Insight ::: 05.20.2024

GEORGE FLOYD WEEK

TGIF: TWINS GAME IS FRIDAY

Celebrate the start of your weekend at the ballpark. Grab your gear and cheer, Twins Game is Friday, and we want you here!

612 SATURDAYS

Get to Target Field early to secure your favorite gate giveaways and your pregame snacks and beverages!

SUNDAY KIDS DAY

presented by Target and Gillette Children’s

It’s Kids Day, with Bullseye’s Backyard, interactive games, baseball card photo station, face painting and more!

Your ’Sota Summers are at Target Field from Memorial Day to Labor Day!

Improving child welfare to help kids heal and thrive in early education years

By Fatima Killebrew

As I recently walked the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, each step carried the weight of purpose and possibility. I was nervous about meeting with members of Congress, who hold the power to act on issues that affect my family and many others. I worried: What if I stumbled over my words? What if I failed to convey the sense of urgency and the depth of my passion for family reunification? But as I walked to my first meeting, those doubts faded. Nerves were overpowered by determination as I remembered my mission — advocating for babies and toddlers, who don’t have a voice in the child welfare system. I focused on my message: We must ensure they have the nurturing relationships, stable homes, and access to mental

health services they need to thrive socially, emotionally, mentally, physically, and academically as they grow and develop. I was at the Capitol with families from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as part of the annual Strolling Thunder™ event, an initiative of ZERO TO THREE to create a national movement urging policymakers to prioritize the needs of infants, toddlers, and their families. We met with lawmakers to discuss investing in childcare; expanding Early Head Start; investing in infant and early childhood mental health; establishing a national permanent paid family and medical leave program; permanently reinstating the enhanced, fully refundable child tax credit; and my focus, improving the child welfare system. We urged them to enact legislation that supports

good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences. As a foster and adoptive parent, I know that when babies and toddlers are separated from their families, they carry that trauma into their early education years and beyond. That is why I am particularly concerned that early childhood educators are equipped with information and training about infant and early childhood mental health, so they are better able to support all children — and particularly my children — in early learning settings. Strolling Thunder was an opportunity for ordinary people like me to advocate for extraordinary, long-overdue change. I learned about it through the Memphis Parent Leadership Training Institute, which provided 20 weeks of classes that taught me about community advocacy — and helped me

find my calling in advocating for siblings in foster care. The Capitol Hill meetings were a testament to the potential for change through dialogue and affirmed the power of personal connection. Each interaction felt like a step toward progress, from talking with staff members for Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty to meeting with Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis and his team. I felt especially seen and heard during a meeting with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services staffers. As we shared personal stories to make the case for mental health services and child welfare system improvements, the staffers’ expressions conveyed genuine concern for families like mine. As a wife, mother, social worker, and foster care advocate in Memphis,

Trump promises to deport all undocumented immigrants, resurrecting a 1950s strategy but it didn’t work then

By Katrina Burgess Professor of Political

While campaigning in Iowa last September, former President Donald Trump made a promise to voters if he were elected again:

“Following the Eisenhower model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” he said. Trump, who made a similar pledge during his first presidential campaign, has recently repeated this promise at rallies across the country. Trump was referring to Operation Wetback, a military-style campaign launched by the Eisenhower administration in the summer of 1954 to end undocumented immigration by deporting hundreds of thousands of Mexicans. “Wetback” was a widely used ethnic slur for Mexicans who illegally crossed the Rio Grande, the river dividing Mexico and the U.S. Trump says that he can replicate Operation Wetback on a much grander scale by setting up temporary immigration detention centers

and relying on local, state and federal authorities, including National Guard troops, to remove the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants now living in the U.S. As a migration scholar, I find Trump’s proposal to be both disturbing and misleading. Besides playing to unfounded and dehumanizing fears of an immigrant invasion, it misrepresents the context and impact of Eisenhower’s policy while ignoring the vastly changed landscape of U.S. immigration today.

Operation Wetback In May 1954, U.S. Attorney General Harold Brownell appointed Joseph Swing, a retired general, to lead the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or INS, in a “special program to apprehend and deport aliens illegally in this country from areas along the southern border.” Until 2003, the INS was responsible for immigration and border control, now handled by multiple federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Swing ramped up a decade-long practice of using special task forces composed of INS agents who could be rapidly deployed where needed

in order to locate and deport undocumented workers. The operation began in California and then spread to Arizona and Texas. INS agents set up roadblocks and raided fields, factories, neighborhoods and saloons where immigrants were working or socializing. The INS also built a vast wire-fenced security camp, according to the Los Angeles Times, in order to detain apprehended immigrants in Los Angeles before

sending them to the border.

Captured immigrants were put on hot, overcrowded buses or rickety boats and sent to designated border crossings in Arizona and Texas, where they were forced to cross back into Mexico. Some found themselves stranded in the Mexican desert just over the border. In one incident, 88 migrants died of sunstroke

Governor Tim Walz today announced over $100 million in state grants will be awarded to organizations serving Minnesotans facing homelessness. The money is supporting a number of services including street outreach, shelter, and harm reduction for drug users.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services awarded four sets of grants to support Minnesotans experiencing homelessness late last year, after a streamlined application process. Governor Walz and the Minnesota Legislature approved the funding during the 2023 session.

