The bill would require landlords to accept taxpayer numbers from undocumented renters in place of Social Security numbers.
Posted inEDUCATION
Anoka-Hennepin school board member threatens budget standoff over racial, gender equity efforts
Matt Audette’s targets range from the use of gendered pronouns to Minnesota’s new social studies standards, which will include ethnic studies starting in 2026.
Posted inHEALTH
Hmong doctors and nurses host first-of-its-kind free Hmong Health Fair in St. Paul
The fair will feature free health tests, informational booths, and networking opportunities for aspiring medical professionals.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
East Side foundry with past violations has 30 days to reduce lead, air pollution
State regulators fined Northern Iron in St. Paul last year for air pollution violations. Now the state fears the facility is emitting elevated levels of lead and particulate matter.
Posted inHEALTH
A hunger for knowledge about dementia in Minnesota’s African immigrant communities
New booklet focuses on correcting misconceptions and myths, and connecting community members to services
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
First defendants in Feeding Our Future food-aid fraud scheduled to go on trial
Most of the eight defendants are linked to the now-closed Empire Cuisine and Market in Shakopee; others have ties to a Burnsville charter school.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
Dance takes center stage at this year’s St. Paul Art Crawl
This weekend’s arts events also include the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival and ballet performances spotlighting Asian choreographers.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Uber and Lyft put Minneapolis exit on hold as City Council pushes back start of new rideshare pay rule to July
Council members said they wanted more time to work with legislators who are proposing a statewide pay floor — and to give rideshare alternatives time to get through the city’s licensing process.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Minneapolis City Council could push back start of new Uber, Lyft driver pay rules to July
Council members say it will provide more time for alternatives to set up shop if Uber and Lyft follow through on threats to leave the market. Uber said it would delay its exit if the city pushes back the date.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Minneapolis foundry under fire for air pollution also failed to protect employees from hazardous chemicals
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Smith Foundry $15,300 for 10 “serious” violations.
Posted inCHANGING MINNESOTA
Minnesota Muslim leaders see uptick in conversions, including many since Gaza war began
While the number of people converting to Islam isn’t tracked, some Twin Cities mosques have seen a noticeable increase, especially in the last six months. “It’s really tapping into the humanity of people,” one local imam said, of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Posted inHEALTH
Doctors offer a prescription for addressing racism in hospitals and clinics
In a new study, doctors and researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, asked Black and brown youth about how they experience race in health-care clinics and hospitals.
Posted inHEALTH
Black doctors, researchers say racism is a problem in pediatric care. They see it with their own kids.
A new study, led by doctors at the Mayo Clinic, surveyed Black and brown youth in the Rochester area about race and their experiences seeking health care. Their answers could help make medical settings more inclusive.
Posted inEDUCATION
‘It’s really daunting’: As one north Minneapolis school starts to thrive, budget cuts steal momentum
Around 200 positions districtwide are slated for cuts as the Minneapolis Public Schools grapples with a historic deficit. The cuts are especially painful to schools like Lucy Laney in north Minneapolis.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Minneapolis City Council members criticize plans for old Third Precinct, call for more community engagement
Some City Council members say city staff should have gathered community feedback before crafting a plan to rehabilitate the vacant police station.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
As Uber, Lyft deadline nears, Frey pushes Minneapolis Council to reconsider minimum pay rates
In a separate move, a City Council committee withdrew a proposal to spend $150,000 to help alternative rideshare apps get up and running in Minneapolis.
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Pediatric experts are called to deliver more than medicine
Health equity a key component of expertise at Children’s Minnesota.
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Comprehensive Wellness and Leadership Academy for Young Women of Color
Young Women’s Wellness and Leadership Initiative
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Passion for fishing leads St. Paul Hmong teen to conservation work
Just 18 years old, Moua Yang already has developed a fishing curriculum for city youth with limited exposure to outdoor activities. He wants to make conservation his life’s work.
Posted inNews
The price of a ride: Fares are about to increase for Minneapolis rideshare drivers. But by how much?
