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.
Clint Combs
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.
Posted inLocal & State
Consent decrees no panacea for police reform
Minneapolis is the first city to agree to police reform settlements under both state and federal jurisdictions, with a compliance report due by March 17, and has selected the nonprofit Effective Law Enforcement For All (EFLEFA) as an independent review board to ensure compliance.
Posted inLocal & State
City, DOJ agree to police reforms
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to enter into a sweeping agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to overhaul racist policing practices, with the final terms resulting from a DOJ investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.
Posted inEducation
Students who are also parents get higher ed help
The Jeremiah Program has been awarded a $1.7 million grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to support Black student parents in their pursuit of education and economic stability, with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and building generational wealth.
Posted inLocal & State
Robbinsdale School Board squabbles over personal attacks
Robbinsdale School Board voted to censure Board Member Sharon Brooks for violating board rules against harassment, removing her from all board committees and putting her on notice that further violations could lead to her removal from the board.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Rising infections tied to lower vaccination rates
The racial gap in vaccination rates in Hennepin County is attributed to historical mistrust of the health care system, post-pandemic fatigue, and misinformation, leading to an increase in measles and whooping cough cases.
Posted inLocal & State
Imagine what true justice might look like
The Minnesota Justice Research Center hosted its annual Re-Imagining Justice Conference, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Shawn Ginwright, who discussed the importance of reimagining a criminal legal system that focuses on possibilities rather than problems, and the need for a “healing diet” within organizations.
Posted inLocal & State
Child offenders need help, not incarceration, advocates say
Youth activists and public defenders are calling for Hennepin County officials to take appropriate measures to prevent youth incarceration, as the county is not expanding social services to avoid sending teens to the Juvenile Detention Center.
Posted inLocal & State
Hennepin County domestic violence resources
The Domestic Abuse Service Center (DASC) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a panel of social workers, community advocates, city attorneys, and county attorneys, who discussed the importance of protecting victims of domestic violence and the need for red flag laws.