“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” on exhibit at Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) now through July 13, 2025, is organized by the Brooklyn Museum, and consists of ninety-eight artworks from the world-class collection of musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys. Founded by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and his wife Alicia Keys in 2014, the Dean Collection is a contemporary family collection and cultural platform.
The exhibition features work by over forty multigenerational Black American, African, and African diasporic artists. Also featured are examples of the Deans’ early non-art collections including albums, musical equipment, and BMX (bicycle motocross) bikes.
The Deans want to raise the public’s awareness of the artistry within Black communities. The artists in the exhibition use imagery to represent cultural traditions, reflect the beauty and uniqueness of numerous global societies, and to criticize sociopolitical structures and systems affecting families, people of color, and queer communities
interview in 2018 that they began their collection not just because they are art lovers, but also because “there’s not enough people of color collecting artists of color.” Their goal is to help these artists and build a community around them. The Deans welcome the artists whose work they collect today into their family. They consider themselves as stewards who are preserving artists’ legacies for current and future generations.
By sharing the collection through museum exhibitions like “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” they are helping to expand people’s knowledge of influential art giants of the past, present, and future.
In an interview for the Giants exhibition catalog, Alicia Keys said, “As artists ourselves, we have a deep concern for fellow living artists and ensuring they receive recognition for their work. Our aim is to create a vibrant community where everyone receives the recognition they rightfully deserve.”
The Deans say they are committed to collecting and showing art in order to make sure artists are seen and recognized for their art.
Celebrating Blackness focuses on celebrating the beauty of Black people and their communities.
On the Shoulders of Giants explores art by older artists whose work has inspired and continues to inspire artists who came after them.
These themes explain the Deans’ believe in the idea of “giants.” They say you should think big, no matter what, because others might try to make you feel small. And you should always remember the giants in your life—the people who have helped create the path from the past to today and into the future.
The Deans say that creativity should have no limits. They often say, “The sky is not the limit—it’s just the view,” to encourage people to think bigger and imagine beyond what seems possible. This idea is especially important for artists who want to challenge themselves to create art on a larger scale. They intentionally buy art that is so large it might not even fit on the walls of their home. They do this because they don’t want to limit an artist’s vision. They understand that making huge paintings, sculptures, or photographs can be risky for artists, but it can also be life-changing for their careers.
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys are both talented artists. They were born and raised in New York, and have been making music for many years. They’ve also explored other interests like collecting art. Swizz started his music career when he was just 17, first as a DJ and then as a producer for his family’s record label, Ruff Ryders. Alicia, who has won 15 Grammy Awards, began playing the piano when she was a child and released her first album when she was 20 years old. For over twenty years, they have been collecting art. The art collection they’ve built is called the Dean Collection. They focus on supporting living artists, especially artists of color. Swizz said in an
“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” is organized into four themes that explore the idea of “giants.” Becoming Giants/Giant Presence introduces Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys and their early non-art collections including albums, musical equipment, and BMX (bicycle motocross) bikes. Giant Presence/Giant Conversations: Critiquing Society highlights large-scale artworks that challenge harmful policies or mainstream ideas that negatively impact Black populations. The Deans believe that artists should push the limits of their imagination, so they encourage them to work on as large a scale as they can dream.
Giant Conversations/
Even if the Deans don’t have space to display these giant works in their own home, they make sure these artworks are safe and can be shown in the future. They ensure that the artists can always borrow the work back to show in exhibitions. This section highlights artists who have taken on the challenge of creating large-scale art, using size to express their power and creativity. These large, awe-inspiring works inspire conversations about size, strength, and creativity.
Source: MIA’s Teachers Guide for “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection
Courtesy
Erasing Black History, dismantling democracy - It’s all connected
By Haley Taylor Schlitz, Esq.
Did it feel like we just celebrated our last Black History Month? This question isn’t hyperbole. It is a reflection of what we have just witnessed. February 2025 felt less like a celebration of Black progress and more like an assault on everything Black Americans have fought for. Online, people have been calling this the worst Black History Month ever, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. This month wasn’t just a series of bad headlines, it was a coordinated attack on democracy, Black identity, and the very idea that America can be a multiracial society.
The moment that made it clear to me was February 28, the final day of Black History Month. That morning, President Trump sat beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and publicly sided with a dictator over a democracy. Not just any dictator but the historic advisory of our nation. The following afternoon, on March 1, he signed an executive order making English the official language of the United States, sending a clear message to millions of non-English speakers, many of whom are immigrants and people of color, that they are outsiders in their own country. And just the day before, his administration launched a federal portal, the “snitch line”, encouraging people to report
diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools. The same government that is choosing to side with dictators is now asking Americans to turn in their teachers for fostering inclusion.
None of this is coincidence. This is about power, who holds it, who gets to participate in democracy, and who gets erased from history altogether. Black Americans know this pattern because we have lived it. The dismantling of democracy has always come with an attack on Black political power, and Trump is making that clear again.
The executive order declaring English the official language is not about language, it’s about exclusion. The attack on DEI is not about ideology, it’s about erasing progress. The choice to back Putin over Ukraine is not about diplomacy, it’s about aligning with authoritarianism because democracy is a threat to those who have always held power in America.
The struggle for civil rights and equality has always been intertwined with the broader fight for democratic principles. Every moment of Black progress has been met with violent pushback.
Reconstruction was followed by Jim Crow. The Civil Rights Movement was followed by mass incarceration and voter suppression. And now, after the election of the first Black president and the mobilization of Black voters that shaped elections for a generation, we are watching another wave of backlash unfold. What’s happening now is not just about America; it’s about how the world sees America. The United States has long projected itself as the leader of the free world, but that image has always been complicated by the reality of racial injustice.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union weaponized America’s treatment of Black citizens, using images of segregation, police brutality, and lynchings as propaganda to undermine U.S. claims of being the world’s beacon of democracy. It was not lost on global leaders that while America claimed to champion freedom abroad, it was actively oppressing Black Americans at home. The Civil Rights Movement wasn’t just a domestic fight, it was an international reckoning that forced the U.S. to confront its hypocrisy. That international pressure helped fuel legislative victories like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black activism forced America to live up to its ideals because the world was watching. Now, in 2025, the world is watching again, but this time it is seeing a country sliding backward. When Trump aligns with Putin, attacks democracy, and suppresses Black political power, he is signaling to the world that America’s commitment to democracy is conditional. The promise of America, the idea that it can be a true multiracial democracy, is what’s really under attack. This is what makes Black History Month
Trump is the second president of the confederacy
If you follow me on Facebook, then you know that I often call Donald Trump the “Second President of the Confederate States of America” at least several times per week. I do so because of Trump’s long and deplorable history of being racist in his business practices (housing discrimination), social activism (calling for the death penalty for five innocent Black teenagers accused of rape in 1989), first term in office (calling Black NFL players “ungrateful SOB’s,” calling Black neighborhoods “rat infested,” calling Black nations “shithole countries”), and his unrelenting attacks on the accurate teaching of Black history and efforts to promote diversity in business, industry, academia, and the military. Further cementing my derisive nickname for Trump is the fact that during his first term, Trump was a major supporter of preserving Confederate monuments and keeping U.S. military installations named after Confederate military leaders firmly intact. As a historian and former military brat, Trump’s affinity for the Old South simply further confirms my position that he is a true racist when considering that he is the descendant of Germans who
immigrated to New York City long after the Civil War ended— thus, he has no personal ties to that era in American history.
But on my own personal level, when my father was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army after graduating from Florida A&M University in 1963, Jim Crow segregation was still in full effect across the South. Over the next 20 years, my father served (and my family lived) on several bases named for rebellious generals from the Confederate States of America—the same Confederacy that launched a war to preserve and expand the enslavement of our Black ancestors.
I had one sister born in 1967 at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, which was named for John B. Gordon, one of Robert E. Lee’s top commanders and stauch slavery supporter. I started pre-school in 1975 at Fort Benning, named for Henry Benning, a lawyer, jurist, and military general officer who also served under General Lee.
