Worthington school board votes to remove LGBTQ, Puerto Rican flags from majority Latino school
The move has pushed one of Worthington High School’s only Latino teachers to resign.
Four suspects charged in kidnapping, killing of Hmong activist Tou Ger Xiong
Two men and a woman were charged with aggravated kidnapping for extortion and aggravated homicide. A minor was also charged in the case.
Japanese fables come to life at Children’s Theatre in Minneapolis
A Japanese-inspired children’s play, a multimedia show celebrating the poetry of the everyday and a play on the Vietnamese immigrant experience are among the arts events in the Twin Cities this weekend.
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Sahan Journal seeks a digital producer to join our nonprofit Minnesota newsroom. Your journalism and social media skills can help us produce, publish, and create news that matters to Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color. Please apply, or contact us with questions.
Judge approves adding ethnic studies to Minnesota social studies standards
The ruling will incorporate ethnic studies concepts into social studies classes across the state beginning in 2026.
Here’s how to get help paying your heating bill this winter
More than 70,000 households have already received aid from a program that helps Minnesotans cover their energy bills.
‘Tasting that brought us back’: How a Twin Cities Hmong family fought grief with 400 Whoppers from Burger King
Zong Chue Thao would buy one or two Whopper Juniors to split among his children after they spent a long day tending to vegetables at the family farm.
Black queer artist finds ‘loud joy’ expressing neurodivergence through art
This weekend’s events include an Afrofuturistic art show in Bloomington, and a zine and collage workshop and an upcoming Indigenous arts showcase in Minneapolis.
Group says more than 200 Uber, Lyft drivers participated in strike ahead of rally at MSP
Rideshare drivers across the Twin Cities deactivated their apps for several hours to protest pay and working conditions.
Donations sought for St. Paul family that lost four children in house fire; vigil planned
A vigil will be held Saturday in St. Paul for the Vang family, which lost four of six children in a house fire this month.
Anoka County sheriff’s employee accused of racially profiling Palestinian men at MSP airport
A report from airport police says the woman verbally identified herself as “law enforcement” and said the men were acting suspicious on a Delta flight.
Kao Kalia Yang’s new book, “Where Rivers Part,” dives into her mom’s life story
The book, coming out March 19, is the third and last installment in Yang’s family memoirs.
Head of St. Paul’s House of Refuge pleads guilty in Feeding Our Future food-aid fraud
Sharon Ross was initially expected to be the first defendant in the case to go to trial, but chose instead to plead guilty to wire fraud and agreed to $2.4 million in restitution.
Minnesota court interpreters strike over pay dispute
Interpreters say a recent raise fails to keep up with years of missed cost-of-living increases.
Historic all-female St. Paul City Council sworn in as hundreds cheer on
Six of the seven City Council members are also people of color, making it St. Paul’s most racially diverse council.
Ahead of planned strike, Lyft announces plan to give Twin Cities drivers a minimum fare
Lyft drivers will now receive at least $5 for rides in the Twin Cities metro.
The thrill of the chill: Here’s a guide to exercising outdoors in the winter
Seasoned athletes share their wisdom on staying warm and safe. Top tip: Don’t overdress.
Shaping Minnesota’s cannabis industry: How regulations will be set and where the process stands
Expungements of low-level marijuana convictions are delayed due to technical problems. Meanwhile, the state continues its search for a cannabis director, and the industry’s rules won’t be adopted until early next year.
Undisclosed financial crisis shutters JJ Legacy School. Parents will have just one week to find new schools for kids.
In an emergency school-board meeting, JJ Legacy’s authorizer said “there is no more money” and the elementary school would need to close January 12. Parents and teachers shared their grief and gratitude, but also questioned why dire financial problems had gone unnoticed.
Minnesota Uber, Lyft drivers plan airport strike in fight for increased wages
A group of Uber and Lyft drivers announced plans for a strike at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Ojibwe muralist explores ancestral roots and father’s legacy in St. Paul show
This weekend’s events include paintings portraying Ojibwe culture, the Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Festival, and a plein air graffiti exhibition.
Want to buy an e-bike with help from state funds? Here’s what you need to know.
State officials say the application process to apply for a state rebate is being finalized, but should be ready by early summer.
Downtown Minneapolis janitors bargain for better wages, threaten to strike
Thousands of workers with Service Employees International Union Local 26 are demanding better wages, retirement benefits, and improved working conditions in a new contract.
