Jazz Hampton speaks during the official launch of his campaign for mayor of Minneapolis at the Mosaic Venue on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025. There is no primary as Minneapolis uses Ranked Choice Voting to elect its mayor and city council members. Hampton is the sixth candidate to enter the race. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
Jazz Hampton speaks during the official launch of his campaign for mayor of Minneapolis at the Mosaic Venue on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025. There is no primary as Minneapolis uses Ranked Choice Voting to elect its mayor and city council members. Hampton is the sixth candidate to enter the race. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
Businessman Jazz Hampton officially launched his candidacy for Minneapolis mayor on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Mosaic Venue.
The entire City Council and the mayor are up for election in November. There is no primary ahead of the November election as the city uses Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to elect its mayor and council members. The last race for mayor in 2021 attracted 17 candidates. The Minneapolis City Council is a full-time council with elected members earning $109,846 a year and the mayor $140,814.
The candidate filing period for the city’s 2025 mayoral and council elections will begin on July 25 and run through August 12.
Hampton – the co-founder and CEO of Turnsignl, an app that provides instant access to a lawyer during police stops – announced his campaign via video on Jan. 23.
Attendees at the Jazz Hampton for Minneapolis Mayor official campaign launch on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 had the opportunity to write their vision for the city on a wall. Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
He joins a list of five others that have already announced their runs, including the incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey, Ward 11 Councilwoman Emily Koski, state Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and former City Council candidate Brenda Short.
“I’ve lived within ten miles of Powderhorn Park my entire life (and) I love the city of Minneapolis,” Hampton told supporters on Thursday. “If you love the city like I love it, and you’re ready for a new chapter, and you don’t want to try again for a third time, or try again with somebody who’s been an elected official for years and years without the progress we’re hoping to see, let’s give someone new a chance that is experienced as a lawyer, as a business owner, as a public school parent, as a volunteer, and as someone that deeply cares about the community.”
Attendees to listen to Jazz Hampton speak during the official launch of his campaign for mayor of Minneapolis at the Mosaic Venue on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
Hampton previously served as one of the attorneys for the Great North Innocence Project that worked to vacate the sentence of Marvin Hayes who was wrongfully convicted for murder when he was 16. He was released on December 2023.
Children play during the Jazz Hampton for Minneapolis Mayor official campaign launch on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 at the Mosaic Venue. Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
He acknowledged the “best of” ratings that Minneapolis is always winning in terms of places to live in the country when it comes to education and quality of life. However, he pointed out the celebrated quality of life in Minneapolis is not equitable.
“Sometimes I’m so proud when people say, ‘you know, you’ve seen all the studies, Minneapolis top five city to live in, best education’, all these things,” Hampton said. “And sometimes I say, is it for everyone?”
El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo: Google Maps
El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo: Google Maps
Several businesses from day cares to grocery stores and hair salons closed Monday across the U.S. in a loosely organized day of protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
But participation in the ”day without immigrants” faced headwinds from employees and business owners who said they need the income — especially as rumors of widespread raids, often false, are leaving many migrant communities afraid to venture outside, affecting even some schools. Monday’s event also came on the heels of street protests Sunday in California and elsewhere.
Noel Xavier, organizing director for the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, said that while it’s important to remind the country of the value migrant workers bring to the communities they toil in, many workers couldn’t afford to take a day off.
”If I don’t go to work today, that’s one day less that I have, you know, to be able to pay for my next rent,” Xavier said of the prevailing sentiment among the workers he organizes. ”I didn’t see this big rallying around being able to do that, or having the luxury to be able to do that.”
Jaime di Paulo, president of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, noted that small restaurants and retailers in Chicago’s biggest Latino neighborhoods closed, but most major employers as well as those in construction and other industries were operating normally.
”This is only hurting our own community,” he said.
Andrea Toro decided to close her hair salon in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. She added that many of her clients are teachers and have seen children missing school since Trump took office last month because they fear it may not be safe to go. In Chicago, as in San Diego, school districts said some students and families were participating in Monday’s protest.
”If we don’t have immigrants, we don’t have anything work around here,” said Toro, who is from Puerto Rico. “If we’re mute, we’re in silence, then they’re going to do whatever they want.”
El Burrito Mercado, which boomed from a small Latino market in the 1970s to one of the most widely recognized restaurant, catering and grocery businesses in St. Paul, Minnesota, shut for the whole day in 2017 — when the latest major such event was held at the beginning of the first Trump administration.
