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Social Issues

A fight over land and history

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

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Lawmakers forcing showdown with tribes over gambling

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

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The view from Thailand

The government of Thailand would like to expand the number of Hmong refugees who are eligible to relocate to the United States. A delegation of officials from Minnesota, including St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, is visiting a resettlement camp in Thailand where 15,000 Hmong refugees are currently living, in preparation for some of them to move to the Twin Cities in the coming months. Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television is with the Minnesota delegation in Thailand and he talked with Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer.

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Tribes oppose reopening gambling compacts

It's been 15 years since state officials signed gaming compacts with Minnesota's Indian tribes. Since then, the tribes have built 18 casinos, which generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue -- far more than anyone imagined they would. The state of Minnesota gets only a small sliver of that money. Minnesota's contract with the tribes is permanent -- no expiration, no renegotiation. Gov. Pawlenty has hinted it's time for a change.

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Lawmakers considering changes in child support

As the Legislature prepares to overhaul Minnesota's child support guidelines for the first time in more than 20 years, parents across the state are watching closely.

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St. Paul delegation visits Hmong refugee camp

A delegation from the St. Paul is heading to Thailand Friday to visit the camp just north of Bangkok where thousands of Hmong refugees have been living for more than a decade. Many of those refugees are expected to resettle in Minnesota over the next 18 months. The group includes St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly and other government officials.

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Gay marriage amidst national debate on same sex unions

The debate over gay marriage is intensifying. President Bush supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions. The issue is also brewing in at least 35 legislatures, including Minnesota. The backlash is surprising to one Minnesota couple who recently married in San Francisco.

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Few couples willing to donate embryos

There's a lot of debate about human embryos these days. The University of Minnesota says it will expand its stem cell research to include donated human embryos. But not many people are willing to donate embryos.

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Study: Only '50-50' chance of high school graduation for many Minnesota minority students

Minnesota's graduation rate is among the top five in the country. However, the graduation rates for the state's minority students are much lower. A new study shows just over half of Minnesota's African American students and barely more than a third American Indian high schoolers get a diploma after four years. The study shows similarly discouraging rates for the entire country. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.

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Anuak in Minnesota call for a genocide investigation

A group of Ethiopian refugees is calling for an international investigation into recent violence against their tribe back in Africa. The Anuak people live in the Gambella region of western Ethiopia. It's known for its fertile soil and rich deposits of gold and oil. Anuak in Minnesota say since late last year more than 400 members of the tribe have been murdered. They blame the Ethiopian government.

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