Eviction of Camp Nenookaasi pushes encampment to nearby lot
Camp organizers helped occupants load their belongings into a U-Haul truck so they could relocate to a smaller piece of land three blocks away.
‘I think I will stay here’: Minnesota’s Afghan community establishes deep roots a year after resettlement
Census data shows that Minnesota’s Afghan community hovered around 300 for many years then shot up past 1,000 people in 2022.
Camp Nenookaasi eviction scheduled for Thursday as about 160 occupants remain unhoused
The city of Minneapolis says it has helped 104 camp occupants find housing or shelter, but camp organizers say 160 others would lose their homes with the eviction.
New home mortgage loan program will help Native families build generational wealth
The Mni Sota Fund nonprofit is expanding its help for Native Twin Citians beyond financial counseling and personal loans. The greater goal? To break the cycle of poverty.
Sahan Journal’s top 10 most read stories of 2023
Readers spent the most time with our reporting on the tragic deaths of a Twin Cities man in Colombia and five young women in Minneapolis, art controversies in St. Paul, and rideshare drivers’ rights.
Top five video stories of 2023: From a joyful festival to a tragic crash
The video stories include a community celebration, new building techniques using hemp, and a look at the climate threats facing wild rice.
Top 5 housing stories of 2023: Intrigue in Shakopee, rent control struggles in Minneapolis, and more
The struggles of immigrant renters in troubled apartment buildings also led to ongoing stories.
Top 5 immigration stories of 2023: Driver’s Licenses for All, reunification delays, tragedy in the Somali community
Other high-profile stories include Immigration and Customs Enforcement work and a citizenship celebration at the State Fair.
Top 5 local news stories of 2023: Marijuana legalized, abortion rights affirmed, and more
In other major news, several mosques were vandalized, the U.S. Justice Department found Minneapolis police had committed discriminatory practices, and the state began an investigation of contract-for-deed deals with Somali and Latino Minnesotans.
Top 5 climate stories of 2023: Victories build up for environmental justice advocates
The fight for environmental justice took center stage in 2023. Here are five stories emblematic of our climate coverage.
Top 5 education stories of 2023: art controversies, new literacy law, East African magnet school
Minnesota schools used innovations like CSI class, a new East African magnet school, and structured literacy programs to engage students of color. But some debates about how to accommodate students of color did not lead to clear resolutions.
Creative Connections
Yuko Taniguchi (BF’16) combines art and wellness to foster healing and self-discovery.
Top 10 photos of 2023: From cultural celebrations to a political rally, each assignment was a rich experience
This year’s photography covered ground as varied as drag performances, horticultural research, and a political victory rally.
Top 5 business and labor stories of 2023: Uber drivers push for better wages, former Sears building’s future
This year’s business and work coverage at Sahan included diverse workers calling for change as well as entrepreneurs making heavy investments in the community.
Breastfeeding advocacy grows in Minnesota communities of color.
A variety of programs seek to ease cultural barriers to breastfeeding and educate families about its benefits.
Disabled artists spark joy in exhibition at Minnesota Museum of American Art
This weekend’s arts events include three exhibitions exploring immigration, disability, and the experiences of people of color.
‘Say hi’: New group for young adult Latinos in the Twin Cities fosters social support
Tatiana Bunay says she created Latinos in Comunidad to help create “genuine” connections.
St. Paul teen Abshir Ali reviewed police chief candidates, weighed in on $7M budget. How the city nurtures public service in youth.
St. Paul’s Youth On Boards initiative allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on city committees and boards.
Public vigil for activist and comedian Tou Ger Xiong scheduled for Saturday in Woodbury
The four-hour vigil will feature memorial videos, songs, prayer, spoken word, and speeches from community members and leaders.
Asian Americans have been left out of health studies, but a UM prof plans to change that
The $13.6 million award will help recruit almost 800 pregnant Asian Americans from the Twin Cities area, filling a research gap in the field of child development. The research will help differentiate environmental factors and health needs in specific Asian communities.
Centering Student Learning
Education Evolving leads the field to transform public education.
Langston Hughes’ ‘Black Nativity’ delivers holiday cheer at Penumbra Theatre
This weekend’s arts events also include Mayan mythology, Native American tribal art, and a multimedia exhibition about the impact of gun violence.