A Sahan Journal analysis finds that a new Minneapolis ordinance could almost double what drivers make—but a state bill and a proposal by Uber and Lyft would result in a much different picture by May 1.
Posted inEDUCATION
Adult educators reach tentative deal with Minneapolis Schools; K-12 teachers cite ‘progress’ in talks
The agreement covers 55 educators; a larger group of several thousand teachers is still in mediation, but leaders say they are making progress on the key issue of pay.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
Nur-D to headline Minnesota Orchestra concert fusing hip-hop and classical music
Twin Cities weekend arts events also include a modern adaptation of the classic Greek play “Hecuba,” an open-mic night for BIPOC youth, and an Afrobeats dance party featuring Minneapolis artist Fanaka Nation.
Posted inEDUCATION
Bigger classes, program cuts: Making sense of the Minneapolis Schools budget deficit
Facing a $110 million shortfall, the district has proposed cuts, including larger class sizes, cuts to some language programs and fifth-grade band.
Posted inDEMOCRACY & POLITICS
Minnesota bill aimed at preserving Black families would now cover most of state’s foster kids
The amended African American Family Preservation Act would expand the “gold standard” of child welfare law to nearly all Minnesota foster children.
Posted inHOUSING
Report: Minnesota salaries aren’t keeping up with housing costs, racial disparities persist in homeownership
About half of Minnesotans who rent pay more than they should, and households had to earn nearly six figures last year to buy the median-priced home.
Posted inCHANGING MINNESOTA
DACA helped her find a voice. Now Movimiento organizer is charting her next step towards bigger change
After becoming a force in Minnesota politics, Estefania Navarro has taken a small step back from activism to explore new ways to have impact.
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Get ready for homeownership with Minnesota Housing
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Posted inHOUSING
Invested for the long-term: New program helps BIPOC families buy homes in north Minneapolis
Urban Homeworks hopes its down payment assistance grants will help up to 10 families buy homes by the end of this year.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Rival rideshare apps start signing up Minneapolis drivers as Uber, Lyft exit looms
Leaders said more than 200 drivers had signed up with Drivers Cooperative, based in New York, and Hich, which operates in Africa and Canada. Uber and Lyft say they are leaving the market by May 1.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Action for East African People dismisses founder in wake of Feeding Our Future charges
As part of a settlement with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, the Bloomington nonprofit will cut ties with Ayan Abukar, who was indicted last year as part of the Feeding Our Future food-aid fraud.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
‘A little bit of Italian, a little bit of Hmong’: Asian-inspired bakery in St. Paul is drawing lines out the door
A Japanese cheesecake led Yen Fang to launch SoYen Desserts. Now her sweet—but not too sweet—brioche donuts are selling out at the Lowertown shop.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
‘Black Mystery Month’: Photographer’s visual puzzles test assumptions of a post-racial America
Twin Cities arts events this weekend include photographer Bill Gaskins’ show at the U; a multimedia student showcase; a Black nonbinary artist exploring memory, perception, and truth; and a karaoke sip and paint at Indigenous Roots.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Yia Xiong’s family ‘devastated’ by decision not to charge officer in fatal shooting
Yia Xiong’s family members and Hmong community members want St. Paul police to improve its training around non-English speakers and people with disabilities.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Fentanyl, staffing, and youth: Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt reflects on her first year in office
Sheriff Witt says one of the biggest challenges facing her this year is increasing staffing levels and continuing the fight against fentanyl.
Posted inHEALTH
Half of all Minnesota public school students can access free mental health care. Here’s how, and how it’s saving lives.
Farah Hussein, a mental-health therapist in Minneapolis Public Schools, wants families to know that students can sign up for free therapy, and that care is confidential. Meanwhile, a new study examines how students benefited after public schools in Hennepin County began offering mental-health services to all.
Posted inEDUCATION
Las escuelas públicas de Minneapolis se enfrentan a recortes en las clases de inmersión en español, muy solicitadas
La propuesta de recortar siete aulas en el programa de doble lengua se
produce cuando el distrito ha visto un aumento de los estudiantes que hablan español como lengua materna.
