Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is reshaping SNAP eligibility, kicking asylees and refugees off benefits and adding new work requirements, while shifting billions in costs onto states starting in 2026. Contributing writer Ella Stern breaks down the impact on Minnesota, where over a quarter of SNAP recipients are Black.
Local & State
A space for original local news with an emphasis on stories pertaining to African Americans
Posted inMSR In the News
MSR marks 92 years of telling our own story
As MSR marks 92 years, longtime contributors Jerry Freeman and Charles Hallman reflect on decades in the Black Press and the truths only it can tell. Editor Jasmine McBride has their story.
Posted inLocal & State
Study shows St. Paul’s Project PEACE shows promise in gun violence prevention
A two-year evaluation of St. Paul’s Project PEACE confirms that community-centered violence prevention works, providing a blueprint for how trusted life coaches can protect young Black men and disrupt cycles of gun violence.
Posted inEvents
Black business pioneers inducted into inaugural Minnesota Black Business Hall of Fame
“History can’t wait.” The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce inducted its inaugural class into the Minnesota Black Business Hall of Fame, honoring trailblazers who built the foundation for local economic power.
Posted inLocal & State
Sabathani Community Center’s block party celebrates 60 years of service
South Minneapolis’ Sabathani Community Center celebrated 60 years of community care with a block party headlined by Sounds of Blackness. Neighbors and leaders reflected on six decades of serving as a vital lifeline for Black Minnesota.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Restriction of medical care among incarcerated people keeps treatment from those who need it
While Minnesota prisons have daily medical staff, county jails rely on a patchy network of private providers. The newly enacted Larry R. Hill Medical Reform Act aims to mandate prescription access, if county jails actually enforce it.
Posted inLocal & State
Following policing and surveillance concerns, Minneapolis to receive audit of ShotSpotter technology
Minneapolis is the only city in Minnesota using ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection microphones. With a city audit dropping next month, community members and council members question whether the tech reduces violence or drives discriminatory policing.
Posted inEducation
Young Hearts Open Minds names Arielle Handevidt as CEO, plans to expand early childhood equity work
Former NAZ leader Arielle Handevidt is stepping into the CEO role at Young Hearts Open Minds to expand early childhood equity work, helping educators use “windows and mirrors” to combat bias before age five.
Posted inLocal & State
Police, protesters clash as St. Paul begins clearing Pig’s Eye encampment
Tensions flared in St. Paul as law enforcement and protesters clashed during phase one of clearing the Pig’s Eye encampment, raising urgent questions about city housing resources and community safety.
Posted inLocal & State
Vendors encouraged to register for 2026 Open Streets West Broadway
Open Streets West Broadway is calling on local vendors to join this year’s festival. With past vendors selling out hours early, organizers are offering 13 registration tiers, including free options.
Posted inLocal & State
Minnesota Disability Law Center seeks help at polling sites
With primary elections right around the corner, voting rights advocates are stepping up to guarantee Minnesotans with disabilities can exercise their rights without physical or procedural barriers.
Posted inLocal & State
Tony and Crystal Berryman: A Legacy of Love, Leadership and Service
Tony and Crystal Berryman celebrate 60 years of marriage and decades of Twin Cities community service.
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul mayor skips encampment listening session amid harassment investigation
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her skips encampment listening session as harassment allegations and Pig’s Eye closure collide
Posted inLocal & State
NAACP renews call for Warsame’s resignation, health emergency declaration over Heritage Park conditions
The Minneapolis NAACP is demanding MPHA Director Abdi Warsame resign, calling on city health officials to fast-track emergency relocations for Heritage Park residents suffering from severe mold, rat infestations, and broken maintenance.
Posted inNews
Voting is a responsibility: Your 2026 election guide (Part 2 of 2)
Part 2 of our election guide breaks down critical Minnesota voting deadlines, key races on the 2026 ballot, and what’s at stake for Black and Brown communities in the upcoming midterms.
Posted inLocal & State
Sabathani makes progress on clean energy project
Sabathani Community Center is taking a massive leap into the future, replacing aging fossil-fuel systems with geothermal and solar power to build one of Minnesota’s most advanced, community-centered resilience hubs.
Posted inNews
Congresswomen visit inside Whipple’s detention facility before vans head to deportation flights
Reps. Ilhan Omar and Pramila Jayapal detail ankle chains, overcrowded cells, and lack of transparency following a congressional visit to the Whipple Detention Center.
Posted inLocal & State
Judge orders mental health evaluation, travel restrictions for Metro Surge protester
A federal judge ordered a mental health assessment and travel restrictions for Army veteran Ian Davis Austin, one of 40 protesters charged under the FACE Act, prompting activists to call it the criminalization of veterans’ mental health. Contributing writer Clint Combs has the full report.
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul native Dr. Elizabeth Adams brings community values to the fight for responsible AI
Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams, a fifth-generation Minnesotan from St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, has spent her career pushing for responsible AI. Contributing writer Tiffany Johnson tells her story, from helping ban facial recognition in Minneapolis to writing a new memoir on purpose and technology.
Posted inLocal & State
Righteous 39, Minnesota 15 defendants speak out as judge orders grand jury disclosure in Fort case
A federal judge partially granted journalist Georgia Fort’s request for grand jury records, amid allegations government lawyers mischaracterized evidence used to indict her and the rest of the Righteous 39. Contributing writer Clint Combs has the full report.