State and federal officials increase monitoring of Smith Foundry as community continues call for closure
Officials want to better identify what kinds of metals are going into the foundry, and what pollutants it’s releasing into the air. Neighbors say the damage has been done.
Former Metro Inn Motel soon to reopen as ‘deeply affordable housing’
The nonprofit Agate Housing and Services bought the south Minneapolis property from Hennepin County and soon will welcome 38 permanent tenants.
‘Housing heals’: Hundreds rally in Minneapolis to save Camp Nenookaasi from eviction
Tara Houska and her 18-month-old daughter traveled five hours from International Falls to march with about 200 supporters who want to save the encampment, which mostly houses Native residents.
Competing charter-school and public-school advocates declare victory in Minnesota desegregation ruling
The court’s latest ruling in Cruz-Guzman vs. State of Minnesota spells out new standards for racially imbalanced charter schools and public school districts alike. The case, brought by parents of color, had wended its way through the courts for eight years and now returns to a district court.
Hennepin Healthcare workers say anti-obesity drug changed their lives. So why did insurance stop covering it?
Employers are grappling with the high cost of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy. But employees say that Hennepin Healthcare’s decision may exacerbate inequities for workers with obesity, especially people of color.
Twin Cities Hmong artist and activist Tou Ger Xiong kidnapped and killed in Colombia
“The pain of his loss is indescribable,” Xiong’s family said in a statement. A Colombian newspaper reported that he was kidnapped while on a date with a woman he met on social media.
Should Camp Nenookaasi be closed? Occupants and activists are at odds with city officials and some Native leaders.
Many of those living in the south Minneapolis camp moved there from the Wall of Forgotten Natives when it was shut down. They say Camp Nenookaasi is helping, not hurting, them.
‘Profound human tragedy’: Somali community leaders in Minnesota raise alarms over catastrophic flooding in Somalia
Aid is desperately needed after torrential rains unleashed flooding that has killed more than 100 and driven 750,000 people from their homes, officials said at a Minnesota State Capitol news conference.
Is tap water safe to drink? Here’s what you need to know.
Tap water in Minneapolis and St. Paul is filtered, treated, and regularly tested.
Tap or bottled? Advocates, dentists combat distrust of tap water
Public health officials and dental experts say many immigrants and communities of color distrust tap water because the water in their native countries was unsafe, or because old pipes in their homes affect color and flavor.
Former Burnsville charter school founder allegedly diverted nearly $300,000 in school funds to himself, others
Abdiaziz Farah, Mahad Ibrahim, and Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff are accused of wrongdoing in the school case, and are also charged in the separate Feeding Our Future food-aid fraud case.
Your Weekend Guide: Greek mythology, women’s art festival, and an Afrobeat dance party
Explore Greek mythology, discover works by women artists in Minneapolis, and groove at an Afrobeat dance party.
Metro Transit increases enforcement, service in attempt to attract riders
New enforcement effort aims to improve conditions as ridership increases.
Janitorial workers in downtown Minneapolis demand better wages as union contract comes up for negotiation
Service Employees International Union Local 26 represents more than 4,000 janitors who clean buildings in downtown Minneapolis.
Six Somali families warn of ‘legal recourse’ if St. Louis Park schools won’t let children opt out of LGBTQ picture books
The St. Louis Park dispute is the latest escalation in the growing pushback from some Muslim parents against inclusion efforts in Minnesota schools. Parents in Ham Lake and Burnsville have criticized LGBTQ efforts there.
Feeding Our Future defendant admits faking children’s names to steal money meant to feed the underprivileged
Filsan Hassan is the 15th defendant to plead guilty in the case, leaving charges pending against 45 other defendants.
Opinion: We can all be housed
We know the best healthcare is housing. Many of us worry that rent increase after rent increase will put us out on the street or force us into less safe circumstances.
New owners of Brooklyn Center’s Shingle Creek Center hope to add more BIPOC businesses
African Career, Education, and Resource Inc. and the Ignite Business Women Investment Group purchased the strip mall for $5.2 million.
Federal government will tax Minnesota’s rebate checks
The Minnesota Department of Revenue failed to convince the IRS to treat the rebate checks as tax-free. The IRS could take $26 to $286, depending on a household’s income and how much they received in rebates.
