Special Coverage

Late DFL leader Melissa Hortman remembered as ‘shining light,’ consensus builder
During her two decades in elected office, Melissa Hortman positioned herself as a consensus builder and DFLer willing to work with Republicans. “Everybody liked her and respected her on both sides of the aisle,” said former GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
These 11 Minnesotans reflect the richness of Hmong culture in the state
To honor 50 years of Hmong refugee resettlement and immigration to Minnesota, MPR News highlighted Hmong Minnesotans throughout the month who are making a difference in our state. From a park naturalist to a soccer coach, these are our ChangeMakers.
Photo essay: My five years photographing George Floyd Square
MPR News visual journalist Ben Hovland lives minutes from where Minneapolis police killed George Floyd in 2020 and has spent the years since documenting the impact on his neighborhood.
Many Minneapolis residents near Derek Chauvin‘s old precinct don't trust police. Cops say they are working on it
While the police department works to make court-mandated changes and replenish its ranks with new hires, neighbors anxiously await transformation. But that task is a steeper climb in the 3rd Precinct, where George Floyd was murdered, turning the neighborhood into an epicenter of unrest.
Red tape, rising costs slow efforts to rebuild businesses burned after Floyd’s murder
Five years after George Floyd’s killing set off nights of destruction, vacant lots and broken buildings remain along Lake Street and other Minneapolis business districts. Some business owners say money woes and city zoning rules have made it hard to rebuild.
Explainer: How the U of M system endowment, mining industry benefit from seized Indigenous land
The state holds land in trust for the University of Minnesota, generating revenue for the Permanent University Fund. The U.S. government gave the land to the state in the mid-1800s after taking it from tribal nations through treaties often signed under the threat of violence.
Inspection shortfalls, political pressures leave low-income renters vulnerable in greater Minnesota
MPR News found problems tied to inspections and local political pressures that leave low-income renters in potential danger across greater Minnesota. In Bemidji, those problems have pushed their way to the surface.
Smoke and memory: A Civil War painting endures in Minnesota’s Capitol
At the Minnesota State Capitol, Howard Pyle’s Civil War painting “The Battle of Nashville” stands as a vivid tribute to Minnesota soldiers, preserved through time and restoration as a centerpiece of historical memory and evolving interpretation.
‘Kite Runner’ author speaks about his book being banned in Minnesota school
Khaled Hosseini, author of the 2003 novel “The Kite Runner” speaks out as the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and Education Minnesota file lawsuits against St. Francis Area Schools over a new book ban policy.