Funds went to 135

organizations

Alvedia E. Smith affectionately called “Veetsey” by her father A.B. Cassius, passed away March 16, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, her parents, a brother and one foster child. She was a Minneapolis Central High school graduate ad continued her education at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Smith worked at the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department as an investigator, and later retired from there. Smith leaves behind a daughter, Saundra “Sandy”, a son, Suluki, seven grandchildren; two sisters in law, many nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and

friends. Her life was honored in a homegoing service on April 18, 2024 at St. Peters AME Church, 401 East 41st Street with her burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Obituaries described her “passing quietly.” In a sense, Smith’s life was quiet-even her voice was confined to nearly a whisper within the backdrop of the loud roaring‘60’s. This contrast was evident also in the colorful persona of her “bigger than life” father- A.B. Cassius. He was flamboyant in both speech and attire. His outward brilliance was surpassed by his business savvy-especially

Congressional Black Caucus members are putting pressure on the Biden-Harris administration to grant protections to Haitians fleeing to the U.S. amid the unrest in the Caribbean nation.

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told the AFRO the administration needs to stop deporting Haitians who are seeking refuge in the U.S.

“To deport anyone to Haiti right now is nothing short of a death sentence. The headlines may have faded, but this humanitarian crisis continues to worsen with every day,” said Pressley. “We’re not waning in our advocacy and in this fight – we’re going to keep fighting and holding everyone accountable to keep their word on behalf of the people of Haiti.”

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., also

in the Twin Cities

weighed in.

She was the daughter of A.B. Cassius, “the Godfather” of Black social space in Twin Cities Alvedia E. Smith dies

Alvedia E. Smith

Tim Walz

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told the AFRO the administration needs to stop deporting Haitians who are seeking refuge in the U.S.

WALZ

Fatima Killebrew and her family visited the U.S. Capitol with families from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as part of the annual

Strolling Thunder™ event, an initiative of ZERO TO THREE. She’s particularly concerned that “early childhood educators are equipped with information and training about infant and early childhood mental health, so they are better able to support all children — and particularly my children — in early learning settings.”

By Ashlee Banks | Special to the AFRO

Commission on Judicial Selection recommends First Judicial District candidates to Governor Walz

The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to

fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. The vacancy occurred upon the retirement of the Honorable Shawn M. Moynihan. This seat will be chambered in Hastings in Dakota County.

Christopher Bates: Christopher Bates is an assistant county attorney in the Civil Division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. He previously served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Minneapolis, handling criminal cases with a focus on domestic violence, and as an assistant county attorney for the McLeod County Attorney’s

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.)

announced Minnesota will receive historic funding to identify and replace lead pipes across the state. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, drinking, breathing, eating or touching food, water and other materials that contain lead can damage the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. In children, lead can also slow development or cause learning, behavior, and hearing problems.

Minnesota is receiving a total of $86,566,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith helped pass, to support the Biden Administration’s goal of replacing every

Bates’s community involvement includes serving on the board of Mental Health Resources. He also volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities and as a mock trial judge with the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Luis Rangel Morales: Luis Rangel Morales is a staff attorney and director of community engagement for the Neighborhood Justice Center, where he represents low-income community members facing criminal charges in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties. He has also served as defense counsel for the Ramsey County Veterans Treatment Court and Ramsey County DUI Court. Rangel Morales’s community

lead pipe in America.

“Lead exposure from aging water pipes is dangerous and it’s long past time for an upgrade,” said Senator Klobuchar. “With this federal funding, Minnesota will identify and replace old service lines to protect our water supply from lead contamination.”

involvement includes serving as chair of the St. Paul Planning Commission and as vicechair of St. Paul’s Board of Zoning Appeals. He has also volunteered with organizations helping at-risk youth.

Mary Russell: Mary Russell is an assistant attorney general at the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, where she handles criminal prosecution and serves as a member of multiple antihuman trafficking task forces. She previously worked as an assistant county attorney at the Dakota County Attorney’s Office and as an assistant county attorney at the Kanabec County Attorney’s Office. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of

Tennessee, I have experienced the complexities and challenges families face. My own blended family of nine has navigated foster care, striving to keep siblings together and connected with their families.

“Minnesotans know the value of clean water—in fact, we were the first state to put statewide water quality standards in place over 50 years ago,” said Senator Smith. “This is an investment in the health and safety of Minnesota families, including families living in underserved communities who have historically been left out of infrastructure upgrades. I was proud to support the President’s legislation to deliver this funding.”

Children under age 3 enter the child welfare system at higher rates than any other age demographic; and in my home state, Black children are removed from their homes more often than children in any other racial group.

In my family’s foster care experience, I have seen my daughter Remy’s joy in knowing she has a baby brother, and her disappointment at hearing he

metropolitan area and Greater Minnesota, reaching people experiencing homelessness in

“All Minnesotans should have access to safe,

can’t come home. Remy was initially separated from her parents and siblings. I made it a mission to reunite her with her biological siblings, Amir and Khai. Despite obstacles due to outdated policies and understaffing, we reunited Remy and Amir, thanks to the support of their biological family. But our journey continues to reunite all three siblings. We won’t stop pushing so they can heal

all 87 counties. “Housing is one of the most foundational human needs, yet, across the state thousands of people struggle to find and maintain stable housing,” said Governor Walz.

clean drinking water. Right now, there are more than 100,000 lead water service lines around our state leaching lead into drinking water and threatening our health,” said Minnesota Department

together and be with relatives who share their values, culture, and medical history. And in the meantime, my children need support from an early care system that responds to their social and emotional needs.