But on Monday, it stayed open for a few hours with a skeleton crew, said co-owner Milissa Silva.
Her parents emigrated from Mexico, and most of the 90 employees have Mexican roots. But many staffers expressed concern about losing a work day and about depriving people in the neighborhood of access to groceries.
Similarly, the Spanish-immersion day care provider Tierra Encantada kept its 14 locations open. But many parents decided to keep their children home Monday in solidarity with the mostly first and second-generation immigrant workforce, said CEO Kristen Denzer.
Families — most of them not immigrants — pulled some 450 children from day care and preschool, about 70% of those enrolled in Minnesota alone, where most of the organization’s centers are, Denzer said. Several staffers who had been on the fence decided to take the day after the show of support.
In Utah, several Latino-owned stores, restaurants and supermarkets closed their doors.
”The movement today, it’s more about being compassionate,” said state Sen. Luz Escamilla, a Democrat and Senate minority leader. ”A lot of companies and communities are coming together in the state just to raise awareness of how much this has created a fear.”
Asked about the day of protest at his Monday media availability, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican, defended Trump’s immigration policies and said law-abiding immigrants should have nothing to worry about.
”The only people that are being talked about being deported (are) those that are criminals, those that are on probation, those bad people who have committed difficult crimes,” Adams said.
While immigration enforcement officers continue to target for deportation migrants considered public safety and national security threats, a big change from the Biden administration is that officers can now arrest people without legal status if they run across them during operations.
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Giovanna Dell’Orto reported from Minneapolis and Melissa Perez Winder from Chicago. Contributing to this story were AP reporters Cedar Attanasio in New York, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Julie Watson in San Diego.
Tems accepts her Grammy for Best African Performance at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. Photo: YouTube Screengrab
Tems’ hit song ‘Love Me JeJe’ won the Grammy for Best African Performance at the 67th Grammy Awards held on Sunday in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS with Trevor Noah hosting.
This is the Nigerian singer’s second Grammy after winning her first at the 65th Grammy Awards for Best Melodic Rap performance for her song with Future and Drake “Wait for U.” Her win in 2023 made her the first Nigerian female artist to win a Grammy.
The Best Music African Performance category was first awarded at last year’s Grammys with South Africa’s Tyla taking home the first Grammy in the category.
This year, all but one of the nominees were Nigerian. Chris Brown was one of the nominees for his collaboration with Davido and Lojay for “Sensational.” Other nominees in the category were Asake & Wizkid for ‘MMS,’ Burna Boy for ‘Higher,’ and Yemi Alade for ‘Tomorrow.’
“Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team,” said Tems, as she accepted the award with her mother and team by her side. “To God be the glory, because honestly, he’s changed my life so much.”
Here’s a partial list of winners:
Album of the year
“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé
Song of the year
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
Record of the year
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
Best New Artist
Chappell Roan
Best Pop Vocal Album
“Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Die with a Smile,’’ Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
“Neverender,” Justice and Tame Impala
Best Pop Dance Recording
“Von dutch,” Charli xcx
Best Rap Album
“Alligator Bites Never Heal,” Doechii
Best Rap Song
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)
Best Rap Performance
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
Best Melodic Rap Performance
“3,” Rapsody featuring Erykah Badu
Best R&B Performance
“Made For Me (Live on BET).” Muni Long
Best R&B Album
“11:11 (Deluxe),” Chris Brown
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“That’s You,” Lucky Daye
Best R&B Song
“Saturn,” Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solana Rowe, Jared Solomon and Scott Zhang, songwriters (SZA)
“Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix),” FNZ and Mark Ronson, remixers (Sabrina Carpenter)
Best Americana Performance
“American Dreaming,” Sierra Ferrell
Best American Roots Song
“American Dreaming,’’ Sierra Ferrell and Melody Walker, songwriters
Best Americana Album
“Trail of Flowers,’’ Sierra Ferrell
Best Bluegrass Album
“Live Vol 1.,” Billy Strings
Best Folk Album
“Woodland,” Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Best Regional Roots Music Album
“Kuini,” Kalani Pe’a
Best Gospel Performance/Song
“One Hallelujah,” Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell and Israel Houghton, featuring Jonathan McReynolds and Jekalyn Carr. G. Morris Coleman, Israel Houghton, Kenneth Leonard Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Naomi Raine, songwriters.
