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.
Local & State
A space for original local news with an emphasis on stories pertaining to African Americans
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.
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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.
Posted inNews
Chicago developer invites North Minneapolis residents to co-own their neighborhood shopping center
Chicago TREND is offering North Minneapolis residents the opportunity to directly co-own Hawthorn Crossings with investments starting as low as $1,000, paired with a local matching grant program.
Posted inNews
MnDOTÂ to launch speed safety camera pilot project on two roadways
As road construction ramps up across Minnesota, MnDOT is introducing speed safety cameras in select work zones to combat dangerous driving and protect construction crews. Here is what drivers need to know.
Posted inLocal & State
Rondo Days celebrates food, family and legacy in St. Paul
St. Paul’s Martin Luther King Community Center came alive as neighbors, families, and elders gathered for Rondo Days, a warm Saturday filled with local food trucks, youth obstacle courses, and classic hip-hop legacy.
Posted inLocal & State
Voting is a responsibility (Part 1 of 2)
Thomas Jefferson warned that unmonitored governments naturally degenerate into corruption. As Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities face rollbacks on civil rights, active civic engagement and voting are no longer optional, they are our most powerful responsibility.
Posted inLocal & State
Medicaid disruptions are affecting healthcare providers and will disproportionately impact Black Minnesotans
State re-evaluations and IT login migrations have triggered payment delays and provider disenrollment’s across Minnesota’s Medicaid network, threatening essential care for the nearly 44% of Black Minnesotans under 65 who rely on public health coverage.
Posted inLocal & State
Good Trouble’s State of the Youth calls on young people to lead, communities to listen
The Good Trouble State of the Youth event honored John Lewis’s legacy while challenging adults to make room for young people to lead, not just be heard. Contributing writer Lizzy Nyoike has the story.
Posted inLocal & State
Skydio ‘first responder’ drone contract fails in Minneapolis City Council after weeks of resident opposition
Minneapolis’s proposed drone contract with Skydio failed in a 6-6 City Council vote, after residents packed protests citing surveillance concerns and the company’s ties to ICE and the Israeli military. Contributing writer Izzy Canizares has the full story.
Posted inLocal & State
State cannabis board brings record relief directly to the communityÂ
Three years after cannabis legalization, Minnesota’s Cannabis Expungement Board is bringing its work directly to communities, reviewing roughly 98,000 felony cases without requiring residents to hire an attorney. Contributing writer Clint Combs has the full story.
Posted inLocal & State
Minnesota DNR announces state park License plate design contest
The Minnesota DNR is inviting creatives to design the state’s next park license plate, themed around the North Shore and Lake Superior agate. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry breaks down how to enter.
Posted inLocal & State
Minnesota Conviction Review Unit closure leaves some incarcerated individuals and families in limbo
Minnesota’s Conviction Review Unit has abruptly closed after losing federal funding, leaving hundreds of applicants like Adrian Riley without a path to review their cases. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry has the story.
Posted inLocal & State
Opportunity Crossing opens on site of Wells Fargo branch burned in 2020 uprising
Opportunity Crossing, a new 110-unit affordable housing development, opened on the site of a Wells Fargo branch burned during the George Floyd uprising. Contributing writer Clint Combs has the story behind the project.
Posted inLocal & State
Ramsey County sues federal government over stonewalled Thao investigation
Ramsey County officials sued the Department of Homeland Security July 15, accusing the agency of withholding evidence needed to investigate the detention of a St. Paul man during Operation Metro Surge. Editor Jasmine McBride breaks down the case.
Posted inLocal & State
For this foundation CEO, leadership starts with “clarity is kind”Â
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation President and CEO Chanda Smith Baker is opening up about leadership beyond the resume in her new series, “Power of Possible: Leadership Edition.” Contributing writer Destiny Kromah has the story.
Posted inLocal & State
City of Minneapolis leaders request emergency funds to rehabilitate Heritage Park
Minneapolis is proposing $2.5 million to support Heritage Park residents facing mold and unsafe conditions, as the city and MPHA prepare for possible relocation. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry has the details.