In D.C., I called on legislators to support the Strengthening America’s Families Act. We must prioritize reunification, invest in preventive measures, and provide comprehensive

“Addressing the issue of homelessness is a top priority, and this funding is a major step in the right direction.

The 135 organizations receiving state grants are meeting people where they’re

of Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham. “We are tremendously grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency for their support and funding to tackle this critical issue. Last year I was proud to work with Governor Walz to secure an investment of more than $240 million at the state level to ensure that these needed replacements did not come at a burdensome cost to homeowners, and today’s announcement from the EPA ensures that even more Minnesotans will not have to choose between costly repairs to aging infrastructure and safe drinking water for their families.”

Lead pipes can be

mental health support to children and families. My family is proof there are alternatives. We shouldn’t have to fight so hard to keep siblings together.

found across Minnesota. In Minneapolis, almost 75 percent of kids who test positive for lead are kids of color. Last year, 95,000 residents in Saint Paul received notice that the city detected elevated levels of lead in their drinking water, which the city attributed to lead pipes running from residents’ water mains in their street to their homes. Similar reports of dangerous lead levels have been reported in Rochester and Duluth in the last several years. This funding complements legislation passed by the Minnesota State Legislature, which dedicated $240 million to replacing every lead pipe in the state in the next 10 years.

As I left Capitol Hill with my son Amir, I felt hopeful that Congress could enact meaningful changes. Our collective voice can pave the way for a more compassionate and effective child welfare system that prioritizes child well-being and reunification, as well as a childcare system that centers on social and emotional development. As I see my children interact, I know that keeping these siblings together will only strengthen their potential to thrive throughout their early education years and beyond.

at to get them on their feet.

Whether providing hot meals, chemical health assessment and treatment, or shelter space, their services are vital. Together we are making real strides to end homelessness in Minnesota.”

“Housing is more than a roof over head.

It’s health, safety, and a springboard for opportunity, and every Minnesotan deserves a safe place to call home,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “That’s why this funding is so important. Spread between 135 organizations across Minnesota, these grants will ensure that everyone can access the supports they need to find and secure safe, stable housing. Together with DHS we are continuing towards our mission of preventing and ending homelessness.”

“Each Minnesotan who is homeless has their own unique needs,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “Awarding grants to a wide variety of organizations helps ensure services will be there to meet the needs.”

Funds will support projects including:

 Involve MN, Hennepin and Ramsey counties. This funding will support an outreach team delivering hot meals 365 days a year for lunch and dinner to people in encampments and temporary living spaces in the Twin Cities.

 Mille Lacs Band, Mille Lacs. This grant will support the operation of a Tribal government day shelter in a recently remodeled space to provide access to services like showers, laundry and meals, as well as housing search support, case management for employment, culturally specific services and other resources.

 Southside Harm Reduction Services, Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The grantees provide harm reduction services via outreach to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who use drugs, primarily in or near Minneapolis and St. Paul. Services include syringe exchange, naloxone distribution, education, rapid HIV testing and referrals to social services including housing.

 The StreetWorks Outreach Collaborative, Twin Cities metropolitan area. Administered by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota in collaboration with several other youth-serving organizations, this program provides street outreach services in locations throughout the Twin Cities. They promote harm reduction by providing safer-use supplies to youth who are using drugs. They also provide opioid overdose prevention and response trainings to services providers and youth in the community.

 Chum and Human Development Center, Duluth/ St. Louis County. The funds will support more street outreach capacity in Duluth with people who are unsheltered on the streets, in the woods or living in encampments. These connections can help ensure their safety and access to services, direct people to mental and/or chemical health assessment and treatment, discuss their involvement with law enforcement and address other issues. About 55%

the Zero Abuse Project Advisory Board for Excellence in Child Exploitation Investigations and as a mock trial judge.

She has also volunteered with organizations that assist victims of domestic and sexual abuse. For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.

Minnesota Reformer

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith

Christopher Bates Luis Rangel Morales Mary Russell

before the Red Cross arrived with water and medical attention. Others were delivered to Mexican authorities, who loaded them onto trains headed deeper into Mexico.

By mid-August, INS agents had deported more than 100,000 immigrants across the U.S. Southwest. Fearing apprehension, thousands more reportedly fled back to Mexico on their own. Most of these immigrants were young Mexican men, but the INS also targeted families, removing nearly 9,000 family members, including children, from the Rio Grande Valley in August. There is also evidence of U.S. citizens getting caught up in the INS sweeps.

Operation Wetback wound down its operations a few months later, and Swing declared in January 1955 that “the day of the wetback is over.” The INS disbanded its special

mobile task forces, and the deportation of undocumented immigrants plummeted over the next decade.

Not just about deportation

Operation Wetback made the headlines and disrupted countless lives, but it was more show than substance when it came to deportation.

The government’s claim to have deported more than 1 million Mexicans during the summer of 1954 does not stand up to scrutiny. The 1.1 million figure was for the entire fiscal year, which ended in June 1954, and a sizable share of these apprehensions were repeat arrests, sometimes in a single day. Moreover, over 97% of these deportations occurred without a formal order of removal. Instead, migrants agreed, or were coerced, to leave the country after being apprehended.

