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North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is a daily, five-minute newscast that shines 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.
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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: Today, a new mine that will bring more than 300 new jobs to the Iron Range. Then, a new shopping center hopes to become a multicultural hub in Saint Paul. And, why electric vehicle drivers are going to start paying more to own their cars. I'm Gracie J.
A new taconite mine is expected to bring 350 new jobs to the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota. Twenty years in, Mesabi Metallics' two point four billion dollar Nashwauk taconite mine is nearly ready to open. Delays and financial troubles hampered the mine's completion for years, but the company said construction is 80 percent complete and that it expects to be up and running in about six months. The announcement comes months after the neighboring HibTac mine partially shut down due to weak demand from steelmakers. Mesabi's CEO says he's confident the new mine will have buyers for its ore.
Up next, a new Pan Asian center in the Twin Cities is hoping to create a hub that will bring together the community and small businesses. Reporter Jamad Jama takes us there.
Jamad Jama: Located 10 minutes from downtown St Paul, a new space is coming to life, and it's aiming to blend culture and commerce. The Pan Asian Center is now open in the former Macy's and Sears buildings at Maplewood Mall. It's giving new life to areas of the mall that have sat vacant for more than five years. The multi-purpose hub will offer everything from handmade goods to authentic cuisine.
Toua Xiong: We are building this as a community, rather than a shopping mall.
Jamad Jama: Toua Xiong, a Hmong entrepreneur, came up with the idea and set out to create a space unlike any other.
Toua Xiong: This is not a mall-mall. This is a one-stop shop. Whether you're thinking about food is here, whether you're thinking about kids plays here. Whether you're thinking about cultural clothes, cultural things, it's here.
Jamad Jama: Toua also saw an opportunity to create a business hub that many Asian immigrants sorely needed. And Minnesota is home to over 240,000 Asian residents.
Toua Xiong: Culturally, because of cultural differences, a lot of these people who are thinking about doing business may not be comfortable. But then they are our community. They need to make a living. This is the main purpose why this mall is happening the way it is.
Jamad Jama: Toua also owns and operates Hmongtown, which he opened in 2004, a beloved shopping hub with more than 100 vendors. Now he's hoping to design a gathering place for the community, and is looking to offer much more than just merchandise.
Toua Xiong: So at the same time that we're designing, we're also starting to look for vendors, tenants or artists to showcase their work. Not just Hmong. But we're talking about Somalia, Nepal, Kyran, all those communities working together to bring food traffic to this mall.
Jamad Jama: Right now, the Pan Asian Center is open for shopping. Independent shopkeepers have set up inside and offer everything from home decor to beauty products.
Xinxy: The Pan Asian Center is a space that was recently brought into my community. It provided a lot of opportunity, space, to start your own business, to start your own dream. That was kind of the idea. We like being here because we get to experience cultures from all aspects of life.
Jamad Jama: For shopkeepers like Xinxy, the Pan Asian Center is a huge help in starting out with a new business, and that's exactly what Toua is hoping for.
Toua Xiong: Please do not think this is just an Asian shopping center. This is an opportunity for people of any color. It will be a very vibrant destination. It will be a place to go to. It will be a place for you to bring your friends or families.
Jamad Jama: The Pan Asian Center is hoping to fully open by 2027. For North Star Stories, I'm Jamad Jama.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
As gas tax revenues decline, Minnesota lawmakers say electric vehicle drivers can expect to start paying more. Starting next year, EV drivers will see their registration fees double — jumping to at least 150 dollars — and the hike will hit more expensive cars harder. Plug-in-hybrid drivers will also see an increase to their yearly renewals. Lawmakers say the fees will only be temporary. Starting in 2027, some costs will shift when a new tax on public fast-charging stations goes into effect.
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HOST: 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.