This week on Minnesota Native News, a profile of a remarkable leader. Laurie Stern has the story of Terri Yellowhammer, who was just sworn in as a new Minnesota state judge. She will serve in Minnesota’s 4th judicial district, or Hennepin. County.

A state report released this summer found one third of all Minnesota counties are not complying with the federal and state laws aimed at keeping Native children with their families when there’s a serious problem in the home. Starting in fiscal year 2021 those counties will see a deep cut in their budgets because of the problem. St Louis county – which includes parts of the Fond du Lac and Bois Forte reservations, and the city of Duluth – is one of the counties out of compliance. Today on Minnesota Native News – We ask why St Louis County isn’t complying with federal and state laws to protect Native families in the child welfare system and whether the county will improve after a serious cut in resources? Reporter Melissa Townsend has the story.

Come January, there will be new leadership in the White House with a plan for Tribal Nation relationship…

and Minnesota tribes band together to assist in fighting wildfires out West.

Reporter Leah Lemm has these stories….

This week on Minnesota Native News: Ahead of election day there were widespread concerns about voter intimidation at the polls – so we checked in with a few Native folks on tribal lands to see how it went when they cast their ballots and twice as many Bugonaygeshig families have access to the internet for distance learning thanks to their school.

This week on Minnesota Native News, Native communities get out the vote and a handful of Native organizations get 10-million dollars in the state bonding bill.

MANIDOOMINENS: STILL BEADING AFTER 10,000 YEARS is an exhibit in Duluth that has been a year in the making. And as with most events, it had to be re-thought out and adjusted for life in the pandemic.

This week on Minnesota Native News, we check in with two promising developments. First, there’s a new urban farm with a focus on indigenous food and medicine.
And second, an update on housing in the American Indian Cultural Corridor.
Laurie Stern has both stories.

The Minnesota Department of Health is further easing restrictions on long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, long-term care facilities will be able to allow indoor visits, as long as the facility hasn’t had a COVID-19 case in the prior two weeks … also, the positivity rate in the county the facility is in has to be under 10%.

This week on the Minnesota Native News Health Report, the number of Covid- 19 cases in Minnesota now tops 100 thousand.
The virus is outpacing the state’s ability to track – let alone control it.
But public health officials are determined to do what they can. One of those mostly rural areas is Beltrami County. That’s where most of Red Lake Nation is. Reporter Laurie Stern talked with Tribal Secretary Sam Strong about how Covid 19’s spread is affecting his community.

COVID-19 safety guidance has been updated in Minnesota for public school indoor sports and events — and the state’s bars and restaurants.