Social Issues

Adoption officials in Minnesota are anxiously waiting to hear whether President Vladimir Putin of Russia will sign a bill banning adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens.
Photos: Dakota 38 Memorial Dedication
Dakota Indians and their supporters commemorated the largest mass execution in United States history at a ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012 in Mankato, Minn.
Dakota and supporters commemorate 150th anniversary of mass hanging
Dakota Indians and their supporters commemorated the largest mass execution in U.S. history at a ceremony Wednesday in Mankato.
A newspaper's publication of the names and addresses of handgun permit holders in two New York counties has sparked online discussions — and a healthy dose of outrage.
US gun support runs far deeper than politics
In the raw aftermath of the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history, countless gun enthusiasts complicate a gun-owning narrative that critics, sometimes simplistically, put at the feet of a powerful lobby and caricatured zealots.
A coalition of nonprofits and corporations fighting hunger in Minnesota says it has contributed more than 36 million meals to those in need since its launch in 2011.
Help at hand when elderly relative's health fails
Companies and individuals calling themselves advocates, care managers and advisers are standing in for the family and deal with the maze of responsibilities that comes with the care of an elderly loved one. With the aging of the baby boom generation, calls for such businesses are expected to increase.
Parents struggle to find gender-neutral toys
Parents who hope to expose their children to different kinds of play -- science sets for girls and dolls for boys, for example -- can find themselves stymied by a toy industry that can seem stuck in the past when it comes to gender roles.
Census: US population growth rising again
America's population is now increasing a bit faster thanks to an improving economy, but not enough to lift growth above its lowest level since the Great Depression.