Minnesota paraeducators are fighting for fair pay and recognition

This story was originally published at Prism

by Cirien Saadeh

On a cold and windy Martin Luther King Jr. Day in downtown Minneapolis, education support professionals (ESP)—those who work in schools …

'Anarchy cannot exist': Judge zeroes in on 'outside influences' in cases of Derek Chauvin's peers

Court proceedings are already off to a problematic start for three former Minneapolis police officers shown in viral video doing nothing to save George Floyd’s life as their peer kneeled on his neck …

'I was trying to help him': Girlfriend of Black man killed by cop gives heartbreaking testimony

The 20-year-old woman who was riding in the car with Daunte Wright when he was shot gave heartbreaking testimony on Thursday about what it was like to see her boyfriend killed by former police officer …

Anti-mask parent attacked school board chair by outing her 8-year-old trans daughter

As Daily Kos continues to chronicle, school board meetings across the nation have been steadily picking up both local and national media attention, and for an important reason. Why? If it’s not people …

How Hmong farmers are building collective power in Minnesota

by Cirien Saadeh

This story was originally published at Prism.

Lillian Hang works at the Hang Family Farm in Vermillion Township, Minnesota, alongside her children, siblings, and parents, growing a …

In rapidly diversifying Minnesota, COVID-19 has intensified the challenges immigrant workers face

by Cirien Saadeh

This story was originally published at Prism.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota meatpacking plants have been epicenters of both the virus itself, and of workers …

Derek Chauvin files for appeal after murdering George Floyd

The former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd apparently doesn’t think kneeling on someone’s neck for more than nine minutes until they die is murder. Derek …

As front-line workers wait, Minnesota state legislature negotiations on 'hero pay' stall

by Cirien Saadeh

This story was originally published at Prism.

For many nurses, nursing home caregivers, daycare workers, education support professionals, meatpacking workers, and others, the COVID-19 …

Ex-cops shown holding Floyd down while Chauvin murdered him now want separation from killer

The day after a judge suspended a Minnesota law requiring officers who use deadly force to detail in greater specificity why it was necessary, we’re reminded of the exact cruelty that inspired the …

‘Vast majority of agency’ purged emails and texts after George Floyd protests

George Floyd’s death at the hands of convicted murderer and former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sparked the wave of Black Lives Matter protests that touched most of the United States. The …

Voting Rights Roundup: New Jersey Supreme Court picks Dem-favored tiebreaker for House redistricting

Leading Off

● New Jersey: The New Jersey Supreme Court has chosen former state Supreme Court Justice John Wallace, who’d been nominated by Democrats, as the tiebreaking member on the …

GOP operative charged, including 5 counts of child sex trafficking

On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Minnesota released a statement announcing the arrest and indictment of 30-year-old Anton Lazzaro on sex trafficking charges. The charges …

Democratic governor uses executive order to sidestep Republican lawmakers and protect LGBTQ youth

On Thursday, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota signed an executive order hoping to protect LGBTQ+ youth in the state from dangerous, archaic “conversion therapy,” as reported by NPR. As a quick …

Uncle of teen who recorded George Floyd's arrest is killed in police chase. He wasn't a suspect

The Black teen who earned a special citation for a Pulitzer Prize for “courageously recording the murder of George Floyd” has suffered another loss at the hands of police: the death of her uncle, …

Plea deal could force Derek Chauvin to take public responsibility for his actions for first time

Former Minneapolis police offer Derek Chauvin may’ve already been sentenced to 22.5 years for his state murder conviction, but the federal case against him is ongoing. Sources told …

Why does Derek Chauvin deserve leniency but not Gwen Levi?

In the hours after former Minneapolis police offer Derek Chauvin was sentenced on Friday to 22.5 years in jail for murdering George Floyd, opinions about the punishment on social media seemed to fall …

'No one gets the maximum sentence': Attorneys weigh in ahead of Derek Chauvin sentencing

The former Minneapolis cop convicted of murdering George Floyd when he kneeled on the Black father’s neck for more than nine minutes is scheduled to be sentenced at 2:30 PM EST on Friday at the …

Activist asks why city honors man who praised Hitler for work ‘to stamp out mental inferiority'

The city of Minneapolis has an opportunity to right a shameful wrong in the city’s history, and that is the decision to name one of its avenues after Charles Dight, a racist, ableist, eugenics touter …

Attorney argues Chauvin should be allowed lower sentence because of his 'life prospects'

In laying the groundwork to push for competing sentencing outcomes, attorneys in the case of Derek Chauvin painted quite different pictures of the former Minneapolis police officer who a jury found …

Voting Rights Roundup: Arizona GOP's bill strips Dem election chief's power only until her term ends

Leading Off

● Arizona: Republicans have passed a bill in committees in the state Senate and House that would strip Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs of the power to defend the state in …