So, when the Army announced in 2023 that these Forts would be renamed, I was ecstatic because I knew fully well that they weren’t named for Generals Lee, Gordon, Benning, Braxton Bragg, John Hood and other Confederate military officers in honor of their service, but were done so during a time in the 20th Century when the NAACP and other Black advocacy groups were beginning their slow and arduous push for civil rights during the run up to World War II and the decades that followed.
Now, long before the Black civil rights push, Southern revisionist historians had already begun striving to paint the “Lost Cause” narrative which suggested that slavery wasn’t the primary reason for the schism between the states, but claimed that “States Rights” was the cause of the “Cause.”
I’ve always shaken my head at the sheer lunacy of this pseudointellectual position because to balance the historical equation, the South seceded from the Union to preserve a “states right to maintain slavery!” But the lunacy became policy even among the very U.S. government
that put down the rebellion, which is why those Forts were named for traitors. Which is also why I found it important to remove those names back in 2023 because no man or woman who fought to preserve slavery and its attendant horrors deserves to be honored 160 years after General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.
But alas, Trump is now president again and yesterday, his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Fort Moore, the name for Fort Benning since 2023 that honors Vietnam War era General Hal Moore, will once again be named Fort Benning in honor
of the unrepentant slaver who spilled blood to preserve and protect the so-called “Peculiar Institution.”
I note this change this morning because there is a sickening skepticism among the unlearned and under learned classes who suggest that because Kanye, Snoop, or Floyd Mayweather take meetings and photo-ops with Donald Trump, that there’s “no way that Trump can be called a racist.”
But again, Trump’s record of racism is long and pronounced, and acts like renaming bases for Confederate generals is merely the recrudescence of his raw brand of race baiting—and one additional reminder that his focus has NOT been on easing the financial suffering of his supporters and opponents alike since Inauguration Day, but to troll and needle racial minorities—while throwing racist red meat out for his blissfully ignorant base! Hobbservation Point is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work,
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Vilifying innocent transgender people to get millions of votesGod Bless America. Democracy rings hollow when elections are won based on transgender hatred. Going after transgender people was one of the primary things the GOP focused on during Trumps’ campaign. During the month of October, every single day the Sean Hannity radio program was on the air, Hannity would push the anti-transgender lies with this repeated statement- “The radical lefts’ extreme agenda is
Columnist
Hobb servation Point
By Chuck Hobbs
Frank Erickson
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President Trump sat beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“You are playing cards” and “you’re gambling with World War III” scolded President Trump to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before he kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House today. The Oval Office visit was meant to
ease tensions in the Russian war against Ukraine. However, it ended in a shouting match. The verbal sparring pit President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D, Vance, in a tag team of sorts, against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Both Trump and Vance kept telling Zellenskyy he should be working towards a peace agreement and be grateful for the United States equipment to fight against Russia in this war that Trump believes Ukraine would have lost within two years without the United States’ help. A former Senior U.S.
National Security official who wished to remain anonymous said, “Zelenskyy has acknowledged his gratitude.”
That same former NSC official also said, “This means the United States is aligning itself with Russia that we set him [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] up and this was a play to appeal to Trump’s base and Putin and to blame Zelenskyy which is to throw Ukraine and NATO under the bus.”
Ranking Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Gregory Meeks says he is
“incensed and ashamed over the actions of the president of the United States.” During the televised contentious public negotiations, President Trump told Zelenskyy, “Your people need to make a deal. If you don’t make a deal you will have to fight it out.”. Meanwhile, the February 2020 Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. Monday was the third anniversary of the war. Meeks says, “Trump has not asked anything of Russia and said nothing about it on the anniversary”
Following the enactment of President Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Governor Tim Walz last week met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to discuss ways to alleviate tariff impacts and strengthen trade relationships. Earlier in the week, Governor Walz visited a corn and soybean farm in Cannon Falls where he highlighted the impact of federal tariffs on Minnesota Farmers. Photos from the meeting are linked here.
“President Trump’s tariffs pose a serious threat to the future of trade with Canada. But while the President may not value the partnerships that contribute billions of dollars to our economy, Minnesota does,” said Governor
get through this unnecessary and costly trade war.”
With Minneapolis crime falling significantly across several different categories to start the year, Mayor Jacob Frey, Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette, and Police Chief Brian O’Hara are say the expanded public-safety ecosystem has resulted in crime is decreasing in most categories year-to-date, with significant reductions in robberies, carjackings, and auto thefts. Key year-to-date reductions in crime include: A 47% reduction in
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, last week said Republicans claim to care about increasing housing supply, yet the Trump administration’s policies only make housing more expensive. Waters made the statement during a Housing and Insurance Subcommittee hearing. She said “Trump imposed taxes on imports from Canada and Mexico that will increase housing costs; has gutted enforcement of consumer protections and civil rights in housing; and House Republicans are doing nothing as the DOGE Ketamine Klan infiltrates the nation’s key housing agency. “ “So far, Musk has stolen funding from communities, illegally terminated staff, and accessed confidential data, including details about sexual assaults against women. All of this paves the way toward their end goal: evict America to put America’s housing in the hands of private equity investors,” Waters said.
Former Maryland Governor and former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley warned that the Trump-Musk administration’s sweeping cuts to the Social Security Administration’s workforce will lead to major disruptions in benefits for
millions of Americans. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has ordered a 50% reduction in Social Security’s workforce.
The agency, already at its lowest staffing levels in 50 years, announced that it will soon implement large-scale
s. “These cuts will in
a lot of pain on seniors and people with disabilities,” O’Malley said in a news
Tariffs set to take effect Tuesday will impose a 25% levy on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% on Chinese goods.
The Trump administration insists the move will protect American industries, but economists and civil rights leaders warn the fallout will be devastating for African Americans and other marginalized communities. Prices on everyday essentials are expected to rise sharply.
The U.S. imports 63% of its vegetables and nearly half of its fruits and nuts from Mexico, making grocery costs an immediate concern. Gas prices are also likely to surge
Walz. “I am working closely with Canadian leadership to help Minnesota
(D-CA)
United Way’s “Flavors
This week Greater Twin Cities United Way (United Way) launched Flavors of Our Community, an annual initiative focused on increasing access to culturally specific foods at Twin Cities area food shelves. Together with volunteers, donors, nonprofits and corporate partners, Flavors of Our Community will help ensure more Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity have access to foods familiar to them and their culture.
As food prices remain high, more people than ever are visiting food shelves. In Minnesota, visits to food shelves have been steadily rising for many years and were projected to reach 9 million visits in 2024, surpassing the 7.5 million visits in 2023. One in eight people in the Greater Twin Cities experiences food insecurity, meaning they face barriers to accessing nutritious and affordable food.
“No matter where we live, when we taste the flavors of our community, we are home.”
Many food shelves in the Twin Cities serve communities of many nationalities and cultures, yet the most commonly donated foods don’t reflect that vibrant diversity. This creates additional food insecurity and inclusion barriers for people trying to find access to foods they love and know
Health & Wellness Center, have recently formed a partnership surrounding rental education and assistance. The partnership allows community members in need of financial assistance for making rent the opportunity to increase their rental knowledge by completing the Build Wealth Rent, Smart – Wise & Ready online program.
“We know that members of our community sometimes have to make the tough choice between paying for rent and paying for other everyday needs,” says Linda Bryant, NorthPoint’s Director of Programs and Services. “The Build Wealth Rental Curriculum helps educate NorthPoint guests on finances, so they feel empowered to make the housing choices that work best for themselves and their families.”
Just kitty-corner from NorthPoint, at the corner of Plymouth and Penn, is Build Wealth MN which has been educating families on financial
Northpoint has been a staple in the North Minneapolis community for years helping community members with various programs including housing financial hardship assistance.
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
literacy for over 20 years. BWM has developed the Rent SmartWise & Ready curriculum to teach rental candidates about the tenant/landlord relationship and expectations, steps to finding the right place to live for your needs and budget, along with lease agreements, fair housing laws, renter’s insurance and more.
