Black and Funny Improv Festival looking for community support to continue opening doors
"It's kind of a way to carve out space, specifically for black performers and audience members, to see themselves represented on stage," said Jada Pulley.
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"It's kind of a way to carve out space, specifically for black performers and audience members, to see themselves represented on stage," said Jada Pulley.
Jaylen Smith was 18 years old when he was sworn into office as mayor or Earle, Arkansas, a town of 2,000 people.
During this Black History Month, a history maker is sharing his inspiring story here in the Twin Cities. Jaylen Smith is recognized globally as the youngest African American Mayor in U.S. history. WCCO's Reg Chapman explains how he's trying to inspire the next generation of leaders.
The Black and Funny Improv Festival looks to uplift black voices, while breaking down barriers of improvisational comedy, but organizers say they need a little help to make sure they're around for years to come. Our Jason Rantala has the story.
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Bennett was just 16 when Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis helped her develop live music skills. Her studies continued under Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness founder Gary Hines, but the legacy started even earlier, with family.
The keys to unlocking the doors of Black history may not rest in the pages of school history books, but rather in segregated schools made for Black children.
Born into slavery in Mississippi, Frederick McGhee's family escaped with union soldiers to Tennessee where he got a law degree.
It's a success story even local historians have trouble comprehending. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield introduces us to a Minnesota leader who shattered every barrier imaginable.
Some St. Paul students had the opportunity to go bring history to life by peering through the lens of their school's namesake, St. Paul's own Gordon Parks. WCCO’s Ubah Ali takes us inside his exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and speaks with a high school student on Parks' lasting impact.
Gordon Parks High School students had the opportunity to bring history to life by peering through the lens of their school's namesake, legendary St. Paul artist Gordon Parks.
They've talked to the president of a building group, a high school ESL teacher, and a man who runs a grill company. They are talking with Black men, but they hope another demographic is listening.
You may think, for a pastor, Sunday is always the big day, but Pastor Jerry McAfee says the days in between matter too.
At New Salem Baptist in North Minneapolis, McAfee’s pulpit is indoors, but he’s proven his ministry is outdoors.
Bringing healing and wellness to people of color is a year-round mission for Carter. That mission is lived out through her two businesses, The Zen Bin wellness studio and Heal, a plant-based café.
You may not know his name but if you've ever been to St. Paul, you've likely seen his work. Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield has the story of a deeply talented architect who defied all odds. It's part of our on-going celebration of Black History Month.
Eig unearthed transformative firsts about Dr. King – many via newly-released government documents. His book reveals, and it debunks.
Patton always dreamed of bringing the music that comes from his heart to the big stage in his hometown, and now that dream is a reality.
The Minnesota History Center's newest exhibit hopes to show Black Americans' fight for racial equity and full citizenship in the years following the Civil War.
For the past 18 years, a local barber has dedicated his talent and time to people experiencing homelessness.
Seena Hodges, founder and CEO of The Woke Coach, visits WCCO to talk about her new book, "From Ally to Accomplice,” and the opportunities we have this holiday season to tackle tough topics with family members.
This month marks 60 years since KKK members bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama – killing four Black girls and injuring at least 20 people. A group of Minnesotans has just returned from Birmingham where they contributed to a conference commemorating that terrorist attack. Kevin Lindsey, CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center, joined us Thursday with more.
"There would be more challenges today with [Dr. King's] speech than there was back then," said Dr. Henry Morris. "It has become alright again to be a public bigot."
The new book "Can't Nobody Make a Sweet Potato Pie like Our Mama" shares a story about family and love that will feel familiar to many Minnesotans.
Seena Hodges, founder and CEO of anti-racism training consultant The Woke Coach, is releasing her debut book, “From Ally to Accomplice: How to Lead as a Fierce Antiracist.” She joined WCCO to talk about the steps we can take to understand our privilege and power and learn to use it for the benefit of others.
New businesses and entrepreneurs are taking up space in a place that was once hard to access.
Prince's 10th Anniversary Celebration of Life, marking 10 years since his death, brought thousands of people from across the globe to honor the music legend.
Starling Marte hit a three-run homer to back six strong innings from Noah Cameron, and the Kansas City Royals held off the Minnesota Twins 6-5 to take three of four games in the series.
The event brings more than 200,000 people to 30 blocks of St. Paul's historic Grand Avenue, organizers said.
Authorities are investigating what caused a deadly fire in central Minnesota early Sunday morning.
Police in the northern Twin Cities metro say a missing 17-year-old girl has been found safe.
