Vol 92 / Edition 15 - Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

MINNESOTA SINCE

Human toll rising as SNAP funds delayed

By Jasmine McBride Managing Editor

innesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, U.S. Representative Betty McCollum, and Ramsey County Commissioner Rena Moran gathered Nov. 3 at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center to spotlight the urgent consequences of the Trump administration’s refusal to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition As-

sistance Program (SNAP) during the nearly five-week federal government shutdown.

The press conference brought together elected leaders, a SNAP recipient, and a local food-shelf manager to illustrate the human cost of delayed benefits and the cascading economic effects across Minnesota communities.

“Donald Trump will go to any lengths to make sure hungry Americans stay hungry,” Ellison said. “This is about basic

human dignity. People need food on their tables, and we cannot wait any longer. SNAP is not a political bargaining chip — it is essential for families to survive.”

Matteo, a Minnesota SNAP recipient, shared his experience managing illness while relying on the program. “I found out I had cancer … I do get my food stamps of $292 a month, which, as prices continue to go up, I don’t care how good of a budgeter you are, that is hard

to stretch,” he said.

“It’s shameful,” Matteo continued. “None of us are proud to be on it, and while I’m on it right now, I definitely do not plan to be on it for the rest of my life. Even if you do get disability and all support programs, it is still below poverty.”

A local food-shelf manager highlighted a dramatic increase in demand. “We’ve seen families who have never needed help before,” they said. “People are coming in asking for basic staples: milk, eggs, bread. Our shelves are stretched to the limit, and we are doing everything we can, but the need is overwhelming.”

State launches ambitious marijuana expungement program

By Clint Combs Contributing Writer

innesota is attempting something few states have tried: clearing thousands of marijuana convictions automatically, without requiring anyone to petition the courts.

On Wednesday, state officials and legal experts gathered at the Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis to outline the scope of what they called one of the most ambitious government-led expungement efforts in the country. The Cannabis Expungement Board has begun reviewing felony-level cases for possible expungement or resentencing, while the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has already cleared more than 57,000 low-level

galization law. “It is our job, as the government, to undo that harm.”

Minnesota’s law created two tracks for expungement. Low-level marijuana cases, including petty and misdemeanor offenses, are automatically handled by the BCA. More serious felony convictions are reviewed individually by the Cannabis Expungement Board, which includes a mix of legal, corrections, and child welfare officials.

Unlike many other states, Minnesota does not require people to petition a court, pay a filing fee, or wait for a judge’s discretion. Former Minneapolis City Attorney Jim Rowader, now executive director of the board, said the board is preparing to review thousands of felony cases over the next year.

“That’s huge,” said attorney

marijuana records.

“Prohibition and the overpolicing of specific communities is a harm the government did,” said State Senator Lindsey Port, one of the authors of Minnesota’s 2023 cannabis le-

Jon Geffen, who has worked on expungement cases for two decades. “If you go to a job interview or try to rent housing, you need to know what’s on your record. This ensures

■ See EXPUNGEMENT on page 5

Court upholds Home Depot ban on Black Lives Matter insignia

By Matt Sepic

federal appeals court panel ruled on Thursday that managers of a Twin Cities Home Depot store acted lawfully when they banned an employee from writing a Black Lives Matter slogan on their uniform.

Caro Linda Bo, 33, started working at the retailer’s location in Northeast Minneapolis in August 2020, three months after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, bringing new urgency to the Black Lives Matter movement. Soon after they were hired,

Bo joined with other employees in writing “BLM” in black marker on their orange aprons, the store’s uniform. Bo couldn’t be reached for comment. But according to court documents, Bo testified that they did it to be approachable to customers and as a “symbol of solidarity” against “prejudice and racism.”

While the nation was in the midst of a racial reckoning, another was underway in the store’s break room, where in February 2021 someone twice vandalized a Black History Month display. Later that month, managers of the location on New Brighton

■ See HOME on page 5

Courtroom protesters demand ‘No

By Clint Combs Contributing Writer

llison Lussier’s life ended in a North Loop apartment in February 2024, but questions surrounding her death continue to reverberate through Minneapolis. Family members and Indigenous activists say the system failed Lussier, a 29-year-old woman with a history of domestic abuse, and are calling for accountability as her former boyfriend, Charles Henry Foss, faces only minor charges unrelated to her death.

Lussier died from a subdural hematoma, a blood buildup between the brain and skull that can result from violence, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office. The manner of death remains undetermined, and toxicology reports revealed significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in her system.

Foss, who was sentenced to 13 months in jail for an unrelated break-in and standoff, appeared in Hennepin County Court wearing an XL orange jumpsuit. Prosecutors described his erratic behavior, which included fleeing police with a knife and agreeing to surrender only after requesting a McDonald’s milkshake. Advocates argue Foss should face charges related to Lussier’s death, citing a pattern of domestic abuse.

Jana Williams, Lussier’s aunt, and half a dozen Indigenous

activists wearing red “No More Stolen Lives” shirts attended the court hearing. “If Minneapolis police had listened months ago, Allison might still be alive,” Williams said, emphasizing the systemic failures that contributed to her niece’s death.

Emails obtained by the MSR show Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando repeatedly requesting a meeting with Mayor Jacob Frey in October to discuss gaps in Minne-

apolis Police Department procedures for high-risk domestic violence cases. City officials largely declined or failed to follow through, though Chief of

Staff Grace Walz later offered a rescheduled meeting. City Auditor Robert Timmerman said the office lacks sufficient resources to investigate high-profile domestic violence cases, noting active audits into Lussier’s death and other incidents.

“If Minneapolis police had listened months ago, Allison might still be alive.”

The story reflects broader disparities. A 2023 Department of Justice investigation found Minneapolis police disproportionately stop and use force against Black and Indigenous residents, who also experience higher rates of domestic violence. Black women account for 40% of domestic violence victims in Minnesota despite making up only 7% of the population. Advocates connect Lussier’s death to other cases, including Davis Motouri and Mariah Samuels, highlighting patterns ■ See LUSSIER on page 5

Last week, we printed some incorrect information in Mr Jackman’s obituary/story: his date of birth is Oct 19, 1944; his middle name is spelled O’Neal; and his daughter’s name is spelled Dauhn. We apologize for these errors

By Scott Selmer Assigning Editor

When the last of the rankedchoice votes were counted, Jacob Frey had won reelection as Minneapolis mayor, but not resoundingly. It was a victory drawn out by mathematical transfers and emotional fatigue. Some residents wondered whether the mayor remained engaged in the fight for them and for their families, or rather just to stay in power.

Two days after the election, on a gray November afternoon, Marsha Mays sat in her dented gray Jeep Patriot outside Wing Stop. A lifelong South Minneapolis resident and survivor of personal loss, Mays had watched the city rebuild unevenly since the fires of 2020. Despite widespread frustration, she had voted for Frey.

“I chose Frey because he stepped up for the homeless,” she said. “I’ve been in GRH [Group Residential Housing] since my son got killed. That program pays rent, keeps people in-

side. People can talk all they want, but at least he’s trying.”

According to Hennepin County records, more than 147,000 ballots were cast in the mayoral race, with turnout around 55% of registered voters, a record for a Minneapolis municipal election and the first time Frey exceeded 50% under ranked-choice voting. But numbers, Mays said, can’t capture what residents actually see. “People blame him for everything,” she said, “but he’s out here putting up housing. Nobody should be homeless if those programs are working.”