“The partnership with NorthPoint brings rental education to community members who seek their assistance. We believe educated renters are more likely to be stable members of the community and can pass that education and understanding onto their children.” Demitri
Apple has vowed to stick to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives despite pressure from a Trump-associated group and an atmosphere that derides a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Shareholders voted this week to keep the company’s DEI initiatives, rejecting a proposal
from a conservative think tank that sought to eliminate them. The vote occurred during Apple’s annual meeting, during which the company also announced a $500 billion commitment to investments in the United States over the next four years—the largest domestic spending plan in its history.
The National Center for Public Policy Research submitted the proposal, citing recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and a rise in DEIrelated lawsuits. The group claimed Apple’s DEI efforts could expose the company to legal risks. In response, Apple said the proposal was unnecessary, pointing to its strong compliance measures and calling the effort an attempt to interfere with how it manages its operations and workforce. Officials did not disclose the final vote count. “We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our longstanding U.S. investments with
this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “From doubling our Advanced Manufacturing Fund to building advanced technology in Texas, we’re expanding our support for American manufacturing.”
The new spending plan includes a new 250,000-squarefoot advanced manufacturing facility in Houston, where servers supporting Apple Intelligence will be produced. The facility, set to open in 2026, is expected to create thousands of jobs. Production will begin later this year, marking a shift from previous overseas manufacturing. Apple will also double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund and open an academy in Michigan to train future manufacturers and increase silicon engineering and artificial intelligence research. The plan includes collaboration with thousands of suppliers across all 50 states, the development of data centers, and Apple
TV+ productions in 20 states. Cook acknowledged that adjustments to DEI initiatives may be necessary as legal challenges evolve but affirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining an inclusive workplace. “We will continue to create a culture of belonging,” he told shareholders. Apple’s decision comes after several major corporations pulled back on DEI programs. Companies such as Walmart, Target, Exxon, and Goldman Sachs have scaleddown diverse efforts, with some citing legal concerns or shareholder pressure. Meta and Google have also reduced their DEI initiatives.
Institutional Shareholder Services, a leading proxy advisory firm, recommended that shareholders vote to maintain Apple’s DEI programs. Costco shareholders took a similar position in January, rejecting a proposal to evaluate risks associated with their diversity policies.
“We owe our success to the more than 300,000 employees who serve our members every day,” said Costco Chairman Hamilton Tony James. “It is important that they all feel included and appreciated.” Apple’s $500 billion investment package aims to boost American manufacturing, support job creation, and expand its infrastructure. Over the past five years, the company has paid over $75 billion in U.S. taxes, including $19 billion in 2024. Apple currently supports over 2.9 million jobs nationwide through direct employment, partnerships with manufacturers, and the iOS app economy. Cook closed the meeting with a message of long-term commitment. “We’ll keep working with people and companies across this country to help write an extraordinary new chapter in the history of American innovation,” he asserted.
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as Ukraine saw one of the worst drone attacks that day.
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4, Canadian imports into the United States will be subject
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An 11% reduction in aggravated assaults.
“When our streets are safe, everything else gets better— kids can focus on school, businesses thrive, and families feel secure in their neighborhoods,” said Mayor Frey.
He said the improvement in public safety is the result of several targeted MPD crime-reduction initiatives and on-going violence prevention work across the city.
These initiatives include:
After that public disagreement, Zelenskyy was told to leave the White House. He rushed into his waiting van outside of the West Wing where President Trump greeted him with a handshake when he arrived at the door. His departure was minus the
to an additional 25% tariff Canadian energy products will be subject to a 10% tariff In response, the Canadian government is imposing retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of products. Ontario is levying a
Crime Pattern Response Protocol: Introduced a year ago, when initiated, the Crime Pattern Response Protocol reallocates police resources to areas where they’re needed the most to stop crime sprees in progress.
presidential escort to the door. Zelenskyy and Trump were also expected today to sign a mineral deal and conduct a joint press conference. Those two events did not happen after that Oval Office conflict.
Meeks adds that our European partners “want us to support
25% export tax on electricity and has threatened to cut off electricity sales to the U.S. completely if President Trump moves forward with another round of tariffs on April 2. The cost is particularly acute for industrial customers in the
resources and support. Since its implementation, there has been a 66% reduction in new violent youth offenders in Minneapolis.
Ukraine.” President Trump immediately went on social media with his thoughts. That tweet was followed by President Zelenskyy @realDonaldTrump We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could
northeastern part of the state where energy and supply chains will get more expensive. The new tariffs and response from Canada will reduce Minnesota’s competitiveness with other lessimpacted regions of the United States.
Police recruitment:
never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in
Much of Minnesota’s natural gas comes from Canada, with five of the six natural gas pipelines that transport gas in Minnesota originating from Canada. Physical limitation to pipelines will make it hard to quickly switch to other sources,
negotiations. I don’t want an advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.
“Every day, the dedicated men and women of the MPD work tirelessly to reduce crime while strengthening community trust,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “The significant crime reductions seen in Minneapolis over the first two months are encouraging for everyone. We remain committed to datadriven enforcement, targeting the few individuals causing the most harm. Collaboration with community groups and residents remains essential, as lasting change requires a collective effort.” Minneapolis has also seen year-to-date decreases in burglaries (9.5%), vandalism (8.1%), negligent homicide (40%), larceny and theft (6.2%), stolen property (8.1%), weapon law violations (15.4%), and shots fired calls (18.1%). Frey
O’Malley
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conference on Friday. “Social Security is being driven to a total system collapse.”
He said five of SSA’s eight regional commissioners have resigned following the push for deeper reductions. Responding to a question from BlackPressUSA, O’Malley said it’s up to Congress to stop the bleeding. He said, despite handling a record number of beneficiaries, Social Security operates with just 1.2% overhead, far below private insurers like Liberty Mutual, which operates
Tarif f s Tariffs
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as Canada, the country’s largest crude oil supplier, is hit with tariffs. Low-income families, already struggling with inflation, will bear the brunt of these increases.
“For Black and brown people, who statistically spend the most as a percentage of wealth, the impact is going to be severe,” Calvin Boomer, a financial analyst, said. “This isn’t just about trade policy—it’s about survival for communities already fighting economic disparity.” The auto industry, a major employer of African Americans, is also bracing for disruption. Tariffs could add up to $3,000 to vehicle costs, potentially leading to declining sales and job losses. “We’re looking at a repeat of what happened in 2018 when Trump’s first tariffs led to layoffs,” said Maurice Richardson, an autoworker in Michigan. “Except this time, it’s going to be worse.”
The NAACP has condemned the tariffs, warning that they will deepen racial economic disparities. Democratic lawmakers have also spoken out, calling the move reckless and out of touch with working-class struggles. “It’s already expensive to eat healthy where I live,” said Alicia Brown, a mother of two from Chicago’s South Side. “A gallon of milk is already $5. If they start charging more for fresh produce, people are going to have to make tough choices between food and rent.”
Curfew Task Force: The Curfew Task Force was established in September 2024 to help reduce juvenile crime. The task force consists of dedicated police officers, community groups, and partnering law enforcement agencies who engage with juveniles prior to curfew to ensure their safety and connect them with available services. The task force also regularly checks in with at-risk young people and their guardians to provide them with essential
at 23%. O’Malley said productivity had improved by 6% year over year, but the restructuring will erase that progress. “The Republican House has already reduced staffing at Social Security to a 50-year low. Now coPresidents Musk and Trump want to cut customer service
Late-Night Safety Plan (LSNP): This program has been expanded beyond downtown into Dinkytown and Uptown. In Dinkytown, the department increased the number of nights the plan was implemented during the summer. MPD resources saturated the area, and leadership was able to quickly deploy those resources to address issues. In Uptown, the LNSP was re-established in the fall. The use of surveillance monitoring allowed for quick deployment of MPD resources in the area before any problems escalated.
in half,” he said. O’Malley called the administration’s decision to offer full-year salary buyouts to retirementeligible employees and $25,000 bonuses to others the biggest waste of Social Security dollars in U.S. history. “The actions being taken by the Trump-Musk
After a successful recruitment campaign, a historic police contract, and a renewed emphasis on boots-onthe-ground policing, MPD applications have increased by 133%. In 2024, the MPD finished the year with more officers than it began with for the first time since 2019, and the most recent police recruit classes are some of the largest and most diverse in recent years.
