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Local newsrooms make sure Minnesotans have the information we need to navigate daily life. 🌟

This Local News Giving Day, your gift fuels that mission. Donate to MinnPost during Early Giving now through April 30 and stand with local news across Minnesota. ✨🌱 Link in our bio.

#localnewsday #supportlocalnews

MinnPost is thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with the national nonprofit @city_bureau to reimagine its award-winning Documenters program for the Twin Cities!

Find out more at the link in our bio. 📝

#twincitiesdocumenters #documenters #participatoryjournalism

MinnPost is thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with the national nonprofit @city_bureau to reimagine its award-winning Documenters program for the Twin Cities!

Find out more at the link in our bio. 📝

#twincitiesdocumenters #documenters #participatoryjournalism

MinnPost is thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with the national nonprofit @city_bureau to reimagine its award-winning Documenters program for the Twin Cities!

Find out more at the link in our bio. 📝

#twincitiesdocumenters #documenters #participatoryjournalism

Come along with state gov reporter Matthew Blake and he covers the end of the Minnesota Legislative Session.

And head to the link in our bio for deeper reading on what went down.

Stories this week:

🔵 What the Minnesota Legislature accomplished in its final hours: HCMC bailout fine print, the bonding bill, and a last push to police the immigration police.

🔵 Pharmaceutical lobbyists can pop the champagne: Minnesota 340B legislation fails to get House vote before deadline.

🔵 Minnesota, the heart of ICE resistance, failed to join other blue states in curbing aggressive enforcement. A divided Legislature kept measures that have passed in California, Oregon and elsewhere from moving forward. It’s sure to become a campaign theme.

🔵 How Minnesota lawmakers defied expectations to pass a bipartisan affordable housing law in the session’s final week. State lawmakers and experts said the Minnesota affordable housing bill will save thousands from eviction but also isn’t enough.

🔵 Senate ‘besties’ and ‘Team House’ powered bonding bill through session. Strong working relationships made for a (relatively) less partisan process in passing a $1.2 billion infrastructure package.

🔵 What to know about Minnesota’s ban on ‘addictive’ social media that awaits Walz’s signature. The bipartisan bill is part of a national wave of legislation responding to concerns about the impacts of social media on youth mental health.

#mnleg

In a world of haters, writer and urban geographer Bill Lindeke bravely takes a stand. What if the things we dislike about TJ’s lots – like their size – are what make it good, actually? Do you agree or disagree with Bill? Sound off in the comments. 👇

🎧 Listen to Bill’s full take on City Cast Twin Cities, wherever you get your podcasts.

Join us Tuesday, June 2 for a free, public workshop all about the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board! RSVP through the link in our bio 🌳

The MinnPost newsroom is growing again! We’re investing in two areas important to our audiences: visuals and environmental reporting — in partnership with @report4america.

Bridget Bennett will join the team as a visual journalist. Claire Carlson will cover drinking water in collaboration with @agwaterdesk.

Learn more about their work at the link in our bio!💧 📸

#rfaday #rfaday26 #reportforamerica #localnews

The MinnPost newsroom is growing again! We’re investing in two areas important to our audiences: visuals and environmental reporting — in partnership with @report4america.

Bridget Bennett will join the team as a visual journalist. Claire Carlson will cover drinking water in collaboration with @agwaterdesk.

Learn more about their work at the link in our bio!💧 📸

#rfaday #rfaday26 #reportforamerica #localnews

Urban geographer Bill Lindeke shared a hot take in last week’s Cityscape column.

“The St. Louis Park Trader Joe’s parking lot is [a] crown jewel of our local grocery system.”

Link in our bio to read the full opinion piece. 🚙

#cityscape #urbangeography #twincities #billlindeke #traderjoesparkinglot

Urban geographer Bill Lindeke shared a hot take in last week’s Cityscape column.

“The St. Louis Park Trader Joe’s parking lot is [a] crown jewel of our local grocery system.”

