‘Cover Stories’ Archives
Virgil Welna 1929-2018 Vast legacy by quintessential storekeeper and community elder
Virgil Welna has heard the last bell signaling another person to meet and serve By JENN WELNA Born on March 24th, 1929 in Holdingford, MN to Alphonse (Al) and Anna, Virgil (Virg) Welna was one of six children. When he was in 8th grade, his family moved from their large house in the small town to a two-bedroom apartment in the Phillips neighborhood to ensure that each of their children could find a job and go to college. Upon his arrival in Minneapolis, Virg worked two jobs to pay his tuition to DeLaSalle High School: in the fruit department at the local grocer and at Dalsin Hardware where his father was the manager. (more…)
March for immigrant and workers”' rights!
By LINDSEY FENNER On Tuesday, May 1, International Workers”' Day, a broad coalition of community, immigrant, and labor organizations will be marching through South Minneapolis for immigrant and workers”' rights. Organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), neighbors will be showing up for a platform that protects all workers. ¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! TUESDAY, MAY 1, 3:30pm Lake Street & Nicollet Avenue No attacks on immigrants, refugees & Muslims No more deportations Legalization for all Clean DREAM Act Now Restore Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Salvadorans & Haitians Adopt the Sanctuary Platform Make Minnesota a Sanctuary State Expand union rights in Minnesota Stop all ”˜right to work”' (for less) attacks Living wage for all Medicare for all End to police brutality! Community control of the police! Climate justice Peace MARTES 1 DE MAYO, [...]
Laura Waterman Wittstock, still the superb journalist
Laura Waterman Wittstock | J Arthur Anderson/ALLEYNEWS First Person Radio Signs Off the Air By ELAINE SALINAS The final segment of First Person Radio (FPR) aired on KFAI Radio in Minneapolis on February 14th, 2018, forty years after it originated as The Native American Program on KUOM-AM, the University of Minnesota”'s radio station. First Person Radio can best be described as a labor of love coupled with a commitment to produce timely and accurate news and information about the American Indian community to counter the many misrepresentations and inaccuracies perpetuated about Native people in the major media. Not surprisingly, the program was birthed by a volunteer group of bold young Indian University students organized by a seasoned and visionary journalist, Laura Waterman Wittstock. Laura, from the Seneca Nation in New York, had worked with the pioneering Native American Press Association in Washington, D.C. in the early 1970s. First Person Radio was the first work of [...]
