The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has increased inspections and product testing efforts in response to the melamine contamination problem which originated in Chinese dairy products.  As a result of the FDA’s on-going testing program, the agency has detected melamine contamination in Blue Cat Flavor Drinks.  The distributor of the product, Tristar Food Wholesale Co. Inc., initiated a recall of several flavors of Blue Cat Flavor Drink, based on the FDA’s findings. 

By Mary Turck , TC Daily Planet

“Instead of offering a national vision for our nation, Senator McCain has resorted to smear tactics in an effort to scare voters and stir up the right-wing base,” said Republican former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson on October 23, in a surprise endorsement issued at the State Capitol. “Senator Obama has been a remarkably disciplined and focused leader who will become a truly great president. There is no doubt that Senator Barack Obama is the right choice for president in these challenging times.”

By Swallehe Msuya

North Minneapolis has a reputation of heinous crimes, some committed by teenagers. Mary Johnson, a resident of this location had her 20 year-old son gunned down by a 16 year-old boy over a trivial misunderstanding in a dance hall!

Mary is a spiritual person and has found solace in coming to terms with reality by seeing the offender who murdered her only son as “her spiritual son”. She has since founded two support groups named “From Death to Life” and “Two Mothers Healing”.

SAINT PAUL, MN — Ramsey County Community Human Services has been awarded a $2 million five-year Federal Adoptions Opportunity Grant for the Diligent Recruitment of Families for Children in the Foster Care System.  Ramsey County was one of only nine recipients of these highly competitive grants nationally.  The county will receive $400,000 per year for five years to increase its recruitment and retention efforts of foster and adoptive homes.

National "Take Our Daughters to the Polls" Campaign launched in historic year for women's political leadership ! Co-creators of "Take our Daughters to Work Day" encourage political participation of girls throughout the country.

New York– In this historic year for women's political leadership, the co-creators of Take our Daughters to Work Day have launched a national campaign to encourage political participation among girls, entitled Take our Daughters to the Polls.The national campaign, an initiative of The White House Project and the Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Foundation, aims to have thousands of voters across the nation pledge to take their daughters and other important girls in their lives to the polls on Election Day.

Helen Zille, mayor of Cape Town, South Africa, has won the 2008 World Mayor prize by City Mayors, an international urban affairs think tank.
 
Once a political journalist with the liberal Rand Daily Mail, Helen Zille was a leading anti-apartheid critic, famously exposing the circumstances behind Steve Biko’s death in police custody in 1977.

By Swallehe Msuya

Hundreds of Minnesota Muslims congregated in mosques, convention halls and other designated places of worship for early morning prayers to mark the end of the holy month of fasting (Ramadhan). This year’s celebrations of Eid-el-Fitr fell on Tuesday & Wednesday after sighting the new lunar moon that officially marked the end of fasting.

SAINT PAUL– Mayor Chris Coleman appointed Readus Fletcher as interim director of Saint Paul’s Human Rights Department.

He will serve in the position until a director for the new Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity is appointed. During this time, he will continue to be responsible for the Minority Business Development Program in Saint Paul.

A town hall meeting convened by Nigerians resident in Minnesota heard many voices from a number of their community leaders endorsing the desire for Nigerians to build a “Nigeria House” to promote economic and cultural endeavors of the immigrant population. The meeting took place over the weekend at the Center for Families in North Minneapolis. The President of Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development (MIND), Dr Richard Oni using MIND as an umbrella organization to unite Nigerian immigrants in the US issued a strong plea for contributions towards the setting up of a cultural and development center for Nigerians.

Southwest Transitway Starts Draft Environmental Impact Statement Process; Falls in Line Moving Forward as Next Light Rail System After Central Corridor Light Rail Transit. Project Commissioner Gail Dorfman stakes claim to emphasize the project’s priority as Hennepin County starts the scoping meeting process, a chance for the public to learn more and share thoughts !

MINNEAPOLIS – As the Southwest Transitway project gains steam and heads into the important next phase, its spot in the Twin Cities metro transportation queue is being set. The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), is launching the Southwest Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the next major stage of project development for the proposed light rail transit (LRT) line.

The President of the African Chamber of Commerce (ACC) in Minnesota, Martin Mohammed, has called on the formation of a grand coalition of consumers comprising Latinos, African immigrants and natives. “There are about 3 million African immigrants in America with a combined purchasing power of $ 45 billion; this is what we bring to the table as a consumer segment.” Muhammed was speaking to a group of Native Americans from the mid-West states who had called on the African Chamber of Commerce at the Somali Mall on Lake Street.