According to U.S. government data and recent policy studies, nearly 25% of America’s veterans live either below the federal poverty level or paycheck to paycheck, with little margin for unexpected expenses. To get by, many adopt emergency-level budgets. But even the harshest austerity measures may not be enough. Life at the bottom still costs money. […]
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Timely national, state, and local articles, including profile stories from an African American perspective.
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Benjamin E. Mays to Become Afrocentric School by Fall 2026
Saint Paul Public Schools will launch an Afrocentric program at Benjamin E. Mays in fall 2026, centering African American culture and improving student outcomes while keeping core academic instruction in place.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis council members back arresting federal agents who violate law
Minneapolis City Council members Jason Chavez, Elliot Payne, and Robin Wonsley said Nov. 14 that local police could, and should, arrest federal agents if they fail to identify themselves or wear face coverings. Their comments come as the city prepares to negotiate a new police contract, set to expire in December. Members of the Minnesota […]
Posted inLocal & State
Waymo Brings Self-Driving Cars to Minneapolis, Raising Big Questions About Safety, Jobs, and the Future of Transit
Waymo has begun testing self driving vehicles in Minneapolis, launching a major conversation about safety, winter performance, jobs, and the future of transportation in Minnesota.
Posted inLocal & State
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 inNational
Jellybean Johnson, Minneapolis Sound Pioneer and Beloved Mentor, Dies at 69
Jellybean Johnson, a founding architect of the Minneapolis Sound and beloved member of The Time, has died at age 69. His legacy spans iconic hits, groundbreaking guitar and drum work, production credits across pop and R and B, and decades of mentorship that shaped Minnesota’s music community.
Posted inLocal & State
Providers say universal pre-k falls short for Minnesota families
Early childhood providers say Minnesota’s universal pre K plan fails to meet the real needs of Black families. Educators argue that culturally affirming childcare starting in infancy would do more to close the racial achievement gap than expanding free pre K for four year olds.
Posted inNational
Supreme Court weighs damages for inmate’s forced haircut
WASHINGTON (HUNS) — Damon Landor, a Rastafarian who had taken a Nazarite vow to grow his hair in locks, was transferred to Raymond Laborde Correctional Center for the final three weeks of his sentence. He arrived with proof of religious accommodation from two previous facilities, along with a court ruling showing that Louisiana recognized his […]
Posted inLocal & State
Thanksgiving resource guide 2025
This statewide Thanksgiving Resource Guide lists free meals, food distributions and support services available across Minnesota. From the Twin Cities to Tribal Nations, families can find holiday meals, groceries and community assistance throughout November 2025.
Posted inLocal & State
Jamar Clark’s mother keeps son’s legacy alive
Saturday, November 15, marks 10 years since the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark by Minneapolis police. Sixty-one seconds after two police officers first encountered the 24-year-old Clark outside of a house party on the North Side, an officer shot Clark in the head. He died the next day. Clark was unarmed, and the officers were […]
Posted inLocal & State
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 […]
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Be ready for the policy shifts in Medicaid insurance coverage
Don’t be caught without insurance if you or your loved ones have a medical emergency and need care right away – policy changes can happen unexpectedly. Federal cuts will be coming to Medicaid. Nothing has changed yet, but it’s important to learn the facts and be ready. The federal changes will make it harder to […]
Posted inOpinion
Why freedom of speech matters
When we think about free speech, we usually think about our right to share our thoughts, ideas and beliefs, as long as we are respectful and not unfairly stopped by the government. Free speech is a basic human right protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, this protection is not unlimited. It […]
Posted inOpinion
Time to pass the Black leadership torch
The Trump administration is ordering the removal of information on slavery at multiple national parks in an effort to scrub them of “corrosive ideology.” To describe the truth about our Black experience and history as “corrosive ideology” is not only an insult but highlights the possible long-term damage that this administration can cause. Some of […]
Posted inLocal & State
State launches ambitious marijuana expungement program
Minnesota is attempting something few states have tried: clearing thousands of marijuana convictions automatically, without requiring anyone to petition the courts. On Wednesday, state officials and legal experts gathered at the Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis to outline the scope of what they called one of the most ambitious government-led expungement efforts in the […]
Posted inLocal & State
Courtroom protesters demand ‘No More Stolen Lives’
Families, activists expose gaps in domestic violence protections Allison Lussier’s life ended in a North Loop apartment in February 2024, but questions surrounding her death continue to reverberate through Minneapolis. Family members and Indigenous activists say the system failed Lussier, a 29-year-old woman with a history of domestic abuse, and are calling for accountability as […]
Posted inLocal & State
Africa’s first female military pilot honored in Minnesota
From a young age, Asli Hassan Abade was captivated by astronomy, math and physics. Growing up in a military family in Somalia, her academic strengths and early exposure to the military sparked a dream: to fly planes. The 1960s and ‘70s in Somalia, a period of independence and decolonization across Africa, offered new opportunities for […]
Posted inLocal & State
Court upholds Home Depot ban on Black Lives Matter insignia
A federal appeals court panel ruled on Thursday that managers of a Twin Cities Home Depot store acted lawfully when they banned an employee from writing a Black Lives Matter slogan on their uniform. Caro Linda Bo, 33, started working at the retailer’s location in Northeast Minneapolis in August 2020, three months after Minneapolis police […]
Posted inPolitics
Senator Bobby Joe Champion announces he’ll seek re-election in 2026
Building on historic achievements and continuing work on housing, jobs, public safety, and education Senator Bobby Joe Champion announced today that he will seek re-election in Senate District 59, citing his desire to continue building on a strong record of improving the lives of children, families, and business owners in his district. Champion, the first […]
Posted inLocal & State
Make a Plan to Enroll: MNsure Open Enrollment for 2026 Now Underway
Open enrollment for 2026 health insurance coverage is now open, and Minnesotans who don’t get coverage through an employer are encouraged to explore their options and make a plan to stay insured. Farmers, small business owners, early retirees, and independent workers often lack access to employer-based plans or HR departments to guide them. As the […]