Social Issues

Occupy MN sets up tents in plaza as security watches
Hennepin County Sheriff's deputies photographed and video recorded the scene at the county government plaza this Wednesday evening as Occupy MN protestors set up tents.
Number of American Indian children in foster care worries tribal leaders
Each year about 1,500 American Indian children in Minnesota spend time in foster care or other out-of-home-care. In Minnesota, American Indian children are 14 times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care than white children - the widest such gap in the nation. That worries tribal officials who say the tribes should be able to determine which of their families need intervention, and what kind.
When did Niger become Nyjer?
A bird's eye view of a senseless name change.
Twin Cities-based Cargill has donated more than 22 million pounds of rice to help fight hunger and malnutrition in northeastern Kenya.
Forced to leave, Hibbing man dies waiting for immigration visa
For the past decade, a change in immigration law has sent foreign-born spouses of U.S. citizens back to their home countries to obtain visas. For some, it has resulted in a high-stakes waiting game, and that's how 26-year-old Alyssa Garcia lost her husband.
American Indians see lessons in sweat lodge trial
Self-help author James Arthur Ray faced more than a judge at his sentencing last week for a sweat lodge ceremony that left three people dead. Members of the American Indian community sat through almost the entire trial in silent protest of Ray's use of a sacred tradition.
LIVE-BLOG: Minn. AG announcing anti-bullying legislation
We're live-blogging Attorney General Lori Swanson's announcement of proposed legislation that would bolster Minnesota's weak bullying laws.
Minn. AG pushes for tougher anti-bullying law
Attorney General Lori Swanson today urged lawmakers to pass a tougher law modeled after the measure North Dakota adopted recently.
Minnesota property taxpayers looking at 4.7 percent increase
Minnesota’s property tax bill is rising 1.2 percent next year, but because the state will stop paying a share, individuals and businesses are paying 4.7 percent more than this year.