Minneapolis, MN

Celebrate MLK Day with these Twin Cities events

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2025

Celebrate MLK Day with these Twin Cities events

Minnesota is celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a variety of ways this year with plenty of free, family-friendly events to choose from.

St. Paul area

MLK Community Conference: ‘One Dream. One Minnesota.’

This second annual conference is in partnership with the State of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Metropolitan State University Founders Hall, 700 E. Seventh St., St. Paul. The event includes speakers, an interactive workshop, networking, resource booths and food. Spots are limited. To register and for more information, visit mn.gov/oeoa.

39th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: ‘One Dream. One Minnesota.’

This free, state-supported event, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Jan 20, is hosted at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. The event features community conversations and performances by Billy Steele and Fellowship Baptist Church, Jamecia Bennett, and Known MPLS. Dr. Yohuru Williams will MC and host a fireside chat by Josie R. Johnson and Reatha Clark King. The event will also be live-streamed on TPT.org. Spots are limited. To register and for more information, visit mn.gov/oeao.

MLK Jr. Day of Service

St. Clement’s and St. John’s Episcopal Churches host a morning of service for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Jan 20, at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 901 Portland Ave., St. Paul. The free event will include service projects and “engagement with racism and justice through a faith lens.” Food will be provided, as well as a caregiver’s lounge with coffee and WiFi for adults. For more information, visit saintmarysepiscopal.org.

Conceive Believe Achieve photo gallery

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, local nonprofit Conceive Believe Achieve is displaying a 30-foot photo gallery display on Dr. King’s life. For more information, visit conceivebelieveachieve.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Morning of Service

This event is free and open to the public, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Two Rivers High School South Gym at 1897 Delaware Ave., Mendota Heights. Attendees will participate in multiple volunteer opportunities. Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page will also visit the site. For more information, visit isd197.org/news/mlk-day.

Hamline’s MLK 2025 Observation

From 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, Hamline University hosts a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration in Anderson Rooms 111 and 112, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul. Hot beverages and light food will be provided at this free event. A keynote address will be given by Hamline alum and St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie, as well as performances by Afro Contigbo, gospel singer Sherri Orr, and a presentation of the 2025 Beloved Community Awards. For more information, visit hamline.edu/news.

Minneapolis area

10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday of Service: Upholding our beloved community, build comfort pies, stronger ties

Sweet Potato Comfort Pie hosts a celebratory event in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley. The event will feature 96 sweet potato pies (representing Dr. King’s age) to be given to those determined most deserving, a vocal performance by Jamela Pettiford and GQ Unit, Saxophonist Jerome Richardson and Heart and Soul Drum Academy, led by Baba Jesse Buckner. For more information, visit sweetpotatocomfortpie.org.

44th Annual U of M Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert

The free concert is hosted and curated by the University of Minnesota, 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. Fourth St., Minneapolis. U of M alum G. Phillip Shoultz III of VocalEssence will weave the words of Dr. King with reflections and musical performances from Kamoinge Strings of Walker West Music Academy, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, Jornae Dance Collective led by U of M alum Suzette Jornae Gilreath, Youth Speakers mentored by Joe Davis Poetry, and more. For more information, visit diversity.umn.edu/MLKTribute.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast

The 35th annual breakfast, which host General Mills says is one of the largest in the country, will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (doors open at 7 a.m., with pre-event programming starting at 7:30 a.m.) Monday, Jan. 20, at the Minneapolis Convention Center,1301 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. The event will feature keynote speaker Michele Norris and multiple musical and art performances. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit MLKBreakfast.com.

MLK Jr. Resale Select Treasure Hunter

At this free event, volunteers can help the Resale Select store sort through and find items to put on the shelves, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Interfaith and Outreach Community Partners, 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth. Volunteers are asked to wear comfortable shoes and clothing as they will be standing for the majority of the time. To sign up and for more information, visit handsontwincities.org.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

The Powderhorn Park Association and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board host this 27th annual celebration, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Powderhorn Park recreation center. The free artist showcase features storytellers, visual art, performance art, art activities, lunch and giveaways. For more information, visit ppna.org/mlkcelebration.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

The free event hosted by Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis includes a keynote address from Dr. Betty Jo Webb. Derreck Robinson will receive the “Living the Dream Award,” which “honors someone who embodies Dr. King’s message of justice for all and commitment to community, and their actions reflect his teachings and legacy.” There will also be performances by Lyrical Youth Dance Group and songs by Nunnabove. For more information, visit minneapolisparks.org.

