George E. Johnson, whose Johnson Products Company became the first Black-owned business listed on the American Stock Exchange, has died at 99. David Snelling reports on a life that reshaped the Black hair care industry.
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Posted inFinance
Student loan changes leave Black borrowers bracing for higher payments
Sweeping student loan changes took effect July 1, eliminating key repayment plans and leaving Black borrowers, who carry a disproportionate share of national debt, bracing for higher payments. Contributing writer Clint Combs reports on what advocates say borrowers need to know now.
Posted inEvents
Young changemakers to celebrate Legislative wins at community gathering
Catalyst for Systems Change invites the community to its Legislative Recap & Changemakers Program Celebration, highlighting the young people who helped shape policy at the State Capitol this session. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry has the details.
Posted inNews
Battle Creek Waterpark to offer a free admission day during opening week
Battle Creek Waterpark reopens in Maplewood after a $5 million renovation, with free admission Thursday, July 9, to celebrate. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry breaks down what’s new.
Posted inLocal & State
Minnesota Paid Leave approves thousands of applicants six months into program
Six months into Minnesota’s Paid Leave program, nearly $600 million has gone to approved applicants, with about 75,000 Minnesotans receiving benefits. Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry breaks down the numbers.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis community members speak out against proposed trial on “first responder” drones
Minneapolis City Council heard testimony on a proposed 75-day Skydio drone trial for MPD in the 4th precinct, with over 30 residents pushing back on surveillance concerns and Skydio’s ties to Israel and DHS. Izzy Canizares reports.
Posted inYouth Financial Education
Goal setting: Mapping your short and long-term financial future
Joel Carrasquillo didn’t wait for a full-time salary to learn how money works. As he prepares to start his career with Vanguard, he talks about building financial habits early, and why financial literacy is bigger than any one person’s bank account.
Posted inWhat's Hot
What’s Hot: Twin Cities Weekend Events, July 10-12
From a paint-and-plant self-care night to a weekend-long arts festival, here’s what’s happening across the Twin Cities July 10-12.
Posted inBlack College Sports Report
Big changes ahead for HBCU hoops
From an expanded NCAA tournament to a growing HBCUAC, sports columnist Charles Hallman rounds up five points shaping the future of Black college athletics.
Posted inParent Power
Why parent voice is Minnesota’s most underutilized education resource
Khulia F. Pringle launches a new monthly column, Parent Power, arguing that Minnesota schools treat parents as an afterthought instead of the education system’s most underused resource.
Posted inLocal & State
TRAFFIC ALERT: Franklin Avenue Construction Impacts
Franklin Avenue construction shifts to the south side between Fourth and Chicago starting July 8, closing several intersections and rerouting traffic. Here’s what drivers and pedestrians need to know.
Posted inWNBA
Racial divide in the WNBA runs wider than the Grand Canyon
The Alyssa Thomas-Caitlin Clark incident reignited racial divisions in the WNBA, with Thomas and her family receiving death threats afterward. Sports columnist Charles Hallman talks with scholars about what’s really driving the divide.
Posted inDr. Q's News
Estrogen affects far more than reproduction. Here’s what to know.
Estrogen affects far more than reproductive health, touching the heart, gut, brain and bones. Columnist Dr. Ayanna Quamina breaks down why perimenopause symptoms show up in so many different ways, and how to support your body through the transition.
Posted inOpinion
Obama still lives rent-free in Trump’s head
As Trump defends a thin Iran agreement, Obama opened his presidential center in Chicago surrounded by cultural icons and former presidents. In an op-ed for Word in Black, Joseph Williams argues the contrast says everything about legacy and grievance.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Roots & Bloom turns plant care into self-care
Ciera Curtis turned her love of plants into Roots & Bloom, a mobile plant shop bringing greenery, workshops and wellness conversations to communities across the Twin Cities. Contributing writer Lizzy Nyoike has the story.
Posted inLocal & State
TRAFFIC ALERT: I-394 construction impacts and updates
E-ZPass lanes on I-394 and I-94 will be unavailable in both directions through November as construction continues on 34 bridges and ramps. Here’s what drivers need to know.
Posted inLocal & State
ICE detentions surge to 2,000 a day to meet new agency quota
ICE detained over 10,000 people nationwide in a five-day span, doubling its daily quota to 2,000 detentions, according to new reporting. Contributing writer Ella Stern breaks down what’s driving the surge, and why it’s happening more quietly than past operations.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Blacklight on Sports: Timberwolves Executive Terrell Battle on Coach Gaines, Stephen A. Smith, and Raising Two Pro Basketball Players
A phone call from Coach “Big House” Gaines sent Terrell Battle to Minnesota in 1992. Three decades, a Timberwolves career and two professional-athlete kids later, he joins Blacklight on Sports to talk about his journey, his friendship with Stephen A. Smith, and raising pros without ever forcing it.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Parker, Reeve reflect on Lynx-Sparks rivalry for the age
Ten years after the Lynx-Sparks rivalry reshaped the WNBA playoff format, Candace Parker and Cheryl Reeve looked back at Knoxville on the two Finals series that stacked their rosters with future Hall of Famers. Sports columnist Charles Hallman has their reflections.
Posted inFirst Educator
Representation matters: Why diverse books keep children engaged
Books can act as mirrors or windows for children, and columnist Dr. Artika R. Tyner argues that culturally relevant stories matter more than most parents realize. She breaks down how to build a home library that does both.