Her support is tempered by frustration over gaps in the city’s response to the Lake Street corridor. “You see that mall they built? And folks still say it’s just Black people on fentanyl,” she said. “It’s everybody. But they let new people come in and do what they want, while we’re still waiting on help.”

Frey’s reelection map reflected these divides. Affluent and racially mixed neighborhoods

leaned toward him, while working-class Black areas fractured.

North Minneapolis precincts had the lowest participation, and Lake Street renter corridors split between hope for stability and hunger for change.

“I voted for Omar [Fateh] because he’s trying to change stuff,” said Jaton Finley, 26. “Frey acts like he cares, he was at my church, but nothing’s moving.” For Finley, the city feels stalled. Lisa Rainer echoed that sentiment. “When he first ran, he was in the fight. Now he’s tired. We need someone hungry.”

Urban sociologists call this

By Scott Selmer Assigning Editor

In the days after St. Paul’s mayoral election, disbelief rippled through the blocks of Frogtown and Midway. Soonto-be-former Mayor Melvin Carter, a two-term incumbent with deep roots and strong name recognition, had lost to Kaohly Vang Her, a legislator who entered the race barely 10 weeks earlier. To some, it was a political upset; to others, it was a reckoning long in the making. Ramsey County reported 67,893 ballots cast in the contest. Carter earned 41% of firstchoice votes (27,261) to Her’s 39% (26,500). As lesser candidates were eliminated under the city’s ranked-choice system, the tally shifted: Her gained about 6,400 additional votes, Carter roughly 2,800, and nearly 4,900 ballots were exhausted with no further ranking.

was an election,” he confessed, “but I didn’t know where to go.”

Several residents described Carter as growing distant from the grassroots. A man rushing to catch the Green Line at Hamline and University Avenue offered a blunt assessment: “He stopped going to the churches.” Once his hallmark, Carter’s community visibility had thinned.

see more diversity now. Most young Black folks don’t vote. They don’t think it helps them.”

Williams ranked Carter first, but only him. “I didn’t put nobody second,” he said. “Life is life.”

Her’s support mapped closely to St. Paul’s changing demographics. On the East Side, precincts in PaynePhalen and Battle Creek re-

That swing transformed the outcome: Her ended with 47.8% to Carter’s 45%, a margin of 1,877 votes, making her St. Paul’s first Hmong mayor and only the second woman to hold the office.

On a cold, windy afternoon in Frogtown, Joseph Stewart shook his head. “They wanted a monitor,” he said. “He was doing too much for the people.” Stewart, who relies on EBT benefits, blamed national politics for compounding local pain during the federal shutdown. “The more you try to do good,” he said, “the more they try to tear it down.”

Nearby in Midway, Kevin Rudolph, 62, offered a simpler explanation. “We expected him to win,” he admitted. “Everybody figured he’d be fine. But if 10,000 people think that way, that’s 10,000 votes gone.” Pierre Smith, 38, said Carter’s problem was communication. “Not bad policy,” he said, “but bad policy explaining. You can have the right ideas and still not reach people.” Smith didn’t vote at all. “I knew it

Coffee Black, who spends time in both St. Paul and Minneapolis, reflected a broader fatigue. “Maybe the people just didn’t come out,” she said. “I thought highly of him, but this ain’t good for our Black community. They already got this community sold up.”

For Jamir Williams, 19, a first-time voter, the result represented a generational shift.

“More Hmong and Laos people are moving in,” he said. “You

corded record turnout among Hmong and Southeast Asian voters. Across the river, turnout surged in Summit Hill and Macalester- Groveland, where white, college-educated voters responded to Her’s technocratic message of “partnership and progress.”

Carter still won Frogtown and Hamline-Midway, but by narrow margins. According to the Star Tribune, Her “flipped Union Park and parts of Mac-

Scott Selmer/MSR

“participation fatigue,”when residents remain engaged enough to criticize but are too weary to believe their votes make a difference.

Mays repeatedly returned to GRH, which subsidizes rent for low-income Minnesotans.

“It follows you until you die,” she said. “That’s the only reason I’m still inside. They pay their part, I pay mine.” She insists Frey deserves credit for protecting the program during budget fights.

“I’ve been through it,” she said. “Lost my son, seen too much violence, and I’m telling

Groveland that Carter carried in 2021.”

The ranked-choice system amplified these shifts. CBS Minnesota reported that of the 14% of votes transferred after candidate eliminations, Her claimed about 45%, Carter 20%, and the remainder were exhausted. Transfers from eliminated candidates, especially Yan Chen, became Her’s winning margin.

For many residents, the election was about more than numbers. Antonio Durham

you, those programs save lives.”

But her praise is tempered with frustration over safety and city services. “People are too scared to even say something,” she said, recalling a moment when she intervened to protect a baby until police arrived. “That’s what the city needs, people who care right there in the mess.”

Analysts say Frey’s victory stems more from consistency than charisma. His support held in Southwest neighborhoods and downtown business districts, where property values rose and crime complaints eased. Meanwhile, his opponents failed to consolidate reform-minded voters on the North Side.

For many residents, that gap is both geographic and emotional. “They build the city, but not the people,” Mays said. She rattled off community groups like Mother Flow, Rev. McAfee’s outreach team, Jeremiah Ellison, citizens who “actually show up.” She wants City Hall to work more like them.

“People don’t see the work behind the programs,” she said. “They just see the problems left on the sidewalk.”

Tensions along Lake Street remain high with criticism over safety, redevelopment,

viewed it through a historical lens. “We were built, we had our own ships,” he said, recalling Marcus Garvey and the Black Wall Street massacre.

“Now they want us to march to their beat.” For Durham, Her’s rise signaled the continuing shift of political power away from Black communities.

Others see possibility in Her’s victory, the chance for new alliances between Hmong and African American communities. “Maybe this will wake people up to vote next

and cultural divides. “You see all these new businesses and Somali centers, but not the help for us,” Mays said.

Ultimately, the election numbers show a city still divided by race, class and geography. Frey’s reelection rested less on broad approval than on fragmented opposition and steady turnout in higherincome wards.

Mays stared into the distance, tugging at her dark green sweatshirt. “Everybody says Minneapolis is coming back,” she said. “Maybe. But until it comes back for the ones at the bottom, it ain’t all the way back.”

“Everybody says Minneapolis

Her words reveal the city’s contradictions: a place rebuilding in some areas while still leaving others behind.

Scott Selmer welcomes reader responses at sselmer@spokesman-recorder.com.

time,” Rudolph said. “Maybe that’s the lesson.” Inside City Hall, Her now faces the challenge of proving that the second-choice votes were more than a quirk of the system but rather a mandate for connection. On the streets of Frogtown and Midway, residents remain wary. Representation means little if it doesn’t reach home.

Scott Selmer welcomes reader responses at sselmer@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Finding peace in the struggle: one man’s journey through recovery

used to be.”

the help that I can get.”

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HELP IS HERE

For Lamont B. Taylor, recovery is both a battle and a sanctuary. Born in Hennepin County and raised in Gary, Indiana, Lamont has lived a life marked by struggle, mistakes, and the long road to self-discovery. Today, he finds solace at Anything Helps, a Minneapolis-based organization that provides resources for people navigating addiction and life’s challenges.