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“That’s My King,” CeCe Winans, Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks and Jess Russ, songwriters
Best Gospel Album
“More Than This,’’ CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Artist
“Heart of a Human,’’ DOE
Best Roots Gospel Album
“Church,’’ Cory Henry
Best Country Album
“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé
Best Country Solo Performance
“It Takes A Woman,” Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
II MOST WANTED,’’ Beyoncé, featuring Miley Cyrus
Best Country Song
“The Architect,’’ Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
Best Music Video
“American Symphony”
Best American Roots Performance
“Lighthouse,” Sierra Ferrell
Best Traditional Blues Album
“Swingin’ Live at The Church in Tulsa,” The Taj Mahal Sextet
Best Contemporary Blues Album
“Mileage,” Ruthie Foster
Best Latin Pop Album
“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” Shakira
Best Música Urbana Album
“Las Letras Ya No Importan,” Residente
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
“¿Quien Trae las Cornetas?, ”Rawayana
Best Música Mexicana Album (including Tejano)
“Boca Chueca, Vol. 1,” Carin León
Best Tropical Latin Album
“Alma, Corazon y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional),” Tony Succar, Mimy Succar
Best Reggae Album
“Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe),” Various Artists
Best Global Music Performance
“Bemba Colora,” Sheila E. featuring Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar
Best African Music Performance
“Love Me JeJe,” Tems
Best Alternative Music Album
“All Born Screaming,” St. Vincent
Best Jazz Vocal Album
“A Joyful Holiday,” Samara Joy
Songwriter Of The Year, non-classical
Amy Allen
Producer of the year, non-classical
Daniel Nigro
Producer of the year, classical
Elaine Martone
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Hans Zimmer, “Dune: Part II”
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
“Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein,” Bradley Cooper and Yannick Nézet-Séguin, artists; Bradley Cooper, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Jason Ruder, compilation producers; Steven Gizicki, music supervisor
BEST COMEDY ALBUM
“Dreamer,” Dave Chappelle
Dr. Dre Global Impact Award
Alicia Keys
Reporting by the Associated Press (partial list of winners) was used in this story.
U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conduct an arrest as part of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in Chicago , Illinois on January 26, 2025. Photo: AP Video Screengrab
U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conduct an arrest as part of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in Chicago , Illinois on January 26, 2025. Photo: AP Video Screengrab
Immigrants without legal status are living in fear as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to carry out nationwide raids as part of President Donald Trump’s “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” executive order he issued last week after taking office.
Many immigrants that are undocumented or those without legal status generally avoid flying even when they have a valid driver’s license or identification as it involves coming into contact with federal agents at the security checkpoint, a process that comes with its own pitfalls and danger.
In the event that one has no option but to fly, New Jersey immigration attorney Ifeoma Odunlami has put together a list of airports she believes present a risk to those who are undocumented or have no legal protections that can prevent their deportation.
In a YouTube Short video that she posted before President Trump’s inauguration that has hundreds of likes, Odunlami says the reason for warning about these airports is because “there is a Customs Border Patrol (CBP) checkpoint internally and they could screen you and ask for documents and they could put you in deportation proceedings if you don’t have them.”
Immigration Attorney Ifeoma Odunlami has listed the 10 airports those that are undocumented should avoid as Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies. Photo: Courtesy Ifeoma Odunlami
Little Africa Plaza in St. Paul, Minnesota, the new home for African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), held an open house on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 just over a year after AEDS broke ground on its construction. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
Little Africa Plaza in St. Paul, Minnesota, the new home for African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), held an open house on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 just over a year after AEDS broke ground on its construction. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
A cultural shopping center built to showcase the potential and contributions of African immigrant businesses in the Twin Cities held an open house Tuesday, more than a year after breaking ground for construction.
Located on North Snelling Avenue, in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, Little Africa Plaza features retail space, an African museum, and new headquarters of African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), the microlending and business development nonprofit behind the plaza’s construction.
“The vision is to not only to support existing businesses, but to bring more businesses to the area,” said Dr. Gene Gelgelu, executive director and founder of AEDS. “So, if there’s a doctor here, if we have a restaurant here, if we have other business, they shop from each other. That how they can build local economy.”
Attendees are led on a tour of the completed Little Africa Plaza in St. Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. The groundbreaking for its construction took place during the annual Little Africa Festival on Aug. 6, 2023. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
The construction of Little Africa Plaza is the latest development in an immigrant community that is increasingly becoming important to the economic and cultural fabric of the state of Minnesota. Since 2000, the population of Black immigrants living in the state increased by 274% to around 100,000, making Minnesota among the top 10 destinations, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2018, African immigrant households had a spending power of $1.8 billion, after they paid more than $640 million in federal, state, and local taxes, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
“We’re not small,” Gelgelu said. “We have big numbers.”
