Social Issues

Men from around the state are gathering in St. Paul on Thursday for a summit focused on preventing domestic violence.
NPR's Scott Simon on adoption: 'It's been a wonderful, emotional experience'
Most of us know Scott Simon as the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. But in his new book "Baby, we were meant for each other" he explores another hugely important part of his life - as an adoptive father.
President Obama addresses U.N., calls for new commitment to Middle East peace
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Barack Obama called on world leaders to set aside decades of division and unite around the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The president was speaking before the U.N. for the second time in two days. Yesterday, he laid out a new direction for U.S. development assistance.
Suicides have parents questioning district's policies
A rash of suicides in Minnesota's largest school district has some people pushing for the district to revise policies regarding sexual orientation.
This video, which outlines the Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriage, is being sent to Catholic parishioners throughout Minnesota this week, along with a message from their bishop which calls for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage to be brought before voters.
Mogadishu mayor aims to restore basics amid rubble
Mogadishu's new mayor has paid his employees, gotten some of the garbage picked up and turned the lights on. In this city of rubble and bombed-out buildings, where gunfire erupts every few minutes, that counts as progress.
Isanti County -- how to help the 'new poor'
The foreclosure crisis has hit Isanti County, about an hour north of the Twin Cities, particularly hard. It's put a great deal of pressure on local governments and nonprofit groups to provide assistance to residents who are in bad financial shape, even as many of them are too proud to accept it.
Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked an effort to repeal the ban on gays from serving openly in the military, handing gay rights groups a defeat in their last chance any time soon to overturn the law known as "don't ask, don't tell."