Tyra Perry Illinois softball coach reflects on 700 career wins, Big Ten diversity and the people who make coaching worth every moment in an MSR interview.
Minnesota
Posted inOn the Radar
Drummer, Educator, and Griot Kevin Washington Is Keeping Black Music Alive in Minnesota
Kevin Washington modern griot and Walker West Music Academy educator joins MSR On the Radar to discuss Black music, teaching and his renewed mission as a drummer and bandleader.
Posted inWhat's Hot
MSR What’s Hot This Weekend | April 10–12
Twin Cities weekend events April 10 to 12 include Afrobeats at the Cabooze, the Black Market Mpls pop-up, AFROMATIC at the Cedar and the WARM Gallery 50th anniversary exhibition.
Posted inLocal & State
Black Man Allegedly Denied Entry at Cities Church; Activists Raise Pattern of Discrimination at Press Conference
Cities Church allegedly denied a Black man entry to worship in St. Paul as civil rights activists allege discrimination and retaliation tied to the Righteous 39 protest arrests.
Posted inDigital Editions
MSR Digital Edition 36 for April 9 – April 15, 2026
The MSR Digital Edition 36 for April 9 – April 15, 2026 is now live. Explore community news, sports, arts, and events. Edition 36, Volume 92.
Posted inCoaching while Black
From the Arctic Circle to the Big Ten: Arica Nassar’s unlikely path
Arica Nassar joins the Minnesota Gophers volleyball staff as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, bringing overseas championship experience and a mission to increase representation in coaching.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
How Design by Melo is reshaping community spaces in the Twin Cities
Design by Melo founder Damaris Hollingsworth built a Twin Cities architecture and urban design firm rooted in affordable housing and community centered design after creating the opportunity she could not find.
Posted inLocal & State
Woman Arrested Outside St. Paul Church on Easter Sunday Has Charges Dismissed
Emily Phillips Cities Church arrest charges were dismissed by a Ramsey County judge after she spent Easter Sunday in jail for protesting outside the St. Paul congregation.
Posted inObituaries
A Celebration of the Life of Walter James Billups
Walter James Billups obituary. The beloved Minneapolis paraprofessional who dedicated 35 years to South High School and Franklin Middle School died March 11 2026 at age 86.
Posted inObituaries
A Celebration of the Life of Stanley Eugene Williams, Ph.D
Stanley Eugene Williams, Ph.D, age 94, passed away peacefully into eternal rest on March 18, 2026.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Reminder, South made it to state
Minneapolis South boys basketball state tournament 2026 Significant Six photos highlight the Tigers second appearance in three years and a standout season nobody saw coming.
Posted inOpinion
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.
Posted inSister Spokesman Highlights
Sister Spokesman plants seeds of community at spring gathering
Sister Spokesman spring event Earth Bounces Back sold out on April 4 at Bachman’s Floral in Minneapolis with music from Jamela Pettiford and a hands-on planting session.
Posted inLocal & State
Rondo CLT plans community-centered future for former St. Paul Sears
Rondo Community Land Trust acquires the former Sears site in St. Paul in its largest deal to date, a $10.8 million acquisition of 17 acres vacant since 2019.
Posted inLocal & State
2026 Twin Cities CARES Barbershop Final Four Men’s Wellness and Mentor Recruitment Kick-Off
Twin Cities CARES mentor recruitment barbershop event gathered more than 40 Black men at Urban Touch Barbershop in South Minneapolis for a wellness and mentorship kickoff.
Posted inArts + Culture
How Twin Cities murals are telling nature’s story
Twin Cities nature murals across Minneapolis and St. Paul use art to connect urban communities to ecosystems, migration and the living world around them.
Posted inLocal & State
Food deserts persist, but local organizations are fighting back
Food deserts in the Twin Cities affect nearly 900,000 Minnesotans. Here is how community organizations are working to restore grocery access in underserved neighborhoods.
Posted inEducation
St. Paul’s Benjamin E. Mays school to launch afrocentric program this fall
St. Paul Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric program launches this fall in the Rondo neighborhood, teaching through Black history and centering African American student excellence.
Posted inWhat's Hot
MSR What’s Hot This Weekend | April 3–5
Twin Cities things to do April 2026 this weekend include Frequency Fridays, a free food truck festival in White Bear Lake and a paint and sip at Sociable Cider Werks.
Posted inDigital Editions
MSR Digital Edition 35 for April 2 – April 8, 2026
The MSR Digital Edition 35 for April 2 – April 8, 2026 is now live. Explore community news, sports, arts, and events. Edition 35, Volume 92.