A Twin Cities small business owner urges Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option, arguing its expiration would hit immigrant-owned businesses and communities already recovering from Operation Metro Surge.
Opinion
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes thoughtful commentary and feedback from the community. All articles in this section are edited for clarity and space; the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the MSR. MSR does not provide payment for commentary. To submit an opinion piece, please send inquiries and submissions to submissions@spokesman-recorder.com.
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Minnesota prisons’ refusal to implement the law
A firsthand account from inside Faribault Correctional Facility describes how the Minnesota DOC is failing to implement the MRRA Act, leaving thousands of incarcerated people unable to earn early release they are legally entitled to.
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An open letter to Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley
An open letter to Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley from a North Minneapolis resident who has lived near the HERC trash burner since 1999 and is calling her to honor her environmental justice promises.
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The racial divide isn’t as wide as you think
New research from Brookings and the National Collaborative for Health Equity shows Americans are rejecting racial bias and building meaningful cross-racial relationships at historic rates.
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Black women are losing ground. Now inclusion is on trial.
EEOC DEI rollback and federal policy shifts are already costing Black women jobs as AFRO News CEO Frances Toni Draper exposes the dismantling of equity and access infrastructure.
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Black folks and foreign policy
June Jordan Black foreign policy essay from Essence 1983 republished from Black Agenda Report challenges Black Americans to examine silence and complicity in American imperialism.
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Twin Cities development, beyond traditional affordable housing
Affordable housing in the Twin Cities demands more than unit counts. This op-ed calls for mixed income community development rooted in social infrastructure and neighborhood investment.
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Why a rumor about the Iran war and Black safety feels so real
The Iran Black Americans viral claim is unverified but resonates because of a documented history of solidarity rhetoric and a deeper truth about Black safety in America.
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Before the machine decides
AI governance and algorithmic accountability are urgent issues as automated tools shape housing, lending and employment decisions in Black and Brown communities with little oversight.
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‘Let’s bring out the lovely KiKi Shepard’
KiKi Shepard Showtime at the Apollo co-host and sickle cell advocate has died at 74, leaving a legacy of grace, representation and community service that shaped a generation.
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The future of work
Future of work workforce equity is the focus of this OIC of America opinion piece on preparing historically overlooked communities to lead in the age of automation and AI.
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How war news affects your mental health even from a distance
How to manage war news stress and stay informed without letting chronic headlines consume your mental and physical health. Here is what to know.
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NNPA Launches 2026 “Leadership Matters” Video Series
The NNPA Leadership Matters video series 2026 features six exclusive interviews with transformative Black leaders in politics, health care and technology airing over six weeks.
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Beyond flowers: Black women deserve more than praise
Black women deserve more than praise. This Women’s History Month, two writers call for real investment in Black women leaders, founders and students.
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War with Iran could cost U.S. families thousands
An opinion on how war-related costs and rising oil prices are impacting American families during an affordability crisis.
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Reconsidering Minnesota’s value: When external forces shape the market
This opinion examines how the Minnesota property market is influenced by historical disinvestment, civil rights crises and economic uncertainty.
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Minneapolis should extend eviction deadlines to protect vulnerable tenants
The Minneapolis eviction ordinance debate highlights the need for tenant protections and eviction prevention policies.
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When we invest in Black Girls, we strengthen entire communities
The Yes Girls Create nonprofit empowers girls ages 8 to 18 through creativity, mentorship and leadership development.
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The war against Black workers: Fifty years of attacks
The Black unemployment gap remains significantly higher than the rate for white workers, continuing a long pattern of economic inequality.
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Selma was not just history, it was a warning
The Selma Bloody Sunday legacy continues to shape modern civil rights movements and discussions about protest and state power.