“This is very encouraging because these statistics are a reflection of the positive comments I’m hearing from many community members,” said Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette. “This is a testament
administration to gut customer service and drive employees out of this greatly understaffed agency will break Social Security as we have known it for 90 years,” he said. He also raised concerns about data security, noting that sharing Social Security information is a
to the dedication and hard work of our police officers and the people of this city who are increasingly becoming part of our ongoing efforts to build out a stronger community safety ecosystem—one that prioritizes prevention and support for the most vulnerable. Our safe city will not be achieved by enforcement alone, but through everyone in our community collaborating to address the root causes of crime and fostering trust within our communities.”
fireable offense. While Trump has said Social Security “won’t be touched,” Musk has defended the cuts by claiming they are necessary to stop “extreme levels of fraud.”
However, Musk has not provided proof for this claim.
Rich Couture, spokesman for the American Federation of Government Employees SSA General Committee, said any layoffs will hurt the public and undermine Social Security. “Seniors and people on disability should start putting away what money they can now,” O’Malley said. “Benefit check interruptions are coming soon.”
Raymond Santana, condenado injustamente cuando era adolescente en el caso del corredor de Central Park de 1989, ha anunciado su candidatura para el Concejo Municipal de Nueva York. Santana, de 50 años, se presenta como demócrata para representar a partes de East Harlem y el Bronx, los mismos barrios en los que creció y fue arrestado falsamente hace más de tres décadas.
La campaña de Santana
se centra en la reforma de la justicia penal, la vivienda asequible y en abordar lo que describió como el deterioro de los barrios plagados de drogas, ratas y alquileres en alza. “Miras a tu alrededor y ves que las cosas normales no funcionan”, dijo Santana al New York Times. “Por eso necesitamos a alguien que esté fuera del sistema, que pueda venir con una perspectiva diferente”.
Santana y otros cuatro adolescentes negros y latinos fueron acusados de la brutal violación de una corredora blanca en Central Park en 1989. El caso cautivó a la nación, impulsado por una
cobertura sensacionalista de los medios y las demandas de castigos severos. Donald Trump, entonces un desarrollador inmobiliario de Nueva York, sacó anuncios de página completa en los periódicos pidiendo el restablecimiento de la “Traigan de vuelta la pena de muerte. Traigan de vuelta a nuestra policía”. A pesar de la exoneración del grupo en 2002, después de que un violador convicto confesara haber actuado solo y las su culpabilidad, Trump nunca se ha disculpado. En fecha tan reciente como su campaña
presidencial de 2016, siguió insistiendo en su culpabilidad. “El daño que hizo con esos anuncios no se puede reparar”, dijo Santana. “Incluso después de que se demostró nuestra inocencia, siguió persiguiéndonos”. Santana pasó aproximadamente cinco años en prisión antes de ser puesto en libertad condicional. En 2014, la ciudad de Nueva York acordó un acuerdo de 41 millones de dólares con Santana y los otros cuatro hombres, a los que a menudo se hace referencia como los Cinco Exonerados, otorgándoles aproximadamente un millón
de dólares por cada año que estuvieron encarcelados. Desde su liberación, Santana se ha convertido en un defensor nacional de la reforma de la justicia penal. Viajó como orador motivacional, comenzó una línea de ropa y trabajó con legisladores para aprobar leyes para prevenir condenas injustas. Sus prioridades políticas incluyen exigir a los menores que consulten con abogados antes de renunciar a sus derechos Miranda y prohibir las tácticas engañosas de interrogatorio policial.
Si es elegido, Santana se uniría a su compañero de los Cinco Exonerados Yusef
Salaam, quien ganó un escaño en el Concejo Municipal de Harlem en 2023. Los dos hombres han permanecido cercanos, a menudo colaborando en esfuerzos de defensa. “Siempre he dicho que aquellos que han estado más cerca del dolor deberían tener un lugar en la mesa”, dijo Salaam. “Raymond es una prueba viviente de por qué eso es importante”. Para Santana, la campaña es personal. “Tener una comunidad que me apoyó cuando Donald Trump y el resto del mundo nos atacaron; siempre me respaldaron”, dijo. “Por eso, tengo que contar con el apoyo de ellos”.
Raymond Santana, wrongfully convicted as a teenager in the 1989 Central Park jogger case, has announced his candidacy for the New York City Council. Santana, 50, is running as a Democrat to represent parts of East Harlem and the Bronx, the same neighborhoods where he grew up and was falsely arrested more than three decades ago.
Raymond Santana, condenado injustamente quando adolescente no caso do corredor do Central Park em 1989, anunciou sua candidatura para o Conselho Municipal de
Santana’s campaign focuses on criminal justice and addressing what he described as the deterioration of neighborhoods plagued by drugs, rats, and soaring rents. “You look around and see the Santana told the New York Times. “That’s why we need someone who’s outside the system, who can come with a Santana and four other
Black and Latino teenagers were accused of the brutal rape of a white female jogger in Central Park in 1989. The case captivated the nation, fueled by sensational media coverage and demands for harsh punishment. Donald Trump, then a New York real estate developer, took out fullpage newspaper ads calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, stating, “Bring back the death penalty. Bring back our police.” Despite the group’s exoneration in 2002—after a convicted rapist confessed to acting alone and
his guilt—Trump has never apologized. As recently as his 2016 presidential campaign, he continued to insist on their guilt.
“The damage he did with those ads can’t be undone,” Santana said. “Even after we were proven innocent, he kept coming after us.”
Santana spent roughly
being released on parole. In 2014, New York City agreed to a $41 million settlement with Santana and the other four men—often referred to as the Exonerated Five—awarding them about $1 million for each
year they were incarcerated.
Since his release,
Santana has become a national advocate for criminal justice reform. He traveled as a motivational speaker, started a clothing line, and worked with lawmakers to pass legislation to prevent wrongful convictions. His policy priorities include requiring minors to consult with attorneys before waiving their Miranda rights and banning deceptive police interrogation tactics.
If elected, Santana would join fellow Exonerated Five member Yusef Salaam,
who won a City Council seat in Harlem in 2023. The two men have remained close, often collaborating on advocacy those who have been closest to the pain should have a seat at the table,” Salaam said.
“Raymond is living proof of why that’s important.”
For Santana, the campaign is personal. “To have a community that stood by me when Donald Trump and the rest of the world attacked us—they always had my back,” he said. “So, I have to have theirs.”
Nova York. Santana, 50, está concorrendo como democrata para representar partes do East Harlem e do Bronx, os mesmos bairros onde cresceu e foi falsamente preso há mais de três décadas. A campanha de Santana se concentra na reforma da justiça criminal, moradia acessível e no enfrentamento do que ele descreveu como a deterioração de bairros
assolados por drogas, ratos e aluguéis altos. “Você olha ao redor e vê que as coisas normais não estão funcionando”, disse Santana ao New York Times. “É por isso que precisamos de alguém que esteja fora do sistema, que possa vir com uma lente diferente.”
Santana e outros quatro adolescentes negros e latinos foram acusados do estupro brutal de uma corredora
branca no Central Park em 1989. O caso cativou a nação, alimentado pela cobertura sensacionalista da mídia e pelas demandas por punições severas. Donald Trump, então um incorporador imobiliário de Nova York, publicou anúncios de página inteira em jornais pedindo o restabelecimento “Tragam de volta a pena de morte. Tragam de volta
nossa polícia.” Apesar da exoneração do grupo em 2002 — depois que um estuprador condenado confessou ter agido sozinho e evidências de — Trump nunca se desculpou. Ainda em sua campanha presidencial de 2016, ele continuou a insistir na culpa deles.
