Minnesota
OPINION EXCHANGE | Minnesota must stop failing Black mothers and birthers
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Throughout the country, Minnesota is seen as a leader in health care with a rich history of innovation and off-the-charts rankings. Some of the leading clinics, technology manufacturers and insurance providers all call Minnesota home, and for good reason. But at the same time, the very health care systems in our state that promise care and comfort for families during one of the most significant health events in their lives — childbirth — fall short of meeting the needs of all birthers.
Despite increased attention on equity and DEI initiatives, there remains a stark disparity in maternal mortality rates between Black and white people. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Black women have a pregnancy-related mortality rate that is about three times higher than that of white women. In addition, a recent Minnesota Department of Health report indicated that, while the state’s overall maternal mortality rate is much lower than the national average, there are also disparities. Black Minnesotans represent 13% of the birthing population, but made up 27% of pregnancy-associated deaths between 2017 and 2019. What is more unnerving is that this tragic reality cannot be attributed to biological differences but rather to the structural racism that pervades our society.
Factors such as lack of access to quality health care and culturally concordant care, racial bias and discrimination within health care settings, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental stressors all contribute to the elevated risk of maternal death among Black mothers and birthers.
According to a new poll commissioned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, more than half of Black Minnesota mothers and birthing people feel that discrimination based on their race/ethnicity negatively impacts their health.
Respondents identified discrimination as a key impediment to health equity, with 59% indicating it adversely affects birther health. The survey exposes a challenging environment for Black women and birthing people, who must place significant trust in health care systems, yet have low confidence that their health care needs (particularly postpartum) are met.
The survey results also pointed to some potential solutions. About 52% of respondents said increasing the representation of Black health care professionals would have a strong impact in improving Black birther health.
Rooting our strategy and mission in advancing racial and health equity, Blue Cross is committed to working collectively to eliminate barriers to health and to proactively address large-scale systemic issues that drive racial and health inequities.
One key area of focus needs to include expanding access to quality and culturally informed health care for Black mothers and birthers, including prenatal and postpartum care, reproductive health services, and mental health support. Part of this work includes implementing anti-bias training for health care providers, helping to create a more diverse and inclusive health care workforce, and establishing protocols to ensure equitable treatment for all patients. It also includes educating new Black mothers and birthers throughout their journey so they have the necessary tools to advocate for themselves, which many of them inevitably end up having to do.
Another strategy is to make changes in policy. In August 2022, several members from various Black and Indigenous community organizations formed the Birth Justice Collaborative (BJC) as a way to inform and develop strategies that improve maternal health for American Indian and African American communities. Initiatives developed at the BJC have directly resulted in the Minnesota Department of Health vastly changing the way Blue Cross covers doula and midwife care for people on Medicaid, expanding coverage from eight to 17 visits. In the Black community, doulas have been the standard for the way important health knowledge gets passed down between generations. This knowledge and care are also known to play an invaluable role in healing, and to greatly improve maternal outcomes for Black women.
Community-based interventions are also crucial in this work. Communities have the answers, and it is incumbent on dominant systems and organizations to support and amplify the solutions that communities have identified and built. This includes supporting efforts focused on improving access to care, education, affordable housing, nutritious food and economic opportunities.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation supports several organizations that focus on improving Black maternal health, including the African American Babies Coalition, which advocates for policies and programs that improve maternal and infant health outcomes within Black communities, addressing the root causes of maternal health inequities to ensure that Black birthers and babies receive the support they need to thrive. Another organization we support is the Roots Birth Center, which provides comprehensive maternity services and offers holistic care that respects the cultural traditions and preferences of clients to empower and reduce maternal health inequities.
By working together, Blue Cross and other health-driven organizations can set the standard where all birthers, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, can experience healthy pregnancies and childbirth. However, to be truly successful, we must expand the advocacy for Black mothers and birthers, and see greater efforts from many sectors, including policymakers, health care providers, community organizations, advocates and more. Ensuring safer, more personalized and more equitable maternity care for all birthers, babies and families should be paramount in a state so highly regarded for being one of the healthiest in the nation.
Bukata Hayes is the vice president of racial and health equity and chief equity officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
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