From performing for Maya Angelou at age 10 to winning an Emmy for her documentary, Rondo native PaviElle French has spent her life refining a craft that blends soul, theater, and community activism
Damenica Ellis
Posted inFashion
The future of fashion: Howard and U of M experts decode 2026 trends
Two fashion professors from Howard University and the University of Minnesota break down the clothing trends defining 2026, from bold graphic prints and jellies to elevated athleisure, the messy girl aesthetic and a growing push for sustainability.
Posted inOn the Radar
On the Radar: Chef Jametta Raspberry of House of Gristle
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Chef Jametta Raspberry, founder of House of Gristle, to discuss her journey from corporate life to culinary school, feeding protesters during the 2020 uprising and building a brand rooted in Black culture and hospitality.
Posted inLocal & State
How redlining and systemic gaps leave communities vulnerable to disaster
Natural disasters hit low-income communities and communities of color hardest. MSR staff writer Damenica Ellis examines why, from the 2011 North Minneapolis tornado to the role of redlining in shaping disaster vulnerability today.
Posted inSister Spokesman
Style meets social justice at Sister Spokesman’s Dress to ShineÂ
Sister Spokesman’s Dress to Shine fashion presentation celebrated Black designers, vintage style and community on a red carpet runway inspired by the iconic pages of Jet, Essence and Ebony.
Posted inPolitics
Bipartisan bill to create independent inspector general moves toward final vote
A bipartisan bill creating a new, independent Minnesota Office of Inspector General has passed the Senate and cleared the House Ways and Means Committee, awaiting a floor vote.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Petition opposes daycare near Northside methadone clinic
Project Refocus is petitioning against a daycare placement next to a methadone clinic on Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis, citing needle litter and opioid safety concerns for children.
Posted inMSR On the Radar
The art of intentional dining: Jametta Raspberry’s House of Gristle
Chef Jametta Raspberry, founder of House of Gristle, transcends traditional dining by blending French culinary techniques with a deep passion for Black hospitality and community building.
Posted inOn the Radar
Potter, Sound Artist and Co-Founder Sayge Carroll Is Building a Sanctuary for Creatives at Mudluk Pottery
Sage Carroll Mudluk Pottery co-founder joins MSR On the Radar to discuss her journey through photography and ceramics, the philosophy behind the South Minneapolis studio and what is coming next including a mobile ceramics van at Juneteenth.
Posted inPolitics
Boundary Waters mining ban overturned in narrow Senate vote
Boundary Waters copper mining ban has been lifted after the Senate passed H.J.Res.140 50-49, revoking a 20-year moratorium on copper sulfide mining in the Rainy River Watershed despite opposition from Sen. Tina Smith and a broad coalition of Minnesotans.
Posted inMSR On the Radar
Photography, music and finding a home in clay with Sayge Carroll
Multidisciplinary artist Sayge Carroll transitioned from photography to clay, eventually co-founding Mudluk Pottery Studio. Her work blends ceramics and soundscapes to create a transformative, inclusive space in South Minneapolis.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Air and water disparities, and the fight to shut down HERC
HERC trash incinerator residents describe living next to a facility that sounds like an airport tarmac, causes respiratory illness and sits in a majority-Black community absorbing pollution from across Hennepin County.
Posted inPolitics
A new poll tax? How the SAVE Act impacts Black, unhoused and female voters
The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, and advocates say it would disproportionately harm Black elders, unhoused residents and millions of eligible voters who lack required documents.
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul residents hope Midway development brings needed resources back to neighborhoods
The Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is in transition as United Village development rises near Allianz Field while a neighboring block sits largely vacant after the closure of major grocery and retail stores.
Posted inBusiness
The secondhand shift: Stretching dollars instead of creating more trash
Thrifting and secondhand shopping are rising as consumers embrace pre-loved clothing and goods for environmental, financial and cultural reasons, with experts and Twin Cities voices weighing in on the trend.
Posted inOn the Radar
From Coon Rapids to the Twin Cities’ Biggest Walls: Antione Jenkins Is Letting the World Be His Canvas
Antione Jenkins On the Radar covers the Coon Rapids muralist and artist’s journey from custom sneakers to Target Field and his vision for showcasing Black excellence on walls across the Twin Cities.
Posted inBusiness
Why people are opting out of hustle culture, choosing lifestyle over work
Hustle culture and Black burnout explored by two therapists who say opting out is not failure but a necessary corrective to a system built on extraction and overwork.
Posted inMSR On the Radar
Antione Jenkins: Making a mark from sneakers to stadiumsÂ
Native Coon Rapids artist Antione Jenkins discusses his transition from doodling on desks to painting the “Truck Angel” mural and collaborating with the Minnesota Twins and UFC.
Posted inOn the Radar
Drummer, Educator, and Griot Kevin Washington Is Keeping Black Music Alive in Minnesota
Kevin Washington modern griot and Walker West Music Academy educator joins MSR On the Radar to discuss Black music, teaching and his renewed mission as a drummer and bandleader.
Posted inSister Spokesman Highlights
Sister Spokesman plants seeds of community at spring gathering
Sister Spokesman spring event Earth Bounces Back sold out on April 4 at Bachman’s Floral in Minneapolis with music from Jamela Pettiford and a hands-on planting session.