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 27, 2006 - Although this year's tuition increase at the University of Minnesota was the smallest in a decade, house DFLers would still like to see it go down.
December 28, 2006 - Although many Minneapolis Somalis are supportive of the recent Ethiopian invasion of Somali, others are outraged. A group of Minneapolis Somalis is planning a protest against the invasions.
December 28, 2006 - Now we'll get reaction to the events we've been hearing about from the Somalis here in Minnesota. Minnesota is home to the largest population of Somali immigrants in the U.S. The state demographer estimates at least 25,000 Somalis live in the state. Most of them live in Minneapolis and are keeping careful track of the Ethiopian military's advance into Somalia and the ensuing violence. This morning, I went to a coffee shop in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. I asked the Somalis I met there how they're keeping track of events in their homeland. I also got their opinions on the news.
January 8, 2007 - The families and supporters of meatpacking workers arrested in December in an immigration raid held a rally in Worthington, the location of the plant. Family members spoke on how their lives have been changed since the raid.
January 9, 2007 - As you know, Minnesota is home to the largest population of Somalis in the United States. Most of them live in Minneapolis. To hear how some of them feel about the U.S. airstrikes in their home country, Minnesota Public Radio News reporter Toni Randolph visited the Karmel Mall on Pillsbury Ave near Lake Street. We'll hear from four Somalis who weighed in on the issue.
January 17, 2007 - Ali Selim, the creator of Minnesota-based film Sweetland, which opened last fall and is still showing in theaters. The movie was written and directed by local filmmaker Ali Selim and shot on location in southern Minnesota. It's drawn critical acclaim from The New York Times and the Village Voice, and it's also been nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards, including Best First Feature and Best Female Lead. Writer / director Ali Selim is with us in studio this morning to talk about this remarkable success story.
January 18, 2007 - As Minnesota's Latino population continues to grow, so does the Spanish language media. The newspapers and radio and television stations play an important role in delivering entertainment and news to the Latino community. But they face challenges about how to cover important stories on sensitive issues. A recent example - immigration stories like the raids at Swift meat packing plants across the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Ambar Espinoza reports.
January 18, 2007 - The city of Minneapolis needs to target more resources toward helping Somali youth avoid poverty, homelessness, truancy and criminal activity. That's according to a report released today by the city's civil rights department. The report expressed concern about the presence of organized Somali youth gangs and offered some recommendations on how to stop their spread. Minnesota Public Radio's Brandt Williams reports.
January 18, 2007 - And I'm Cathy Wurzer. Here's a question for you... What does a play about a girl born with a kangaroo-like pouch... and one about Minnesota's first Chinese-American immigrant have to do with each other? Both are opening this weekend at theaters in Minneapolis and St. Paul. World premieres aren't unusual in Twin Cities theater -- local audiences can see new work on the largest stages... the smallest... and just about everywhere in between. Minnesota Public Radio arts commentator and St. Paul Pioneer Press theater critic Dominic Papatola is with us this morning to help explain why.
January 31, 2007 - Several hundred people packed a meeting room in north Minneapolis last night to tell Minnesota lawmakers their concerns about education. Two House education committees held a joint hearing at the Glover-Suddeth community center. Lawmakers wanted to hear about closing the achievement gap, but they also got an earful about the challenges facing urban schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.