Mold, lead, crumbling stairs: Lawsuit alleges Minneapolis inspectors neglect North Side rental properties
A delivery man, a mom-turned-activist, and others allege that city inspectors are less active in north Minneapolis, aren’t responsive to complaints, and fail to hold landlords accountable.
Governor Walz’s rideshare task force faces competing interests, multiple proposals as deadline nears
The task force discussed pay transparency, deactivation, and driver support in its second-to-last meeting.
Donation will aid Minneapolis homeowners pay off ash tree removals
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board received a $500,000 gift from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to pay off ash tree removals in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, other Black attorney generals discuss race, politics, justice
“We want the system of justice to work for defendants and for victims both. And there’s no reason it shouldn’t,” Ellison said in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press.
Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive, but Palestinians are running out of places to go
Israel’s military has renewed calls for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in the town in recent weeks.
St. Paul foundry fined for air permit violations
The Northern Iron foundry in Payne-Phalen was fined $41K by the state. Residents want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Minneapolis school board picks Lisa Sayles-Adams as next superintendent
The former Minneapolis teacher, now superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools, said returning to Minneapolis Public Schools would be “coming home.”
Your Weekend Guide: Afrocentric art, a musical screening, and Hmong photography
Discover Afrocentric bridge art in Minneapolis, explore a Hmong photography exhibition in St. Paul, and attend a nostalgic holiday musical screening this weekend.
Two sisters remain in critical condition after St. Paul crash that injured five teenagers
Raheema and Ruweyda Abdi were ejected in a car crash that also injured their sisters Naeema and Hamdi.
Opinion: The farm bill is a historic opportunity to support farmers of color
With this farm bill, we have an opportunity to correct historical injustices and uplift Black, Indigenous, Somali, Hmong, Latino, and other farmers of color who have long been marginalized and underserved, says Senator Tina Smith.
Minnesota’s Somali community rallies to support flood-devastated homeland
Heavy rains and floods have killed nearly 100 people, displaced hundreds of thousands and ravaged several regions in Somalia.
Rideshare drivers say alternate companies could step in if Uber, Lyft leave due to proposed Minneapolis ordinances
Proposed ordinances that would increase wages for rideshare drivers are expected to come before the Minneapolis City Council early next year.
New St. Paul facility helps East African women struggling with substance abuse
Alliance Wellness Center’s Yussuf Shafie says East African women grappling with addiction need treatment tailored to them.
‘You’re failing at your job’: residents call on state to shutter Smith Foundry in tense community meeting
South Minneapolis neighbors call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to shut down a foundry because of its pollution, and say the MPCA commissioner should resign.
Minnesota now requires schools to have anti-overdose medication. Students are learning how to use it.
Students say it’s scary to think about administering a drug to counter an opioid overdose, but comforting to know they could save a life.
Trust is key to discussing addiction with Hmong and Karen youth, community leaders say
A panel at an event hosted by Sahan Journal and MPR News stresses that communities need to openly talk about substance abuse.
Somali music arrives in the classroom through book with Burnsville roots
Qorsho Hassan and Becca Buck compiled a collection of Somali songs, chants, and games from students and parents at Gideon Pond Elementary School. It’s the first collection of its kind designed for classroom use.
‘Art meaningful to your heart’ is inspiration for visiting Somali apparel designer’s work
Hafza Yusuf’s vibrant creations celebrate Somali culture and her own artistic vision.
Workers of color in ‘critical occupations’ died at higher rates during COVID, new University of Minnesota study finds
The researchers tracked all causes of deaths in an attempt to discover the broader impact COVID had on mortality.
Minnesota Hmong New Year returns to St. Paul’s RiverCentre this weekend
Thousands will pack the RiverCentre this weekend for festivities that will include a pageant, dance and singing competitions, a fashion show, and plenty of food.
Smith Foundry seeks new permit to continue operations as state scrambles to address public outrage over pollution
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said it will add more air monitors near the south Minneapolis foundry and plans to hold community meetings. Residents feel let down by the state.
Minneapolis will distribute $8 million to help residents with ash tree removal. But there’s no relief for homeowners who’ve already had trees condemned.
Ash tree removals are an expensive burden caused by an invasive beetle. A new grant will help Minneapolis homeowners cover the costs, but many feel more must be done for people currently paying off removals.
Yusra’s recipe: Lasagna with East African spices
Yusra Mohamud hosts Eat and Talk, a podcast that highlights people making a difference in Minnesota’s diverse communities.