Former Fox 9 anchor Dawn Stevens and husband Landen have opened Minnesota Podcast & Content Studio in Champlin, a new space designed to help entrepreneurs and creatives produce high-quality content.
St Paul
Posted inCommunity Voices
Ujamaa Place tackles economic disparities in the Twin Cities
Ujamaa Place is transforming the lives of young Black men in St. Paul by providing education, employment support, and life coaching. Through a holistic model rooted in cultural identity, the organization helps participants build stable, purpose-driven futures.
Posted inLocal & State
Chanda Smith Baker to head Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Chanda Smith Baker will become CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation on August 25. The longtime civic and philanthropic leader brings decades of experience rooted in community, equity, and systems change.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Dave Winfield honored in St. Paul
Dave Winfield’s statue is coming to St. Paul. For journalist Mitchell Palmer McDonald, the celebration brought back a memory of a promise Winfield kept to a young reporter, one that changed everything.
Posted inEvents
V-Fest brings healthy good times to St. Paul
St. Paul’s V-Fest returns July 26 with a free day of music, movement, wellness, and cultural healing. This community-powered celebration blends joy and justice in one of the summer’s most uplifting events.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Federal cuts mean more Minnesotans will go hungry
Second Harvest Heartland says new federal SNAP cuts will harm up to 150,000 Minnesotans. The anti-hunger nonprofit urges residents to speak out and advocate for change.
Posted inLocal & State
Rondo Days 2025 a vibrant celebration of community, history and resilience
Rondo Days 2025 honored the legacy of a historic Black neighborhood in St. Paul with music, food, and multigenerational joy. It’s more than a celebration—it’s a tradition of resilience.
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul grocer sees health and wealth in good food
Storehouse Grocer & Coffee on St. Paul’s East Side is more than a store—it’s a food justice movement led by Pastor Carl Johnson. From culturally relevant staples to worker ownership, it’s a powerful model for what community-centered food access can look like.
Sponsored
Smart choices for your next sick day
Learn how to choose the right place to go when you’re sick or injured—emergency room, urgent care, telehealth, or your doctor—and avoid surprise medical bills.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Mind the Crown
Adrianna Willis founded Mind the Crown to empower Black women through self-care, affirmation and mental health advocacy. Her work amplifies the message that therapy, boundaries and joy are essential.
Posted inArts + Culture
From MSP piano to TikTok fan base
Grammy-nominated pianist David Billingsley launched CLAB, Minnesota’s first TikTok Creator Network. Backed by TikTok, CLAB offers free support for artists and creatives looking to grow and monetize their work in the digital space.
Posted in4UR HEALTH
Trauma, Heart Health, and Healing in Black Communities
4UR HEALTH dives deep into how trauma affects cardiovascular health, with special guests Dr. Ida Tchuisseu Fonkoue and Sam Simmons joining Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan for a healing-centered discussion.
Posted inMSR In the News
MSR publisher twice honored during Juneteenth
Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, was honored with two Juneteenth awards for her contributions to Black media, legacy, and leadership.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Flow Hair and Beauty
Black-owned Flow Hair and Beauty in Uptown Minneapolis offers more than hair products. The shop provides a healing space for people navigating medical hair loss and builds community with care.
Posted inLocal & State
ICE detainees face indefinite confinement in Minnesota jails
ICE detainees in Minnesota are being kept in jail long after their immigration cases are resolved. Legal rulings and logistical failures are blocking release — even for those who have already been approved for green cards or deportation.
Posted inArts + Culture
825 Arts honors legacies of elder changemakers
The Frogtown Arts Festival returns August 16 with a tribute to community legacies and the opening of the new 825 Arts creative hub.
Posted inMusic
New albums and festivals make for a rich jazz season
From major label releases to free local festivals, this summer offers a rich jazz experience for listeners everywhere. Read about new albums by Danny Grissett, Christian McBride, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, plus live shows like Lizz Wright at the Dakota and the Selby Avenue Jazz Festival in St. Paul.
Posted inEducation
Morning Glory Montessori’s core mission is supporting Black boys
Morning Glory Montessori is a new, all-boy, Black-led Montessori school in south Minneapolis that’s reimagining early childhood education for Black children with faith, justice, and community at its core.
Posted inCommunity Voices
When boldness is the only option, YWCA St. Paul doubles down
As DEI comes under fire, YWCA St. Paul is holding the line on racial and gender equity, focusing its work on housing, health, and economic justice — and calling for urgent support for Black-led nonprofits.
Posted inLocal & State
New law will require boating permits for many Minnesotans starting July 1
Beginning July 1, 2025, Minnesotans born after June 30, 2004, must carry a watercraft operator’s permit to use motorized boats or jet skis. The law will expand to more age groups over the next three years.