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Climate & ENVIRONMENT
How happy is your commute? If you’re on a bike, chances are it’s high. In a car? Good luck. A UM researcher dives into transportation happiness.
University of Minnesota professor Yingling Fan’s research shows that environmentally friendly commutes are among the happiest, although bus commutes rank low. Car commutes fit somewhere in the middle.
Mental Health
Native American communities prioritize traditional healing to treat mental health.
Exact numbers are hard to come by, but there are likely only 200 to 300 Native American psychologists in the entire country, out of a population of several million people.
HERO Pay
Over 1 million Minnesotans will receive $487 in pandemic bonuses.
Beginning this week, Minnesotans will receive pandemic bonus payments.
Join thousands of Minnesotans just like you who support Sahan Journal.
We’re the only newsroom dedicated to Minnesota’s communities of color. Donate today to help keep Sahan Journal’s reporting free for everyone.
latest stories
Billionaire settles University of Minnesota student’s lawsuit alleging rape.
Ahead of opening statements scheduled for Monday, Chinese billionaire Richard Liu settled a lawsuit filed by a former University of Minnesota student alleging Liu raped her.
Jazz pioneer Oscar Pettiford shaped the Minneapolis sound and American music.
Oscar Pettiford was born 100 years ago today. His career started on Twin Cities’ stages.
Library, mural honors former St. Paul School Board Chair Marny Xiong.
Washington Technology Magnet School honors former St. Paul School Board Chair Marny Xiong with a mural in the school’s library. Xiong died from COVID-19 in June 2020.
Mercado Central demands that gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen remove its image from his ads.
The Mercado Central board of directors says Scott Jensen neither asked for nor received permission to film inside the building on Lake Street.
Students, staff say cultural competency is key for Minnesota educators.
Opponents have accused the state of using cultural competency training to indoctrinate teachers.
From carving pipes to starting businesses, new center in Lower Sioux Community unites generations.
Cansayapi Wicoicage Oti, a new community center at the Lower Sioux Indian Community, is an intergenerational place of belonging.
Minneapolis woodshop for women, nonbinary people reopens in Prospect Park.
Jess Hirsch and a team of others at Fireweed’s Community Woodshop are rebuilding what may be the Twin Cities’ only place to learn woodworking that’s dedicated to marginalized genders—this time at a location three times as large in Prospect Park.
Minnesota appeals court rules that racial imbalance in Twin Cities schools doesn’t violate constitution unless intentional.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled against lead plaintiff Alejandro Cruz-Guzman and other parents who argue that racial and socioeconomic segregation in schools led to achievement gaps between children of color and those living in poverty and white students.
Minnesota Republican candidates called for an independent probe into the state’s handling of alleged fraud in a COVID-related meal program.
Republican candidates Scott Jensen and Matt Birk called for an investigation into how the Walz administration’s reacted to alleged fraud in a federal nutrition program that has resulted in dozens of federal indictments.
Deeq Darajo, a prominent Minneapolis journalist, was charged in connection with Feeding Our Future investigation.
Deeq Darajo, the owner of Xogmaal Media Group, becomes the 49th person charged as a result of the sprawling investigation that began with the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
Most defendants in the Feeding Our Future investigation were spared jail time.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis says three of the suspects have left the country, but prosecutors don’t consider most of the others are flight risks, and have not asked judges to detain them.
What the federal charges say about how Feeding Our Future found an opportunity at Minneapolis City Hall
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced criminal charges Tuesday against three political appointees connected to the Minneapolis Mayor’s office. The federal indictments also lay out new details of how a City Council member’s defunct nonprofit allegedly turned into a tool for the embezzlement of several million dollars.
Minnesota vigils mourn Mahsa Amini, whose death sparked protests in Iran.
Mahsa Amini was detained in Tehran by the country’s morality police that enforces a strict dress code. Amini was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely. She died on Sept. 16.
Mekfira Hussein defended her work feeding needy children. Prosecutors now accuse her of buying a Tesla and other goods with money intended for those kids.
Mekfira Hussein told Sahan Journal in early 2022 that her experience with hunger as a child refugee inspired her to feed underprivileged children. Federal charges unsealed this week allege that she used government money intended to feed such children on personal purchases instead.
Resources for Minnesotans to stay connected online: A Sahan Journal community conversation.