“O dano que ele causou com aqueles anúncios não
pode ser desfeito”, disse Santana. “Mesmo depois que fomos provados inocentes, ele continuou vindo atrás de nós.” Santana passou cerca de cinco anos na prisão antes de ser libertado em liberdade condicional. Em 2014, a cidade de Nova York concordou com um acordo de US$ 41 milhões com Santana e os outros quatro homens — muitas vezes
By Stacy M Brown
Photo: The Peabody Awards / Wikipedia Photo: The Awards /
Peabody Awards for The Central Park Five
“The Central Park Five. “
Por Stacy M Brown
Ele viajou como palestrante motivacional, começou uma linha de roupas e trabalhou com legisladores para aprovar leis para evitar condenações injustas. Suas prioridades políticas incluem
exigir que menores consultem advogados antes de renunciar a seus direitos Miranda e proibir táticas enganosas de interrogatório policial.
Se eleito, Santana se juntaria ao colega Exonerated
Five Yusef Salaam, que ganhou uma cadeira no Conselho Municipal do Harlem em 2023. Os dois homens permaneceram próximos, muitas vezes colaborando em esforços de advocacy. “Eu
March 17 2025
sempre disse que aqueles que estiveram mais próximos da dor deveriam ter um assento
“Raymond é a prova viva de por que isso é importante.” Para Santana, a
campanha é pessoal. “Ter ao meu lado quando Donald Trump e o resto do mundo nos atacaram — eles sempre me apoiaram”, ele disse. “Então, eu tenho que apoiar eles.”
Raymond Santana, condamné
Park en 1989, a annoncé sa candidature au conseil municipal de New York. Santana, 50 ans, se présente comme démocrate pour représenter certaines parties d’East Harlem et du Bronx, les mêmes quartiers où il a a plus de trois décennies. La campagne de Santana se concentre sur la
réforme de la justice pénale, le logement abordable et la lutte contre ce qu’il décrit comme la détérioration des quartiers
“Vous regardez autour de vous et vous voyez que les choses normales ne fonctionnent pas », a déclaré Santana au New York Times. « C’est pourquoi nous avons besoin de quelqu’un qui soit extérieur
Santana et quatre autres adolescents noirs et latinos ont été accusés du viol brutal d’une joggeuse blanche
alimentée par une couverture médiatique sensationnaliste et des demandes de sanctions
alors promoteur immobilier des annonces pleine page dans les journaux appelant au rétablissement de la peine de la peine de mort. Rétablissez notre police.” Malgré l’exonération du groupe en
condamné a avoué avoir agi seul et que des preuves ADN
– Trump ne s’est jamais excusé. En 2016, lors de sa campagne présidentielle, il
culpabilité. “Les dégâts qu’il a causés avec ces publicités ne peuvent pas être réparés”, a
que nous ayons été prouvés poursuivre.”
Santana a passé environ cinq ans en prison avant d’être libéré sur parole. En 2014, la ville de New York a accepté un accord de 41 millions de dollars avec Santana et les quatre autres hommes – souvent appelés les Cinq exonérés – leur accordant environ 1 million de dollars pour chaque année d’incarcération.
Depuis sa libération, Santana est devenu un
défenseur national de la réforme de la justice pénale. Il a voyagé en tant que conférencier motivateur, a lancé une ligne de vêtements et a travaillé avec les législateurs pour faire passer une loi visant
politiques incluent l’obligation pour les mineurs de consulter un avocat avant de renoncer
l’interdiction des tactiques d’interrogatoire trompeuses de la police. S’il est élu, Santana des Cinq exonérés, Yusef Salaam, qui a remporté un
de Harlem en 2023. Les deux hommes sont restés proches, collaborant souvent
“J’ai toujours dit que ceux qui ont été les plus proches de la douleur devraient
déclaré Salaam. “Raymond est la preuve vivante de l’importance de cela.” Pour Santana, la campagne est
toujours eu une communauté qui m’a soutenu quand Donald Trump et le reste du monde nous ont attaqués. Ils m’ont toujours soutenu”, a-t-il déclaré. “Je dois donc avoir la leur.”
Raymond Santana, oo si khalad ah loogu xukumay isaga oo kuray ah kiiskii Central Park jogger kiiskii 1989, ayaa ku dhawaaqay inuu u sharaxan yahay Golaha Magaalada New York. Santana, oo 50 jir ah, waxa uu u tartamayaa Dimuqraadiyad si uu u matalo qaybo ka mid ah East Harlem iyo Bronx, isla xaafadihii uu ku soo koray oo si been abuur ah loo xidhay in ka badan soddon sano ka hor. Ololaha Santana waxa uu diiradda saarayaa dib-
u-habaynta cadaaladda dembiyada, guryaha la awoodi karo, iyo wax ka qabashada waxa uu ku tilmaamay xumaanta xaafadaha ay aafeeyeen daroogooyinka, jiirka, iyo kirooyinka kor u kaca. “Waxaad eegtaa hareeraha oo waxaad aragtaa in alaabtii caadiga ahayd aysan shaqaynayn,” Santana ayaa u sheegay New York Times. “Taasi waa sababta aan ugu baahanahay qof ka baxsan nidaamka, kaasoo la imaan kara muraayad kale.” Santana iyo afar kale oo dhalinyaro ah oo madow iyo Latino ah ayaa lagu eedeeyay kufsiga arxan darada ah ee haweeney jogar ah oo cadaan ah loogu geystay Bartamaha
Park 1989 kii. Kiiskan ayaa soo jiitay qaranka, taasoo ay sii kicisay warbahinta dareenka leh iyo dalabaadyo ciqaab adag. Donald Trump, oo markaa ahaa horumariye hanti ma-guurto ah oo New York ah, ayaa soo saaray xayaysiisyada wargeysyada bog buuxa oo ku baaqaya in dib loo soo celiyo ciqaabta dilka, isagoo leh, “ Soo celi ciqaabta dilka. Soo celi booliiskayagii.” In kasta oo kooxda laga siidaayay 2002-kadib markii kufsiga la xukumay uu qirtay in uu keligiis dhaqmay iyo cadaymaha DNA-da ayaa xaqiijiyay dambigiisa -Trump waligiis raali kama bixin. Dhawaan markii uu ololihiisii madaxtinimada ee 2016,
wuxuu sii waday inuu ku adkaysto dambigooda. “Dhibaatada uu u geystay xayeysiisyadaas dib looma celin karo,” Santana ayaa tiri. “Xitaa ka dib markii nala caddeeyey in aan dambi lahayn, wuu na soo daba socday.”
Santana waxa uu ku dhawaad shan sano ku qaatay xabsiga ka hor inta aan lagu sii
magaalada New York waxay ogolaatay $41 milyan oo heshiis ah Santana iyo afarta nin ee kale - oo inta badan loo yaqaan shanta laga saaray - iyaga oo ku abaalmariya qiyaastii $1 milyan sannad kasta oo la xidho. Tan iyo markii
la sii daayay, Santana waxa uu noqday u doode qaran ee dib u habaynta caddaaladda dembiyada. Wuxuu u socdaalay sidii afhayeen dhiirigelin leh, wuxuu bilaabay khad dhar ah, wuxuuna la shaqeeyay sharci-dejiyeyaasha si loo meel mariyo sharci looga hortagayo xukunnada khaldan. Siyaasaddiisa mudnaanta leh waxaa ka mid ah u baahan in carruurta aan qaan-gaarin ay la tashadaan qareennada ka hor inta aysan ka tanaasulin xuquuqdooda Miranda iyo mamnuucidda tabaha su’aalaha booliiska ee khiyaanada leh. Haddii la doorto, Santana waxa uu ku biirayaa
la siidaayey ee Yusef
kaas oo
waa ay isku dhawaayeen, oo inta badan iska kaashaday dadaallada u doodista. “Mar walba waxaan dhihi jiray kuwa ugu dhow xanuunka waa inay fadhiistaan miiska,” ayuu yidhi Salaam. “Raymond waa caddayn nool oo ah sababta ay taasi muhiim u tahay.” Santana, ololuhu waa shakhsi. “In la helo bulsho i garab istaagtay markii Donald Trump iyo adduunka intiisa kale ay nagu soo weerareen - had iyo jeer waxay lahaan jireen dhabarka,” ayuu yidhi. “Marka, waa inaan haysto kooda.”