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Cancer can be life changing. You can find resources and community at the April 13 Survivorship Conference.
We’ll answer questions from survivors and their loved ones.
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NorthPoint Medical Director Dr. Kevin L. Gilliam’s Tips on Improving Your Colorectal Health.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Minneapolis police and community resources under one roof? Community members blast plans for new Third Precinct.
Several community members say plans to house the police’s new Third Precinct offices with community services will alienate people who don’t trust law enforcement.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Uber, Lyft competitors eye Minneapolis market after rideshare giants threaten to exit over minimum pay rule
After overriding Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of the new pay rules last week, some City Council members now say they’re open to revising the ordinance.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
Black and Funny Improv Fest is back to make you laugh, make you think, and celebrate Black joy
Also this weekend: the Hindu Festival of Colors; reimagined Puerto Rican altars; and art celebrating the legacies of Black female musicians.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
St. Paul officer who fatally shot Yia Xiong will not face criminal charges
Officials say use of force was justified in the shooting outside Xiong’s apartment; community members say it deepens mistrust of police.
Posted inEDUCATION
High-demand Spanish immersion classes face cuts as Minneapolis Public Schools grapples with shortfall
The proposal to cut seven classrooms in the dual-language program comes as the district has seen a surge of students who speak Spanish as their home language.
Posted inHOUSING
Judge rejects Camp Nenookaasi’s request for temporary ban on evictions a second time
Four people affiliated with the camp argue that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey violated their constitutional rights in two of the last evictions.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Lost wages, opportunities: College-educated immigrants find many barriers to high-skilled jobs in the U.S.
A bill in the Legislature aims to help one group — providing foreign-trained physicians an easier path to practice medicine in Minnesota.
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Empowering Asian Minnesotans Through Entrepreneurship and Asset Development – The Your Business Your Money Conference
The Your Business, Your Money Conference: Wealth Building for Asian Minnesotans.
Posted inCHANGING MINNESOTA
Ecuadorians fleeing violence and economic distress seek a new start in Minnesota
The number of people from the South American country seeking asylum here has surged in recent years. Finding work and a place to live is difficult.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
New marijuana bill tries to sort out social equity amid fear of legal pushback
Other states faced legal challenges to how they awarded social equity-based business licenses for recreational marijuana.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
‘A radically open place’: Show explores how Cedar-Riverside became an immigrant, student hub
Weekend arts events in the Twin Cities also include an artist benefit to fight food insecurity in north Minneapolis and dual shows exploring Latine migration and identity.
Posted inHOUSING
Camp Nenookaasi residents, city of Minneapolis face off a second time in court over evictions
Camp Nenookaasi residents allege in a federal lawsuit that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey violated their constitutional rights when the city evicted the camp this year.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
In major victory for rideshare drivers, Minneapolis Council overrides mayor’s veto on minimum pay
Uber and Lyft say they’ll leave the market by May 1 when a new ordinance setting compensation rates takes effect.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Barbecue buns are back: Keefer Court’s soft launch at Asia Mall draws fans new and old
More than a year since its original West Bank location closed, the beloved Chinese bakery has found a new home in Eden Prairie.
Posted inHOUSING
Cause of Camp Nenookaasi fire undetermined due to ‘overwhelming’ number of fire hazards
Investigators are unable to determine the cause because there were dozens of illegal open fires and propane cooking devices at the site, according to Minneapolis officials.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
What’s changed in Minnesota policing since George Floyd was murdered? Not enough, advocates say.
Some advocates say Democrats haven’t fulfilled their promise to reform police practices after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police in 2020.
Posted inEDUCATION
Outcry from parents leads Minneapolis Schools to reverse proposed cuts to Somali, Hmong heritage language programs
Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams apologized to parents Tuesday over the cuts outlined last week at a district finance committee meeting.
