North Star Stories
North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live is a daily, five-minute newscast that shines a spotlight on the stories and perspectives of Minnesota’s diverse communities, including Black, Latine, Asian American, East African individuals, people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ residents, laborers, veterans, and those from Greater Minnesota.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 4 minutes
- Episodes
- 160
- Years Active
- 2025
Latino Organizations Look to the Future of Leadership
Rodolfo Gutierrez, Executive Director of HACER (Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research), discusses MILLA, an alliance of Latino-led organizations that are advocating for their c…
DNR Dilemma
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has ordered the Department of Natural Resources to reconsider its environmental review of the Milepost 7 tailings basin. Vincent Moniz reports on the implications for L…
Indigenous Farming Conference Explores Natural Solutions for Clean Water
Presented by the White Earth Land Recovery Project, the Great Lakes Indigenous Farming Conference celebrated its 22nd year this March. Deanna StandingCloud speaks with two of the conference participa…
The Impact of Special Olympics in Minnesota
The Special Olympics Minnesota State Poly Hockey and Powerlifting Competition was held on March 8 and 9, 2025 at Stillwater High School, and it showcased the talents of Special Olympics athletes from…
Minneapolis Theater Secures Collective Bargaining Agreement for Production and Backstage Staff
Production and backstage workers at Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) got their first union contract after a vote from the Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) L…
The Child Tax Credit: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Get It?
The final file date for income tax is coming up fast, and the Minnesota Department of Revenue and HACER are reaching out to families to take advantage of the Child Tax Credit.
Generations of Storytelling with the Bois Forte Heritage Center
This Women’s History Month, we hear from three women stewarding culture through storytelling: Tracey Dagen, Jess Anderson Ojala, and Dani Pieratos have all made thoughtful contributions to the past &…
50th Anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, Part 3: Infrastructure
Palisade, a town in central Minnesota, is grappling with the failure and deterioration of its water infrastructure. In part three of North Star Stories' series marking the 50th anniversary of the Saf…
Staying Civically Engaged in Today's Political Landscape
As Minnesotans await the results of the Minnesota House District 40B special election, Kathleen Cole, Professor and Department Chair of Social Science at Metropolitan State University, discusses the …
Fair Play: Capitol Rally to Support Trans Girls' Right to Play Sports in Minnesota’s K-12 Schools
On March 3, 2025, OutFront Minnesota, the state's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, held a rally in the Capitol Rotunda to show support for the trans community ahead of a House vote on HF12, a bi…
Horse Talk
When her old career was stripped from her because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathy Friedrich founded Gateway Meadows Equine-Assisted Services. At the Dayton ranch, this nurse and Army vet facilitates …
Jonathan Thunder: Sovereignty of Joy
In this episode of North Star Stories, Darek DeLille sits down with artist Jonathan Thunder to explore his solo exhibit at Gamut Gallery. Jonathan discusses how storytelling and personal experiences …
Personal Matchmaking for People with Intellectual Disabilities
In an age dominated by online dating, finding love can be particularly challenging for individuals with developmental disabilities, who often face additional hurdles in building meaningful connection…
Big Data Is Coming to Minnesota: Are We Ready?
"Big Data" centers are coming to Minnesota, with companies such as Amazon planning massive facilities. But as the industry expands, residents are weighing the long-term economic benefits against the…
WTIP March Report: A Conversation with NFCB CEO Rima Dael
In this month's conversation with WTIP’s News Director Kalli Hawkins, we discuss their interview with Rima Dael, CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) about the work of the …
Sexuality for All Abilities: Empowerment Through Education
Katie Thune, the founder of Mad Hatter Wellness, is on a mission to empower individuals with disabilities through crucial education on healthy relationships, consent, and personal boundaries. With he…
825 Arts Centers Black Voices This Month
An art center in the Rondo and Frogtown communities is committed to spreading joy within the Twin Cities, starting with their black history month celebration. North Star Stories' Jamad Jama interview…
Using High-Tech to Track Diseases and Prevent Outbreaks in Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health Laboratories use state-of-the-art equipment to analyze bacterial genomes. Sara Vetter, director of the Public Health Lab at the Minnesota Department of Health, talks ab…
Cultural Hubs and Safe Havens: Cutting Along Racial Lines
Barbershops are a multi-generational space where people from the Black community come together for a fresh cut, storytelling, and a sense of connection. North Star Stories' Jarrett George-Ballard int…
Girls in STEM: The Bucket Cats Robotics Team
An all-girls robotics team from St. Paul, Minnesota is leading the way for girls in STEM. The "Bucket Cats," along with hundreds of other young engineers gathered in Burnsville, Minnesota to compete …