For capital, African immigrant entrepreneurs in the state often rely on community financial institutions like Africa Development Center, and AEDS, whose mission to strengthen the role of Africans immigrants in the economy, culture, and livelihood of the Twin Cities. AEDS offers a list of services like business lending, business development, homeownership education and community building. The Plaza will centralize AEDS’s resources, operating at the heart of Snelling, home to notable African immigrant businesses like Snelling Café.
Dr. Gene Gelgelu, executive director and founder of African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) speaks to an attendee during Little Africa Plaza’s open house on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
Gelgelu said the museum was one of gems of the plaza and AEDS was working with African community leaders, professionals, and supporters from outside the community to envision what it should look like.
“They are the one who make everything happen every single day,” Gelgelu said.
Black nominees for the 2025 Oscars: Top row L to R: Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo and Zoe Saldaña. Bottom row L to R: RaMell Ross, Kris Bowers and Paul Tazewell. Photos: AP Files
Nominations for the 97th Annual Academy Awards were announced the morning of January 23 in Los Angeles and South African film The Last Ranger was nominated in the best “Live Action Short Film” category.
The Cindy Lee directed film, which addresses rhino poaching and conservation efforts in South Africa, is inspired by real life events in the Eastern Cape and features performances by Avumile Qongqo, Liyabona Mroqoza, and Makhaola Ndebele.
The Oscar nominations announcement have been delayed twice due to the ongoing fires in Los Angeles and the Academy Awards leadership has also canceled the Feb. 9 Oscars nominees’ luncheon due to the fires.
The awards ceremony will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien. It will air on ABC.
Black actor nominations
Six Black actors also received nominations: Cynthia Erivo, Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo, Kris Bowers, RaMell Ross and Paul Tazewell.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Colman Domingo for “Sing, Sing”
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked”
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Zoe Saldaña for “Emilia Pérez”
Best Adapted Screenplay
RaMell Ross for “Nickel Boys”
Best Original Score
Kris Bowers for “Wild Robot” (This science fiction film also features the voice of Lupita Nyong’o as Roz)
Mshale is pleased to announce that it’s one of 13 local news organizations that will share $520,000 in grants from Press Forward Minnesota to help boost coverage of their communities.
“We are incredibly excited to support these outstanding organizations that are vital to the health and well-being of their communities,” said May Yang, senior manager of policy and partnerships at the Minnesota Council on Foundations, who serves as the staff lead for Press Forward Minnesota. “These grants will help them expand their reach, innovate their reporting, and better serve their audiences.”
Press Forward Minnesota is a collaborative initiative by foundations dedicated to supporting local news and information across the state. The purpose of the grants is to support smaller news organizations that provide hyperlocal, original reporting to communities across the state, with a focus on meeting the needs of communities of color, linguistically diverse communities, low-wealth rural communities, and others not adequately served, reached, or represented, according to the organization.
Tim Murphy, program officer at the McKnight Foundation, said his organization was thrilled to see 13 innovative newsrooms from across the state included in the first round of Press Forward Minnesota funding.
“These organizations are providing a vital service, helping to inform and connect diverse communities that have been affected by the local news crisis,” Murphy said. “At the same time, we know local journalism needs more support from more funders, businesses, and readers alike, to match the scale of the challenge.
The generous grant comes at a time when efforts to expand opportunities to historically underserved communities have increasingly come under siege in the United States. On Tuesday President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order placing all federal employees working on diversity, equity, and inclusion on paid leave pending termination. Many minority-owned small businesses and organizations, including newsrooms, will surely miss out on federal dollars geared towards leveling the playing field, and initiatives like Press Forward Minnesota will be extremely critical to underprivileged communities.
Copies of the print edition of Mshale at the Brooklyn Center Brookdale Library community newsstand on Nov. 8, 2024. Mshale File Photo
For its share of $40,000 of the Press Forward Minnesota grant, Mshale will work in collaboration with Minnesota Compass, a project of Wilder Research, that uses data-driven community indicators to measures wellbeing in Minnesota and its communities, to produce data-based stories to increase understanding of how various policies affect the African immigrants. African immigrants are the fastest growing demographic in the state. From 2010 to 2021, the population of people born in Africa increased by around 47,000 — a whopping 76.5% — to about 108,000, according to Minnesota Employment and Economic Development.