Despite Trump-like rhetoric decrying a “wetback invasion” across the U.S.Mexico border, Operation Wetback’s main objective was not to remove Mexican immigrants but rather to frighten

U.S. farmers, especially in Texas, into hiring them legally. This tactic largely worked. A crucial but often overlooked detail about Operation Wetback is that it happened at the same time as the Bracero Program, a massive guest-worker program between the U.S. and Mexico. Between 1942 and 1964, U.S. employers issued over 4.6 million shortterm contracts to more than 400,000 Mexican farm workers. Nearly three-quarters of these contracts were issued between 1955 and 1964 – after the INS carried out Operation Wetback.

Operation Wetback is unlikely to have led to a dramatic decline in undocumented immigration had Mexican workers not had a legal option for entering the United States. As one immigrant caught up in Operation Wetback commented, “I will come back – legally, if possible. If not, I’ll just walk across again.”

The INS explicitly recognized the connection between the Bracero Program and the decline in undocumented immigration in a 1958 report, stating that “should

… a restriction be placed on the number of braceros allowed to enter the United States, we can look forward to a large increase in the number of illegal alien entrants into the United States.” It is no coincidence that the lull in migrants illegally crossing the U.S-Mexico border after Operation Wetback did not last once the Bracero Program ended in 1964. Mexicans still had strong incentives to migrate, but now they had to do so without visas or work contracts, contributing to a steady increase in border arrests after 1965 that surpassed 1 million in 1976 and reached nearly 2 million in 2000.

Real lessons If he were to win the presidency again, Trump would have the legal authority to deport undocumented immigrants, but the logistical, political and legal obstacles to doing so quickly and massively are even greater today than they were in the 1950s.

First, most undocumented immigrants now live in cities, where immigrant sweeps are more difficult to

carry out. The INS learned this lesson when Operation Wetback shifted from the largely rural Southwest to urban areas in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest in September 1954. Despite transferring hundreds of agents to these locations and using similar tactics, INS agents produced far fewer apprehensions as they struggled to find and detain immigrants.

Second, the U.S. undocumented population is much more dispersed and diverse than in the 1950s. Today, Mexicans are no longer in the majority, and nearly half of undocumented immigrants live outside the six major hubs for immigrants – California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Third, most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. did not sneak across the border. An estimated 42% entered the country legally but overstayed a visa illegally.

Another 17% requested and received a short-term legal status that protects them from immediate deportation.

Finally, mass deportations are likely to spark

a more broad-based resistance today than happened in the 1950s. Once staunchly opposed to undocumented immigration, most labor unions and MexicanAmerican organizations are now in the pro-immigrant camp. Likewise, the Mexican government, which helped with Operation Wetback, is unlikely to allow massive numbers of non-Mexicans to be deported to its territory without the proper documentation. Trump has not supported a way to provide undocumented immigrants with a legal alternative, which means that migrants will keep finding ways to cross illegally. Katrina Burgess does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

within the ugly specter of racism oppressing Blacks during this period drenched in Jim Crow and segregation.

Many identified Cassius for his very popular Nacirema (American spelled backwards) Club in South Minneapolis. However, many of his properties were listed in the

“Green book” which provided a list of safe lodging and business for Blacks travelers to find refuge in during the height of oppressive Jim Crow laws . Not only were the segregated public facilities inferior, but they were also dangerous, leaving many Blacks maimed-even murdered simply because they needed to use a restroom.

Not only was his restaurants listed in the Green Book, Anthony Brutus Cassius successfully created a social zone in Minneapolis, something

that had not existed before. This was best actualized by his Dreamland Café located on the corner of 38th 4th Avenue.

Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine wrote” Cassius was the mayor of the old southside-the Godfather of Black social space in Minneapolis.” Perhaps one could say that AB Cassius was shaped and defined by the time in which he lived. At the Dreamland Café at 38th street and 4th Avenue

celebrities like Lena Horn and other stars often visited

there while staying in Black homes because hotels barred accommodations to Blacks.

To his credit , AB Cassius was President of Union # 614 and a member o Tthe Central Labor Union, and board member of Hotel of and Restaurant Union, and of Minneapolis Urban League. A.B Cassius’s personality loomed extravagantly over his gentle soft spoken only daughter Alvedia , who dressed as softly as she spoke.

In remembering her grandfather Sandy Smith remembers him opening his clubs to inner-city teenagers to keep them from harm after MLK was assassinated when cities exploded with gunfire, Molotov cocktails and smoke . He did this with no” fanfare. He just quietly let all of us kids in.” While Alvedia Smith spoke softly, enjoying the comfort of her home, her children-and a few foster kids, as she grew older she witnessed her community in decline and

growing more dangerous each year. At 73 years old Alvedia Smith voiced her concerns about the safety of her son and grandson. She wondered if they would become victims of gun violence . She covered them and protected them with that soft maternal voice, and in Alex Haley style, evoked the legacy of their grandfather who paved a protective shield around two cities which still bear his footprints.

to the president of the United States, ‘stop the deportation.’”

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, D-Fla. said in a statement obtained by the AFRO that “in the face of the crisis in Haiti, our moral compass and international duty compel us to step forward, not just to alleviate the immediate suffering of the Haitian people, but to address the systemic problems forcing Haitians to flee their homeland.”

targeting the nation’s police stations, airports and the country’s largest port, which has resulted in food insecurity.

