Minneapolis, MN

Mpls. nonprofits say federal cuts could hurt HIV prevention work

Published

9 months ago

March 21, 2025

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Mpls. nonprofits say federal cuts could hurt HIV prevention work

Adrianne Jackson, 39, regularly gets tested for HIV after witnessing a family member contract the virus.

“That’s what made it possible for me to understand how it’s contracted and where to get tested,” Jackson said.

Thanks to an HIV prevention clinic put on by the Aliveness Project and the Indigenous Peoples Task Force at the American Indian Center on Thursday, Jackson was able to get her test for free.

But free clinics like these are in jeopardy after the Trump administration has threatened to cut $700 million in funding for HIV prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The move would affect hundreds of clinics and organizations nationwide.

“If they did that it’d be a horrible decision,” said Jackson. “Events like this make it possible for people who don’t know where to get tested to get help.”

Adrianne Jackson poses for a photo after she took an HIV test at the American Indian Center on March 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. Credit: Chris Juhn for Sahan Journal

The federal cuts come as two other Minnesota nonprofits, Rainbow Health and the African American AIDS Task Force, closed last year, in part due to state funding cuts. The Aliveness Project took over case management for many of those clients.

The south Minneapolis nonprofit has worked for 40 years to help people living with HIV through case management, food and housing support, free testing and low-cost medications.

The Aliveness Project receives nearly $700,000 a year from the CDC, primarily for HIV prevention work, such as the free clinics, said development manager Sonya Bieza.

That work is a cost-effective way to help slow the spread of HIV, she said.

“It’s just such a slap in the face,” she said. “A lifetime of medical costs for a person living with HIV can be in excess of $500,000 — who has $500,000?”

Minnesota has close to 10,000 people living with a HIV diagnosis, according to the state Department of Health. The state estimates another 1,100 Minnesotans have HIV but are unaware of their status.

A report released by the agency last year showed 324 new infections statewide in 2023, which was a 24% increase from 2022 and the highest increase in more than a decade.

New HIV cases disproportionately affect communities of color, with 66% of new cases being nonwhite patients. Men who have same-sex sexual relations and people who use intravenous drugs are much more at risk of contracting the virus.

The HIV prevention and care team with the Indigenous People’s Task Force is in the fourth year of a five-year contract with the CDC that pays the organization $441,000 per year. Calvin Hylton, the team’s HIV program manager, said the funding allows them to target their HIV prevention efforts and resources on Native American adults who use intravenous drugs.

The loss of funding for that last year would be devastating, and derail the progress they’ve made over the last four years, Hylton said.

“Our program tests on average over 700 people each year for HIV and connects people living with HIV to critical resources to decrease their viral load,” he said. “Our piece of that effort would be completely disrupted and put our community in jeopardy and at risk for another HIV outbreak.”

Sonya Bieza, development manager at the Aliveness Project, poses for a photo on March 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. Credit: Chris Juhn for Sahan Journal

At Thursday’s clinic, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the federal funding cuts aren’t just hitting public health programs. He cited a letter from the Trump administration weeks ago threatening to cut all federal funding to the city.

“We’re talking about $70 million,” Frey said. “This is money for things like emergency management, this is money that supports our bomb squad … this is money for affordable housing and shelters and health care for our communities.”

Another letter came the next day rescinding many, but not all, of the proposed cuts, which the mayor said illustrates what state and local agencies are contending with.

“We’re all kind of left scratching our heads about what in the world is going on,” he said. “The decisions that are coming down are neither wise nor smart, and they certainly aren’t done in the best interest of the communities that we all are charged with serving and keeping safe and healthy.”

Bieza said she has heard from people who come into their clinic that they’re scared of losing access to the services available at the Aliveness Project. But, she said, despite the uncertainty, the clinic will remain open.

“We want people to know we’re still here, we’re still open and we’re going to figure this out,” she said. “We’re just leaning on our community more than ever.”

