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.
January 2, 2002 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on R.T. Rybak taking oath as new Minneapolis Mayor. A Minneapolis City Hall ceremony installed the new mayor and a city council with more newcomers than veterans. Mayor Rybak promises an era of new openness and cooperation in city government. The day also included surprises as the council's elected its new leadership.
January 8, 2002 - Interview with Rahfat Hussain
January 21, 2002 -
January 21, 2002 - Many Minnesotan's celebrated Martin Luther King day by attending speeches, rallies and concerts. Many of today's speakers spoke about the continuing struggle for civil rights. Former President of the Minneapolis N-double-A-C-P chapter, Bill Davis, says immigrants from Africa, South America and Asia are changing Minnesota's ethnic make-up. Davis says the state has made some civil rights gains, but there is always room for improvement:
January 21, 2002 - RUNNING MONDAY ATC - UPDATE WITH WEEKEND "BLACK HAWK DOWN" PROTEST NEWS AS NEEDED Somalia's former Prime Minister Ali Khalif Galaydh (Alee Ha-LEAF Ga -leye -D) is in Washington this week. There he hopes to meet with Pentagon officials about a potential U.S. led strike on Somalia. The East African country is a likely future battleground for America's War on Terrorism. Galaydh was ousted from Somalia's nascent transitional government more than two months ago. Since then Galaydh's traveled around the world, lobbying for peace and prosperity in his homeland. And he's had time to check in with his wife and three young children who live in Southeastern Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this report.
January 29, 2002 -
January 30, 2002 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports voters on St. Paul's East Side having elected the world's first Hmong American legislator. Thirty-two year old Mee Moua won special election to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Randy Kelly, who was elected mayor.
January 30, 2002 -
January 30, 2002 - Mee Moua made history last night when the voters on St. Paul's East Side elected her to the state Senate. Moua is the first Hmong-American in the country to win a seat in a state legislature. Florida represenative Phillip Brutus understands well the excitement surrounding Moua's victory. In 2000, the Democrat received similar attention when he became the first Haitian elected to the Florida state Legislature. Brutus says his election has meant a lot to the Haitian community:
February 4, 2002 -