When Minnesota was a new state, thousands of settlers arrived, many of them from Europe. But in recent decades, the state has attracted large numbers of Hmong and Somali refugees. There are also thousands of people from India, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Mexico and the People’s Republic of China living in Minnesota.
The state has become more racially diverse in the last 10 years, and demographers said that's especially true among children. About 83 percent of Minnesotans were white, non-Hispanic for the 2010 census, compared to 88 percent in 2000.
October 25, 2000 - In his new book "Singing My Him Song" Malachy McCourt, brother of Frank of "Angela's Ashes" fame, tells more of the wild Irish immigrant story he began in his first memoir "A Monk Swimming". It's also the story of him coming to terms with his alcohol abuse and how he came to work with his brother on the hit show "A Couple of Blaguards". Malachy McCourt says as he looked for the reasons he drank, he focused on his anger at his abusive father.
November 3, 2000 - What do you do if you're not who you think you are? A hermaphrodite's memoires are now the basis of a play in the Twin Cities.
November 6, 2000 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Yer Moua, a Hmong woman about her concerns and views as a voter. Speaking through her daughter, Mai Ning Moua, Yer said that although this will be her first U.S. election, this wont be her first time in a voting booth.
November 13, 2000 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on Native American convention held in St. Paul, where concerns of the new incoming U.S. presidential administration were expressed.
November 16, 2000 - The U-S Surgeon General's office and other federal health agencies say the rising rates of HIV and AIDS cases among Native Americans signal a possible epidemic. It's long been known that HIV and AIDS have been a problem within other minority communities, most notably African Americans and Hispanics, but officials worry the disease could spread more quickly in the country's small American Indian population. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
November 20, 2000 - After years of wrangling, the University of North Dakota is preparing to decide the future of the schools Fighting Sioux nickname. The Sioux name was chosen in 1930, and is a focus of school pride. Since the 1960s people have challenged the name, some charging it is offensive to Native Americans. A commission studying the use of the Sioux nickname held its final meeting today. Next month the U-N-D president will recommend keeping or changing the nickname. The states board of higher education will make the final decision. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
November 20, 2000 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports that the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has launched a survey of several hundred Hmong business owners and households in St Paul. The Fed wants to know how well the banking system is meeting the needs of Hmong entrepreneurs. They hope the survey will illuminate the obstacles to Hmong people's access to capital.
November 21, 2000 - Adressing a sold-out crowd at the Minneapolis Hilton Monday, former South African president Nelson Mandela spoke of the need for people on opposite sides of debates to respect one another, and of the ability of the U.S. to influence attitudes on racism around the world. His message was above all a hopeful one that any society can acheive justice. Mandela declined to express an opinion on the U.S. presidential election, but spoke glowingly of President Clinton's efforts to reach out to African nations. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
November 22, 2000 - After a decade marred by civil war, an elected government has returned to Somalia. A newly formed three year transitional government came together in October. Some Somalis here in Minnesota are watching the situation closely - especially a family in Owatonna who are related to the country's newly appointed Prime Minister. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this report.
November 23, 2000 -