Raymond Santana, aliyehukumiwa kimakosa
akiwa kijana katika kesi ya jogger ya Central Park ya 1989, ametangaza kugombea katika Baraza la Jiji la New York. Santana, 50, anagombea kama Mwanademokrasia kuwakilisha sehemu za East Harlem na Bronx, vitongoji vile vile alikulia na alikamatwa kwa uwongo zaidi ya miongo mitatu iliyopita. Kampeni ya Santana inaangazia mageuzi ya haki ya jinai, nyumba za bei
nafuu, na kushughulikia kile alichoelezea kama kuzorota kwa vitongoji vilivyokumbwa na dawa za kulevya, panya, na kodi zinazoongezeka. “Unaangalia pande zote na unaona mambo ya kawaida hayafanyi kazi,” Santana aliambia New York Times. “Ndio maana tunahitaji mtu ambaye yuko nje ya mfumo, ambaye anaweza kuja na lenzi tofauti.” Santana na vijana wengine wanne wa Black na Latino walishtakiwa kwa ubakaji wa kikatili wa mkimbiaji wa kike mweupe katika Hifadhi ya Kati mwaka wa 1989. Kesi hiyo ilivutia taifa, ikichochewa na
matangazo ya vyombo vya habari na madai ya adhabu kali. Donald Trump, ambaye wakati huo alikuwa msanidi wa mali isiyohamishika wa New York, alichukua matangazo ya ukurasa mzima ya gazeti akitaka kurejeshwa kwa hukumu ya kifo, akisema, “Rejesha hukumu ya kifo. Rudisheni polisi wetu.” Licha ya kundi hilo kuachiliwa huru mnamo 2002-baada ya mbakaji aliyepatikana na hatia kukiri kutenda peke yake na ushahidi wa DNA kuthibitisha hatia yake-Trump hajawahi kuomba msamaha. Hivi majuzi katika kampeni zake za urais 2016, aliendelea kusisitiza juu ya hatia yao.
“Uharibifu aliofanya na matangazo hayo hauwezi kutenduliwa,” Santana alisema. “Hata baada ya kuthibitishwa kuwa hatuna hatia, aliendelea kutufuata.” Santana alikaa gerezani kwa takriban miaka mitano kabla ya kuachiliwa kwa msamaha. Mnamo mwaka wa 2014, Jiji la New York lilikubali suluhu la dola milioni 41 na Santana na wanaume wengine wanne-ambao mara nyingi hujulikana kama Watano Waliosamehewakuwatunuku takriban $1 milioni kwa kila mwaka waliokuwa wamefungwa. Tangu kuachiliwa kwake, Santana amekuwa
mtetezi wa kitaifa wa mageuzi kama msemaji wa motisha, akaanzisha kampuni ya nguo, na akafanya kazi na wabunge kupitisha sheria ya kuzuia hukumu zisizo sahihi. Vipaumbele vyake vya sera ni pamoja na kuwahitaji watoto kushauriana na mawakili kabla ya kuondolea mbali haki zao za Miranda na kupiga marufuku mbinu za udanganyifu za kuwahoji polisi. Iwapo atachaguliwa, Santana ataungana na mwanachama mwenzake wa Exonerated Five Yusef Salaam, ambaye alishinda kiti cha Halmashauri ya
Jiji la Harlem mwaka wa 2023. Wanaume hao wawili wameendelea kuwa karibu, mara nyingi wakishirikiana katika juhudi za utetezi. “Siku zote nimesema wale ambao wamekuwa karibu na maumivu wanapaswa kuwa na kiti kwenye meza,” Salaam alisema. “Raymond ni dhibitisho hai kwa nini hiyo ni muhimu.” Kwa Santana, kampeni ni ya kibinafsi. “Kuwa na jumuiya iliyosimama karibu nami wakati Donald Trump na ulimwengu wote walipotushambulia-walikuwa na mgongo wangu kila wakati,” alisema. “Kwa hivyo, lazima nipate yao.”
xubinta
Salaam,
ku guulaystay kursi Golaha Deegaanka ee Harlem 2023. Labada nin
50,
kanna nibiti o ti dagba ati pe Ipolongo Santana fojusi
ati rii pe nkan deede York Times. “Eyi ni idi ti a
igbiyanju agbawi. “Mo ti
Fun Santana, ipolongo nigbati Donald Trump ati
Par Stacy M Brown Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu, Afrodescendientes Somali Text
Par Stacy M Brown Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu, Afrodescendientes Swahili Text
Par Stacy M Brown Translation by Macdonald Anyanwu, Afrodescendientes
Yoruba Text
Klobuchar, Smith say
Potential closure of Fergus Falls Federal Courthouse could undermine public safety and access to justice in Western Minnesota
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) wrote a letter demanding answers about the reported closure and sale of the Edward J. Devitt U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Fergus Falls. This courthouse serves as the only federal court outside of Minnesota’s largest metropolitan areas and houses critical law enforcement offices. In a letter to General Services Administration (GSA)
Administrator Stephen Ehikian and James C. Duff, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Senators raised concerns that shutting it down would restrict access to justice and disrupt public safety in western Minnesota.
“In addition to serving as the only federal courthouse outside Minnesota’s largest metropolitan areas of Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, the building is home to U.S. Marshals Service and
the U.S. Probation Office.
Each of the occupants of the Devitt Building provide essential services, including law enforcement and public safety, for the entire Western Minnesota region and along the northern border with Canada. With an abrupt and unplanned closure, these essential services will be disrupted, putting communities at risk,” wrote the Senators. In the letter, they also raised concerns that
GSA has not followed its own requirements for public engagement and proper planning before offloading federal property. They demanded transparency on whether the federal government intends to close the building and what steps, if any, are being taken to ensure continued access to justice and public safety services in the region.
Legislative update: Rep. Mary Frances Clardy bill provides support for home schooled
Mary Frances Clardy, D-53A, has introduced 24 bills in the Minnesota House, ranging from more providing education benefits for the children of disabled veterans, making more infrastructure improvements, to investing in research to help explain sudden unexplained death in infants, and more.
A bipartisan bill she introduced last week seeks to extend counseling and
guidance services to homeschooled elementary aged children. Co-authored by State Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega the bill . received a hearing in the Education Finance Committee.
“No bill can pass the House without 68 votes,” Clardy said in a newsletter to consituents, “and I’m working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle
to earn bipartisan support on the legislation I’m authoring.” Clardy said DFLers and some Republican legislators have found common ground on is concern over cuts to Medicare and Medicaid by the Trump administration.
A small handful of state Republican legislators sent a letter to their congressional counterparts urging them to stand up against these cuts, as
they’ll hurt people who rely on these services in all corners of the state, she said. “I hope this show of support for public health means they’ll join us this session in strengthening health care and services for people with disabilities, the elderly, sick, and poor- our most vulnerable and marginalized communities - rather than cutting it as some have proposed.”
Clardy said federal
House lawmakers show support for legislation limiting reach of HOAs
By Margaret Stevens
More than 1 million Minnesotans live under a homeowners association, and 86% say they are very happy with the results.
But when association boards or the managers they hire are ineffective, a homeowner can find a $56 fine turn into a foreclosure notice.
Time and again members of a legislative working group examining homeowners associations heard stories of homeowners being billed $2,000 in legal fees for asking a simple question, paying for roof repairs scheduled before a hailstorm hit, and receiving $20,000 assessments for septic repairs with no way to arrange a payment plan.
Even more troubling, say work group members, homeowners have no legal recourse to contest even egregious oversteps by property managers.
Addressing these issues is the goal of HF1268, which, as amended, was approved on a voice vote by the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee Tuesday and sent to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.