“It’s like a safe haven for me,” Lamont says. “It’s way calmer than any other place. I come here if I need to get anything done, I can get it done. I got all

Lamont has spent much of his life in Minneapolis’ North Side, a neighborhood he describes with honesty and frustration. He’s faced incarceration and housing instability, consequences of decisions he now reflects on with clarity. “Some stupid mistakes that I made,” he admits. “But at the same time, I’m working on it as we speak.”

“My up game has come a very, very long way from where I used to be.”

Despite the hardships, Lamont sees his journey as progress. “It’s like right now I’m struggling a little bit, but then at the same time I’m not.

My up game has come a very, very long way from where I

Looking back, Lamont acknowledges that the path he took was shaped by his own choices. “Me not listening or learning…the things my grandparents used to tell me all the time: Don’t you walk down the wrong track, you end up where you don’t want to be.”

Recovery, he notes, is no easy feat. “It’s hard. There’s a lot of temptation outside. A lot of that stuff I try my best to stay away from. I know me, and I know where I end up. I know exactly why I end up there, and I’m not trying to go there.”

For Lamont, leaving the North Side and finding a quieter environment is part of his vision for a healthier life. “I want to be somewhere with less people… I need peace and quiet,” he says. Faith and self-discipline are what keep him moving forward. “Me keeping to a higher power is what keeps me going. With-

out that, I wouldn’t be able to do anything,” Lamont says. His message to others facing similar struggles is simple but powerful: Seek help, and commit to yourself. “Come to Anything Helps,” he says.

“These people right here are going to help you get right back where you need to be, but you’ve got to want to do it yourself as well.”

Families face uncertainty amid shutdown delays

By Clint Combs Contributing Writer

As the federal government shutdown drags on, Minnesotans are bracing for rising health care and food costs this winter. Premiums on the state’s ACA marketplace are projected to increase an average of 21.5% in 2026, while federal subsidies that have helped keep coverage affordable for lower-income households are set to expire at year’s end. Community health and social service organizations across St. Paul are already feeling the strain. From food shelves to prevention clinics, staff report increased demand as federal support falters. Open Cities Health Center is one such local provider. Sydney Malone, a community health worker, said her team is helping residents navigate both health care and food insecurity.

“We’ve absolutely seen an uptick in people being interested in receiving our food resources,” Malone said. “As a community health worker, I provide patients with general resources that can assist in their health care journey, and a lot of them have been interested in food shelves and community tables in the area.” Malone emphasized the center’s low-barrier approach.

“We try to provide quality health care to everybody in the community who might need it. We remove any barrier, whether it’s transportation, cost, or anything else, and make sure we can treat everyone who comes through our doors,” she said.

The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul has become a hub for such resources. Its Food Shelf operates on a client-choice model, allowing residents to select items they will actually use, from dry goods and fresh produce to culturally specific items and personal hygiene products. Appointments for curbside pickup or delivery are available, with priority given to seniors and homebound

individuals. Health care providers are seeing the impact as well.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare sales agent Angie Flores said seniors are hesitant to make coverage changes amid uncertainty caused by the shutdown.

will continue to offer its Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and MinnesotaCare plans, though coverage in certain areas will be reduced.

Prevention clinics are also adapting. Partners in Prevention Clinic, led by Dr. Debra Eardley, uses a public-health

“We’re seeing seniors a lot more hesitant to change plans or make any changes in their coverage because they’re scared of losing benefits during the government shutdown,” Flores said. She added that recent exits from the Medicare Advantage market, including UCare leaving for 2026, have left hundreds of thousands of potential members searching for coverage.

“We’re seeing seniors a lot more hesitant to change plans or make any changes in their coverage because they’re scared of losing benefits.”

UCare’s departure affects roughly 158,000 members

during the annual enrollment period. The insurer

approach to address holistic community needs.

“The Partners in Prevention Clinic is not a medical clinic, it’s a prevention clinic using a traditional public-health-nursing model of care,” Eardley said. “We work holistically with community members to address heart-disease prevention, prediabetes prevention, oral health, and stress reduction.”

Eardley said her clinic helps clients navigate nonmedical needs as well. “We’re the people’s clinic in terms of SNAP benefits and other support programs. Using a socialdeterminant -of-health framework, we assess individuals’ unmet needs and link them to services and resources,” she said.

Federal SNAP benefits are also in flux. A federal judge in Rhode Island recently ordered the Trump administration to fully restore SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans by Friday. Minnesota officials are distributing partial payments, but families continue

to face uncertainty amid delays caused by the shutdown.

Hallie Q. Brown emergency food bags are also offered while supplies last. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call ahead at 651-224-4601 to ensure staff are ready to receive contributions. Those in need can request food by contacting Food Service Manager Althea Lankford at alankford@hallieqbrown.org or 651-224-4606.

The Partners in Prevention Clinic offers free or low-cost health services at the Hallie Q. Brown Center, 270 N. Kent

Lamont’s story is a testament to the challenges of recovery and the strength required to pursue a better

Street in St. Paul, every Thursday from 12 to 3 p.m., Sept. 25 through Dec. 4 (except Nov. 27 during Thanksgiving week).

Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Black Business SPOTLIGHT SOAR Stretch Therapy

By Lizzy Nyoike Contributing Writer

Roseann Stewart, better known as “The Stretch Lady,” has made it her mission to transform how Minnesotans think about wellness. Through her business, SOAR Stretch Therapy, she helps clients manage pain, improve mobility, and preserve long-term health.

Stewart works with people recovering from injuries or surgeries, as well as those navigating aging joints, swelling, or neuromuscular conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). No two sessions are the same, each tailored to the individual’s body and needs.

“When I first started my business, nobody really knew stretching as a concept, as a place where you go to have somebody stretch you,” Stewart said. “I was often told I should do something more familiar, like massage. To this day, people still confuse the two.”

After two decades in the health and wellness field, Stewart has built a loyal following across the Twin Cities.

Her path began while studying health and exercise sciences, when a professor mentioned that Aaron Mattes, known as the “Godfather of Stretching,” was coming to town to teach a course.

Business

Unique wellness approach connects the dots

actually the first marketed stretch therapy business in Minnesota.”

For Stewart, stretching is more than a pre-workout ritual; it’s essential for long-term pain relief, mobility, and quality of life. “I believe that no matter what you have, if you don’t have your health, you don’t really have much,” she said.

That belief deepened after working with a former client who had MS, someone financially secure but physically unable to get out of bed without help. “It reaffirmed what guides my work every day,” she said. “Health is the real currency of life, and the body requires maintenance before it’s in crisis.”

Stewart emphasizes that her practice isn’t about quick fixes, but rather about longevity through movement. Her clients range widely in age and lifestyle, though many are approaching or in retirement.

While many of her classmates were already massage therapists, chiropractors or trainers, Stewart was still exploring her career options. “I liked the idea of doing something different,” she said. “I’m

“The average person I work with is more toward retirement age,” she said. “I do everything from your neck down to your feet, and I especially love working on feet, particularly when people have things like bunions or hammer toes.”

She says what makes her approach unique is its focus on what other modalities of-

ten overlook. “Massage can ease muscular tension, but it doesn’t restore functional length. Chiropractic work corrects skeletal misalignments, but not the muscles that caused them,” Stewart explained. “Stretching connects those dots.”

Operating as a Black woman in a wellness space where few practitioners look like her hasn’t always been easy. Stewart says the public’s

awareness of stretch therapy has shifted only recently, especially as predominantly white wellness centers began offering it.