“Minnesota Compass recognizes that telling the stories behind the date we share is essential to seeing the whole picture,” said Project Director Allison Liuzzi. “Minnesota itself is a case study in the importance of digging below the surface on quality-of-life measurements. At the state level, we commonly perform quite well on quality-of-life measures but remain home on some of the largest disparities by race and ethnicity in the nation.
Tom Gitaa, Mshale publisher and founder, said he was happy that the Press Forward grant is one of the few of its kind open to for-profit newsrooms like his.
“Since our founding we have endeavored to cover stories in our African communities that mainstream media get wrong or choose to ignore entirely,” he said, “This grant will definitely help us narrow that coverage gap.”
Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day should be an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the legacy of the civil rights icon, said veteran National Public Radio journalist, Michelle Norris.
“The collision on the calendar today of the commemoration and the inauguration seems like it should be a call to action, a message wrapped up in metaphor, a reminder that the federal commemoration of Dr. King’s life is not merely a day off, but a day on,” Norris said. “It’s a day to remember that we are all one people.”
Norris, who grew up in Minnesota, was the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast, an annual event that has been held in Minneapolis for the last 35 years to raise money for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Governor Tim Walz and other state leaders including U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey were in attendance.
Norris urged Americans to use MLK Day as a day of reflection on the legacy of Dr. King.
“Dr. King spoke of a mountain top, and it feels like right now we are living in a moment when the hill is particularly steep,” Norris said.
Michele Norris keynotes the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Norris spoke about the importance of storytelling in improving relations between people. She said that as a child growing up in Minnesota, she went to integrated schools that were made possible by Dr. King’s efforts. But society in general wasn’t as integrated as the schools. For example, when her parents bought a house on southside Minneapolis, every person whose house bordered her family’s put their houses up for sale.
“They weren’t ready [for integration],” she said.
But many other people in the neighborhood couldn’t sell fast enough and as a result she grew in an integrated community. That gave people the opportunity to learn more about the Black family that had moved to the neighborhood, she said. Some of the people who were uncomfortable with a Black family moving in got to know her parents well. She also became friends with their children and visited their homes.
“I played hot wheels and barbies in their basements and that community on the southside of Minneapolis is still integrated and still stands strong today,” she said. We all have a story. One of the things that I try to do in my life [and work] is to create places where people can tell their stories so that can see the light in each other, so that we can understand that we sometime have more in common even in moments of division.”
Speaking with Mshale after the event, Minnesota State Senate President Bobby Joe Champion said MLK Day was important because it gave America the opportunity to step back and think about the life of Dr. King, his values, and the sacrifices he made.
Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion attends the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 with his staff Ms. Taylor Tidwell-Bennett, left, and Ms. Shemeka Bogan. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
“It’s a day of reflection, but also a recommitment for us as individuals to say that we have not achieved the dream,” he said. “We are still working and evolving to fulfill the dream, but we have a long way to go. So, I would hope that as we think about Martin Luther King, that we think about his commitment to voters’ rights acts and civil rights and human rights and economic stability and freedoms and to treat each other humanely with discipline.”
Champion said that although he was always excited about the day, it was also a sad day because Dr. King, who would have been 96 years old on the day, was assassinated.
“He didn’t get a chance to see his daughter grow up and to walk her down the aisle or to see [his children] graduate from school or anything of that nature,” he said. “So, we have that benefit but we know that he made that sacrifice for all of us. I just hope that we don’t see this as a day off, but a day to recommit ourselves to his dream and our collective struggles, and the things that we all collectively need.”
Champion said that it was ironic that both MLK Day and the inauguration fell on the same day, considering how “incredibly different” Trump and Dr. King are.
“One was fighting for love, and other seems to embrace people’s hatred and division,” Champion said. “That’s why it’s more important for us to recommit ourselves to love and unity and trying to do the right thing and speaking up when something is wrong, because if we don’t, then it is our democracy that is at risk and our own collective humanity that is going to suffer.”
Jennifer Borel signs the pledge wall at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Jennifer Borel, a past president of the Rotary Club of Maple Grove who is originally from Nigeria, said she has been coming to the breakfast for 20 years. There is always something new she learned every year, which inspired her to do more for the community.
“We are past the stage of the dream,” she said. “We should all now think about what we can do in what little way. You might think, ‘Who am I, or what difference can I make?’ I bet you there is. Little drops of water, they say, make a mighty ocean. So, wherever you are, or whatever change or impact you can, speak out when you need to.”
