Greater Minnesota

 St. Cloud Somali community seeks political influence, but not all share same views
More than two decades since the first East African refugees settled in St. Cloud, some community members are seeking a more active role in government and politics. But their political views are varied.
September heat and turning leaves: Where to catch fall colors
The Minnesota DNR’s fall colors map suggests leaves are in the beginning stages of turning colorful across northern Minnesota with the start of notable color in the Iron Range and near North Dakota, as well as a sprinkle along the southern border of Minnesota.
Rural Voice: How rural communities thrive as immigrants put down roots
The final Rural Voice of the 2024 season was in Worthington on Thursday, Sept. 19 to talk about how rural communities can incorporate immigrants in a way that enables everyone to thrive.
Little fires everywhere: A new arts collective goes on tour to build community in rural Minnesota and beyond
On a September evening at the Turf Club in St. Paul, the new arts collective “Fire in the Village” kicked off a fall tour blending music, upcycled fashion and printmaking to foster community connections and address rural isolation.
Community healing: Groundbreaking honors ‘all lives lost and forever changed’ by 2005 Red Lake shootings
On Saturday, supporters will gather for a groundbreaking ceremony on the Red Lake Nation for a memorial dedicated to those affected by the mass shooting in 2005. Ten people died that day, including the perpetrator.
Gas pipeline approved near pipestone quarry sacred to Indigenous people, with conditions
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a permit to Magellan Pipeline Company along a route near a pipestone quarry considered sacred by many tribal nations. Tribal input over the past year resulted in the commission requiring the pipeline company to consult with tribes.
Can Winona County turn around its lagging voter turnout? These people are working to do that
Early voting begins Friday across Minnesota. And organizers in Winona County, which has some of the lowest voter turnout in the state, are uniting for one cause: not a specific candidate or political party, but simply registering people to vote.
Rural Voice: How to sustainably grow regenerative agriculture in rural Minnesota
Rural Voice was in Detroit Lakes on Monday, Sept. 9, for a town hall about farming. They discussed everything from how to cultivate a mindset shift in farmers to how to incentivize regenerative practices.