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.
St Paul
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.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Women of color still “dramatically under-represented” in coaching
The 2024–25 Women in College Coaching Report Card shows women of color remain vastly underrepresented in NCAA head coaching roles—just 7.5% nationwide. Also: Garcia’s NBA Draft status and Diamond Johnson’s 3XBA debut.
Posted inLocal & State
Federal checks on children frighten immigrant families
Immigration attorneys report federal agents are showing up unannounced to interview unaccompanied minors in Minnesota. Families and advocates call it invasive, fear-inducing, and harmful.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Lynx off to one of their best starts
The Lynx moved to 12-1 with an 82-66 win over the Sparks, led by Kayla McBride’s 29 points as they continue their dominant WNBA season.
Posted inLocal & State
MEDA’s successes celebrated in these ‘exhausting times’
At its 2025 Annual Meeting, MEDA celebrated BIPOC entrepreneurs and community builders with a night of awards, bold insights, and renewed vision for economic equity in Minnesota.
Posted in4UR HEALTH
Honoring Black Fatherhood: Sam Simmons on 17 Years of Healing Work in Minnesota
Sam Simmons joins Dr. Ronda Chakolis-Hassan for a powerful For Your Health episode on Black fatherhood, community trauma, and healing—ahead of the 17th annual Black Men Healing Conference.
Posted inLocal & State
Lane Splitting and Filtering Become Legal July 1 in Minnesota
Starting July 1, 2025, Minnesota motorcyclists will legally be allowed to lane split and filter through traffic. The new law outlines specific speed and location rules to boost rider safety and ease congestion.
Posted inSports
Talking games and cookies
MLB pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson is blending baseball and business with his cookie brand The Cozy Cookie, now available at Target Field. The 24-year-old shares how sports, family, and sweet tooth moments inspired the launch.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Outstanding season for Kimmons
Senior guard Antwan Kimmons led Concordia-St. Paul to its first NSIC title and NCAA tournament win, capping a historic season with All-American honors and the CSP Athlete of the Year award.
Posted inLocal & State
First ‘Madam Juneteenth’ crowned at 2025 Minnesota Pageant
The Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant crowned six new queens this year, including the first-ever Madam Juneteenth. Sannia Elzia now plans to use her platform to uplift the voices of Black women survivors.
Posted inLocal & State
Healing racial trauma one circle at a time
Coming to the Table’s national gathering comes to St. Paul this June, bringing together descendants of enslaved people and enslavers to heal generational trauma through circle process and truth-telling.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Student athletes honored at Winfield Awards
The 49th Annual Winfield Awards celebrated 20 student athletes and two community leaders in a heartfelt ceremony honoring excellence across St. Paul.
Posted inSports
It’s back to the Saints for Twins’ only Black pitcher
Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson returns to St. Paul, focusing on improvement, faith, and a new splitter to get back to the majors.
Posted inEducation
Youth lead conversations on digital wellbeing
Teens led a powerful community conversation on screen time and mental health at a St. Paul event hosted by The Sanneh Foundation and LiveMore ScreenLess.
Posted inEducation
Saint Paul’s new superintendent says Rondo lives on in her soul
Dr. Stacie Stanley, a proud SPPS graduate, returns to lead the district as superintendent, pledging to build equity, boost morale, and invest in students’ futures.
Posted inFood
A revitalized Golden Thyme returns
Golden Thyme is back with a new restaurant and bar, led by Rondo Community Land Trust. It’s more than a revival — it’s a reclaiming of community space and cultural legacy.
Posted inSports
Few Black players on college softball rosters
College softball in Minnesota and elsewhere remains primarily White. Annual NCAA data show six percent of softball players are Black — it was five percent from 2014 to 2019.
Posted inLocal & State
Capitol rally demands end to forced prison labor
Hundreds of people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol on May 1 to demand an end to forced labor in the state’s correctional institutions, with a focus on pressuring lawmakers to pass the 2025 Bill to End Slavery in Minnesota.
Posted inLocal & State
Minnesotans join worldwide May Day call for worker justice
Thousands of people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol on May 1 to celebrate International Workers Day, calling for improved working conditions, fair wages, and stronger protections for marginalized workers.