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Nominations are open for the Facing Race Awards
Recognize a community leader now through March 29th
Posted inINSIDE SAHAN JOURNAL
Meet Sahan Journal’s reporters at a spot near you
Do you have a story idea? A question about how Sahan Journal reporters do their work? Please tell us about it! This week, we’re kicking off Sahan Journal office hours. Come meet criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross on Thursday. And let us know how we can better report stories about public safety in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Twin Cities commercial janitors reach tentative deal following a three-day strike
The deal, which boosts wages to at least $20 an hour, affects 4,000 workers at downtown Minneapolis and other office buildings.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
Community, charity, and prayer: Here’s where you can celebrate Ramadan in Minnesota
Muslims across the world will spend the next 30 days fasting, praying, and raising money for relief efforts.
Posted inHEALTH
‘Outright insulting’: Minnesota agency comes under fire for poor Hmong translation
Hmong community members and academics say a translation from the Minnesota Department of Human Services was riddled with errors. Somali speakers say a Somali translation is also problematic.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Frey vetoes Uber, Lyft pay ordinance, but City Council override possible
The Minneapolis City Council voted 9-4 to pass the ordinance vetoed by Frey, which is enough support to overturn his veto at a later meeting.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Hennepin County Attorney’s Office pledges to help crime victims pursue immigration visas
The U and T visas allow recipients to stay in the United States for four years, after which they can apply for a green card or U.S. citizenship.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
West African rhythms celebrate Ghanaian Independence Day in three-day musical event
This weekend’s arts events also include an exhibit honoring Indigenous female activists and a graphic arts showcase calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Emptying the ‘drawers of shame’: Electronics recycling bill draws broad support in St. Paul
Updating Minnesota’s 2007 electronic waste recycling law could reduce pollution, inspire economic activity, and recover valuable metals.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Minnesota DNR expands outreach to Karen, Hmong communities with new jobs
The agency is hiring its first ever full-time Karen community outreach coordinator.
Posted inINSIDE SAHAN JOURNAL
Sahan Journal is hiring an executive director. Come lead our nonprofit newsroom!
Sahan Journal, a nationally recognized nonprofit newsroom, seeks a mission-driven leader who will guide the organization into its next phase of service to Minnesota’s communities of color.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
MnDOT designs for Olson Memorial Highway aim to improve sense of community in north Minneapolis
Olson Memorial Highway tore through a historic Black community when it was built in the 1940s. Plans for reconstruction hint at a smaller, more community-oriented street.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Latest rideshare ordinance approved by Minneapolis City Council as Uber, Lyft renew threats to leave city
The Minneapolis City Council passed the measure to guarantee rideshare drivers a minimum compensation. Next up: A likely mayoral veto.
Posted inNEWS PARTNERS
How an Indigenous attorney in Minnesota keeps trying to overturn the Indian Child Welfare Act
Attorney Mark Fiddler, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, has litigated cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and in numerous state and federal courts nationwide.
Posted inDEMOCRACY & POLITICS
What Minnesota’s ‘stunning’ uncommitted turnout in Democratic primary means for the November election
Some political pundits say the results of Tuesday’s primary could signal potential losses for Democrats running in state legislative races this fall.
Posted inEDUCATION
After Worthington incident, legislator introduces bill to ban schools from targeting Pride flags
Representative Leigh Finke says the bill “prohibits rainbows from being singled out” after several Minnesota school districts have ordered teachers to take down LGBTQ flags in their classrooms.
Posted inNEWS PARTNERS
Indian Child Welfare Act faces another constitutional challenge in Minnesota
A battle over two Native twins filed by a Fairmont couple is one of the most significant challenges to the ICWA since it was upheld last year, lawyers say.
Posted inDEMOCRACY & POLITICS
‘Uncommitted’ voters hope ‘domino effect’ in primaries will shock Biden into action on Israel-Hamas war
The national Abandon Biden campaign is urging Democratic voters to choose “uncommitted” on their primary ballots to convince Biden to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Posted inDEMOCRACY & POLITICS
Live primary election results: Will the Abandon Biden campaign impact the Democratic race?
Muslim leaders are asking Democrats in Minnesota to vote “uncommitted” to send a message to President Joe Biden about his handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Hundreds of Twin Cities nursing home workers strike for 24 hours
Workers at 12 locations across the Twin Cities are demanding better staffing and pay.
