Social Issues

Violence Free Minnesota discusses intimate partner violence in the wake of Burnsville shooting
Joe Shannon, the communications program manager for Violence Free Minnesota, spoke with All Things Considered host Tom Crann about the current state of domestic violence in Minnesota in the aftermath of the Burnsville shooting that left three first responders dead.
A new northern Minnesota dropout prevention line hopes to turn around some of the lowest high school graduation rates in the state. The new service will open in March.
Josie Johnson, iconic Minnesota civil rights activist, on hope and her legacy
A new documentary “Hope in the Struggle” tells the story of civil rights activist Josie Johnson, chief lobbyist for Minnesota’s fair housing law and the first Black member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
Hennepin County Attorney's Office hosts expungement clinic
It’s a chance for anyone with an adult felony case that was prosecuted by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to apply to have their records sealed. 
Beyond the beans: Frogtown’s Flava Café brews hope, community support
Flava Coffee & Café, perhaps the first Black-owned coffee shop in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood, has been open for almost two years and coffee isn’t the only thing brewing. 
Immigration is a hot topic this election year. But the issue isn’t just political. It’s personal. MPR News host Angela Davis co-hosted a North Star Journey Live conversation with experts who gave us an intimate look at how the border crisis is impacting Minnesota’s immigrant families.
Through fufu and sambusas, Rochester students counter misinformed ideas about Africa
As part of our Talking Sense series, correspondent Catharine Richert visited John Marshall High School where the Black Student Union is using Spirit Day, movie nights and lots of food to help students expand their cultural knowledge about Africa.
Without total DFL support, the North Star Act is going south
DFL lawmakers are calling to make Minnesota a sanctuary state for immigrants, but support is lacking from both sides of the aisle. Hear from DFL State Senator Grant Hauschild on why he’s not supporting the bill.