June 2, 2010 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian reports on Sherburne County Sheriff's deputy use of a stun gun on a detained immigrant and the federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement agency’s relaxation of policy against the use of stun guns on detainees.
August 11, 2010 - As part of MPR News series “Austin at a Crossroads: 25 years after the Hormel strike,” MPR’s Elizabeth Baier profiles Austin, 25 years after the Hormel labor strike that tore apart the town. Baier examines how small-town nostalgia plays out when big, global issues and human drama come to town.
November 30, 2010 - MPR’s Dan Olson reports that 30 years after their initial arrival, poverty for Hmong is still an issue, but rates are down sharply, and life for many is improving. Olson talks with members of Hmong community about reasons behind the change.
December 7, 2010 - As part of MPR's Youth Radio Series, Youth Radio reporter Brenda tells what it's like to live in the United States illegally.
December 17, 2010 - Demographic estimates released this week by the Census Bureau show Minnesota is more diverse than ever before. One of the biggest indicators of that is language. In cities and towns across the state, more and more people are speaking a language other than English at home. Some people do so out of necessity because they haven't learned English yet. Others want to hold on to their native tongues and become fully bilingual.
January 7, 2011 - Immigrant farmers are fixtures at farmers' markets in the Twin Cities. But they don't sell as much to restaurants, grocery store chains, or direct to consumers through CSAs. In Minnesota, these are barriers that Hmong, Latino and African farmers face as they try to make a living off the land.
January 7, 2011 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles General Vang Pao, a key U.S. ally during the Vietnam War, who died in California at the age of 81. The military leader is described by admirers as a warrior chieftain of the 18 Hmong clans he helped lead. General Pao was a familiar figure in Minnesota, home to the country's second largest Hmong population, including some of his family members.
August 20, 2011 - The 10th Annual Hmong Arts and Music Festival kicks off this morning with a parade along University Avenue. The festival in St Paul's Western Sculpture Park showcases the work of traditional and modern Hmong artists of all ages and media. There are also activities like singer-songwriter contests. Organizer Katie Ka Vang says the youth tent is a big part of the festival.
September 1, 2011 - Midday presents an MPR special report from reporter Sasha Aslanian looking at a school that was held up as a model in St. Paul, but has since failed to meet federal standards. Following the report, St. Paul Superintendent Valeria Silva and Eric Mahmoud, founder of Harvest Prep and Best Academy, will discuss ways to improve the achievement of minority students.
October 1, 2011 - The annual Hmong resource fair marks its 10th year today. The free fair has grown over the last decade as more Hmong refugees came to the Twin Cities. It's been a key resource for social services, healthcare, education, and employment help. This year the event is at the Aldrich Arena in Maplewood. Fair executive director Kazoua Kong-Thao says the community's needs have changed as its population grew more established in Minnesota.