Posted inEDUCATION
Teacher strike averted as St. Paul educators, district reach a tentative contract agreement
The deal heads off a strike, which would have begun March 11 if educators and the district had not reached an agreement.
Posted inNEWS PARTNERS
NAACP, child advocacy group seek federal probe of Minnesota’s child welfare system
Federal civil rights groups say Minnesota child welfare officials engaged in “knowing, ongoing failure” to address disparities in removals of Black children.
Posted inEDUCATION
Former accountant for Hmong charter school receives two years of probation for 2022 theft
Michael Pocrnich pleaded guilty to stealing $42,500 from Noble Academy in a theft that rippled through Minnesota’s charter schools.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Large group of Twin Cities commercial janitors begins three-day strike
More than 4,000 janitors, including those working in downtown Minneapolis office buildings, walked off the job Monday, the first in a wave of labor actions this week.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Opinion: Here’s what the Vote Uncommitted campaign is really about
Voting uncommitted is an action to hold President Biden accountable, say two local council members who support a ceasefire in Gaza.
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Empowering Underserved Asian Minnesotans for Economic Success
The Your Business, Your Money Conference: Wealth Building for Asian Minnesotans.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
Speaking with a bigger voice: Minneapolis rapper works to amplify Native voices in the hip-hop industry
Tall Paul is cultivating new talent, including an upcoming Mille Lacs Ojibwe artist, as part of the Dream Warriors collective.
Posted inHOUSING
Camp Nenookaasi fire prompts ‘coordinated’ response to encampments
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez, advocates, and camp organizers argued for more shelter capacity, increased resources, and changes to the city’s approach to homeless encampments.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Opinion: Nursing home workers are shock absorbers for a broken system
Minnesota nursing homes have the worst staffing shortages in the nation. It’s time for change—and for the recognition and respect that our essential work deserves.
Posted inEDUCATION
After dispute with Somali parents, St. Louis Park school board says state should clarify how far book challenges can go
School board says state’s opt-out law is too broad; Somali mom says pushback shows “hostility toward religious parents.”
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
K-pop and Bollywood meet modern dance in Red Eye’s fluid ‘Vastnessess’
Twin Cities arts events this weekend include a play on reproductive rights and a playful glass show with Japanese and pop culture references.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Proposed laws call for more testing, harsher penalties for polluters near Minnesota communities of color
Representative Fue Lee looks to build on climate justice initiatives passed in 2023, and prevent problem polluters like Northern Metals and Smith Foundry.
Posted inHOUSING
Fire destroys Camp Nenookaasi homeless encampment in Minneapolis
The fire appeared to be extinguished by early afternoon. Two people were treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Second group of Twin Cities workers reaches tentative deal ahead of March 4 walkout
More than 2,000 security guards joined 500 janitors at Twin Cities big box stores in settling with dozens of subcontractors.
Posted inCULTURE & COMMUNITY
Yasmin Yassin says a Somali artistic renaissance is coming—and she can’t wait to photograph it
Yasmin Yassin is a Somali-Canadian public health researcher who moved to Minnesota and became a documentary photographer for the likes of Nike, Apple, and the New Yorker. And that may not be the most interesting thing about her.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
As another rideshare pay ordinance advances in Minneapolis, Uber and Lyft renew threats to exit market
A Minneapolis Council committee has advanced a fresh minimum pay proposal despite a veto by the mayor last year.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Surprise EPA inspection finds Clean Air Act violations at St. Paul foundry
St. Paul Brass and Aluminum, a foundry grandfathered into St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood, is under investigation for Clean Air Act violations.
Posted inDEMOCRACY & POLITICS
Muslim leaders urge Minnesotans not to vote for Biden in March primary
The Abandon Biden campaign wants to pressure President Joe Biden into changing his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Union representing 8,000 janitors, security guards across Twin Cities announces March 4 strike date
The union has been bargaining with nearly a dozen companies on contracts that seek raises of up to $5 an hour and other benefits.
