From a young age, she knew she wanted to act, even if she didn’t yet know what that path would look like. That early spark led her from Minnesota to Los Angeles and back home again, guiding her through realms as varied as education, military service, theater, poetry and motivational speaking. Perdue’s journey began in […]
Jasmine McBride
Jasmine McBride is the Associate Editor at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Posted inLocal & State
Turning survival into service
After surviving abuse, homelessness, and foster care, Tameeka Russell is building the child welfare system she wishes had existed for her.
Posted inLocal & State
ICE memo on warrantless home entry called ‘unlawful, morally repugnant’
An internal ICE memo asserting authority to enter homes without judicial warrants has sparked alarm over constitutional protections.
Posted inBusiness
Fear exacts a toll on public life
Increased ICE activity across Minneapolis is keeping residents home, reducing foot traffic and hurting local businesses.
Posted inDr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To counter injustice, Dr. Alveda King urges prayer, nonviolence
As Minnesota marks MLK Day amid unrest and heightened immigration enforcement, civil rights activist Alveda King calls for prayer, nonviolence, and moral clarity rooted in faith.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation uplifts leaders advancing racial equity
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation highlights the Facing Race Awards and leaders advancing equity across Minnesota.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis woman’s split-second heroism recognized
A Minneapolis social worker honored for saving a toddler at Bde Maka Ska received national recognition for a heroic lifesaving act.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Leading with purpose: Lulete Mola and the Black Collective Foundation
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Lulete Mola shares how the Black Collective Foundation uses participatory philanthropy to build lasting community power.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Cliff Johnson: From Jacksonville Juke Joints to West Point’s First African American Bandsman
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Cliff Johnson reflects on music, perseverance, and breaking barriers as the first Black member of the West Point Band.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Carolyn Holbrook passes the baton to Minnesota’s Black writers
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Carolyn Holbrook shares how mentorship and cultural affirmation strengthen Black voices in Minnesota’s literary community.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Dr. Artika Tyner: Building unity through education and community leadership
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Dr. Artika Tyner shares how education, culture, and kinship networks empower leadership and strengthen communities across generations.
Posted inLocal & State
Show up, speak up, build your legacy
She Evolves 2025 brought hundreds of young women to Urban Daisy in Minneapolis for an empowerment event focused on confidence, entrepreneurship, and intentional action.
Posted inNews
Pardon opens new chapter for gang leader turned justice advocate
Jason Sole has received a full pardon, marking a milestone in a journey from incarceration to national leadership in restorative justice and community-based advocacy.
Posted inMusic
New jazz club brings community-centered good times to Uptown
The Brownstone Jazz Club in Minneapolis is a new Uptown venue focused on live jazz, community connection, and creating space for local artists to grow.
Posted inTelevision
‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ ignites national debate over hip hop legacy, culture
Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning has reignited national debate about celebrity power, accountability, and hip hop’s cultural legacy, drawing both intense praise and sharp backlash.
Posted inPolitics
Trumps’ new immigration fee and rules draw fire, lawsuit
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and a coalition of other states filed a federal lawsuit Friday, Dec. 12, challenging the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H‑1B visa petitions, calling the policy unlawful and harmful to employers, essential services, and the broader U.S. economy. According to the California attorney general’s office, the lawsuit alleges that the […]
Posted inLocal & State
Emergency housing fills as more seek shelter
As winter tightens its grip, Minnesota shelters are facing record demand with little room to expand. Providers like People Serving People and Catholic Charities say families are staying longer, funding is shrinking, and many are left without safe options. Advocates warn that without long-term investment in housing and support services, shelters alone cannot stop the crisis from worsening.
Posted inArts + Culture
‘Nothing to prove, only to share’
Toni Pierce Sands, co founder of TU Dance and one of Minnesota’s most influential dance leaders, has died at 63. Dancers remember her not only for her artistry and Ailey lineage, but for her gift of making people feel seen. Former students describe how she unlocked their confidence and taught them that dance is about truth rather than perfection. Her legacy continues in the community she built and the philosophy she carried: nothing to prove, only to share.
Posted inLocal & State
Walk by FAITH!: Heart health and community in Minnesota
Walk By FAITH brought together churches from St. Paul and Rochester for community centered walking events focused on heart health, fellowship, and wellness. Led by program founder Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, the initiative also includes Techquity By FAITH, which uses technology to expand health literacy and support healthier lifestyles within Minnesota’s African American communities.
Posted inLocal & State
U.S. stops processing immigrant requests following D.C. shooting
WASHINGTON — Following a Thanksgiving Day shooting in Washington, D.C., that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured, the Trump administration announced Friday it is halting all asylum decisions, citing public safety concerns. Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said the agency is pausing decisions “until we can […]