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis neighbors unite: Snow emergencies prompt community spirit

Published

6 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Minneapolis neighbors unite: Snow emergencies prompt community spirit

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Residents in Minneapolis and St. Paul are working hard to manage the aftermath of a recent snowstorm, with snow emergencies still in effect.

Snow removal efforts continue

What we know:

Crews and residents are actively clearing snow from streets and sidewalks.

Minneapolis residents must clear the entire width of city sidewalks within 24 hours to ensure accessibility.

Kevin Gilliam, a local homeowner, was seen snow-blowing his property to avoid dealing with hardened snow later.

“I couldn’t get to it last night when the snow stopped around 8 or 9 o’clock,” said Gilliam. “I wanted to make sure I got the snow up, so it didn’t kind of freeze hard on the bottom.”

Neighbors lend a helping hand

What they’re saying:

Richard Cushing helped his neighbor Robert Young, who recently moved to Minneapolis from Colorado, dig out his car.

Young was initially using a dust pan before Cushing offered a shovel.

“Three things you need for the winter in Minnesota: a good shovel, good tires, and a good neighbor,” said Young.

Cushing noticed Young’s struggle and decided to assist.

“I saw him trying to dig it out with a dust pan. And I thought, I have a shovel in my car, I can probably do better than that,” said Cushing.

“You use what you have. And that’s all I could find in the house. We just moved in here from Colorado, and it’s a totally different snow altogether. And the Colorado snow is light and fluffy, and you just kind of blow it off. This has got attitude. It’s going to hang around,” Young added.

What’s next:

Temperatures are expected to drop – which means cleaning up snow will become more difficult in the coming days.

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Minneapolis, MN

Ell-Saline Splits with Minneapolis to Open the Tri-County Classic

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

Ell-Saline Splits with Minneapolis to Open the Tri-County Classic

Picture Courtesy of Jenna Hull

The Ell-Saline Cardinals were at home for the first time this season as they welcomed the Minneapolis Lions to Brookville to open up the Tri-County Classic. The Minneapolis lady Lions took the girls game 51-20 and Ell-Saline won the boys game 51-22.

GIRLS: MINNEAPOLIS 51, ELL-SALINE 20

It was a rough night for the Ell-Saline lady Cards as they struggled to get things going against a tough and physical lady Lions team. Ell-Saline would hang with Minneapolis for the first 4 minutes of the game and had a 5-2 to start the game. The lady Lions started to heat up as they would end the quarter on a 16-3 run and led 18-8 after the first.

The woes continued in the 2nd quarter for the lady Cards as they were held scoreless for the quarter and Minneapolis took a 35-8 lead into the locker room.

Ell-Saline tightened things up in the 2nd half after turning the ball over 21 times in the first half but the damage had already been done. The lady Lions would only outscore the lady Cards 16-12 in the final two quarter but would still coast to a 51-20 win.

Paisley Jensen led the way for the lady Cardinals in the loss as she ended the night with 7 points.

Baylee Randall-Hurt and Riley Robinson both finished with a game high 12 points for the lady Lions as they would dominate inside the paint.

Ell-Saline drops to 1-1 on the season and will continue the Tri-County Classic this Friday as they travel to Belleville to take on the the Republic County Lady Buffs. Minneapolis moves to 2-1 on the season and will take on Bennington Friday night in the Tri-County Classic.

CITY PLUMBING HEATING AND COOLING PLAYER OF THE GAME: Paisley Jensen (7 Points)

BOX SCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (2-1) –18 – 17 – 13 – 3 / 51

ELL-SALINE (1-1) – 8 – 0 – 9 – 3 / 20

Individual Scoring

Ell-Saline – Paisley Jensen 7, Bret Hecker 5, Aubrey Smith 3, Levaya Aulner/Marcella Garber 2, Genna Stetler 1.