“It’s like, oh, now that they’re doing it, it makes sense,” she said, laughing. Still, Stewart continues to grow her practice and mission: reminding people that aging doesn’t have to mean decline. “It’s an opportunity to reconnect with your body and

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McCollum underscored SNAP’s role as an economic stabilizer, not just a social safety net. “Without these benefits, parents are forced to make impossible choices, like deciding between feeding their children or paying rent,” she said.

“SNAP is a lifeline, and the federal government has a responsibility to ensure families aren’t left to go hungry during a shutdown.”

She also noted the broader economic consequences of delayed benefits, explaining how

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Boulevard in Minneapolis fired a woman for engaging in racially discriminatory conduct toward customers and employees of color.

Bo, who’s Latino, called for a discussion among managers and staff and pressed their bosses to condemn workplace racism.

But during a meeting with managers, one noticed the letters “BLM” on Bo’s apron and ordered Bo to remove the slogan because it promoted a social or political cause in vio-

missed SNAP payments ripple through local communities.

“When people don’t receive their EBT cards, they can’t buy food,” she said. “Retailers lose revenue, employees face layoffs, local governments see reduced tax income. One dollar spent on food stamps generates roughly $1.50 in economic activity, illustrating how SNAP supports both individuals and the wider economy.”

Ellison addressed questions about public safety, noting the community-wide implications of food insecurity. “When families are worried about their next meal, it doesn’t just affect them at home. It affects schools, neighborhoods, and

lation of Home Depot’s dress code. The manager suggested that Bo wear a diversity, equity and inclusion pin instead, or one that said “respect for all.”

At the time, Home Depot had also prohibited employees from displaying thin blue line flags and other pro-police insignia and slogans. A district manager agreed that allowing “BLM” on employee aprons could open the door to offensive symbols such as swastikas.

Bo refused to remove the lettering, quit Home Depot, and filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. In 2022, an administrative law judge sided with the retailer

public safety,” he said.

“Hunger is a community issue. It’s hard for kids to learn, hard for parents to work, and hard for communities to thrive when basic needs aren’t met.”

Commissioner Moran emphasized the local impact, noting that community organizations are being stretched beyond capacity. “We are seeing families who have never needed assistance before showing up at food shelves, and that should alarm all of us,” she said. “Hunger isn’t just a statistic. It is a daily reality for thousands of Minnesotans.”

Minnesota has more than 700,000 SNAP participants, including low-income fami-

and dismissed the complaint.

Then in early 2024 the NLRB reversed that decision, concluding that Bo’s speech was protected by federal labor law because it was related to concerns about workplace racism.

Home Depot took its case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. At a June hearing in St. Paul, attorney Roman Martinez, arguing on behalf of the retailer, said that Home Depot has the right to regulate what employees write on their uniforms.

“We want people to come in and think about buying hammers and buying drywall, not to think about controversial political slogans,” Martinez said. “So

lies, seniors, and people with disabilities. Advocates warn that delayed funding has left countless families scrambling, with children and seniors among the most vulnerable. The federal shutdown has placed millions nationwide at risk of food insecurity, exacerbating existing disparities.

Ellison and a coalition of 26 state attorneys general have filed a legal challenge to fully restore SNAP benefits. “Every day that SNAP isn’t fully funded is a day Minnesotans go hungry,” Ellison said.

“We cannot let this continue. This is not just a legal matter, it’s a moral one. Hunger is not a partisan issue. Every

the interest is in keeping things apolitical and not having messages that are going to inflame customers and that are going to alienate certain customers and turn the aisles of Home Depot into an episode of ‘Crossfire’ or a political rally.”

“We want people to come in and think about buying hammers and drywall, not to think about controversial political slogans.”

Minnesotan deserves access to food, especially during a government shutdown.”

“Every day that SNAP isn’t fully funded is a day Minnesotans go hungry. Hunger is not a partisan issue. It is a basic human right.”

The press conference reflected both urgency and hope. Attendees held signs advocating for full SNAP funding, nodding in agreement as speakers highlighted the real human toll. “The government shutdown may be political theater in Washington, but

NLRB attorney Joel Heller countered that Bo’s Black Lives Matter display was workrelated speech protected by the National Labor Relations Act. “It’s a longstanding and undisputed principle that the NLRA protects employees’ right to jointly protest racial hostility in their workplace and to display insignia or adornments that relate to working conditions,” Heller said.

here in Minnesota, it’s real life,” said the food-shelf manager.

“People are skipping meals. Kids are going to school hungry. Families are making impossible choices. These are not abstract numbers, they are our neighbors, our friends, our children.”

As the event wrapped, leaders called for immediate action and ongoing advocacy to ensure families can access the food they need. “We will continue to fight until every family receives the support they need to survive,” Ellison said.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Loken notes that because of “extraordinarily high” community tensions and the negative response of other employees to the Black Lives Matter slogan, managers had the right to ban it because it “threatened the security of the workplace.” In an email to MPR News, a Home Depot spokesperson said that the chain does not comment on pending litigation.

This article originally appeared in MPR News. For more information, visit www.mpr.org.

The three-judge panel, which includes appointees of Republican Presidents George H.W. Bush and Donald Trump, disagreed. Judge James Loken writes that the BLM slogan “was not a generic message for equal rights or employee protection,” nor did it come at a random location in the United States at a normal moment in time.

A philosophical shift

everyone has that opportunity.”

The human cost Felony convictions under Minnesota’s fifth-degree controlled-substance statute, which for a period included the sale or possession of marijuana, can carry lifelong consequences. Even a single fifth-degree conviction can block access to federal student loans, prevent applicants from renting housing, and limit employment opportunities.

Amanda Brodhag, a Hennepin County public defender who serves on the board, said clearing these records can have transformative effects. “When that record is expunged, doors finally open,” she said. “People can pursue education, secure stable housing, and access jobs they were previously barred from.” Legal experts say the scale of Minnesota’s effort is rare. Most states that allow marijuana expungement require individuals to file petitions, pay fees, and navigate court systems, a process many find intimidating or inaccessible. Minnesota’s automatic approach shifts the burden from individuals to the state, a change advocates say is crucial for justice.

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of systemic lapses in protecting vulnerable residents.

The Minneapolis City Council approved an After Action Review in February 2025 and requested independent audits to assess city and police actions. Activists say these measures are essential but not sufficient. “The only ones putting feet to the fire are the City Council,” Williams said.

Lussier’s death is a tragic reminder that systemic failures, unchecked, can cost lives. Advocates stress that real accountability, better resourcing, and proactive intervention are necessary to protect Black and Indigenous women, and to prevent another tragedy like Lussier’s from being repeated.

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@ gmail.com.

Continued from page 1 Emails obtained by MSR show Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando struggled with requesting a meeting with Mayor Jacob Frey in October to discuss gaps in Minneapolis Police Department procedures for high-risk domestic violence cases.

Judge Christopher Bates, who participated in the panel, framed the board’s work as part of a broader shift in Minnesota’s legal philosophy.

“Historically, our criminal justice system is aimed at punishing people for the acts they’ve done,” Bates said. “I see this as a way to shift that focus toward restoration, repairing harm rather than just punishing it.”