The bill aims to establish guidelines so the dream of home ownership doesn’t turn into a nightmare, said Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove), the bill sponsor, adding
By Margaret Stevens
Growing up in an abusive home had a lasting impact on Carol LaFleur. She ended up living on the streets and had to deal with domestic violence and substance abuse issues, leading to multiple stays in nursing homes, psychiatric centers and group homes. Agoraphobic, anorexic and needing a wheelchair to get around, LaFleur ended up confined to one room in her home.
Eventually, she was connected to a well-trained staff member at the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living who saw LaFleur as a whole person with dreams, goals and aspirations. With help from the staff, LaFleur was able to get out into the community, go to school and graduate at the top of her class for law enforcement training. LaFleur now works for the Metropolitan Council Transit Police.
The work of the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living helped turn someone who was a throwaway according to society into someone who is walking, working and paying it forward, LaFleur said.
A bill laid over by
it would put common sense guardrails in place and would ensure board members know what their responsibilities are. Provisions in the bill are based on recommendations made by the Working Group on Common Interest
the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee
Tuesday would provide $14 million in the 2026-27 biennium from the General Fund for a centers of independent living grant program. The total matches current biennial funding, which was increased by $8 million over base in 2023. The money would go to eight centers around Minnesota which are among the few statutory nonprofits in the state. They serve thousands of Minnesotans of all ages and disabilities and assist with a range of activities such as managing finances, choosing a career path and getting a driver’s permit.
Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL-St. Cloud), who sponsors HF1326, said investments in the centers save taxpayers money by keeping people in their homes and in the workforce. In the past two years, the centers helped move more than 1,600 people out of long-term
Communities and Homeowners Associations established by the Legislature last year. The bipartisan, bicameral group met more than 10 times since Sept. 1, 2024, culminating in a consensus list of 41 recommendations. Some
that come with a price tag, such as establishing an ombudsman in the attorney general’s office, are traveling in separate bills. Provisions in the bill would set conflict of interest standards, outlaw excessive fines and fees, ensure association
rules meet a reasonableness standard, offer pathways to resolve disputes early, and limit the use of foreclosure as an enforcement tool.
Other provisions in the bill would: require the
creation of a schedule of fees, fines and charges; make it easier to end a common interest community or homeowners association; eliminate some parking restrictions such as those that prohibit homeowners from parking their work vehicle in their own driveway; and prohibit local governments from predicating development approval on the creation of a homeowner’s association. While applauding the intent of the law, several people said the bill would remove protections for people who are following their association’s rules. Due to caps specified in the bill, fines would be considered the cost of doing business by rulebreakers. Board members said they are struggling to pay for garbage collections because so many residents are not paying their dues. Moreover, it would overburden volunteer board members, said Rep. Wayne Johnson (R-Cottage Grove). He served on his homeowners association board and was more than happy to get off his board because of the hassles. “If you’re going to make it harder and harder to volunteer, what happens when these HOAs dissolve because no one will do it?” he said.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.)
Mary Frances Clardy, D-53A
Photo by Andrew VonBank
a bipartisan moment, Rep. Kristin Bahner and Rep. Shane Mekeland converse while presenting HF1268 to the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee March 4. The bill would create a homeowners association and common interest community reform package.
Photo by Michele Jokinen
Carol LaFleur, a former client of Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, shares her story while testifying in support of HF1326 before the House workforce committee March 4. Rep. Dan Wolgamott, left, is the bill sponsor.
Akua Goes to the Post Office
By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor
AKUA
GOES TO THE POST OFFICE
By Dr. Artika Tyner
Literacy matters, and through literacy, we also teach our children skills. Last week, Dr. Artika Tyner took us on a visit to the library through the characters of Kojo, his dad, and his friends. This week, we get to spend time with Kojo’s friend Akua in Akua Goes to the Post
Office.
Though Akua is excited to visit her grandparents and cousins in the South for the summer, she thinks about missing her friends. This gives her the idea about writing letters to them while she is away, and with her mother and her friends, she goes to the post office to buy stamps.
After picking out and buying the stamps, Akua, Kofi and Kojo write their respective letters, and Mama shows them how to address a letter before
Children’s Theatre
Company, employees announce contract agreement
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, IATSE Local 13 workers voted to ratify their first contract in a union meeting last month.
The contract supports CTC’s nearly 50 ushers, ticket takers, front of house associates, ticket office associates, performance supervisors and concessions leads.
Marking a nearly twoyear process, organizing began in February 2023, with cards signed by 80% of impacted workers by April 2023. IATSE requested voluntary recognition on December 20, 2023 and Children’s Theatre Company acknowledged its recognition on January 15, 2024. Bargaining began at that
time and continued through leadership changes at the Children’s Theatre Company in summer 2024, reaching conclusion in January 2025.
An IATSE representative added, “While bargaining began slowly, we have appreciated the consistent attention to these negotiations from CTC throughout and
since the company underwent a change in both the artistic and managing director roles last summer. We are pleased that our work together has produced meaningful gains for member employees and strengthened CTC’s workforce.”
I remember how good it felt to receive a letter—especially a handwritten one--when I was away at college, and the letters my parents wrote to each other during their courtship. And yes, I have written plenty of letters in my time. After all, to be a good writer, you must be a good reader.
I loved the Afrocentric aura of this book, and how parents and people in the community are an integral part of the learning experience. This is another book I would recommend as part of a personal
library, to share with children, grandchildren, and students. My hat tip to Dr. Tyner for continuing to show us that reading while teaching skill sets is fun and exciting. Akua Goes to the Post Office is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the Planting People Growing Justice website (www.ppgjli. org). Thank you, Artika, for reminding us of the importance of letters.
De-complicating Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement plans.
By Albert — UCare plan de-complicator
When you reach Medicare age, it can be a little overwhelming. It’s like a whole new puzzle of health plan coverage that needs to be solved. There are many who call me and ask, “Can you just put it together for me?”
At UCare, we can certainly do that. But we also really want members to understand what they are getting and why. The plan you select all depends on your life and what kind of coverage you need and don’t need.
Apart from Original Medicare, there are two plan types that people who are aging into Medicare gravitate toward: Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans. Let’s dive in.
Medicare Advantage plans
Think of a Medicare Advantage plan like a bundle of benefits. It combines your Original Medicare, Part A (hospital insurance) with Part B (medical insurance). UCare Medicare Advantage plans give you extra coverage and benefits like dental, prescription
eyewear and hearing aids. Most plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D), which can become increasingly important as you age.
UCare has been offering Medicare Advantage plans since 1998 — longer than any other health plan provider in Minnesota. And today, they’re some of the most popular plans. We have a range of Medicare Advantage plans to choose from that include coverage while you travel and allowances for over-the-counter purchases.
One more thing: UCare Medicare Advantage plans work fantastically for local Minnesotans, due to their large network that includes 97% of Minnesota medical clinics and hospitals.* So if you have a clinic you’ve always used, your chances are good that it’s in-network. And with no referral needed to see a specialist, getting the care you need is easy.
Medicare Supplement plans
A Medicare Supplement plan is something you pair with your Original Medicare. In other words, it supplements your plan. Get it? These policies help pay for the out-of-pocket costs that are not covered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
The main benefits of a UCare Medicare Supplement plan is protection and predictability.
You will have low or no copays or coinsurance when you get care, so your costs are predictable. Your monthly premiums are your main costs — no more unexpected medical bills. Speaking of, UCare’s Medicare Supplement plans offer some of the lowest Medicare Supplement premiums in Minnesota.
Another great benefit of a Medicare Supplement plan is the nationwide coverage. You can see any doctor who accepts Medicare patients, anywhere you go in all 50 states. This is especially useful whether you’re traveling, moving or living in a place where there are fewer providers nearby.
You also get extras like no-cost fitness memberships and discounts on hearing aids.
Why roll with UCare?
I’ve just gone over a couple categories of plans, but please know that we have a variety of plans for everyone, all across Minnesota! Each of them is designed to meet your health and lifestyle needs. The best way to know which one is right for you is to sit down with a broker, or someone like myself, to help find the plan that’s right for you.