Herington – Baylee Randall-Hurt/Riley Robinson 12, Addison Abell 8, McKenna Worlock/Sierra Cossart 4, Haylee Nichols/Addison Doering 3, Miley McClure/Atlee Smith 2, Sarai Auscherman 1.

BOYS: #3 ELL-SALINE 51, MINNEAPOLIS 22

In the night cap it was a completely different story for the Ell-Saline Cardinals as they raced out to a quick lead and never look back as they held the Minneapolis below 7 points in each of the 4 quarters.

The Cardinals actually got off to a slow start before turning it on in the first quarter, they still led after the 1st quarter 20-7.

Senior Reese Krone came alive in the 2nd quarter for the Cards as he would score 11 of his 15 in the period and Ell-Saline took a 36-11 lead into halftime.

Ell-Saline put things on cruise control in the 2nd half as none of the starters played at all in the 4th quarter and for most of the quarter it was JV players and the Cardinals still outscored the Lions 15-11 in the second half. Ell-Saline used a running clock in the 4th quarter to cruise to a 51-22 win.

Ell-Saline was led in scoring on the evening by Reese Krone who finished the night with a game high 15 points. Kas Kramer added 13 points for the Cardinals which included going 5 for 5 from the free throw line. Trey Williams dropped 12 including 2-3 pointers.

Owen Just who is standout scorer for Minneapolis was held to just a team high 8 points on the night as the Ell-Saline Cardinals defense would shut him down for the most part.

Ell-Saline moves to 2-0 on the season and will continue the Tri-County Classic this Friday as they travel to Belleville to take on the the #7 ranked team in 2A the Republic County Buffaloes. Minneapolis moves to 0-3 on the season and will take on Bennington Friday night in the Tri-County Classic.

CITY PLUMBING HEATING AND COOLING PLAYER OF THE GAME: Reese Krone (15 Points)

BOX SCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (0-3) –7 – 4 – 6 – 5 / 22

ELL-SALINE (2-0) – 20 – 16 – 12 – 3 / 51

Individual Scoring

Ell-Saline – Reese Krone 15, Kas Kramer 13, Trey Williams 12, Landon May/Collin Dent 4, Jaxsen Seed 3.

Herington – Owen Just 8, Max Helget 4, Aidan Hessman/Grant Rice/Oliver White/Kingston Deronnet 2, Tanner Norris/Ryan Lott 1.

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Minneapolis, MN

ICE Defends Augsburg Campus Arrest, Says Student Is Registered Sex Offender; School Wanted Warrant

Published

2 days ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

ICE Defends Augsburg Campus Arrest, Says Student Is Registered Sex Offender; School Wanted Warrant

ST. PAUL, MN — Federal immigration officers and Augsburg University officials offered sharply conflicting accounts this week after a weekend incident on campus ended with a student being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The incident happened Saturday in an Augsburg parking lot.

University leaders said the student had been followed in their vehicle back to campus by ICE agents before the detention occurred. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told FOX 9 that federal agents were involved in the incident and that there was a confrontation between agents and members of the campus community.

Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow told MPR News that ICE agents were “on campus property illegally” because they did not produce a warrant when faculty asked to see one.

“We’re in a situation where, despite the fact that it was illegal without a warrant, there was really no recourse for us,” Pribbenow said.

Federal officials strongly disputed Augsburg’s characterization. In a statement Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents arrested Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, describing him as a “criminal illegal alien,” a registered sex offender, and someone previously arrested for driving while intoxicated.

ICE said he was taken into custody while getting into his vehicle.

According to DHS, a university administrator and campus security attempted to block the arrest and prevent ICE’s vehicle from leaving campus. The agency said its officers told school employees they had a warrant for Saucedo-Portillo and warned that obstructing their vehicle would amount to obstructing justice.

DHS said its officers “followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to clear the area” before leaving campus with the detained individual.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between federal immigration officers and local institutions under the Trump administration’s renewed deportation efforts.

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