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.
December 13, 2005 - As congress moves into its last week in session, representatives in the senate and house have two things on their minds: taxes and immigration. MPR's Tom Crann examines the different sides of the debate.
December 15, 2005 - The mothers of Somali teens who have been dealing drugs have suggested something that no one expected. They say the best solution is sending them back to Somalia. MPR's Sea Stachura has more.
December 22, 2005 - The Twin Cities Salvation Army is afraid it might run out of toys for needy children this holiday season. The charity had to make a last-minute purchase of 35-thousand dollars worth of toys this week to re-stock its metro area "toy shops". The shops give needy families a grocery store gift certificate and age-appropriate gifts for children. Salvation Army spokesperson Annette Bower says the biggest shortfall has been in toys for teenagers.
December 22, 2005 - Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch has announced a series of legislative proposals to help Minnesotans guard against identity theft. The so-called 2006 Consumer Privacy Protection Package aims to close loopholes in the state's privacy laws. The measures seek to protect telephone and cell phone records and also allows Minnesota consumers to freeze access to their credit information. Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham has more.
December 29, 2005 - Chris Coleman will be inaugurated Tuesday as St. Paul's 45th Mayor. In November, Coleman ousted fellow DFLer Randy Kelly from office with 69 percent of the vote. Coleman's family has deep roots in St. Paul and a strong commitment to public service. Chris's father Nick Coleman, was senate majority leader in the mid-1970s. But friends and family say Chris is not part of any political dynasty. They say hard work and a love for the city got him into the mayor's office. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
January 3, 2006 - Pawlenty's proposals crack down on crimes by illegal aliens and monitor them more closely. MPR's Tom Scheck reports.
January 12, 2006 - Governor Tim Pawlenty today proposed ways to help legal immigrants, one week after he outlined steps to crack down on illegal immigration. The Republican governor's plan includes a new tax credit for immigrants seeking citizenship, and more money for English language instruction and immunizations. Some Latino leaders say the proposals are a good first step. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
January 24, 2006 - Report cards are an important part of a student's education. But what happens when a school gets a poor report card? Progress reports are a part of the No Child Left Behind law. The federal law requires that schools achieve certain goals in many different areas like attendance, graduation rates and test scores. Two years ago, officials at Pelican Rapids High School were told their school needed to improve. Minnesota Public Radios Bob Reha reports on the schools efforts to raise its grades.
January 30, 2006 - Nearly 300 people turned out in Worthington Sunday to talk about immigration. The subject has been a major topic of discussion in the southwest Minnesota city since Governor Tim Pawlenty proposed new measures earlier this month to deal with undocumented workers. Worthington has a large immigrant population. Some are fearful they're being targeted. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Steil reports.
February 1, 2006 - The skyrocketing costs of health care have been in the national spotlight a lot lately, but President Bush spent little time on the issue in his state of the union address last night. News reports leading up to the speech suggested the president would spotlight Health Savings Accounts or HSA's. They're tax free savings plans that accompany high deductible health care policies. Bush has trumpeted their merits in the past. But he only brushed over HSA's in his speech last night. And that left experts and business owners wanting more. Minnesota Public Radio's Annie Baxter has a closer look.