Social Issues

Ask a 'sotan: Revisiting 'Minnesota Nice'
Where does the term “Minnesota Nice” come from? How does it speak to our culture? It’s a topic that has been heavily debated and explored. But the curiosity behind the phenomenon was enough to prompt a new question from our audience, and we sought answers.
U.S.-Canada border community's culture changes as security tightens
While the wall and asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border have drawn a lot of attention, heightened security at the northern border has changed the character of the once-neighborly frontier.
Shooting deaths rattle small, tight-knit U.S. Hmong community
Fresno has been the heart of California’s Hmong community for decades, drawing refugees from war-torn Southeast Asia who built a tight-knit population in the farm town. Now, they’re reeling from the shooting deaths of four Hmong American men at a weekend party.
Minnesota-made tool tracks the how and why behind mass shootings
Twin Cities researchers launched a new national database Tuesday that aims to show the conditions contributing to these violent incidents.
Many Native Americans can't get clean water, report finds
A new report from the U.S. Water Alliance found race is the strongest predictor of water and sanitation access. This has implications for public health.
#OkBoomer vs. #OkMillennial: workplace nightmare, or just a meme?
The popularity of #OkBoomer suggests there might be a yawning gap in attitudes between old and young. Those differences can sometimes play out in the workforce, which now spans five generations.
Contractor accused of trafficking unauthorized workers faces trial
Labor-trafficking cases are rarely prosecuted in Minnesota. The case of Ricardo Batres, who prosecutors say exploited unauthorized immigrants who worked for him, is the first of its kind to go to trial in Hennepin County.
Tents, stench, smoke: Health risks are gripping migrant camp
A humanitarian crisis is worsening each day at the camp across the border from Brownsville, Texas, where a large American flag flapping in the wind is visible from more than 700 tents. As many as 2,000 immigrants are waiting for U.S. court hearings amid deteriorating medical and sanitary conditions.
Youth, diversity take the reins of power at St. Paul City Hall
“We made our campaigns about people,” says council member-elect Nelsie Yang, 24 — a renter, a woman of color and one of the new faces of political power in St. Paul.
Catholic bishops’ new anti-abuse hotline to be ready soon
A new national hotline to report sexual misconduct accusations against Catholic bishops in the U.S. could be operating by the end of February, three months ahead of the deadline set by Pope Francis.