Unity in Colors: An MLK Commemoration

This free “drop-in” program, 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at the Sibley Recreation Center, 1900 E. 40th St., Minneapolis, invites people of all ages and backgrounds to contribute to creating a collective piece of art. The hope is to “embrace the spirit of unity, equality and diversity as you express your creativity through coloring pieces of art that will come together to form a stunning commemorative board dedicated to Dr. King’s vision of a harmonious and inclusive society,” according to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. To register online and for more information, visit minneapolisparks.org.

Originally Published: January 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM CST

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Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota’s Iranian community: Mixed emotions on US-Israel strike

Published

12 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota’s Iranian community: Mixed emotions on US-Israel strike

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The local Iranian community in Minnesota is expressing mixed emotions following the recent joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran.

Local reactions to the strike

What we know:

The strike resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to President Donald Trump and Iranian state media. Many Iranians in Minnesota feel this could lead to freedom for their country.

Nazanin Naferipoor shared that her sister in Iran was initially happy about the strike, believing it might bring about freedom. However, communication has been cut off since the strike began, leaving many worried about their loved ones.

The other side:

Hamid Kashani from the Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran expressed mixed feelings about the strike. While he hopes for change, he is concerned about the potential loss of innocent lives.

Fazy Kowsari emphasized that the attack targeted the government, not the religion, and criticized the political motivations behind the strike.

Upcoming rally at Nicollet Mall

Why you should care:

A rally is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street. Organizers view the U.S. strike as a rescue operation for Iranians held hostage by the regime, rather than an act of war.

PoliticsMinnesota

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Minneapolis, MN

Ex-MN Twins Pitcher Sentenced For Shooting His In-Laws

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Ex-MN Twins Pitcher Sentenced For Shooting His In-Laws

AUBURN, CA — Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his father-in-law and attempting to murder his mother-in-law in a 2021 ambush-style shooting at a Lake Tahoe-area home.

A Placer County jury previously found Serafini, 51, guilty of fatally shooting 70-year-old Gary Spohr and seriously wounding Spohr’s wife, 68-year-old Wendy Wood, on June 5, 2021, at their home on the lake’s west shore. Wood survived the attack but died a year later.

In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said that Spohr and Wood were loving grandparents and detailed how Serafini’s crimes had affected the couple’s family members and friends.

“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.

On the day of the shooting, Serafini’s wife, the victims’ daughter, had taken the children to the lake to visit their grandparents.

Prosecutors said the deadly ambush stemmed from a dispute over a $1.3 million investment in a ranch renovation project. The victims had reportedly contributed the money.

In one text message shown in court, Serafini wrote, “I’m gonna kill them one day,” referencing a dispute over $21,000, prosecutors said.

He also sent other threatening messages, including “I will be coming after you” and “Take me to court,” according to ABC10.

Jurors also found Serafini guilty of several “special circumstance” sentencing enhancements, including lying in wait, use of a firearm, and that the attack was willful, deliberate and premeditated. He was also convicted of first-degree burglary.

Prosecutors had also charged Serafini with child endangerment, saying he put his infant and toddler sons at risk by having a gun in the home. Jurors found him not guilty on that count.

The case also involved a second defendant, 33-year-old Samantha Scott, who pleaded guilty to being an accessory in February, according to the New York Post.

A left-hander, Serafini was a 1992 first-round pick for the Minnesota Twins. He also played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies, pitching for six MLB teams over seven seasons.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE

Published

2 days ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Minneapolis construction workers call on developers to take stand against ICE

Construction workers in Minneapolis on Friday called for developers to demand that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Minnesota and offer protections for their crews. Protesters at a separate demonstration on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis asked corporate businesses to end what they call cooperation with immigration enforcement.

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