Social Issues

As thousands of Twin Cities Somalis gathered Monday to celebrate an important holiday on the Muslim calendar, their leaders expressed sympathy for the families of several young men who are missing and may have gone to Somalia to fight.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is making a nearly $27 million grant to the Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation to fund crop research.
MnDOT improves minority hiring record
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the hiring of so-called Disadvantaged Business Enterprises exceeded the agency's goal.
Is a consensus building on health care reform?
The failed attempt to enact health care reform in 1993 is in the back of the minds of those who helped defeat it. But these same groups realize that the government will have to play an active role to ensure more have access to health care.
Budget woes dampen Henn. Co. schools effort
The county recently came up with a way to address school drop outs, but that new effort faces the same budget cuts as the rest.
Meet the Minneapolis Movie Bears
More than 80 bears turned up at a Twin Cities movie theater the other night. These bears were not true ursines, but members of a human social group, the Minneapolis Movie Bears.
Groups gearing up for 2010 census
While the 2008 election is nearly over, but for the Senate recount, some people are already gearing up for another big civic activity -- the 2010 U.S. Census.
Budget cuts end free supervised parenting help
Budget cuts have meant an end to supervised parental visits for some low-income families.
Minnesota school counselors struggle with huge caseloads
Minnesota scores well on some education statistics, but is near the bottom of national rankings for school counselors. Experts say eliminating school counselors leads to lower test scores.
Coyle center's work not slowed by neighborhood crime
The Brian Coyle center's mission of helping immigrants assimilate is as old as the Cedar Riverside neighborhood itself.