Not all households have the same access to technology, an issue that became heightened during the COVID pandemic when people were forced to work or attend school from home. Experts at a community conversation hosted by Comcast and Sahan Journal share several tips and resources to improve digital equity.
Governor Walz ‘would hope’ for investigation into judge who presided over Feeding Our Future lawsuit.
Governor Tim Walz expressed frustration with the judge who presided over a lawsuit between Feeding Our Future and the Minnesota Department of Education. The judge found the state in contempt of court in 2021, and ordered it to pay Feeding Our Future $47,500 in fines and fees.
Forty-eight suspects, $250 million allegedly stolen, and 257 pages of allegations. Eight interesting things about the alleged food-aid fraud scheme involving Feeding Our Future.
Tuesday’s unsealed charging documents revealed new details about the alleged $250 million food-aid fraud scheme in Minnesota. It involves at least 48 co-conspirators, three of whom have left the country.
Charges in alleged federal food-aid fraud are rich in detail, but complex issues could confuse jurors, legal scholars say.
Local law professors say it will be a challenge for prosecutors to walk through how allegedly stolen funds were used for personal gain. They also suspect that with 48 defendants, many will defend themselves by pointing the blame at higher-ups in their organizations.
Recovery awareness growing in East African community as opioid crisis takes toll.
Advocates like Farhia Budul sounded the alarm Saturday at the Minnesota State Capitol about the opioid crisis. Hundreds gathered at the capitol grounds to participate in the Walk for Recovery.
Need a refresher on the Feeding Our Future allegations? Here’s what to know about the alleged food-aid fraud in Minnesota.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced charges against 47 suspects in a sweeping food-aid funding fraud investigation Tuesday. How much money was allegedly stolen, where was it supposed to go, and how did the scam operate? Sahan Journal has answers.
Who’s been charged in the Feeding Our Future food fraud investigation?
Forty-nine people have been charged in the Feeding Our Future food-fraud scandal, for an array of crimes including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery.
Timeline: How feeding underprivileged children turned into a sweeping federal investigation.
The Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted several suspects in the alleged theft of millions of federal dollars. The money was supposed to go towards feeding underprivileged children, but investigators believe suspects used the money on cars, homes, and vacations.
MORE STORIES
Aimee Bock of Feeding Our Future charged in alleged food-fraud case
The indictment against Bock, executive director of the now-defunct nonprofit Feeding Our Future, is part of a sweeping federal investigation into the alleged theft of money from two programs meant to feed mostly children in daycare and afterschool settings.
Federal authorities charge 48 people in Feeding Our Future investigation—allegedly ‘largest pandemic fraud in the United States.’
Following a sprawling eight-month investigation, federal authorities on Tuesday announced a wave of criminal charges related to the alleged embezzlement of more than $250 million from federal nutrition programs. The indictments, many connected to a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future, have implicated prominent local leaders in politics, housing, business, and education.
Confused about the new COVID booster? Here’s what to know and how to get one.
The new bivalent COVID-19 booster is available at state-run sites in Bloomington, Rochester, Moorhead and Duluth. Appointments are required.
Election for Minnesota Secretary of State will affect immigrant voting access
Kim Crockett, the Republican candidate, has questioned whether people who can’t read English should be able to vote in Minnesota. Steve Simon, the Democratic incumbent, cites his record expanding translation and interpretation services for immigrant voters.
Rondo’s ‘lady of line dance’ keeps community grooving.
Tina Jackson has been teaching soul line dancing for more than 15 years. She’s helping folks get their groove on at the Oxford Community Center in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood.
Trinity Hanif: Progressive voters must turn out in November despite primary losses.
Progressives must turn out for issues like abortion access, gay marriage, and contraceptives, writes Trinity Hanif.
Nurses of color on a historic strike share why they’re fighting for increased staffing, higher wages, and better patient care.
Around 15,000 Minnesota nurses went on strike for three days this week. Some say it’s not all about getting higher pay. They cite the need for better staffing and working conditions so they can provide patients the best care.
Minnesota artist has deep roots in Chicano art movement.
Jimmy Longoria’s art hangs in U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s office and in actor Cheech Marin’s private collection. Now, Minnesota Twins fans have a Longoria design, too–signed T-shirts.
An end to Senator Omar Fateh’s ethics investigation: Senate committee passes resolution requiring him to undergo campaign finance training.
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee dismissed the ethics complaints seven Republicans filed against Senator Omar Fateh. But it found that he failed to disclose $1,000 in payments for political ads.
