The 14th annual Twin Cities Veg Fest returns to Harriet Island Regional Park with a mission to make plant-based living accessible, soul-nourishing, and fun for all communities.
MSR
Posted inEvents
Landmark Live concert series returns for its 15th season
St. Paul’s Landmark Center is keeping Minnesota’s live music energy high with its 15th anniversary Landmark Live series.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Push Fitness triathlon moves to North Minneapolis for seventh year, adds new scholarships
Building confidence over competition, the 7th annual Push Fitness sprint triathlon moves to North Minneapolis this year, offering a supportive space for first-time athletes, team relays, and holistic community health.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Howell has outstanding coaching career at St. Paul Central
For the first time in over two decades, St. Paul Central will open its athletic season without Scott Howell on the sidelines. We look back at a historic run that defined Minutemen sports.
Posted inArts + Culture
Planting People Growing Justice named Minnesota Twins Game Changer
The Minnesota Twins have named Planting People Growing Justice a 2026 Game Changer for putting culturally reflective books directly into the hands of young readers.
Posted inEvents
Out of the Darkness Walk to unite Twin Cities community around mental health and healing
No family should process the pain of a mental health crisis alone. This September, Twin Cities residents will gather at Como Regional Park to break the silence and walk toward collective healing.
Posted inBlack College Sports Report
SWAC coaches sound off as HBCU football season kicks into gear
With the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in the books, HBCU football is in full swing. Dive into what SWAC head coaches are saying about preseason hype, college football chaos, and big matchups ahead.
Posted inEducation
Dr. Artika R. Tyner inspires the next generation at the National WWII Museum
An all-Black battalion of women cleared millions of delayed wartime letters to keep American troops connected. Now, St. Paul historian Dr. Artika R. Tyner is ensuring their courage is never forgotten.
Posted inOpinion
OpEd: The price on your screen is fiction
From your grocery app to ride-share fares, companies are using your personal data to change prices on the fly. The FTC is proposing new disclosure rules, but consumer champion Christopher Elliott warns that knowing you’re being squeezed isn’t the same as stopping it.
Posted inArts + Culture
Application open for 2027-28 Minneapolis Poet Laureate
The City of Minneapolis and The Loft Literary Center have officially opened applications for the 2027–2028 Poet Laureate position. Here is how local writers can secure a two-year civic appointment, engage the community, and elevate their craft.
Posted inDigital Editions
MSR Digital Edition 4 – Volume 93 – August 27 – September 2, 2026
The MSR Digital Edition 4 -Volume 93 for August 27 – September 2, 2026 is now live. Explore community news, sports, arts, and events. Edition 4, Volume 93.
Posted inLocal & State
AT&T surprises Northside families with free MacBooks at Phyllis Wheatley back-to-school event
Families arrived at the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center expecting backpacks and pencils and walked out with free MacBooks. A look at the surprise partnership bridging North Minneapolis’ digital divide.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Taylor, Smith give Gophers reasons for optimism
As the Minnesota Gophers kick off its 2026 season against Eastern Illinois, running back Darius Taylor and defensive lineman Anthony Smith step up as the heart and hustle of Dinkytown. Here is how mentorship, family motivation, and unfinished business brought them back to lead.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Kelly’s Candles turns wax into works of art
For candle artist Kelly, a flame isn’t just about scent, it’s about sculpture, sustainability, and honoring the memories of loved ones.
Posted inEducation
The unforgettable impact of Ruby Hurley
Before she investigated racial terrorism in the Deep South or built a youth movement of 25,000 NAACP members, Ruby Hurley stepped up in 1939 to give world-renowned singer Marian Anderson a stage at the Lincoln Memorial. Discover the history of the unsung civil rights giant.
Posted inOpinion
OpEd: Stephen A. Smith’s problem isn’t his opinions. It’s accountability
When the National Association of Black Journalists handed ESPN’s flagship commentator a “Thumbs Down” award over recurring commentary targeting prominent Black women, Stephen A. Smith promised revenge, exposing a glaring refusal to answer to his own community.
Posted inEvents
Community Care Sessions return to North Minneapolis
As seasonal shifts begin, neighbors are coming together to create sanctuary in North Minneapolis, offering free bi-weekly wellness sessions.
Posted inEducation
James Weldon Johnson: The man behind six careers and a civil rights anthem
Before “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became known as the Black National Anthem, its author was breaking barriers in law rooms, foreign consulates, and Broadway stages. Here is how James Weldon Johnson proved that Black excellence knows no limits.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Driving change from the ground up: Jonathan on civic engagement and mentorship
Twin Cities activist Jonathan Mason sat down with Black Light on Sports to discuss moving beyond athletics, combatting food deserts, and building the region’s first Black-owned USDA-certified processing facility.
Posted inEvents
Free family concerts to take over Minneapolis music venues
Free live music for the whole family is hitting Minneapolis neighborhood hubs this fall. Check out the 9-week schedule featuring shows at The Capri, First Avenue, Hook & Ladder, and more.