Members have stressed that many Haitians are on the verge of starvation and it is essential that the BidenHarris administration intervene.

In recent months, Haiti has seen an uptick in violence due to armed gangs

The violence in the Caribbean nation comes as gang members have grown frustrated

with the postponement of presidential elections following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. After Moïse’s death, Ariel Henry, who recently stepped down as Haiti’s prime minister, came into power and held the position for three years. Gang members believed Henry was abusing his authority and demanded he step down.

Last month, Henry

resigned, and Haiti’s transitional council named Fritz Bélizaire as the country’s new prime minister in hopes of quelling the violence in the nation.

U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., told the AFRO “Haiti deserves a democratic transition led by its own civil society. This right to self-government is inherent to every nation. It means that the Haitian people — not external forces — should decide the concepts of consent and sovereignty that guide their future.” Clarke added, “The United States can help repay a debt to Haiti by fostering a democratic transition that allows its people to freely determine their path.”

Sports

“Amid global unrest, anticipation grows: Perspective of the 2024 Summer Olympic games

Editor

By Leahjean M. Denley, MBA

The 2024 Olympics face significant hurdles due to global unrest, political tensions, and logistical challenges. Despite these obstacles, the Games continue, but their context is far from ordinary. The countdown to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Friday, July 26, 2024 – Sunday, August 11, 2024, is well underway, and anticipation is reaching fever pitch as the world prepares for another unforgettable celebration of athleticism, unity, and global culture. Set against the iconic backdrop of the City of Light, the Paris Olympics promise to captivate audiences with thrilling competitions, historic venues, and moments of triumph that will inspire generations to come.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Paris Olympics is the introduction of five new competitions that will make their debut on the Olympic stage. To provide a positive distraction from the unrest, these innovative events

re

flect the evolving landscape of sports and showcase the diverse talents of athletes from around the world:

 Breaking, the dynamic and expressive street dance form, will take center stage, captivating audiences with its electrifying energy and jaw-dropping moves.

 Skateboarding will make its Olympic debut in Paris, showcasing the aerial acrobatics and fearless creativity of athletes as they navigate street and park courses with precision and style.

 Sport Climbing, a test of strength, agility, and mental fortitude, will challenge athletes to conquer vertical walls and reach new heights in three disciplines: speed climbing, bouldering, and lead climbing.

 Surfing, with its roots in ancient Polynesian culture, will bring the thrill of riding the waves to the Olympic program, celebrating the harmony between athletes and nature.

Although the addition of new competitions has generated excitement and anticipation, there are also some notable omissions from the Paris Olympics. The following lists

five sports that were featured in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that will not be included in the Paris Games:

 Baseball [M]and Softball [W], which made a triumphant return to the Olympic program in Tokyo after a 13-year absence, will not be part of the Paris Olympics.

 Baseball [M]and Softball [W], despite their popularity in many countries, scheduling conflicts and differing levels of international interest have posed challenges to their continued inclusion in the Games.

 Bowling, with its global appeal and accessibility,

 Karate, a martial art steeped in tradition and discipline, will make its return to the Olympics, captivating audiences with its grace, precision, and explosive power.

was not included in the Paris Olympics, despite efforts by bowling federations to secure a spot in the Games.

 Squash has been lobbying for inclusion in the Olympic Games for many years, but it has yet to secure a spot in the official program. Despite its global popularity and the efforts of squash federations, it also was not added to the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Wait… no baseball? “Say it ain’t so, Joe!”

Sports Editor

By Leahjean M. Denley, MBA

Baseball’s omission from the 2024 Olympic games was glossed over in the previous article. Historically, considered “as American as Apple Pie,” baseball has faced challenges in gaining consistent inclusion in the Olympics due to various factors such as scheduling conflicts with the MLB season, differing levels of popularity in different regions, and the International Olympic Committee’s desire to rotate sports and maintain a manageable number of events.

However, many players and managers have expressed their support for baseball’s presence in the Olympic Games when it has been included. They see it as an opportunity to showcase the sport on a global stage and to inspire younger generations of athletes.

Players have often spoken about the honor of representing their countries in the Olympics, emphasizing the pride and excitement of competing for gold medals alongside other top athletes from around the world.

A little closer to home… Players from the Minnesota Twins have represented their countries in Olympic baseball competitions. One notable example is Michael Cuddyer, who played for the Minnesota Twins in Major League Baseball (MLB). Cuddyer represented the United States in baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney,

Australia. He was part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in baseball, defeating Cuba in the final. Cuddyer later had a successful MLB playing career, primarily with the Minnesota Twins, where he was known for his versatility and leadership on the field. Cuddyer retired in 2015 after a successful career. He was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame and now serves as a special assistant in baseball operations for the team that drafted him ninth overall in the 1997 MLB draft.

As of May 8th, and off to a solid start in the American League Central, the MN Twins are 9 wins and 1 loss (9-1) in their last 10 Games. Their overall record is 20 wins and 14 losses (20-14).

A few more notable MN Twins & Olympians Joe Ryan: Ryan, a pitcher, was part of the U.S. Olympic baseball team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team won the silver medal, narrowly

missing out on gold. Ryan made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2021

Terry Tiffee (Former Twins Player): Tiffee, although not currently with the Twins, deserves a mention. He played for the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team and had an impressive batting average of .376 during his time with the Triple-A Las Vegas team.