A record 167,163 Minnesotans enrolled for Obamacare for coverage in 2025 on MNsure, the state's official Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Photo: MNsure Instagram
A record 167,163 Minnesotans enrolled for Obamacare for coverage in 2025 on MNsure, the state's official Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Photo: MNsure Instagram
Signups for Obamacare on Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace, MNsure, hit another record this year with 167,163 people signing up for private health insurance plans by the Wednesday, Jan. 15 open enrollment deadline, according to a Friday news release from MNsure.
This is a 14 percent increase from last year.
Coverage for those who enrolled by Wednesday will begin on February 1, 2025.
Open enrolment for 2025 is now over and the only people that can sign up throughout the year are those that experience what are defined as “major life events” such as losing your employer-sponsored insurance, having a baby or getting married.
You can also sign up anytime outside of open enrollment if you qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare or are a member of the federally recognized tribes.
“Twelve years ago this month, state legislators introduced a bill to establish the marketplace with a vision that Minnesotans would have improved access to quality health coverage and save over $1 billion by using it to purchase insurance,” MNsure CEO Libby Caulum said in the news release. “I’m so pleased to say that, since we were established, MNsure has helped tens of thousands of Minnesotans get comprehensive health insurance and save more than twice the amount state leaders had hoped for – over $2.3 billion in savings, to date.”
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah in 1957 when the late civil rights leader visited Ghana when that country became independent. Photo: Courtesy Government of Ghana
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah in 1957 when the late civil rights leader visited Ghana when that country became independent. Photo: Courtesy Government of Ghana
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed annually on the third Monday in January to mark the Jan. 15 birthday of King who was assassinated in April 1968 in Memphis, Tenn.
The holiday, commonly referred to as MLK Day, was first observed as a federal holiday in 1986 and around the country is celebrated by a variety of events that include breakfasts, volunteering, exhibits, panels, parades and more, and Minnesota is no exception.
This year, MLK Day falls on Inauguration Day (Jan. 20) when President Donald Trump will be inaugurated.
Here are some of the events happening in Minnesota starting as early as Sunday, Jan. 19.
35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast with keynote speaker Michelle Norris, Jan. 20 from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Tickets range from $75 for individual tickets to $700 for a table of 10.
Note: Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul is partnering for the 25th year with General Mills and UNCF to bring to the greater Twin Cities communities the live broadcast feed of this breakfast at various locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul metro.
Rochester NAACP MLK Events featuring keynote speaker Prexy Nesbitt, Jan. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Free.
Official State of Minnesota MLK Celebration featuring Josie R. Johnson and Reatha Clark King, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street Saint Paul, MN 55102. Free.
Duluth NAACP MLK Gathering and March, Jan. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Family Freedom Center (Washington Center Gymnasium), starting at the entrance between 3rd and 4th Street on 1st Ave. West and begin on Lake St. between 3rd and 4th Avenue. A MLK Rally featuring Rebeka Ndosi of Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary will follow at DECC-Symphony Hall, 350 Harbor Dr., Duluth, from 12-1:30 p.m. Free.
Minneapolis NAACP MLK Luncheon, Jan. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ECMN Building, 1101 W Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411. Tickets are $7.88.
A billboard on a Minnesota highway informs drivers of Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, MNsure. Photo: Courtesy MNsure
A billboard on a Minnesota highway informs drivers of Minnesota's health insurance marketplace, MNsure. Photo: Courtesy MNsure
Wednesday, January 15 at midnight is the last day to sign up for MNsure for 2025 health insurance with coverage that will begin on February 1.
MNsure is Minnesota’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Enrolment has been ongoing since November 1 and those who signed up by December 18 had their coverage begin on January 1.
As of December 18, 2024, 151,098 Minnesotans had signed up for coverage through MNsure, a 14 percent increase from last year at the same time.
If you don’t enroll by Jan. 15, you will need a major life change event like moving, getting married or having a baby to enroll in health insurance through MNsure.
The Jan. 15 deadline does not apply to those who qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare, or are members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe. These individuals can enroll anytime during the year.
MNsure in a press release encouraged those seeking to enroll to use its statewide network of certified brokers and navigators for free help to sign up before the January 15 deadline in person, by phone or through virtual appointments.
The agency’s call center (651-539-2099 or 855-366-7873) will also have extended hours on Jan. 15 and will be open until 8 p.m.
Callers can use the callback feature to lessen wait times.
