October 20, 2004 - More than 14-hundred Hmong refugees arrived in Minnesota last month. That's the largest monthly total since the resettlement program began in 1975. Local resettlement agencies say the Hmong are arriving so quickly that, in some cases, they're over-burdening the relatives who are sponsoring them. John Borden of the International Institute, says one relative in Minnesota may agree to sponsor three families. He says the problem arises when all of those families arrive within a short time period.
October 25, 2004 - English language classes are packed in the Twin Cities and other parts of the state. Some programs are so full they now have long waiting lists. Much of the increase is attributed to the growing number of immigrants moving to Minnesota, including Hmong and other refugees. Jean Hanslin is with Lao Family English, says classes are three times the normal size at a time when she's already had to lay off one teacher because of a funding crunch.
October 25, 2004 - Many new immigrants to Minnesota are having a tough time finding a place to learn English. English language classes for adults are filled in the Twin Cities and across most of the state. Barry Shaffer, state director of Adult Basic Education, says there's been an dramatic upturn in enrollment.
October 25, 2004 - MPR’s Toni Randolph reports that English language classes are bursting at the seams in the Twin Cities. New arrivals to the United States have been packing the classes, eager to learn the primary language of their new homeland.
November 15, 2004 - St. Paul school district officials say they're ready to add more bilingual classrooms to accommodate the latest wave of new immigrants.
November 15, 2004 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that St. Paul School District officials say 600 Hmong refugee students have enrolled since the beginning of the school year, and hundreds more could still arrive in the coming weeks.
November 15, 2004 - St. Paul school district officials say their strategy for accommodating a wave of new immigrant students has worked smoothly for the first two months of the school year. The district established Transitional Language Centers at three elementary schools in response to the influx of Hmong families from a Thailand refugee camp. An International Academy was set up for older students. Valeria Silva, director of St. Paul's English Language Learner programs, says the slow, steady arrival of students has helped the schools adapt.
November 24, 2004 - The number of legal immigrants moving to Minnesota declined sharply last year.
November 25, 2004 - The number of legal immigrants moving to Minnesota declined sharply last year.
December 6, 2004 - MPR’s Perry Finelli interviews Dr. Pat Walker, medical director at the Center for International Health at Regions Hospital, about mass health screening clinics for new refugees.