Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is comprised of a weekly 30-minute magazine-style newscast and daily, five-minute headlines segments that shine a spotlight on the stories and perspectives of Minnesota’s diverse communities, including Black, Latine, Asian American, East African individuals, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ residents, laborers, veterans, and those from Greater Minnesota.
YOU ARE LISTENING TO NORTH STAR STORIES: VOICES FROM WHERE WE LIVE, A DAILY NEWSCAST ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN MINNESOTA.
XAN HOLSTON: WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON. COMING UP... SCAMMERS ARE CALLING AND TEXTING ON BEHALF OF A SHERIFF...
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR: THE VOTE BEING UNANIMOUS THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED — YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY TO THE GENERAL REGISTER.
XAN HOLSTON: AND ... FIND OUT WHAT PROPOSED LAWS ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE OF BECOMING REALITY... BUT FIRST ... THE FIGHT FOR THE BOUNDARY WATERS COMES BACK FROM WASHINGTON.
TARA HOUSKA: THERE IS NO WAY TO DO THIS SAFELY.
GRAND PORTAGE BAND MINING RESPONSE/CANOE OUTFITTERS
XAN HOLSTON: THE GRAND PORTAGE BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA IS CONDEMNING THE U-S SENATE’S VOTE TO ROLL BACK BOUNDARY WATERS MINING PROTECTIONS — SAYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID NOT ENGAGE IN ANY REAL TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND PUT TREATY RIGHTS AT RISK.
U-S LAWMAKERS VOTED 50 TO 49 LAST WEEK TO OVERTURN FEDERAL MINING PROTECTIONS ON MORE THAN 225-THOUSAND ACRES UPSTREAM OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS.
THE BAND SAYS MEMBERS HAVE 18-54 TREATY RIGHTS TO HUNT, FISH, AND GATHER THERE... AND THAT CONGRESS ACTED WITHOUT MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION.
MINNESOTA TRIBAL LEADERS... CONSERVATIONISTS, AND MANY OUTFITTERS WHO CALL THE ELY AREA ‘HOME’... WARN COPPER-SULFIDE MINING WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE THAT CAN’T BE UNDONE.
TARA HOUSKA: IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR OUR REGION, PERIOD. I MEAN, IT’S SOME OF THE MOST PRISTINE WATER ON EARTH.
XAN HOLSTON: BUT ... REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN PETE STAUBER PUSHED FOR THE BILL AND SAYS REPEALING THE MINING BAN IS A WIN FOR JOBS AND CRITICAL MINERALS.
THE FIGHT ISN’T OVER YET: PRESIDENT TRUMP STILL HAS TO SIGN IT, AND ANY PROJECT WOULD STILL NEED STATE AND FEDERAL APPROVALS.
CLIMATE RESILIANCE COLLABORATIVE
AS CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES THE NORTHLAND … A MULTI-AGENCY COALITION IS ASKING THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN.
THE NORTHLAND CLIMATE RESILIENCE COLLABORATIVE IS ENTERING ITS SECOND OF FOUR YEARS … MOVING FROM PARTNERSHIP BUILDING TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THE PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER CITY, STATE, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO PLAN FOR CLIMATE THREATS LIKE FLOODING … FOREST CHANGE … AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AMPERS MEMBER STATION W-T-I-P … COOK COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT CONSERVATION TECHNICIAN STEPHEN JANASIE SAYS:
STEPHEN JANASIE: CLIMATE CHANGE IS SUCH A MASSIVE ISSUE, SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE BUILDING THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS REALLY CRITICAL AS WE BUILD RESILIENCE AND WE CREATE RESPONSE TO THIS CHALLENGE.
XAN HOLSTON: THE GROUP IS HOLDING A PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION TONIGHT AT STUDIO 21 IN GRAND MARAIS. DOORS OPEN AT 4:30 …
HOUSE BILLS TO FLOOR
A GROUP OF NINE BILLS CLEARED THEIR FINAL COMMITTEE ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOUSE FLOOR … WHERE THEY MIGHT … OR MIGHT NOT! … BE VOTED INTO LAW.