The board includes legal, corrections, and child welfare officials to ensure decisions balance justice, rehabilitation, and social services. Members are Brodhag, former Court of Appeals judge Susan Segal, Assistant U.S. Attorney David

Genrich, Deputy Commissioner Safia Khan, Rebecca St. George of the Department of Children, Youth & Families, and Rowader as executive director.

Challenges ahead

While the expungement process is underway, officials acknowledge challenges. The system must ensure that automatic reviews are accurate and comprehensive, while also managing thousands of records across multiple jurisdictions.

“This is a test of whether we can follow through,” Geffen said. “The remedies have to be across the board. It can’t be some records here, some records there.”

Minnesota’s program also raises questions about trust: Can a government that once criminalized marijuana now be relied upon to erase its own mistakes? Reform advocates say the effort is a critical step toward repairing past harms and creating a more equitable legal system. National context Minnesota’s approach is rare in the United States. Few states have attempted government-initiated expungement on this scale. Advocates say the model could set a precedent for other states considering ways to address the long-term consequences of marijuana criminalization.

“This is a chance to show that the state can take responsibility for the harm it caused. It’s a test of justice in action.”

“This is a chance to show that the state can take responsibility for the harm it caused,” Brodhag said. “It’s more than a legal process — it’s a test of justice in action.”

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@ gmail.com.

There always seems to be a never-ending list of tasks during the holiday season, from booking flights to purchasing gifts for loved ones. As you prepare for the holidays, it’s also critical to keep an eye out for online scams that aim to steal your money and your joy.

Nationally, nearly 1 in 3 consumers reported falling victim to an online scam during the 2024 holiday season, and Minnesotans have lost more than $146 million to fraud and scams just last year. Scams are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, making them more convincing and harder to detect.

“The holidays are a busy season for scammers. From fake travel websites and false package delivery messages to phony charity donations, scammers take advantage of people’s spirit of generosity and bustling holiday schedules,” said Diedra Porché, National Head of Community and Business Development at JPMorganChase.

“Your best defense to protect yourself and loved ones is to stay educated on common and emerging scam tactics.”

This month Chase will host over 20 fraud and scam education workshops across the country in coordination with local law enforcement and other local partners. These workshops, which are free and open to the public, aim to

educate the public on recognizing scams and empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves. Chase hosts over 1,000 fraud and scam education workshops per year across its more than 5,000 branches. Don’t let the threat of scams dampen your celebrations. Consider the following tips to help you celebrate safely.

Beware of unrealistic deals When you have so many gifts to buy, you’ll want to look for bargains. However, make sure that the discounts you’re offered are legitimate. Scammers often lure buyers with massive discounts, especially on popular and sold-

out items, often using fake websites or social media ads. If you think, “this deal is too good to be true,” listen to your gut. It’s likely a scam.

Shop with trusted retailers

When shopping online or on social media, make sure to only buy from trusted websites and vendors. Review the website’s URL and ensure that it starts with “https://” (the ‘s’ stands for secure) as scammers can create fake websites to look like legitimate retailers. If you’re unfamiliar with a store, search for the name with terms like “scam,” “complaints,” or “reviews” to uncover any red flags. Be especially cautious when making purchases from social

media marketplaces. Always verify the product exists before purchasing and use payments with purchase protections, like a credit card, to pay.

Gift card scams typically begin with outreach from a scammer, often pretending to be someone else, who urgently pressures victims into buying specific gift cards and sharing the card numbers and PINs. Scammers use various stories, such as pretending to be government officials, tech support, friends or family in emergencies, prize promoters, utility companies, or online romantic interests. Remember: Legitimate organizations will never demand payment by gift card, and requests for gift card payments are a sign of a scam.

How you pay matters

Not all payment methods offer purchase protection. When buying gifts for the holiday season, consider using your debit and credit cards, as they may provide protections that allow you to dispute a charge if you don’t receive what you paid for or it’s not as you expected. If you purchase something using payment methods like Zelle®, wire transfers, gift cards, or cash, and it turns out to be a scam, it’s unlikely you’ll get your money back. Only use Zelle® to pay others you know and trust.

Seek out free resources

Give yourself peace of mind while shopping by using digital tools to monitor

your personal information. For example, Chase Credit Journey® offers free credit and identity monitoring. This includes alerts to let you know if your data is exposed in a data breach or on the dark web. You don’t have to be a Chase customer to use it.

To learn more about how to help protect yourself from scams this holiday season, visit Chase.com/Security.

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/ recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The ma-

Arts & Culture

Africa’s first female military pilot honored in Minnesota

By Binta Kanteh Contributing Writer

From a young age, Asli Hassan Abade was captivated by astronomy, math and physics. Growing up in a military family in Somalia, her academic strengths and early exposure to the military sparked a dream: to fly planes.

The 1960s and ‘70s in Somalia, a period of independence and decolonization across Africa, offered new opportunities for those ready to pursue them. For Abade, the evolving government and her family’s proximity to military circles created the perfect environment to chase her ambition.

In 1974, she personally spoke with President Mohamed Siad Barre about joining the Somali Air Force. Her determination and talent allowed her to train in Somalia, Italy, and the United States.

On September 9, 1976, Abade completed her first solo military flight in Somalia, marking a historic milestone.

“Abade is revered as a pioneer not only in Somali aviation history but across Africa and the Middle East.”

Mohamoud Mohamed, artistic director of the Somali Museum, emphasized the importance of honoring Abade.

“Recognizing Captain Asli at this time holds deep significance for the community and the Black diaspora,” Mohamed said.

“Her achievement as Africa’s first female military pilot and the only woman to serve in the Somali Air Force blazes a trail for future generations, showing what is possible through determination and breaking barriers.

“Captain Asli made history in 1976, a milestone that continues to inspire countless individuals,” he continued. “Beyond her aviation accomplishments, she is a dedicated activist and role model for women everywhere. By honoring her, the museum acknowledges her significant contributions and enduring legacy.”

Abade’s fascination with flying was cultivated by her surroundings. Living on an air force base in Mogadishu, “Our house was very close to the runway,” she recalled. “I used to watch the fighter jets taking off, I couldn’t wait until I finished school,”

After moving to the United States, she maintained her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license, continuing to fly and teach aspiring pilots.

“Captain Asli’s last flight was six months ago, after which she officially retired,” Mohamed said. “Her pilot’s license remains valid for another five years. Since retiring, she has focused on mentoring young pilots, community activism, and sharing her story through public speaking engagements.”

Abade is revered as a pioneer not only in Somali aviation history but across Africa and the Middle East. She continues to champion the ability of girls and women to aim high in STEM, aviation, and defense. “I love to study, that’s my habit!” she said, reflecting on her lifelong commitment to learning. Now a grandmother of eight, Abade has turned her attention to learning her eighth language, Turkish. She already speaks Italian, English, Arabic, French, German, Russian and Somali.

For more information on the museum, visit www.somalimuseum.org.

On October 31, the Somali Museum of Minnesota celebrated its 12th anniversary with the theme “A Starry Night: Tales of Somalia.” At the event, Abade received the “Liv-

ing Legend” award, recognizing her groundbreaking achievements.

‘At Mama Feely’s Feet’ journeys through faith, generational healing

By Lizzy Nyoike Contributing Writer

When Hope Venetta began writing “At Mama Feely’s Feet,” she wasn’t simply crafting a book. She was building what she calls “an altar of remembrance.”