Simeon Woods Richardson: Woods Richardson, a pitcher, played for the United States national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics. He represented the U.S. during the Tokyo Games and later joined the Minnesota Twins in Major League Baseball (MLB) While the disappointment of baseball not being included in certain Olympic Games is palpable, the baseball community remains hopeful for future opportunities for the sport to return to the Olympic program and continue to grow its global appeal.

Wushu, a traditional

Chinese martial art, has been vying for inclusion in the Olympic Games. While it has been included in the World Combat Games and other international competitions, it has not yet made it onto the Olympic program, including the Paris 2024 Olympics. While traditional events will capture the world’s attention, and new competitions

will make their debut, the stage will be set for another historic chapter in Olympic history. The Paris Olympics promises to be an unforgettable celebration of sport, culture, and the human spirit despite the omissions of globally popular competitions.

The current unrest in parts of the world may present challenges and uncertainties for the 2024 Olympics, however, organizers are working diligently to mitigate risks, ensure the safety and security of all participants, and uphold the spirit of the Games as a symbol of unity, peace, and global cooperation. This summer. as the world comes together in Paris to celebrate the pinnacle of athletic achievement, the spirit of universal excellence will shine brighter than ever before.

By Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief

We are declaring Geoge Floyd Week. And we are initiating global conversations to hold the memory of his life and his death at the center of our desire and duty to break free from systems, processes and institutions that enabled his murder at the hands of government.

For George Floyd Week, The Conversation with Al McFarlane, in collaboration with Insight News and KFAI FM 90.3, wil be live-streaming and broadcasting from George Floyd Square at 38th & Chicago, in South Minneapolis, where the crime occurred. The broadcasts originate at Listen Media USA’s Listen2Us Studio at George Floyd Square, 3730 Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, which is home to KingDemetrius Pendleton phenomenal photographic

archive that bears witness to The Reckoning precipitated by the horrific event. George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, during an arrest across the street for Cup Foods grocery store. Store employees summoned police alleging Floyd passed a fake $20 bill to make a purchase. Responding to the call, Chauvin murdered Floyd by pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost 10 minutes. Chauvin, in April 2021, was convicted of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.

The three other cops who were involved with the arrest were convicted of aiding and abetting in the death. Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were imprisoned. Lane is scheduled to be released from his Minnesota sentence and into supervision on Aug. 20, 2024.

His full sentence will expire on Aug. 20, 2025. In our Conversations with Al McFarlane George Floyd Week pogramming, we will interview people who were present, witnesses to the tragedy, and people who lost loved ones in other violence from police and form within our community. We will talk with elected, neighborhood and civic leaders, as well as young people and artists, neighbors and business owners, health workers and justice advocates about the impact on their lives and our communities.

Our conversations include thought leaders from around the nation and around the world…. changemakers will join via videoconference from Washington, DC and other US cities, and by activists from Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. For truly, the whole world is watching.

KingDemetrius Pendleton

Sports

What do Kindergarten teachers mean by “Ready for School?

By Kristen J. Amundson

At this time of year, many preschool parents are worrying about whether their child will be ready for kindergarten. What are the things their child should learn? Do they need to make alphabet flash cards? Invest in worksheets so kids can practice math. I talked with kindergarten teachers to find out what they think kids need to know to be kindergartenready. You may be surprised: Readiness for school, teachers say, does not mean that your child will have mastered all the kindergarten skills on Day One. Instead, it means that your child will take pleasure in learning how to do things on their own.

One kindergarten teacher said to me, “I can teach kids their ABCs. I can’t teach them —at least not very efficiently—to help them get along with others and to understand that they aren’t going to get their own way all the time in school.” If you always do things for your child, and always tell them what to do, they will not be able to make their own decisions and learn how to be independent. One good rule of thumb for parents of toddlers: whenever possible, avoid doing things for your child that they can do on their own.

Kindergarteners are expected to take responsibility for their belongings. They put their lunch box in the right place. They hang up their coat. During the day, they use the restroom and wash their hands by themselves. In the cafeteria, children must put the straw in their juice box or open the milk carton. They must get the foil on top of the applesauce.

“The whole first month in the cafeteria, we’re helping children learn to open things,” one teacher said. “They’re always surprised that ketchup packages have a little line that

shows you where to tear to get the ketchup out.” So, teach your child how to do those things before the first day of school. Let your toddler eat (and accept that mealtime will be messy and s-l-o-w, at least at first). Let young children choose what they want to wear—and relax if they choose to wear the polka-dot shirt with the checked pants. Encourage them to use the crayons they want to use

in their coloring book and do not be surprised if you see a purple horse or a red elephant. Follow the rule that teachers use when they are teaching a new skill: First, I do. Then we do. Then you do. Whether it’s shoe tying or making a sandwich, start by showing your child what to do. Then practice the same skill together, working side by

The Three Stones of Ebon

By David and Keiko Mello

One of the fun things about being a writer is having an unlimited imagination, which is a plus when it comes to fantasy and worldbuilding. What starts out as a typical, average life for a child suddenly changes when they are thrust into a magical world they never dreamed of, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Today, it happens to 11-year-old Jack Russo in David and Keiko Mello’s The Three Stones of Ebon.