Prince's 10th Anniversary Celebration of Life, marking 10 years since his death, brought thousands of people from across the globe to honor the music legend.
The event brings more than 200,000 people to 30 blocks of St. Paul's historic Grand Avenue, organizers said.
Police in the northern Twin Cities metro say a missing 17-year-old girl has been found safe.
56 Brewing says Xcel Energy is asking them to demolish their popular seating area.
As an estimated 10,000+ Prince fans make a trip to downtown to honor his life, legacy, and music, Minneapolis city leaders are hopeful it can also serve as the first step to the city's economic recovery.
Authorities are investigating what caused a deadly fire in central Minnesota early Sunday morning.
Two men are in custody and facing criminal charges in connection to last month's fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tyson Goodsell in North Mankato, Minnesota.
Dozens of infrastructure projects around Minnesota will move forward following the ceremonial signing of a $1.2 billion infrastructure bill by Gov. Tim Walz on Friday.
Authorities have arrested a man suspected of starting his mobile home on fire late Thursday afternoon in northeastern Minnesota.
Thursday was an emotional day for the friends and family of Minnesota National Guard members returning from a monthslong deployment, and WCCO was there in St. Paul for the momentous homecoming.
President Trump was in western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls.
A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday on whether to throw out former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan's felony obstruction conviction, postponing her sentencing indefinitely while he considers the matter.
A Minnesota man was arrested in Wisconsin Saturday afternoon for allegedly driving under the influence with four children inside his car, officials say.
A driver went airborne during a high-speed police chase in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, after fleeing a traffic stop.
Fifty beagles rescued from animal testing in Wisconsin are set to arrive in Minnesota Thursday.
On the Lake Harriet shoreline in Minneapolis Saturday evening, dozens of children picked up a fishing rod for the first time.
Hours after the announcement, community members were eager to learn more about the one challenged with leading the most scrutinized police department in the country.
Created by Freedom Reads, a nonprofit organization in Connecticut, the Inside Literary Prize is the first major U.S. book award decided exclusively by incarcerated readers.
A 23-year-old man from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, faces a criminal vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors say he hit and killed a person on a highway, then fled.
Quincy Street isn't just at the center of Art-A-Whirl, it's at the heart of the Arts District in northeast Minneapolis. The road itself, however, is falling apart. And the only thing bumpier than the exposed brick is the reaction to the city's plans to fix it.
Where the endorsement truly carries weight is down the ballot. If voters don't know much about the candidates in the smaller races, they're more inclined to trust who their party endorsed. To get more perspective from the party, Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield spoke with conservative commentator Andy Brehm.
Colin and Sophie Hortman presented several of their mother's former staffers with the "Melissa and Mark Hortman Award" for dedication and leadership in public policy at a DFL fundraising dinner on Friday. June 14 will mark one year since Mark and Melissa Hortman were killed in their home in what prosecutors called a politically motivated attack.
Gov. Tim Walz on Friday signed an infrastructure bill to invest in projects across the state.
Dozens of infrastructure projects around Minnesota will move forward following the ceremonial signing of a $1.2 billion infrastructure bill by Gov. Tim Walz on Friday.
President Trump is heading to western Wisconsin Friday afternoon to host a roundtable on farming in Chippewa Falls, where he's expected to discuss his agricultural policies.
Target is voluntarily recalling two types of baby wipes due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with bacteria that may cause "serious and life-threatening infections," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
The dream of a woman in Minnesota started with excitement, but quickly unraveled into loss after she said she fell victim to a scheme that targeted more than 30 Spanish speakers.
For years, it was all hands on deck; a business model buoyed by a bevy of free time that sent sales surging in a way never before seen. But as Minnesota enters lake season, outdoor sales for boats, jet skis and more have almost dropped anchor.
Jester Concepts' Monday announcement noted that Borough will mark its remaining five weeks of service through June 27 with events celebrating the restaurant's history, and it encouraged customers to reserve tables during the final weeks.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued a consumer advisory for four products produced by Milkjam Creamery, an ice cream shop in Minneapolis, due to "the potential presence of metal fragments," the state agency said.
A 24-year-old man is accused of fatally stabbing a St. Paul, Minnesota, barbershop owner on the city's east side late last month, according to a criminal complaint filed on Friday.
Two men are in custody and facing criminal charges in connection to last month's fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tyson Goodsell in North Mankato, Minnesota.