Finally, I’ve been riding with UCare for nearly 10 years now, and I can honestly tell you — it’s the people who make our com-
pany go. That’s why we often say we’re “people powered” — never stopping until we know that you understand your plan and you’re comfortable with it. And if there’s ever a problem, we don’t send you up a phone tree. We work the problem individually until it’s solved. It might be why nearly 95% of UCare Medicare Advantage members choose to stay with UCare year after year.**
If you have any questions about anything I’ve covered, you should reach out to your local broker. They can help you decide which plan makes the most sense. Visit ucare.org/ma to find a broker near you.
You can also give UCare a call at 1-866-460-5093 or stop by the headquarters in NE Minneapolis or our Duluth office.
UCare
Traumatic brain injuries have toxic effects that last weeks after initial impact − an antioxidant material reduces this damage in mice
By Aaron Priester Postdoctoral Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in the world. Blunt force trauma to the brain, often from a bad fall or traffic accident, accounts for the deaths of over 61,000 Americans each year. Over 80,000 will develop some long-term disability.
While much of the physical brain damage occurs instantly – called the primary stage of injury – additional brain damage can result from the destructive chemical processes that arise in the body minutes to days to weeks following initial impact. Unlike the primary stage of injury, this secondary stage could potentially be prevented by targeting the molecules driving damage.
I am a materials science engineer, and my colleagues and I are working to design treatments to neutralize the harm of secondary traumatic brain injury and reduce neurodegeneration. We designed a new material that could target and neutralize brain-damaging molecules in mice, improving their cognitive recovery and offering a potential new treatment for people.
Biochemical fallout
The primary stage of traumatic brain injury can severely damage and even destroy the blood-brain barrier –an interface protecting the brain by limiting what can enter it.
Disruption of this barrier triggers damaged neurons or the immune system to release certain chemicals that result in destructive biochemical processes. One process called excitotoxicity occurs when too many calcium ions are allowed into neurons, activating enzymes that fragment DNA and damage cells, causing death. Another process, neuroinflammation, results from the activation of cells called microglia that can trigger inflammation in damaged areas of the brain.
These secondary phase processes also produce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. These molecules, which include free radicals, chemically modify and deform essential proteins in cells, rendering them useless. They can also break DNA strands, leading to potentially damaging genetic mutations.
If left unchecked, harm from this oxidative stress can have devastating consequences for long-term health and neurocognitive recovery. Researchers have linked the biochemical changes and byproducts resulting from this cascade of damaging molecules to the development of long-term neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, among others.
However, compounds called antioxidants can target this oxidative stress and improve long-term neurocognitive recovery by chemically interacting with reactive oxygen species in a way that can neutralize their damaging properties.
Finding the ideal antioxidant
My team and I studied whether an antioxidant called a thiol group could help treat traumatic brain injury.
Thiol groups are chemical compounds that contain a sulfur atom bound to a hydrogen atom. Sulfur atoms are much larger than hydrogen atoms, which means the sulfur atom in a thiol has a strong pull on a hydrogen atom’s lone electron. This weakens the bond between the hydrogen and its electron, allowing the hydrogen to easily give up its electron to other atoms.
As a result, thiols readily interact with many different reactive oxygen species, including the ones that damage DNA. We chose thiols not only for their antioxiant properties, but also for their ability to bind to and neutralize other braindamaging molecules called lipid peroxidation products. These neurotoxic compounds are formed as byproducts when reactive oxygen species damage fats in the body.
To get these thiols into the body, we incorporated them into materials called polymers. These are long chains of organic molecules made of individual units called monomers. To get the monomers to link together, a lone electron – or free radical – initiates a bond with a monomer, triggering a chain reaction. Think of this process like knocking down a series of dominoes: The push of your hand (the free radical in this instance) hits a domino (the monomer) and subsequently knocks down the rest of the dominoes to form a line (the polymer).
Because thiols can inhibit this process of polymerization, we had to make a monomer with a so-called protecting group that can be chemically removed after polymerization to become our thiols. Since a-lipoic acid, a common supplement found in pharmacies, contains such a protecting thiol group, we used it to make our monomer.
We then made a chain of these monomers with RAFT, a controlled process by which polymers can be designed to leave the body through the urine. To do this, a water-soluble co-monomer can be added into the chain, allowing the polymer to dissolve in the bloodstream.
Finally, we treated the polymers to remove the protecting group, producing thiol polymers ready for further testing.
Testing on TBI Next, we tested how well our thiol polymers neutralized reactive oxygen species.
First, we used a technique called UV-visible spectrophotometry, which shines a laser into a cell sample containing both our polymer and brain-damaging molecules. If there are reactive oxygen species present in the sample, the light
will be minimally absorbed. But if our polymer neutralizes these compounds, then the light will be heavily absorbed. Through these studies, we found that our thiol polymer neutralized reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide by as much as 50%, and other neurotoxic molecules such as acrolein by as much as 100%, thus protecting neurons from damage.
We conducted additional tests by exposing fluorescent proteins to free radicals, finding that proteins that weren’t treated with our thiol polymers were destroyed. Proteins that were treated continued to be fluorescent, indicating that our thiol polymer neutralized the free radical and protected the protein.
Lastly, we injected the thiol polymers into mice with traumatic brain injury. Brain scans showed that our polymer not only successfully concentrated in the damaged area of the brain but also provided immediate protection from further injury. Our thiol polymer was able to reduce reactive oxygen species in injured mice to just 3% over the normal levels found in uninjured mice. Untreated mice with traumatic brain injury had a 45% increase compared with uninjured mice.
Future work on thiol polymers
Our findings suggest that these thiol polymers may serve as a potential treatment for the secondary stage of traumatic brain injury. Further testing can help determine whether this material could potentially reduce the risk of long-term disability. We are currently developing a cheap process to incorporate thiols with tiny nanoparticles. This may help increase the number of thiols in the material while also improving its ability to circulate in the bloodstream for longer protection.
Many additional studies in animals are needed to confirm the effectiveness of our material in treating traumatic brain injury. If our results continue to be positive, we aim to test the effectiveness of our material in people through clinical trials. We hope these treatments could improve the long-term outcomes for victims of car crashes, falls or even sportrelated injuries to the brain.
Aaron Priester received funding from the NIH. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Legislation proposes overhaul of Minnesota’s child care tax credit
By Todd Abeln
Child care for the youngest children is usually the most expensive.
Expanding the dependent care credit would assist with those child care expenses.
“We have decided to target the youngest Minnesotans, particularly to just help with child care costs,” said Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie), who sponsors HF1384. The House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill Tuesday and referred it to the House Taxes Committee.
Besides increasing the maximum credit rate to 50% and raising the maximum amount of expenses eligible for the credit to $10,000, $20,000, or $25,000, for taxpayers with one, two, or three children younger than age 5, the bill is also income adjusted.
The bill would establish a two-tier phaseout of the credit, with the first tier beginning at $125,000 of adjusted gross income and the second tier
beginning at $400,000.
The result, KotyzaWitthuhn said, is more families in Minnesota would benefit.
“Middle class families have gotten just about nothing in terms of help,” said Clare Sanford, government relations chair for the Minnesota Child Care Association. “We can’t keep looking at helping families with child care expenses as only something we do for low-income families.”
Although there isn’t a current fiscal note, KotyzaWitthuhn acknowledged that it’s a costly proposal but there’s a lot of families with children who need that support. The bill would allow taxpayers who participate in a dependent care assistance program to claim the credit, but it would require an addition for dependent care contributions that were excluded from adjusted gross income. Currently, the state credit is equal to the amount allowed under
“While I lived in Alabama, my friends who worked at Hennepin Healthcare told me about how wonderful it was. They tried convincing me to move to Minneapolis and work with them, but it wasn’t until a family member got sick that I truly considered it. My family member was hospitalized here, and when I came to visit them, I was so impressed by the care they received. The healthcare staff were so kind and attentive.