Venetta, a Durham-based therapist and storyteller, set out to create a space where the stories of her family, and those of other Black families, could be honored, reclaimed and healed. The idea took root during her graduate studies, where she encountered the emerging field of epigenetics: the study of how trauma and resilience can be passed down biologically across generations.

“I was fascinated by how trauma doesn’t just affect a person, but how it can ripple through time,” she said.

That realization prompted her to examine the stories and silences within her own lineage. One striking moment came when she learned that her husband’s family could trace their ancestry back to 1650. For many Black families, early chapters of family history have been erased, leaving painful gaps.

great-great grandmother, Mama Feely, a figure she describes as embodying “survival and grit.” Separated by six generations, Venetta sees in her an enduring reminder that faith and endurance are not new inventions; they are inheritances.

“It’s both a memorial and a celebration,” Venetta said.

“Writing it was my way of saying, ‘We were here. We mattered. We still do.’”

She describes the book as an altar, a place to lay down grief and lift up joy. “Collec-

Southern Black life, where lineage, land, loss and legacy often intertwine.

“It’s a strange thing to live in a place where both Black and white families share the same last names, and then realize why,” she said. That awareness shaped her understanding not only of generational trauma, but of generational grace.

For Venetta, grace looks like remembrance, like choosing to look back without turning to stone, holding both the wound and the wisdom at once.

“Healing doesn’t mean pretending the pain didn’t happen,” she said. “It means letting the truth come home, finally, and letting it rest.”

In that resting, she believes, lies release, and room to breathe again. Venetta wants readers to know that healing isn’t about holding everything together alone. It’s about allowing yourself to be held, by community, by memory, by God, and by the ancestors who endured so you could exist. “It’s a return to belonging,” she said.

Most of Abade’s military flights in Somalia took place between the 1970s and 1990s.

Binta Kanteh welcomes reader responses at bkanteh13@ gmail.com.

“When I think of her, I think of survival and grit, the kind that carries families through centuries.”

“If trauma can be inherited, what happens when you don’t even know who your people are, or what they went through?” she asked. From that question, “At Mama Feely’s Feet” was born.

The book centers around the memory and imagined voice of Venetta’s great-great-

“When I think of her, I think of survival and grit, the kind that carries families through centuries,” she said. “Her story reminds me that the strength running through my veins didn’t start with me.”

Blending narrative storytelling, faith, psychology, and ancestral reflection, “At Mama Feely’s Feet” invites readers to confront inherited pain while celebrating the resilience that endures.

tive trauma can only be healed through collective restoration,” she said.

For Venetta, healing extends beyond therapy sessions into shared spaces: community gatherings, kitchen-table conversations, and moments of vulnerability. “Anger is sacred because it points to something that’s been violated,” she explained.

“Instead of suppressing it, we can learn from it. Healing is an invitation to protect ourselves and to right what’s wrong.”

Though her childhood was spent moving between cities as her father served in the Air Force, Venetta’s family eventually settled in North Carolina during her high school years. There, she encountered the layered complexities of

At its heart, “At Mama Feely’s Feet” reminds readers that we were never meant to heal in isolation. We heal in connection.

To purchase the book or for

Opinion

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By Glynda C. Carr

Election Night 2025 didn’t just make headlines, it made history. In Detroit, voters shattered a 324-year barrier by electing Mary Sheffield as the city’s first woman and Black woman mayor. Her victory is more than symbolic; it reflects the transformative power of Black women’s leadership and adds to the growing sisterhood of Black women mayors redefining executive power in America’s cities.

By David Marshall

The Trump administration is ordering the removal of information on slavery at multiple national parks in an effort to scrub them of “corrosive ideology.” To describe the truth about our Black experience and history as “corrosive ideology” is not only an insult but highlights the possible long-term damage that this administration can cause.

Some of the damage may be permanent and beyond repair.

Our ancestors, through their sacrifices and fight for human dignity, placed a tremendous amount of trust in future generations. They trusted that the next generations represented by today’s Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers would continue the fight and protect what was gained.

tin Jones, were members of the “Tennessee Three” who were expelled from their state House seats and later reinstated by local officials.

The young Black lawmakers were removed in 2023 for protesting on the Tennessee House floor about gun control in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Nashville. Their protest showed the type of bold and sometimes radical leadership needed to confront what is clearly becoming authoritarian rule in our nation.

ment, said he was “calling on Representative Steve Cohen to pass the torch to the Tennessee state representative,” whom he described as “a transformational leader who can inspire a new generation.”

The 30-year-old Pearson is among a growing number of younger Democrats challenging older and established incumbents in the U.S. House. Calls for generational change and making way for new younger voices within the Democratic Party have increased.

At 38, Sheffield’s rise reflects both vision and grit. The daughter of longtime Detroit community leader Rev. Horace Sheffield, she has spent her career advocating for economic justice, equitable development, and opportunity. Elected to the City Council in 2013, she became Detroit’s youngest council member in history.

In 2022, council members elected her as council president, where she earned a reputation for bringing people together, pushing for affordable housing, youth employment, and policies prioritizing residents over corporations. Sheffield’s leadership has always been rooted in love for her city and the belief that Detroit’s comeback must include everyone.

Now, as mayor-elect, she joins a powerful lineage of Black women leading major cities: Karen Bass in Los Angeles, Muriel Bowser in Washington, D.C., Cherelle Parker in Philadelphia, Pamela Goynes Brown in North Las Vegas, and Vi Lyles in Charlotte, North Carolina. Together, these women represent a bright spot in democracy and a model for the leadership our nation needs: experienced, empathetic, accountable, and committed to building stronger, safer, more equitable communities.

Time to pass the Black leadership torch Why freedom of speech matters

By Otis D. Alexander

These mayors are governing on the frontlines of crisis. Amid Washington gridlock, a prolonged federal government shutdown, the loss of SNAP benefits, and ongoing ICE enforcement challenges, they are delivering solutions to ensure residents are fed, housed and safe. They lead with limited resources but limitless resolve.

When Higher Heights Leadership Fund released the first “Black Women in American Politics” report in 2014,

only one Black woman served as mayor of a top-100 U.S. city. Today, eight do, matching our population share. In the past decade, 18 Black women have led big cities, including the first to serve in Baton Rouge, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Representation at the executive level matters. These leaders guide America’s largest, most complex cities with innovation, equity and resilience, tackling housing, public trust, and democracy itself. Electing them is only the beginning; we must create environments that allow them to lead boldly and provide the tools, resources and respect they deserve.

Sheffield’s election is a powerful reminder that when Black women lead, communities thrive. Detroit is now at the forefront of renewal, powered by a young, visionary mayor who believes in collective progress. Her victory lights the path forward, proving that even in times of division, Black women remain democracy’s strongest defenders and brightest hope.

This commentary originally appeared in Word In Black. It has been edited for length. For more information, visit www. wordinblack.com.

There comes a time in every movement when the torch must pass. The fight to preserve the story of the Black experience while defending human dignity can no longer rest solely in the hands of the old guard.

To preserve the essence of the Black experience in a rapidly changing nation, people of color must begin electing young leaders like Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who has the fire and passion to challenge the MAGA movement on all fronts. Pearson, along with fellow Rep. Jus-

Now Justin Pearson wants to go to Washington. He has announced that he is challenging the 76-year-old incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen for his Memphis-based seat in the House next year. “I believe we need a leader who is proximate, who understands the issues, who fights and who can stand up and speak up for us in this moment and in this time,” Pearson told The Hill in an interview.

