis renters demand better living conditions
Tenants at 2200 Blaisdell Ave. and 1219 Pillsbury Ave. are demanding action from Investment Property Group on issues of mold, security concerns, missing payments, and unprocessed checks, as they have banded together to send a joint letter to the company.
Posted inLocal & State
Enforcement of Hardel Sherrell Act called ‘poor’
Hardell Sherrell died in 2018 due to medical neglect at the Beltrami County Jail, and former director of nursing Michelle Skroch has been charged with manslaughter and medical neglect.
Posted inPolitics
Vets among the casualties of DOGE takeover
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s office helped secure safe passage for American allies, including Air Force Intelligence officer Chris Wicker, after the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, and Wicker now works as the deputy director of the Small Business Administration’s Minneapolis branch.
Posted inLocal & State
State joins lawsuit exposing sexual harassment in construction
Norma Izaguirre has filed a lawsuit against Absolute Drywall, alleging that the contractor fired her for reporting sexual assault, and the state’s Department of Human Rights and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office have joined the lawsuit to investigate the claims.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Gov. Walz would tap private insurers to help keep health care affordable
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has proposed a plan to maintain access to affordable health care by shifting the funding for the state’s reinsurance program from the general fund to private insurers, which could help lower premiums for individuals buying insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Posted inGeorge Floyd Square
Five years later, George Floyd Square still mired in controversy
Minneapolis City Council is considering a Pedestrian Plan that would restrict vehicle access to George Floyd Square, while Mayor Jacob Frey favors allowing traffic access and restoring Metro D Line and Route 5 transit services.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
The corporate war against breastfeeding
A new grant from the CDC will help Minneapolis expand breastfeeding and lactation services, focusing on improving health outcomes for communities of color, and also addressing corporate lobbying efforts that may impact local breastfeeding practices.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Equitable health care champions discuss heart health
Rep. Ilhan Omar hosted a panel discussion on Black women’s heart health at the NorthPoint Conference Center in Minneapolis, highlighting the importance of mental health in cardiovascular recovery and the need for culturally competent care.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
DEI rollback threatens Black/Native health program
The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program, funded by the CDC, aims to improve the health of Black and other residents of color in Minneapolis by addressing chronic disease prevention and vaccinations, with some uncertainty about future funding due to changes in federal funding policies.
Posted inLocal & State
Turmoil, resignations, budget woes plague Robbinsdale School Board
Sharon Brooks resigned from the Robbinsdale School Board on February 3, 2025, following a period of controversy over funding and academic achievement in the district’s communities of color.
Posted inPolitics
Omar takes heavy flak for teaching immigrant rights
Rep. Ilhan Omar faced online backlash for a video where she emphasized key rights for individuals when approached by ICE, while Elon Musk’s department of government efficiency is facing legal challenges over its attempts to access sensitive federal payment systems.
Posted inLocal & State
Mpls affordable housing creation shows significant gains
Minneapolis’ policy of ending single-family zoning has led to a significant increase in affordable housing, with over half of the city’s construction projects dedicated to affordable housing, making it easier for people to access housing near jobs and services.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Woman arrested after miscarriage sues
A grand jury has declined to indict Brittany Watts, who was initially charged with felony abuse of a corpse, after she was investigated for handling a home miscarriage. Advocates have criticized the treatment she received from doctors and police, arguing that it is a clear case of reproductive injustice.
Posted inLocal & State
Mpls votes for repeal of Alien Enemies Act
Minneapolis has passed a resolution supporting the repeal of the Alien Enemies Act, a law used during World War II to detain Japanese, German, and Italian Americans without due process, and is the first U.S. city to do so.
Posted inLocal & State
MnDOT’s I-94 plans spark debate
MnDOT’s plans for I-94 have raised concerns among community leaders, particularly those representing communities of color, as the exclusion of the At-Grade Fill-In option has been met with frustration and calls for a more fundamental shift in the project’s approach.
Posted inNews
Minnesota leaders battle Trump order to end birthright citizenship
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has joined civil rights groups and community leaders to oppose President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship, a long-standing guarantee under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Posted inLocal & State
Hennepin County launches groundbreaking juvenile expungement program
The Hennepin County District Attorney has launched the nation’s first prosecutor-led juvenile expungement program, aimed at clearing the criminal records of young people and removing obstacles to education, employment, and housing.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis Police reform effort awaits judge’s approvalÂ
The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey have approved a federal settlement to reform the Minneapolis Police Department, which includes the use of body-worn cameras and increased community involvement in the police reform process.