Link in our bio to read the full opinion piece. 🚙

#cityscape #urbangeography #twincities #billlindeke #traderjoesparkinglot

Urban geographer Bill Lindeke shared a hot take in last week’s Cityscape column.

“The St. Louis Park Trader Joe’s parking lot is [a] crown jewel of our local grocery system.”

Link in our bio to read the full opinion piece. 🚙

#cityscape #urbangeography #twincities #billlindeke #traderjoesparkinglot

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Minnesota Legislature got a number of bills over the finish line before Sunday night’s deadline.

“We just had an incredibly productive session,” said Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids, who just completed his first year as House DFL leader, taking over for his mentor Melissa Hortman after she was assassinated last summer.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring said that she was satisfied with the creation of a new Office of Inspector General, plus “property tax relief and tab fee reductions” for car license plates.

Despite the wins, there were several bills that received a lot of discussion and did not get through, notably the DFL’s push for a ban on the sale of ARs, restrictions on ICE agents, and funding for businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Link in our bio for more.

All photos Ellen Schmidt

#mnleg #hcmc #minnesotanews #stategovernment #mncapitol

The Senate passed its omnibus bill on gun control May 4, sending it to the House for consideration. The bill is likely to fail on a party-line vote unless a GOP lawmaker flips on the issue. 

Still, the dozens of protesters who gathered at the Capitol on Thursday made one thing clear: they want a vote anyway. 

“Minnesota constituents and voters deserve to know where their representative sits on this issue,” said Maggiy Emery, executive director of Protect Minnesota, one of the groups that sent protesters to the Capitol.

Story by Cleo Krejci
Video captured by Ellen Schmidt and edited by Lydia Moran

#mnleg #guncontrol #minnesota #localnews #gunviolenceprevention

To create his sound gardens, JG Everest visits a nature site and composes music that fits with the surrounding environment. After a few weeks of visits, he places spatial speakers throughout the site to create an immersive soundscape.

So far, research on the benefits of sound gardens is anecdotal. But Everest describing listeners becoming more relaxed, attuned to their senses and even moved to tears.

Story by Maddie Robinson
Video by Taylor Canas

#mnart #mnartist #soundgarden #mnmusic #soundscapes

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

On a spring afternoon in downtown Duluth, Missy Jellison parked a large white van across the street from the sheltered entrance to the city’s bus terminal. She stepped onto the sidewalk, brushed her brown hair off her shoulders, and assessed the scene. 

The area attracts people in crisis – some were resting alongside buildings, others were stepping out of a nearby pub. So Jellison came prepared. Her van was packed with medical supplies, safe drug-use kits, hepatitis C tests, clean socks and snacks.

It didn’t take long to spot Dorothy, William and their mutt puppy, Peanut. As the trio ambled down Michigan Street, Jellison approached them. Casually, she inquired about their living situation, if they needed clean syringes and if they had a supply of Narcan to reverse potentially fatal overdoses. If they needed anything, she said, they could visit Harm Reduction Sisters, the nonprofit nearby where Jellison works.

Staffers like Jellison consider themselves front-line responders in a region that has struggled mightily with addiction and poverty. In St. Louis County – the Duluth area north to the Canadian border – about 7% of adults need treatment for substance use disorder, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In the Twin Cities metro, the rate is only slightly higher at 8%. 

But despite what they see as clear successes, leaders in the harm reduction movement worry that policymakers are turning back the clock on addiction treatment to a time before the opioid crisis carved its deadly path across the nation. By threatening key harm reduction practices and pushing an all-or-nothing, abstinence-based approach to addiction, lives could be lost, they say. 

In the second of three stories produced as part of the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, MinnPost mental health and addiction columnist Andy Steiner (with visuals by Ellen Schmidt) reports on a Duluth provider of harm reduction services and its uncertain future.

#harmreduction #northernminnesota #minnesotanews #substanceuserecovery #harmreductionsisters

We’re answering YOUR questions this week as the end of the legislative session quickly approaches. Curious about something else? Let us know!

#mnleg #hcmc #assaultweaponsban #minnesota #localnews