A new and timely method of gun control has gained prominence in Minnesota, and even Chicago’s police force is looking to our city for ideas. Obviously, gun violence is an enormous issue in the U.S. But...

A new organization combatting sex trafficking is giving an entirely new meaning to the words “truck stop.” Truckers Against Trafficking has recruited nearly 250,000 truck drivers committed...

As if the hateful rhetoric of presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump wasn’t enough for undocumented immigrants in the United States, another threat looms.  Last week’s 4-4 tied vote in the...

Yet another pet store with unhealthy conditions for animals was unearthed last week — and this one’s a little too close to home. After inspection, Har Mar Pet in St. Paul was discovered to...

A sexual assault case at Stanford University has fueled an already heated debate about rape at college campuses. Such an issue is undeniably prevalent and hasn’t been dealt with appropriately by...

This has been a difficult year for water safety in Minnesota, from potential lead poisoning to underreported water toxicity. As  if there wasn’t enough to worry about already, another concern...

I  am sad to say that racial and religious profiling is still alive in well in Minnesota, particularly for Somali communities.     The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the...

Traffic deaths in Minnesota are troublingly high this year, and fatalities have already totaled 100 since January. There were 411 deaths in all of 2015. Judging by the 2016 fatality rate, Minnesota is...

Target took a controversial stand on transgender bathroom policies last week by welcoming shoppers to use whichever bathroom or fitting room matches the gender with which they identify.      Target’s...

Implied consent laws — or the laws that determine whether it’s constitutional to test the blood alcohol content of suspected drunk drivers — are currently under fire in Minnesota and...

Most people associate Bloomington, Minn., with the Mall of America, which means they’ll associate it with giant parking lots stuffed with avid shoppers.      However, Bloomington has...

Last week, the Keystone Pipeline leaked nearly 16,800 gallons — or 400 barrels’ worth — of oil into a South Dakota field. TransCanada Corporation’s first estimate for the incident’s...

Last Thursday, the United States Senate refused to uphold an amendment that would have kept airlines from reducing seat width, padding and leg room.      Over the past few years, both the...

Compared to other Big Ten universities, the University of Minnesota’s out-of-state tuition rates fall at the bottom of the price range. In an effort to make tuition prices more competitive, the University’s...

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration updated rules for taking Mifeprex, an abortion-inducing drug. Women who need the pill can now take it in lower dosages than before.      Mifeprex...

A recent MPR News study illustrated the number of police cases which end without officers resorting to the use of lethal force. This study illustrates how the majority of police encounters don’t...

This February, Minnesota’s unemployment rate remained well below the national average of 4.9 percent, holding steady at 3.7 percent.      Minnesota’s success story is largely...

As the feminist movement continues to advance, the wage gap and the role of gender in the workplace are more and more important topics of conversation.      Women typically receive 79 percent...

People are still overusing plastic to the point that it has become a serious environmental concern. From bottles to bags and caps, we’re using too much — and we need to develop sustainable...

The availability of virtual reality devices is on the rise in the Twin Cities, and marketers are beginning to think about how to use the technology to connect with people.     Proponents say...

Minnesota is notorious for having some of the worst puppy mills in the country. Last year marked the third time the Humane Society of the United States placed Detroit Lakes business Renner’s Kennels...

Full-figured models have finally gained the public attention they deserve. Sports Illustrated recently put Ashley Graham — a size 16, plus-size model — on the cover of its swimsuit issue.     In...

Dean Bresciani, president of North Dakota State University, recently discovered what he deemed “troubling” lyrics in the third stanza of the school’s song, which included culturally...

Recent events have revealed there are more important things at stake than personal privacy when it comes to the advanced encryption of Apple devices.      Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife...

Minnesota needs to step up and protect its wolves. The federal government currently considers the gray wolf a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act. This means the species will...

Last June, an Eden Prairie, Minn., police officer shot an unarmed motorcyclist he was pursuing in a high-speed car chase.     The 21-year-old motorcyclist was fleeing the officer at about 3...

According to the Department of Health, tests run by the Environmental Health Division on Minnesota drinking water have underreported the level of contaminants in it for the past 20 years.     Although...

Ramps, elevators, wheelchairs and electric scooters all make life more accessible for those who have physical disabilities. But when it comes to improving accessibility and making everyday tasks a little...

Recently some workplace wellness programs have led employers to monitor the health and fitness levels of their employees. This would be beneficial if employers weren’t using BMI, or body mass index,...

Medication or surgery is still financially out of reach for many transgender people hoping to undergo the transition into the sex with which they identify.     Sex reassignment surgery is something...