STATE REPS HEARD EVERYTHING FROM EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMEMT BENEFITS TO LAID-OFF ORE MINERS ON THE IRON RANGE … TO A BILL
TIGHTENING DEFIINITONS OF MOTORIZED BIKES.
A SCHOOL SAFETY AND CHILD PROTECTION BILL WOULD MAKE “GROOMING” … OR THE REPEATED EFFORT BY A TEACHER OR ADULT TO LURE A CHILD INTO A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP … A FELONY... AND ILLEGAL FOR A TEACHER OR COACH TO BE ALONE WITH A STUDENT ON FIELDTRIPS.
ANOTHER WOULD EXPAND VETERANS’ RIGHTS HMONG AND LAO SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT FOR THE U-S DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
NOW … ALL PROPOSED NEW BILLS AWAIT THEIR FATE IN AN UPCOMING HOUSE FLOOR SESSION.
HIBBING MANUFACTURER – TRISON SOLUTIONS
POSITIVE NEWS FOR A HOMETOWN MANUFACTURER IN HIBBING...
TRISON SOLUTIONS IS EXPANDING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND... AND RECEIVING ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE STATE.
TRISON SOLUTIONS BUILDS ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLIES FOR INDUSTRIES RANGING FROM AEROSPACE TO AGRICULTURE ... AND ADDED A NEW AUTOMATED PRODUCTION LINE WITH A LOAN FROM IRON RANGE RESOURCES AND REHABILITATION.
THE COMPANY SAYS THE UPGRADE WILL BOOST CAPACITY AND EXPAND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES.
THREE-QUARTERS OF TRISON SOLUTIONS’ WORKFORCE IS WOMEN.... WHICH IS UNIQUE IN MANUFACTURING...
ST LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF SCAM WARNING
SCAMMERS ARE TRYING TO GET YOUR MONEY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
SAINT LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE IS SENDING OUT A WARNING ABOUT SCAM CALLS AND TEXTS.
THE SCAMMERS ARE CALLING PEOPLE IN THE AREA PRETENDING TO BE DEPUTIES OR JAIL STAFF.
THE SCAMMERS DEMAND PAYMENT FOR THINGS LIKE PARKING TICKETS OR BAIL… AND THREATEN VICTIMS WITH LEGAL TROUBLE IF THEY DON’T PAY UP.
DEPUTIES SAY THOSE DEMANDS ARE FAKE…. AND WARN EVERYONE TO NEVER SEND MONEY, SHARE CARD NUMBERS, OR CLICK PAYMENT LINKS IN A TEXT.
TEEN CANNABIS USE
MINNESOTA TEENS ARE USING MARIJUANA LESS, NOT MORE.
NEW STATE SURVEY NUMBERS SHOW YOUTH CANNABIS USE KEPT FALLING IN 2025…EVEN AFTER LEGALIZATION.
96-PERCENT OF STUDENTS SAID THEY HAD NOT USED CANNABIS IN THE PAST MONTH.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE TREND IS ENCOURAGING… BUT PARENTS STILL NEED TO START THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLY.
100 NEW CITIZENS
THE PATH TO BECOMING A U-S CITIZEN HAS BECOME MORE DIFFICULT … BUT 100 NEW AMERICANS DON’T HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER AFTER GETTING THEIR MOMENT IN A MINNEAPOLIS COURT ROOM FRIDAY.
SAHAN JOURNAL REPORTS JUST 137 IMMIGRANTS WERE NATURALIZED IN MINNESOTA FROM JANUARY TO MARCH THIS YEAR … COMPARED TO MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND OVER THE SAME STRETCH LAST YEAR … AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED TO CURB IMMIGRATION.
BUT NOW … 100 NEW CITIZENS FROM MORE THAN 20 COUTRIES HAVE TAKEN THEIR OATH … AND ARE READY TO START THEIR NEXT CHAPTER AS AMERICANS.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
NORTH STAR STORIES IS PRODUCED BY AMPERS, DIVERSE RADIO FOR MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITIES WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. ONLINE AT AMPERS DOT ORG