Minnesota families are waiting months for child care assistance as scholarship and CCAP waitlists surge. Delayed support leaves parents without affordable, stable early learning options.
Lizzy Nyoike
Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication student with interest in community stories, investigative and multimedia journalism.
Posted inMetro
Mpls street renamed Lena Smith Blvd. corrects a historic wrong
A Minneapolis street has been renamed Lena Smith Boulevard to honor Minnesota’s first Black female attorney and correct the legacy of segregation tied to its former namesake. Community members led the five-year effort to reclaim the space and uplift a civil rights icon.
Posted inMetro
As SNAP cuts loom, St. Paul neighbors feed each other
As food shelves across Minnesota strain under soaring demand and government support wavers, one St. Paul community hub is charting a different path. At Zion Community Commons (ZCC), neighbors aren’t waiting for charity; they are feeding each other. As of Nov. 1, State officials claimed roughly 440,000-450,000 Minnesotans faced losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as […]
Posted inBooks
‘At Mama Feely’s Feet’ journeys through faith, generational healing
When Hope Venetta began writing “At Mama Feely’s Feet,” she wasn’t simply crafting a book. She was building what she calls “an altar of remembrance.” Venetta, a Durham-based therapist and storyteller, set out to create a space where the stories of her family, and those of other Black families, could be honored, reclaimed and healed. […]
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
SOAR Stretch Therapy connects the dots
Roseann Stewart, better known as “The Stretch Lady,” has made it her mission to transform how Minnesotans think about wellness. Through her business, SOAR Stretch Therapy, she helps clients manage pain, improve mobility, and preserve long-term health. Stewart works with people recovering from injuries or surgeries, as well as those navigating aging joints, swelling, or […]
Posted inMetro
State’s closure of housing program creates a ‘storm of instability’
Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HHS), a program helping thousands of residents with disabilities and housing instability, is set to end Nov. 1 following a state fraud investigation. The decision has left advocates, service providers, and residents concerned about widespread housing insecurity and what comes next. “This is going to cause more homelessness. We’re going backwards […]
Posted inMetro
Phyllis Wheatley Center names Tyner executive director
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (PWCC), a cornerstone of North Minneapolis for more than 100 years, has appointed Bryan Tyner, recently retired Minneapolis fire chief, as its next executive director, beginning in January 2026. Tyner calls the opportunity a “full circle moment.” His connection to the center began in childhood, from playing basketball to sending his […]
Posted inPolitics
House candidate wants to care for the village that cared for her
Registered nurse, educator, and entrepreneur Lyna Nyamwaya of New Hope has announced her run for Minnesota House District 43A, pledging to focus on health care, education, equity, and local business growth.
Posted inArts + Culture
For teen artist, creativity is emotional expression
At 17, Patience “Pizel” Epps turns emotion into mixed-media art and brings her voice to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Her journey shows how creativity can become language, purpose, and a path forward.
Posted inBusiness
New Habitat ReStore opens in Brooklyn Park
A new Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore has officially opened its doors in Brooklyn Park, offering affordable home improvement items, including donated, new, and gently used home goods. This marks the third ReStore in the Twin Cities and the first in the northwest metro area. Beyond budget-friendly furniture and appliances, proceeds from ReStore sales […]
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Essential Salt Spa
After a 40 minute session changed her breathing and sense of smell, Greta Sher opened Essential Salt Spa in Minneapolis. The spa’s dry salt therapy circulates pharmaceutical grade sodium chloride to help clear airways and calm skin conditions. Sher says halotherapy supports, not replaces, treatment plans and is part of a more affordable, inclusive approach to wellness.
Posted inTheater
Youth write, direct and act in plays confronting gun violence
Hopkins Center for the Arts hosted ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence, with Stages Theatre Company presenting six teen-written shorts chosen from 127 national submissions. Youth artists say the work is raw and empowering. Recommended for ages 14+.