Craigslist is a website used for anything from selling cars to looking for roommates. While the site’s do-it-all nature is undeniably useful, the safety risks involved with using it are bigger than...

The dieting industry seems to be losing more and more popularity, according to MPR News. Lean Cuisine’s frozen food sales have dropped 15 percent between 2014 and 2015, and diet pill sales have dropped...

About 100 protesters gathered for a Black Lives Matter protest on Martin Luther King Day to peacefully draw attention to the recent deaths of Marcus Golden and Jamar Clark, who were both fatally shot by...

It’s been more than a week since the climate change agreement in Paris, where representatives of nearly 200 countries voluntarily gathered and pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.     The...

Last Friday marked the 27th time this year that a student has attacked a teacher in Ramsey County.    A Central High School student reportedly threw a science teacher into a wall before choking...

Health officials in Minnesota recently decided to add intractable pain to the list of conditions that qualify a person for a medical marijuana prescription. This change will take effect in August.    Intractable...

Come New Year’s Day, Allina Health clinics in Minnesota will no longer sell fast food or soda within their buildings. The group manages 13 hospitals and more than 90 clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin....

The University of North Dakota recently changed its team name from the Fighting Sioux to the Fighting Hawks.    Voters picked the new name through an online vote in mid-November. The “Fighting...

There has been a lot of talk lately, particularly among Republican governors, about completely disallowing Syrian refugees to enter the United States. In fact, more than two dozen GOP governors have expressed...

Peggy Flanagan was recently elected into the Minnesota House. As a member of the White Earth Band of the Ojibwe, she joins only 10 people of color out of 201 legislators in the Minnesota House and Senate.    This...

A  controversy has emerged in Minnesota regarding the offensive portrayal of American Indians in paintings displayed at the state capitol. The capitol building began renovation back in 2013 —...

The nonprofit car donation organization Wheels for Wishes was recently unearthed as a misleading scam — and not entirely a nonprofit one at that.    The company advertises that any cars...

The Coon Rapids City Council  recently approved a proposed transitional housing project for homeless youth.   The idea stemmed from Anoka-based Hope 4 Youth, an organization that simply couldn’t...

In a ruling last Wednesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court maintained the constitutionality of Minnesota’s out-of-state lending law. The lawsuit, filed by Minnesota Attorney   General Lori Swanson,...

Members of Black Lives Matter held a peaceful protest Sunday at the Twin Cities Marathon.    Prior to the race, Rashad Turner — the leader of Black Lives Matter St. Paul —...

The Minnesota Court of Appeals recently convicted David Lee Haywood for possession of a “firearm.” However, the firearm he had in his possession was not what you would expect. Due to a previous...

The Minnesota Vikings franchise is making a statement by becoming the first in the National Football League to include Mamava Lactation Suites in its stadiums.   These suites are designed for nursing...

Last Monday, 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed brought a homemade clock to school, hoping to receive some praise from his teachers. The aspiring engineer had fashioned the clock from a pencil case.   He was...

Immigration politics have lit up televisions and filled newsfeeds a great deal in recent months — even more so with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spewing his extremist standpoints...

The Science Museum of Minnesota recently lost a legal battle regarding water damage to its popular, $100 million building. As a result, the museum must secure the $26 million needed to fix said damage. The...

For those of you who upload photos onto Facebook and marvel at the fact that your computer miraculously knows whom to tag in them, understand that this knowledge isn’t from pure luck of the draw.   Facebook...

There has been, and still is, a great deal of political tension between the United States and Cuba. It wasnâÄôt until December 17, 2014, that the two countries reopened diplomatic relations with...

Gov. Mark Dayton sent the Republicans (and some members of his own party) into an uproar after giving big raises to his cabinet last Wednesday.   Some of Dayton’s commissioners received raises...

In the past few weeks, several concerns regarding the constitutionality of a few specific laws and programs in Minnesota have come under scrutiny.    For one, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank...

Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, debuted on the cover of Vanity Fair last week. The words “Call me Caitlyn,” scrawled across the cover page, became an immense source of debate all over...

Gov. Mark Dayton’s frustration with Republicans became clear last week Tuesday when he announced he would veto an education bill they favored.    Dayton has been strongly lobbying House...

One of the most common reasons women don’t get screened for breast cancer is because there are no convenient places to do so near them. With more than 17 million  American women living in rural...

Last week, the annual Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, or MCAs, were disrupted by computer glitches and intentional attacks on the exam provider’s system.    Minnesota currently has...

After three years of development, Minnesota has finally laid out a new set of rules regarding bullying in the workplace, becoming the 21st state in the United States to enforce a Healthy Workplace Bill.    Some...