Pearson enjoys early support at the outset of his campaign, including endorsements from the progressive Justice Democrats and David Hogg’s political group Leaders We Deserve. Hogg, in a state-

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The generational primary match-up between one of the party’s young guns and the old guard is not isolated to Tennessee. In Maine, first-time candidate Graham Platner, 40, faces 77-year-old Gov. Janet Mills. In Massachusetts, Rep. Seth Moulton, 46, is seeking to oust Sen. Ed Markey, who is 79. In the nation’s capital, 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton will face at least two younger foes if she runs for reelection.

In California, state Sen. Scott Wiener, 55, former aide to Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, is geared up to challenge 85-year-old former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her San Francisco district seat. The issue is not one of lack of respect for elders.

The issue is one of political strategy and the survival of the idea of fairness and justice for all. Baby Boomers, those between the ages of 61 to 79, are no longer the largest generation. Millennials (age 29 to 44) have taken over that title.

The next largest generation is Gen Z (age 13 to 28). Gen Z are the digital natives, the first generation in this digital age who have never had life without the internet.

Rep. Justin Pearson, when referring to his challenge against the incumbent, said he was “not going to make our campaign about age,” saying he’s voted for lawmakers much older than Cohen. But he argued the incumbent was not meeting the moment now. Cohen is not alone in that assessment.

This commentary appeared first on St. Louis American. For more information, visit www. stlamerican.com.

When we think about free speech, we usually think about our right to share our thoughts, ideas and beliefs, as long as we are respectful and not unfairly stopped by the government. Free speech is a basic human right protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

However, this protection is not unlimited. It covers many ways of sharing, like music, dance, art, talking in public or private, reporting the news, publishing, and joining parades or peaceful protests with official government permission when we feel we are being treated unfairly. These rights help people understand each other, work together, and trust one another.

However, if we spread lies that hurt someone’s reputation, act violently, or make threats, we go too far, because our actions can hurt others or make them feel unsafe. Lying about people, making threats, and saying things that put public safety in danger do not match the values of a free and open society.

When the normal rules change and we cannot share our thoughts calmly, societies often become less fair, less creative, and more likely to have fights and strict rules. We get upset and may protest quietly or with violence.

People can feel powerless or left out, which can cause more social problems and sometimes violent protests or uprisings. When this happens, it clearly shows that no one is making sure leaders do the right thing, and this leads society toward unfair and undemocratic rule, letting harmful actions or rules continue.

When people see that leaders are deciding or changing what we are allowed to say, it becomes clear that we have lost our freedom to speak. These rules often unfairly hurt Black people, Latinos, people with less accepted sexual orientations, and people with less accepted opinions.

What is happening at one of Texas’s public universities is an example, where talking about transgender topics or saying there are more than two genders is not allowed.

People become scared to speak up, so many stay silent.

healthy way. Our trust in the government, news, and other important groups can fall apart. All the things that help us improve may have to happen at other levels.

What can people do to get rid of this kind of unwanted, unfair, strict rule without being punished? First, strong pressure must be put on these strict governments.

This can be achieved by establishing and supporting independent newspapers and various forms of media, such as podcasts, blogs, and small publishers, which enable peo-

As media freedom gets worse and threats to journalists grow, they are often the first to be attacked, and people who go after journalists usually do not get punished. Just look at what happened when the government made people who disagreed with its political views look like enemies and threatened to punish them for not fully supporting Charlie Kirk, the conservative free speech activist who was killed several weeks ago.

The president went even further, indicating that after a certain point, criticizing him on TV is “illegal” and “no longer free speech.” This behavior broke the First Amendment.

Because of this, divisions get worse because people cannot talk about their differences or fix problems in a

ple to share information and ideas without government control. This matters because the highest courts may not always do what is best for the people, making it hard to fight censorship and protect basic rights.

To get back freedoms, the community must keep working for honesty and openmindedness. Keep in mind and pass on what the great educator Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee University, said more than a century ago: “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good just because it’s accepted by a majority.”

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VIEWBASKETBALL

Continued from page 10

home and be closer to family anyway,” said Humphries, “because my parents are getting older, my grandma’s getting older. It was just a nobrainer for me.”

Both players have at least two years of eligibility remaining.

“When I found out that we was playing together, I got overly excited,” concluded Humphries. “I get to run it back with my boy again.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

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VIEWFOOTBALL

Continued from page 10

comes from his mother.

“My mom was a pretty good soccer player,” said Cobb-Butler. “I’m just working at it, getting better, especially with the ball in my hands.”

A three-sport high school athlete, Cobb-Butler disclosed that he didn’t know where he’d play when he arrived at St. Thomas — he was redshirted in 2024.

“Coming to college,” he continued, “I had no idea what position I was going to play until probably a month before getting here. I expected I was going to be a [kick] returner.”

But according to Tommies Coach Glenn Caruso, now in his 16th year, he foresaw great things for Cobb-Butler.

“Quentin Cobb-Butler can do just about anything that we need him to,” stressed the coach. “A lot of people see his stature and they think he’s a slot receiver who’s scatty, and he can do that.

“But he can also go up, climb the ladder, and catch a contentious ball. He’s [also] one of our best blockers,” Caruso pointed out. The sixtime National Coach of the Year, the most of all current coaches, absolutely gushes over both Powell and CobbButler.

“Quentin is just such an amazing young man. He understands his responsibility to his team,” he said of Cobb-Butler. “I’ve never been before so comfortable when we’re on punt return and he is going to catch it … because he makes such good decisions.”

On Powell, “I think Amani is the person who we should all aspire to be,” surmised Caruso. “When you’re talking about a young man who is far from home, who has made a family out of that locker room and prepared himself, I couldn’t think of a better teammate that exemplifies that in terms of his physical play. He’s just a total sweetheart.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

HOME

Continued from page 10

high school team is here, family of course, [but] honestly, I couldn’t put a number on it. I just know there’s a lot of people [here].”

Jefferson, in his journey from MPA to Gardner-Webb, a private university in North Carolina, first attended the University of Tennessee (2022-24), where he was redshirted and played sparingly, and Longwood University (2024-25).

“I just know my whole high school team is here, and family of course.”

“The previous schools I was at, I wasn’t really at my best,” recalled Jefferson. “Not to say that I was making mistakes, but I just felt like I wasn’t at my best, and I knew I wanted to change for myself.

“I wanted to change my perspective on life, and then also build my relationship with Christ,” admitted Jefferson. “Me going to Gardner-Webb was a big decision for me.”

Harris said she chose ND “because it was really close to home, and also it was a very family-oriented type of a team I knew that I would fit in.” She and redshirt freshman Anaiyah Fletcher are the team’s only Black players this season.

“As soon as I came on,” continued Harris, “they accepted me for the player

SOE

Continued from page 10

proudly. “It means the world to me,” he continued.

“I have a great support system, and to be able to be a lot closer to them and be able to see them on a weekly basis has been good for me. I’m just super grateful for the opportunity that Coach [Rico] Biasi and the rest of the staff have given me,” said Schoen, the team’s only Black player. “I’m super grateful to be here.”

Schoen says that the sport he loves is moving forward, diversity speaking, to seeing more players that look like him.

who I am on and off the court, really cared about me in general. I’m majoring in kinesiology.”