Our story opens with Jack and his friend

Timmy playing pirate, with Jack making assumptions and some mean remarks about their elderly neighbor Mrs. Krauss. Jack’s father chastises him for this. Having done work on her house, Jack’s dad brings him something Mrs. Krauss wanted him to have—an urn. This was no ordinary urn; there were pictures of a boy and a cat on it who bore a striking resemblance to Jack and his cat Lucky, plus a red-headed girl and a black winged horse. No one can get the urn to open until one night it opened for Jack, and he was transported in time to the world of Sturgus.

He and Lucky land in the Meadow of Tears and encounter a statue of a huge winged horse and—surprise— Lucky can talk! Through an assortment of humans, cats, and magical creatures, Jack learns of the evil sorcerer Pale, and the three stones that comprise the mind, heart, and soul of Ebon, the winged horse. According to prophecy, Jack and Lucky were chosen to find the three stones

and restore them to Ebon, bringing him back to life in order to save Sturgus from the further tyranny of Pale. First, I must give a hat tip to the authors for the name of Fay’s pirate ship— definitely a play on words (you’ll understand why). I have no doubt that Lucky and the inhabitants of Sahaland will appeal to cat lovers everywhere. The main characters make friends along their journey and have their challenges and scary encounters which put them to the test, including testing Jack’s skepticism. There are lessons in bravery, keeping an open mind and to avoid judging. Oh, yes— there is a plot twist at the end, but it’s so much sweeter after you have enjoyed the journey. The Three Stones of Ebon is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Strive Publishing. Thank you, David and Keiko, for an amazing cover-to-cover read, and for taking us along for the ride!

side. Finally, let your child do it alone, first while you watch and then independently. And let me just say one word here about shoes—the bane of every kindergarten teacher. Shoelaces do not stay tied. “They drag on the floor. They drag across the restroom floor. They go into kids’ mouths,” a kindergarten teacher told me. “They need my help retying them. If I have 25 students, that’s 50 feet. And at 30 seconds per shoe tie,

that’s 25 minutes a day I’m not teaching them letters or numbers or how to get along with others,” she said. That doesn’t mean children have to be able to tie their shoes before they start kindergarten. “Just put them in different shoes,” the teacher wisely advised. And really, just reread that part about shoelaces that have dragged on the kindergarten restroom floor ending up in the child’s mouth. You’ll probably keep your kid

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in Velcro shoes until they’re 20. Kristen J. Amundson is a former teacher, school board chair, state legislator, and CEO of a national education organization. This column is excerpted from her book 81 Questions for Parents: Helping Your Kids Succeed in School, published by Rowman & Littlefield. It is also available on Amazon.

THE THREE STONES OF EBON

Illustrated by Keiko Mello

Sharing Our Stories

By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor

81 Questions for Parents by Kristen J. Amundson Book cover

Insight 2 Health

How cannabis and psilocybin might help some of the 50 million Americans who are experiencing chronic pain

By Kevin F. Boehnke Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency announced in late April 2024 that it plans to ease federal restrictions on cannabis, reclassifying it from a Schedule I drug to the less restricted Schedule III, which includes drugs such as Tylenol with codeine, testosterone and other anabolic steroids. This historic shift signals an acknowledgment of the promising medicinal value of cannabis.

The move comes in tandem with growing interest in the use of psilocybin, the active component in magic mushrooms, for treatment of depression, chronic pain and other conditions. In 2018 and 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted a breakthrough therapy designation to psilocybin, meant to expedite drug development given that preliminary studies suggest it may have substantial therapeutic value over currently available therapies for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder.

Both of these developments represent a dramatic change from longstanding federal policy around these substances that has historically criminalized their use and blocked or delayed research efforts into their therapeutic potential.

As an assistant professor of anesthesiology and a pain researcher, I study alternative pain management options, including cannabis and psychedelics.

I also have a personal stake in improving chronic pain treatment: In early 2009 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread pain throughout the body, sleep disturbances and generalized sensory sensitivity.

I see cannabis and psilocybin as promising therapies that can contribute to bridging that need. Given that an estimated 50 million Americans have chronic pain – meaning pain that persists for three months or more – I want to help understand how to effectively use cannabis and psilocybin as potential tools for pain management.

Cannabis versus other pain medications

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is an ancient medicinal plant. Cannabisbased medicines have been used for at least 5,000 years for applications such as

arthritis and pain control during and after surgery.

This use extended through antiquity to modern times, with contemporary cannabis-based medications for treating certain seizure disorders, promoting weight gain for HIV/AIDS-related anorexia and treating nausea during chemotherapy.

As with anything you put in your body, cannabis does have health risks: Driving while high may increase risk of accidents. Some people develop cyclical vomiting, while others develop motivation or dependence problems, especially with heavy use at younger ages.

That said, lethal overdoses from cannabis are almost unheard of. This is remarkable considering that nearly 50 million Americans use it each year.

In contrast, opioids, which are often prescribed for chronic pain, have contributed to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths over the past few decades. Even common pain medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, cause tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths each year from gastrointestinal damage.

Furthermore, both opioids and nonopioid pain medications have limited effectiveness for treating chronic pain. Medications used for chronic pain can provide

small to moderate pain relief in some people, but many ultimately cause side effects that outweigh any gains. These safety issues and limited benefit have led many people with chronic pain to try cannabis as a chronic pain treatment alternative. Indeed, in survey studies, my colleagues and I show that people substituted cannabis for pain medications often because cannabis had fewer negative side effects.

