In Blacklight on Sports, Tramon Van Leer shares his path from radio personality to Minnesota’s biggest sports arenas, capturing game moments and delivering analysis.
Minneapolis
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Cici’s Cupcakes
Cici’s Cupcakes offers bold, custom flavors made-to-order by Minneapolis baker Ciara Flowers.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Commissioners weigh Hennepin Healthcare Board changes
Hennepin Healthcare leaders warn that replacing their diverse, community-rooted board with political appointees risks patient care. Vote: August 12.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Shoutouts
Honoring Twin Cities athletes and coaches excelling in sports and giving back to their communities.
Posted inEvents
7th Annual Twin Cities Hair & Beauty Expo Returns with “Crowned & Confidence”
The Twin Cities Hair & Beauty Expo returns August 17 with “Crowned & Confidence,” a celebration of self-love, heritage, and empowerment.
Posted inEducation
Architect imagines spaces that best serve people of color
Architect James Garrett Jr. is using his Bush Fellowship to research sustainable design and create spaces that serve people of color.
Posted inLocal & State
Northsiders decry Blue-Line disruption, displacement
Northside leaders demand $10M in anti-displacement funds as the Blue Line Extension threatens homes, businesses, and community stability.
Posted inObituaries
Remembering Levell Jones Jr
With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of Levell Jones Jr., in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 28, 2025.
Posted inMSR In the News
Above all else, gratitude
Senior Editor Jerry Freeman reflects on his 30-year journey with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, honoring the people and purpose behind 91 years of Black Press legacy.
Posted inEvents
The Black Excellence Experience Spotlights Artist Debra Michelle
The Black Excellence Experience will feature artist Debra Michelle in a free August 16 showcase at Sabathani Community Center’s BEE Gallery.
Posted inOpinion
Prison must be a place of last resort
Zhi Kai H. Vanderford, incarcerated for nearly 40 years, says prison is no longer about rehabilitation — it’s a failed system that devastates families and communities.
Posted inOpinion
State-run prison labor monopoly lacks accountability
An MCF-Rush City inmate exposes how state-run MINNCOR Industries profits off inflated prices, canceled fundraisers, and unpaid labor—leaving incarcerated Minnesotans struggling to afford basic needs.
Posted inProfiles In Power
Anti-bullying campaign breaks cycles of trauma
CPC 2.0’s Nassir Scroggins is transforming anti-bullying work with a culturally grounded, trauma-informed campaign focused on healing and leadership.
Posted inArts + Culture
Robin Hickman Winfield: a life of vision and legacy
Robin Hickman Winfield, grandniece of Gordon Parks, has spent decades uplifting youth and community through film, storytelling, and doll artistry. Now, she’s stepping into a new creative chapter of her own.
Posted inArts + Culture
Carolyn Holbrook, McKnight 2025 Distinguished Artist
Acclaimed author and educator Carolyn Holbrook has been named the 2025 McKnight Distinguished Artist for her lasting impact on Minnesota’s cultural and literary communities.
Posted inEvents
6th Annual Black Entrepreneur State Fair returns to uplift community and celebrate Black excellence
The Black Entrepreneur State Fair, founded in the wake of the George Floyd uprising, returns to Lake Street Aug. 10–16 for a week of culture, commerce, and connection.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Shotspotter
ShotSpotter, the real-time gunfire detection tech developed by SoundThinking, is being deployed in U.S. cities to reduce firearm deaths—but questions remain about its impact on majority-Black communities.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Lynx split two-game homestand
The Minnesota Lynx split a two-game homestand, falling to the Atlanta Dream before taking down the defending champion New York Liberty. Napheesa Collier led both games with 30+ point performances.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
John Robinson – Educator. Coach. Community Leader
North High alum and championship-winning coach John Robinson joins Blacklight On Sports to reflect on decades of leadership in Twin Cities schools, sports, and communities.
Posted inMusic
Sounds of Blackness releases youth-powered anthem “WE’RE UNSTOPPABLE”
Sounds of Blackness releases “WE’RE UNSTOPPABLE,” a youth-driven anthem of resilience and movement featuring Jamecia Bennett, NUNNABOVE, and Atlanta Drum Academy.