Jefferson is the type of young man that MPA typically attracts, said founder Donnell Bratton, who started the prep school nearly 10 years ago. He told us in an earlier MSR phone interview, “99.8% of our students graduate from our program. A high percentage of them go off to college on a full scholarship.”

Since its inception, the Academy has helped 106 student-athletes receive college basketball scholarships. Jefferson is among 24 former MPAers playing college ball in colleges such as Gardner-Webb, Memphis, and Kansas State, among others. Harris is doubly adjusting to college life and playing a new position. “It’s very, very fast,” she noted on playing college basketball. “Being the point guard, it’s a very new position for me. I’m just hoping I’ll get better at seeing the floor better.”

Speaking of diversity

Former Twins pitcher LaTroy Hawkins will be the team’s bullpen coach next season. It is still unclear whether third base and infield coach Tommy Watkins, the organization’s longest tenured member and only Black coach for the past few seasons, will be retained for 2026.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

“The game has grown a lot since I’ve started playing since I was four, and I’m 24 now,” said Schoen. “I’m definitely seeing a lot more people of color actually playing the game, which is a great sight. I think there’s a lot of people that just come to a game for the first time, they’re so excited even if they don’t know what’s going on. “I feel like hockey is such an exciting sport — it’s good for all walks of life to be a part of it. Hockey’s been really good to me,” he stressed. “It’s brought me a lot of places, and I’m grateful that it’s brought me here, and just happy to see that it’s growing.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Sports

St. Thomas men poised to excel on national stage

Now fully eligible for NCAA postseason play, the University of St. Thomas stands poised to make immediate noise on the national stage among the nation’s top mid-majors Division I schools. This week we talked to four Black players in two separate sports.

Tommies basketball

he St. Thomas men’s basketball team this season has five newcomers. Two of them are former local prep stars and high school teammates.

Isaiah Johnson-Arigu and Tommy Humphries Jr. both played at Totino-Grace and are two-time state champions. The two then went their separate ways, but like a Donny

Hathaway-Roberta Flack song, they’re back together again.

“I never thought that me and Isaiah would play in college one day,” said Humphries, a 6’5” redshirt sophomore.

“I had a crazy freshman year where two coaches got fired, and I needed some stability.”

“My first official offer was from St Thomas, and even though I did do my two years at Furman, when I entered the [transfer] portal and they reached out to me, I just knew it would be a great fit.”

“I had a crazy freshman year where two coaches got fired, and I needed some stability,” said Johnson-Arigu, a 6’7” sophomore who was at Miami (Fla.) and Iowa before transferring to St. Thomas. “St. Thomas also is my first official offer,” he continued.

“So, coming home … Coach [Johnny] Tauer has a great program. So, it’s like a no-brainer. I wanted to come home after the crazy year.”

Both Humphries and Johnson-Arigu, two Minneapolis natives, love the fact that they can play closer to home, albeit in St. Paul, in front of family, friends and others.

“Everything comes full circle,” stressed Johnson-Arigu. Being able to be teammates again with Humphries, “It’s amazing.”

“I wanted to come back

■ See VIEWBASKETBALL on page 9

Tommies football

mari Powell recently put on a show for the ages. The senior QB from California in his first start of the season threw for 265 yards and three TDs, and rushed for a score himself, accounting for four of the seven touchdowns St. Thomas scored in its 55-17 victory over Valparaíso Oct. 18.

“Quentin Cobb-Butler can do just about anything that we need him to. Amani Powell is the person who we should all aspire to be.”

The six-foot signal caller’s effort that afternoon earned Powell the PFL (Pioneer Football League) Offensive Player of the Week. His performance was the second all-time single game passing in the Tommies’ DI era, and one of two QBs to throw for over 250 yards in the school’s DI history.

“The guys on the O [offensive] line just giving me love, giving me confidence,” said Powell afterwards. “Just going

Fab Five photos North defeats Pine Island in state playofs

Polars

his week’s Fab Five

out there and just performing to the ability that those guys have has just been truly a blessing.”

Powell’s teammate, 5’7” sophomore receiver Quentin Cobb-Butler, also had a great afternoon on the gridiron in the same contest. Going into the game, the Woodbury na-

to rush for 180 yards, hitting paydirt three times to lead the Polars.

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDon-

tive had recorded a TD in three consecutive games, and he kept the streak alive with his fourth touchdown in the third quarter, a 22-yarder from Powell. Cobb-Butler also led the team with 81 receiving yards and has posted two 100+ receiving games this season. He proudly noted that his speed

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The defense and blocking of linemen Anthony Palmer, Malachi Tolliver, Jaylen Peterson, Adonis Baker and Musa Abdus-Sahid allowed quarter-

team’s 50-21 victory over Pine Island in the Class 3A state quarterfinals at Totino Grace High School Saturday afternoon November 8, 2025.

Former prep standouts come home to local fans

By Charles Hallman Sports columnist

.J. Jefferson played his first-ever game at The Barn, Williams Arena, last week. The redshirt junior is in his first season at Gardner-Webb, and it was his first time back in town after he attended Minnesota Preparatory Academy (MPA), a local prep school.

“For me, I think it was just

getting more exposure,” said the native Texan on why he enrolled at MPA. “All I had to really do is just go out and just play my best game because I knew I had good people around me that was gonna push me to be the best that I can be, which I am today. “So, if it wasn’t for me going to Minnesota, I wouldn’t be here,” said the 6’4” guard after the season opener for both his team and host Minnesota. Jef-

ferson admitted that he was “a little nervous. It was really fun to be able to go out and play a game that I love.”

Afterwards, Jefferson met with the entire MPA team and others who attended the Gardner-Webb game.

Hopkins High School grad London Harris last week made her collegiate debut at Williams Arena, the season opener for both her North Dakota team and the host Gophers.

back Logan Lachermeier to throw four touchdown passes ---- twice to receiver J’Marion Sanders, and one each to fellow route runners Anthony Deline and Jermiah Jackson ---- and running back Tyshone Jenkins

“I was really excited,” the 5’7” Minneapolis native told us after the game, which Harris finished with five points and four rebounds in a defeat to Minnesota. It was her first time playing at The Barn since she helped Hopkins win the state’s girls basketball title in March.

Harris pointed out that she knew she had plenty of folk cheering her on during the game. “I just know my whole

St. Thomas hockey transfer likes being closer to home

efore the 1970s, hockey uniform numbers typically ranged from 1 to 31 or so, rarely past number 35. Nowadays they are like a Jackie Wilson song: They’ve gone higher and higher.

Charlie Schoen wears No. 82, the highest number on St. Thomas men’s hockey team this season. After the team’s first-ever game at Lee & Peggy Anderson Arena, we asked him why.

“In junior hockey I was 28, [but] at my previous school there’s an upperclassman that was 28 and I don’t like to

switch numbers that much. So, I just flipped them,” said the 5’10” senior forward.

“I’m super grateful to be here.”

After three seasons at Arizona State (60 games, 13 goals, 22 assists), Schoen transferred to St. Thomas. The Andover, MN native is studying business at the St. Paul school that has a world-class reputation for its business curriculum.

“I’m doing general business, but I want to switch over to finance,” said Schoen. “I feel like, especially being at this university, being able to get a degree like that will really set me up for the future.

“So, I’m going to try to make the most of being a student athlete and try to get the best degree I can get,” he stressed.

After three seasons playing in the Southwest, being much closer to home is close to ideal, Schoen pointed out

■ See SOE on page 9