❤️ Twin Cities residents still need mutual aid

How Stand With Minnesota Brought Millions of Dollars To Families in Need

On today's episode of the podcast, Stand With Minnesota organizer Ashley Fairbanks recounts how she started the fundraising initiative in response to Operation Metro Surge, and where funds are still critically needed in our community now. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• Consolidating efforts: From the start of Operation Metro Surge, organizers were sharing mutual aid effort documents and other ways to help, but Fairbanks recognized the need to aggregate as many resources as possible in one easy-to-share, easy-to-remember place. After launching Stand With Minnesota in January, Fairbanks says the site blew up thanks to shares from her Bluesky following and several high-profile individuals. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]
• People still need mutual aid: Even as the national spotlight dims on Minnesota, Fairbanks says that many people in the Twin Cities are still in critical need of mutual aid. A recent study from the University of Minnesota estimates rent debts for Minnesota residents could have doubled during Operation Metro Surge, from an expected $44.6 million to an estimated $72-$95.9 million statewide during January and February 2026. [Center for Urban & Regional Affairs]

Thanks, JFK: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library announced that the people of the Twin Cities will receive a Profile in Courage Award for "risking their lives to protect their neighbors and immigrant community members from an unprecedented federal law enforcement operation." Past recipients include Vice President Mike Pence, former President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, and the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis. [Minnesota Reformer]

New food coming to MSP: Terminal 1 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport will be majorly redeveloping its concessions options. They will be putting out requests for proposals this summer to fill more than 45 food, beverage, and retail spaces. [Bring Me The News]

Data-driven: On today's episode of the podcast, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi reflects on his career as a prosecutor so far. He also describes how the killing of Philando Castile and the resulting data-driven practices in public safety have guided him toward progressive policies, including declining to prosecute felonies resulting from "pretextual" or non-public-safety traffic stops. [Minnesota Reformer / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

Less libraries 😔 (for now): When the Hayden Heights Library closes for renovations tomorrow, three of St. Paul's 13 public libraries will be closed at the same time. The city didn't intend to close a quarter of its libraries at the same time, but the Rondo Community Library and the Hamline-Midway libraries both had interruptions to their schedule that made the renovations align. [Star Tribune]

In other library news: Hennepin County Public Libraries are shutting down access to the free streaming service Kanopy due to a lack of usage among library cardholders. If you're a Hennepin County Library cardholder, you'll have free access to shows and movies on Kanopy until May 11. [Bring Me The News]

AI guardrails: Minnesota is considering a bill that would ban children from chatting with AI companions, citing high-profile cases of children who died by suicide after using AI companion tools in other states. The bill has bipartisan support and would become the first ban of its kind in the nation if passed. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, you can call or text 988 at any time to speak with a trained crisis counselor (who is a human). [MinnPost]

Monday, Mar 23

• 🎻 Clarice Jensen and Chuck Johnson | Cedar Cultural Center
• 🎳 Ope | Memory Lanes
• 🆓 King Midas with Do Not Crush and One Big Quilt | White Squirrel
• 📖 Banned Book Club | Red Balloon Bookshop
• 🆓 Dr. Catherine S. Ramírez | St. Catherine University
• 💙 Blues Jam with Moses Oakland | Midway Saloon
• ⌨️ Autotune Karaoke | Mortimer’s

Tuesday, Mar 24

• 🎸 Bob Dylan | Mayo Civic Center Arena
• 🎭 Sleuth | Guthrie
• 🆓 Books and Bars | Urban Growler
• 🎸 The Robert Cray Band | Hopkins Center for the Arts
• 🐑 Lamb of God with Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sangulsugabogg | Armory
• 📚 Dave Kamper | SubText Bookstore
• 🆓 Public Tour: Inspired by Books | Mia

• Vote-by-Mail Supervisor at City of Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services | $32.52 - $41.83 per hour
• Visitor Learning Program Specialist at UMN Arboretum | $25 - $27 per hour
• Social Media Fellow at Macalester College | $55k - $58k per year
• Development Coordinator at Minnesota Public Radio | $24.52 - $29.90 per hour (Temporary)