Social Issues

Stephanie Burrage to become Minnesota’s first chief equity officer
Burrage is a deputy education commissioner who led a monthslong effort to convene Black leaders in Minnesota to write a state budget that better addresses their priorities.
Disability advocates have been closely watching the case of Cindy Hagen, who is quadriplegic and has been at Mayo Clinic’s Austin hospital since last summer. They say her case underscores continued challenges in the systems that surround people living with disabilities.
'Live free and die'? The sad state of U.S. life expectancy
A decade after a landmark report on Americans' shorter lives, the problem has only gotten worse. Unlike other wealthy nations, U.S. life expectancy has not bounced back from the pandemic.
'You belong here': Minnesota House passes trans health refuge bill
The proposal would grant legal protections for transgender youth and family members who come to Minnesota seeking gender-affirming health care.
Online communities can help with loneliness — to a point
A new episode from APM's mental health initiative “Call to Mind" explores how loneliness affects mental and physical health, and how meeting an online community offline can help.
'Reconnecting with the human': Minnesota podcast tackles humanity, womanhood and Islam
As Ramadan approaches, observers ready themselves to pray, reflect and spend time with loved ones. The Digital Sisterhood podcast created in Woodbury, Minn., hopes to do just that.