Authorities have arrested a man suspected of starting his mobile home on fire late Thursday afternoon in northeastern Minnesota.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say they're investigating an overnight shooting on the city's east side.
Minneapolis Park Police are asking for the public's help with identifying a person of interest connected to an assault last month at Minnehaha Falls.
Minnesota officials say they have completed a review of almost 5,600 "high-risk Medicaid providers," part of an effort to stave off the federal government's freezing of $2 billion in funding.
Minnesota state officials are feeling pressure from the federal government, working to revalidate thousands of Medicaid providers who operate in programs that are at high-risk for fraud.
In Dakota County, where there are just under a million residents, there were 25 suspected overdoses between May 29 through June 2 — two of which were fatal.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is reexamining over 5,000 Medicaid service providers across the state in an effort to combat fraud.
Parents of Minnesota's most vulnerable children say lawmakers let them down, and now they're going to extremes to fight an insurance company that's denying coverage.
Anthony Head played librarian and mentor Rupert Giles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently appeared in "Ted Lasso."
Everywhere you look in downtown Minneapolis, people are sporting purple in honor of Prince.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is on the cover of Madden NFL 27, the first Bear ever to grace the primary cover of the massively popular video game.
Wednesday is the beginning of a five-day celebration of the icon we know, love and miss: Prince.
Peabo Bryson, a two-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter known for Disney movie hits "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World," has died at age 75.
Starling Marte hit a three-run homer to back six strong innings from Noah Cameron, and the Kansas City Royals held off the Minnesota Twins 6-5 to take three of four games in the series.
Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Natasha Howard had a season-high 27 points on 12-of-16 shooting, Olivia Miles added 19 points, six assists and six rebounds, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Seattle Storm 88-68 for their seventh win in a row — the last six by double figures.
The Minnesota Twins recalled infielder Royce Lewis from Triple-A St. Paul less than three weeks after the former No. 1 draft pick was sent down to work on his swing mechanics and position flexibility.
Pinch-hitter Josh Rojas had a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning in his Kansas City debut and the Royals outlasted the Minnesota Twins 8-6.
After disputes about ballots and concerns about voting totals, businessman Kendall Qualls won the endorsement.
Minnesota's endorsing conventions are over, and the story of the weekend is the upset of House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the GOP governor's race.
Minnesota's election season officially kicks off this week as both major parties hold conventions to endorse candidates for governor and U.S. Senate, with competitive battles on the Republican side and clearer paths for Democrats.
Both parties begin the endorsement process today in Rochester and Duluth, with the August primary just two months away.
Friday, the Democratic and Republican parties begin the process of endorsing nominees for statewide offices.
Nearly 40 years ago, a building was sent over piece by piece from Norway to a farm in Chippewa County, Minnesota. It's one of the only stabburs in the United States.
Minneiska, Minnesota, is a small river town on Highway 61 near the Mississippi River, but at one point it was home to a castle.
The sign is 51 feet tall and 63 feet wide. And when it was built 85 years ago it was one of the largest neon signs in the entire country.
There's a place in Wabasha County, Minnesota, where people go wild for wildflowers.
For nearly 50 years, Farmamerica has been sowing agricultural knowledge near Waseca, Minnesota.
She didn't win her party's endorsement, but Republican Lisa Demuth plans to keep running for governor anyway. History shows that might actually work in her favor.
Cops are cracking down on a popular way to pedal around town.
If you're holding back on spending or worried about losing your job, you are not alone. U.S. consumer sentiment just hit an all-time low this month.
We can't control the prices are the grocery store, but what we can control is how to stretch that hard earned dollar, especially when shopping for fruits and vegetables. So what's the best way to keep fruits and vegetables fresh?
If Minnesota lawmakers won't vote on a bill, why can't the people? That's what Carol from Stillwater wants to know after the gun reform bill never made it to the House floor. In Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains how statewide ballot measures are created.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows is tracking storms in southern Minnesota.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows has the latest forecast.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says it'll get even more humid today into the start of the work week.
Sunday will be in the upper 80s with increasing humidity and an air quality alert in place.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows is tracking storms in southern Minnesota.
The Twins honored the victims and survivors of a tragedy on Sunday.
Thousands packed Grand Avenue in St. Paul for Grand Old Day. Jason Rantala shows us what it means for businessess and the community.
Where the endorsement truly carries weight is down the ballot. If voters don't know much about the candidates in the smaller races, they're more inclined to trust who their party endorsed. To get more perspective from the party, Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield spoke with conservative commentator Andy Brehm.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows has the latest forecast.