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Social Issues

New Web site aims to show Minnesota isn't for whites only

Members of minority bar associations, area law schools and law firms launch Web site they hope will dispel some of the myths about Minnesota that they say hinder people of color from moving here.

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CTC takes a snapshot of Somali-African American relations

A new play at the Children's Theatre Co. portrays the tension and occasional conflict between Somali immigrants and African Americans. "Snapshot Silhouette" examines this cultural clash through the eyes of two 12-year-old girls. One of the CTC's goals is to help launch a dialogue between the two communities in the Twin Cities.

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Songwriting and social work merge in Honeydogs' new CD

The rock band, the Honeydogs, has used catchy melodies and clever lyrics to attract a sizeable local following. It's even had a few minor radio hits. However, the Honeydogs' new CD, "10,000 Years," takes the group in an completely different direction.

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Cleaning up the White Earth Reservation

The White Earth Indian Reservation in northwest Minnesota has struggled for years with poverty. Unemployment hovers at around 25 percent, well above the national average. The tribe employs some 1,500 people at its casino and in tribal government jobs. But White Earth leaders have had little success in attracting jobs in the private sector. Now, the tribe is getting some help. A Detroit Lakes-based non-profit group is working with White Earth to make the reservation more attractive to new businesses.

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Mayor Kelly on his Asian visit

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly talks about his trip to Thailand and how the expected Hmong immigration will affect the area. He also supports the building of a Twins stadium in St. Paul, but a slim majority of the city council does not.

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Work isn't always the solution to poverty

It can be as minor as a car breakdown or as major as serious illness. Either can send the working poor deeper into poverty. One author explores various lives of people on the economic edge which show the cycle is tough to break.

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Game inventor seeks to teach core values

A Minneapolis inventor has created a board game which he hopes will help people learn and discuss societal values. The game is targeted at Africans and African Americans, however the game's creator says the values apply to everyone.

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An editor reflects

Joel Patenaude recently left his job as editor of the Mille Lacs Messenger. He's heading back home to Wisconsin after spending 2-1/2 years covering what may be the most complicated and contentious issue in rural Minnesota - the lawsuit over the existence of the Mille Lacs Ojibwe reservation.

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A fight over land and history

People around Lake Mille Lacs are waiting for a court ruling on a painful question -- does the Mille Lacs Ojibwe reservation really exist? Mille Lacs County says it doesn't. The Ojibwe band says the reservation was promised to its children forever. The court is expected to rule any day now. It's the latest chapter in a long history of friction and distrust.

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Lawmakers forcing showdown with tribes over gambling

Two Republican lawmakers say the state should outlaw video slot machines statewide unless the state's Native American tribes agree to share a portion of their casino revenues. Indian tribes are reacting negatively, calling the plan a form of legislative blackmail.

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