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Lack of city pools called a civil rights issue

Lack of city pools called a civil rights issue

In a city where water is often a part of life, advocates say there's a dearth of indoor swimming pools. They say many children who live in the city of lakes, especially in diverse and lower-income patches of the city, aren't learning to swim.
by Laura Yuen

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For Books For Africa founder, a journey that speaks volumes

For Books For Africa founder, a journey that speaks volumes

At 79, Tom Warth remains an enthusiastic fundraiser, enlisting people from corporate boardrooms to elementary school classrooms. On Friday, he'll start a weekend fundraising walk from Taylors Falls, Minn., to the state Capitol.
by Dan Olson

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Columbus Day may get renamed in Minneapolis: Indigenous Peoples' Day

Columbus Day may get renamed in Minneapolis: Indigenous Peoples' Day

The American Indian Movement emerged in the 1960s from the streets of south Minneapolis, a longtime cultural crossroads for American Indian communities in the Midwest. And the burst of activism that followed has focused on all sorts of issues from treaty rights to sports mascots. But the celebration of Columbus Day still rankles Bill Means.
by Jon Collins

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Should Minneapolis rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

Should Minneapolis rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

“We had been edited out of existence in the public school system,” Bill Means told MPR News reporter Jon Collins. “To say Columbus discovered America is one of the first lies we’re told in public education.” That particular struggle may be coming to an end, at least in Minneapolis. On Friday, the City Council will…
by Michael Olson

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Made in the USA: Childless Chinese turn to American surrogates

Made in the USA: Childless Chinese turn to American surrogates

Chinese couples who are unable to have children are turning to a surprising place for help these days: America. By hiring American surrogates, Chinese couples get around a ban on surrogacy in China, as well as the country's birth limits.
by Frank Langfitt

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For the children's sake, put down that smartphone

For the children's sake, put down that smartphone

It's not just kids who are overdoing screen time. Parents are often just as guilty of spending too much time checking smartphones and e-mail -- and the consequences for their children can be troubling.
by Patti Neighmond

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It’s Boy Scouts v. church over gay scoutmaster

It’s Boy Scouts v. church over gay scoutmaster

A United Methodist Church in Seattle can no longer host Boy Scout Troop 98, NBC News reports. The troop is led by a gay man.
by Bob Collins

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Mental and physical toll of bullying persists for decades

Mental and physical toll of bullying persists for decades

mounting evidence suggests that the adverse effects of being bullied aren't something kids can just shake off. The psychological and physical tolls, like anxiety and depression, can follow a person into early adulthood. In fact, the damage doesn't stop there, a British study published this week in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests. It actually lasts well into the adults' 40s and 50s.
by Linda Poon

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In Silicon Valley, immigrants toast their way to the top

In Silicon Valley, immigrants toast their way to the top

Immigrant workers in the Silicon Valley attend Toastmasters meetings to improve their public speaking, which can lead to increased confidence at work and even job promotions.

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Abortion rights foes, supporters stand their ground in Good Friday rallies

Abortion rights foes, supporters stand their ground in Good Friday rallies

Opponents have been holding the annual Good Friday protest for nearly 30 years. For the past 10 years or so, Planned Parenthood has staged a nearby counter demonstration, to raise money and rally its supporters.
by Curtis Gilbert

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