Smoking — It’s a habit that affects people all over the globe and an addiction that we as a nation continually struggle with.   The two main things I hear people say to smokers are that...

In September 2014, John Robert Lind, a man from Blaine, was charged with criminal sexual conduct after admitting to ejaculating into his co-worker’s coffee on multiple occasions.   Lind said...

Uber, a ride-sharing business that has been in the Twin Cities since October 2012, is protesting a proposed bill that would require its drivers to have additional insurance coverage.    To be...

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources has asked lawmakers to raise entrance fees to state parks in order to keep their services at current levels. In response, Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed...

After watching some 4- and 5-year-olds at Newport Elementary School successfully search their preschool classroom for the letter “S,” Gov. Mark Dayton emphasized just how important it is for...

Last Tuesday, a man driving westbound on Highway 36 in Roseville was hit by a large sheet of ice that flew off the top of a semitruck in front of him. The sheet of ice hit the man’s windshield directly,...

Arizona recently became the first state to require high school students to take and pass a civics test before their graduation — the same civics test that’s given to immigrants who aspire to...

A 17-year-old girl from Connecticut was recently forced into chemotherapy against her will. The girl, identified only as Cassandra, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Doctors caught the disease...

The Affordable Care Act, known better as “ObamaCare,” has implemented yet another measure of health care reform. As of the beginning of 2015, Americans will have the option to switch over to...

After 22 years on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Alan Page will soon hit the mandatory retirement age of 70. Page began his journey to success in the NFL, playing for 15 years and becoming the first defensive...

Americans seem to possess a mindset that considers any form of idleness lazy. Taking paid sick days might not appeal to them because they do not wish to take advantage of the system. While this mindset...

Loretta Lynch is currently running for attorney general, making history as the first African-American woman to be nominated for the position. Last Wednesday, Lynch announced her support of President Barack...

After months of turmoil, the Minnesota Orchestra’s recent announcement that it will play Carnegie Hall this spring hints the ensemble is back on its feet. The orchestra ended its 2012-2013 musical...

This year, an operational “kill switch” will become a standard feature on cellular devices from leading cellular companies such as Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft. All of these companies...

President Barack Obama’s recent executive order regarding immigration reform has been a relief to the majority of the United States’ undocumented immigrant population. Unfortunately, House...

Minneapolis has made leaps and bounds in regard to renewable energy in the past few years, ranging from Xcel Energy’s hydroelectric plant to the Climate Change Grants awarded to companies wishing...

These winter months have become some of our favorite days that many of us have come to call “the holidays.” We begin blasting our favorite holiday music, preparing our stomachs for a few feasts...

TLC’s unfortunately popular reality show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” was recently canceled because of June “Mama June” Shannon’s decision to rekindle an old flame. Shannon’s...

The importance of arts education has been fading in Minnesota public schools. However, art and music departments serve as vital emotional and academic stepping stones for children throughout their educations. Visual...

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report on Sunday suggesting that major reductions in emissions are necessary in order to avoid further negative consequences of human-caused climate...

The ability to travel by car without actually purchasing a vehicle is an attractive concept for many. Ride-sharing precludes the need to own a car and pay for all of the added expenses attributable to...

As technology continues to advance, children are accessing new innovations at younger ages. More and more children seem to be receiving cellphones at an impressionable age when texting and downloading...

Recent innovations have led to the creation of biofuels, which are made of biomass materials and create less air pollution than typical gasoline. While biofuels are more expensive to produce than fossil...

Twenty-nine-year-old Brittany Maynard recently took control of her life by deciding when to end it. She’s spending her last days as an advocate for Death-With-Dignity, a nonprofit advocacy group...

Controversies surrounding the captivity of large aquatic animals have captured public attention over the past few years. The documentary “Blackfish,” released in 2013, focuses on animal welfare...

The United States has employed numerous means to harvest natural gases from the earth. Until recently, fracking may have been the most overlooked. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is the process...

TransCanada, a Canadian energy company, has proposed extending the Keystone Pipeline, a 2,000-mile oil pipeline running from Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas. The pipeline carries tar sands across the...

On Sept. 21, New York City will host one of the largest efforts to increase public awareness of climate change. The People’s Climate March intends to parade with historically large numbers through...

As technological advances progress, handwritten class notes are slowly but surely losing popularity. However, students’ dependence on technology may actually decrease the degree to which they retain...

It’s been more than a year since Gov. Mark Dayton passed the Minnesota’s DREAM Act, which allows undocumented students residing in the state to apply for financial aid. By filing an application,...