MSR sports columnist Charles Hallman covers the 2026 Summit League Softball Championship at the University of Minnesota, spotlighting the Black players who stood out, including Omaha’s Bailey Sample and St. Thomas sophomores Zoe Trotter and Miley Wichman.
Minneapolis
Posted inPolitics
Clock ticks as MN gun bill stalls in House
A sweeping gun reform bill banning semi-automatic assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines passed the Minnesota Senate 34-33 on May 4, but faces an uncertain future in the House as the legislative session nears its end.
Posted inFinance
Chase opens community branch in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood
Chase has opened a new Community Center branch in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood, bringing financial education, free workshops and expanded banking access to South Minneapolis as part of the bank’s continued Twin Cities expansion.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
HCMC could close in June. Lawmakers have two weeks to stop it
Hennepin County Medical Center could begin closing in June if lawmakers fail to reach a funding deal before the legislative session ends May 18, as the hospital faces a financial crisis years in the making and federal Medicaid cuts that threaten to deepen the damage.
Posted inFashion
The future of fashion: Howard and U of M experts decode 2026 trends
Two fashion professors from Howard University and the University of Minnesota break down the clothing trends defining 2026, from bold graphic prints and jellies to elevated athleisure, the messy girl aesthetic and a growing push for sustainability.
Posted inEvents
Perry Talks Returns for Rise & Remember Festival With a Powerful Lineup and an Urgent Message
The 2026 Perry Talks symposium takes place May 25 during the Rise & Remember Festival at George Floyd Square, featuring a keynote from Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and a panel including MSR CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard on racial justice and First Amendment rights.
Posted inOpinion
Smart PFAS policy should protect health, not create new barriers
Edwardo Rikprashad argues that Minnesota’s new PFAS reporting law, while well-intentioned, risks creating new barriers for small contractors and developers before the state’s reporting system is ready to handle real-world conditions.
Posted inAnother View, Twins/MLB
Two Black aces, one rotation: Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson make history in Minnesota
Twins pitchers Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson are one of the rarest sights in MLB, two Black starting pitchers on the same team, and both say the bond they have built is making them better.
Posted inOn the Radar
On the Radar: Chef Jametta Raspberry of House of Gristle
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Chef Jametta Raspberry, founder of House of Gristle, to discuss her journey from corporate life to culinary school, feeding protesters during the 2020 uprising and building a brand rooted in Black culture and hospitality.
Posted inYouth Financial Education
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder launches Youth Financial Education Series
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Multimedia Group is launching a new eight-part Youth Financial Education Series in May 2026, supported by JPMorgan Chase, covering real-world financial milestones for young people ages 18 to 25.
Posted inWhat's Hot
MSR What’s Hot This Weekend | May 8-10
Mother’s Day weekend is here and the Twin Cities has a full lineup of ways to celebrate, from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair to a Mother’s Day brunch and more.
Posted inEvents
Free Community Forum on Gun Violence Coming to North Minneapolis on May 13
A free community forum on gun violence takes place Wednesday, May 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harold Mezile North Community YMCA in Minneapolis, featuring elected officials, community leaders and a panel discussion on prevention, legislation and solutions.
Posted inDigital Editions
MSR Digital Edition 40 for May 7 -May 13, 2026
The MSR Digital Edition 40 for May 7 – May 13, 2026 is now live. Explore community news, sports, arts, and events. Edition 40, Volume 92.
Posted inEducation
North Memorial Health and West Broadway Rising open doors for Northside youth exploring healthcare careers
High school students from Exploration High School got a behind-the-scenes look at North Memorial Health through a new partnership with West Broadway Rising, connecting Northside youth to healthcare careers in their own community.
Posted inTicket Giveway
Win Tickets to See Ja Rule at Mystic Lake This Saturday
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is giving away two tickets to see Ja Rule live at the Mystic Showroom at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel on Saturday, May 9. Enter by Thursday, May 7 at noon.
Posted inLocal & State
How redlining and systemic gaps leave communities vulnerable to disaster
Natural disasters hit low-income communities and communities of color hardest. MSR staff writer Damenica Ellis examines why, from the 2011 North Minneapolis tornado to the role of redlining in shaping disaster vulnerability today.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Minnehaha Academy, Apple Valley back among the elite
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald looks back at the legacy of Apple Valley and Minnehaha Academy boys basketball, from NBA-bound alumni to their impressive 2026 state tournament runs.
Posted inLocal & State
FBI raids more than 20 Minnesota daycares, but only five involve Medicaid fraud
The FBI raided 22 Minnesota childcare centers on April 28 in an ongoing fraud investigation, sparking a public dispute between federal and state officials and raising concerns from immigrant and refugee communities.
Posted inSister Spokesman
Style meets social justice at Sister Spokesman’s Dress to ShineÂ
Sister Spokesman’s Dress to Shine fashion presentation celebrated Black designers, vintage style and community on a red carpet runway inspired by the iconic pages of Jet, Essence and Ebony.
Posted inPolitics
Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act, what it means for Minnesota
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais has gutted the federal Voting Rights Act. Minnesota advocates and Attorney General Keith Ellison say the state’s own Voting Rights Act is now a critical line of defense.