However, more rigorous research on cannabis for chronic pain is needed. So far, clinical trials – considered the gold standard – have been short in length and focused on small numbers of people. What’s more, my colleagues and I have shown that these studies employ medications and dosing regimes that are far different from how consumers actually use products from state-licensed cannabis dispensaries. Cannabis also causes recognizable effects such as euphoria, altered perceptions and thinking differently, so it is difficult to conduct double-blind studies.

Despite these challenges, a group of cannabis and pain specialists published a proposed guideline for clinical practice in early 2024 to synthesize existing evidence and help guide clinical practice. This guideline recommended that cannabis products be used when pain is coupled with sleep problems, muscle spasticity and anxiety. These multiple benefits

mean that cannabis could potentially help people avoid taking a separate medication for each symptom.

Traditional hurdles to studying cannabis

Since the Controlled Substance Act was passed in 1970, the federal government has designated cannabis as a Schedule I substance, along with other drugs such as heroin and LSD. Possession of these drugs is criminalized, and under the federal definition they have “no currently accepted medical use, with a high potential for abuse.”

Because of this designation and the limits placed on drug manufacturing, cannabis is very difficult to study.

State and federal regulatory barriers also delay or prevent studies from being approved and conducted.

For example, I can purchase cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries in my hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a scientist, however, it is very challenging to legally test whether these products help pain.

Reclassifying cannabis as a Schedule III drug has the potential to substantially open up this research landscape and help overcome these barriers.

The emerging role of psychedelics

Psychedelics, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms, occupy an eerily similar scientific and political landscape as cannabis. Used

are building infrastructure to increase accessibility to psilocybin-assisted therapy. One recent analysis suggests that if psychedelics follow a similar legalization pattern to cannabis, the majority of states will legalize psychedelics between 2034 and 2037.

Challenges ahead

for thousands of years for ceremonial and healing purposes, psilocybin is also classified as a Schedule I drug. It can cause substantial changes in sensory perception, mood and sense of self that can lead to therapeutic benefits. And, like cannabis, psilocybin has minimal risk of lethal overdose.

Clinical trials combining psilocybin with psychotherapy in the weeks before and after taking the drug report substantial improvements in symptoms of psychiatric conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and alcohol use disorder.

Risks are typically psychological. A small number of people report suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors after taking psilocybin. Some also experience heightened openness and vulnerability, which can be exploited by therapists and lead to abuse.

There are few published clinical trials of psilocybin therapy for chronic pain, although many are ongoing, including a pilot study for fibromyalgia conducted by our team at the University of Michigan. This treatment may help people develop a healthier relationship with their pain by eliciting greater acceptance of it and decreasing rumination often related to negative thoughts and feelings around pain.

As with cannabis, some states, such as Colorado and Oregon, have decriminalized psilocybin and

These ancient yet relatively “new” treatments offer a unique glimpse into the messy intersection of drugs, medicine and society. The justifiable excitement about cannabis and psilocybin has led to state policies that have increased access for some people, yet federal criminalization and substantial barriers to scientific investigation remain. In the years ahead, I hope to contribute toward pragmatic studies that work within these difficult parameters. For example, our team developed a coaching intervention to help veterans use commercially available cannabis products to more effectively treat their pain. Coaches emphasize how judicious use can minimize side effects while maximizing benefits. Should our approach work, health care providers and cannabis dispensaries everywhere could use this treatment to help clients in chronic pain. Approaches like these can supplement more traditional clinical trials to help researchers determine whether these drug classes offer benefit and whether they have comparable or less harm than current treatments. As our society connects to the rich history of healing using these ancient drugs, these proposed changes may offer safer and substantive options for the 50 million Americans living with chronic pain. This article is part of Legal cannabis turns 10, a series examining the impact of a decade of recreational cannabis use. Kevin F. Boehnke receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, the State of Michigan Veteran Marijuana Research Program, and has received grants from Tryp Therapeutics and Journey Biosciences. He is affiliated with Doctors for Drug Policy Reform as an unpaid expert. He also has received honoraria for speaking at conferences as well as for participating in a podcast on fibromyalgia from the European Medical Journal funded by Viatris Inc. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Healthcare professional profile

“In 1992, I was job searching, and my cousin Kim worked at Hennepin Healthcare as an inpatient nurse. She suggested that I apply here. Over 31 years later, I believe I made the right choice. I have been blessed to work in five departments. When I worked inpatient, it was easy to grow close with patients and colleagues because patients stayed for a week or two. There was one patient receiving dialysis that I think felt vulnerable because he sometimes lashed out at nurses. I kindly told him that the nurses were trying to help and that we could work together to manage his pain. Years later, whenever I see him in the hall, he stops me, and we have a nice chat. My colleagues saw many patients who weren’t in the best condition and extended so much compassion to them. We had to rely on each other to get through the shift and the week. We spent hours and hours together, so we celebrated marriages, births and sometimes divorces together. We grieved for and with each other when we lost members of our families. As I retire, my advice to everyone is to get to know your co-workers and our patients. They can bring so much meaning and joy to our lives.”

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Cannabis – also known as marijuana – is an ancient medicinal plant with promising new medical applications.