Social Issues

Watchdog finds Black girls face more frequent, severe discipline in school
The Government Accountability Office found that Black girls received nearly half of the most severe punishments, like expulsion, even though they represent only 15 percent of girls in public schools.
‘This is affecting a lot of people in my community‘: Haitians in Minnesota stand strong amid hateful rhetoric
Djenane Saint Juste is an author, dancer and the founder of the Haitian arts organization Afoutayi. She said that the political discussion around Haitians has deeply impacted her community here in Minnesota.
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.
Local lawmakers struggle with Duluth child care crisis
Lawmakers, parents and child care providers gathered for a roundtable to discuss possible solutions after the announcement of closures of three child care centers.
What to know about the two waves of deadly explosions that hit Lebanon and Syria
Just one day after pagers used by hundreds of members of militant group Hezbollah exploded, more electronic devices detonated in Lebanon Wednesday in what appeared to be a second wave of sophisticated, deadly attacks that targeted an extraordinary number of people.
Questions linger for adoptees after China ends international adoptions
Thousands are left wondering what’s next after China announced last week it has ended its international adoption program. Grace Shu Gerloff is one of more than 80,000 kids who were adopted from China and brought to the U.S. in the past three decades. She grew up in Minnesota and now studies transnational adoption.
Immigrant entrepreneurs share journeys and advice at resource fair
The International Institute of Minnesota hosted the resource fair for immigrant entrepreneurs who are just starting out or already running a business.
Rural Voice: How to build more civic-minded communities
MPR News host Kerri Miller took her Rural Voice series to Red Wing on Thursday to talk with community members and political scientist Brian Klaas about how to build a new spirit of civic engagement in rural Minnesota.
Ready to Depolarize? Try ‘Walk a Mile in My News’
Are you interested in better understanding where someone with different political views is coming from? Have someone in mind? Ask them to “Walk a Mile in My News!”