Minnesota lawmakers are back in action after three weeks of uncertainty. ThreeSixty youth reporters spoke with lawmakers, advocates, and community members to cover 5 different legislative issues in this special episode: Reporting from the MN State Capitol. Made possible by the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, these stories were produced as part of the ThreeSixty Capitol Reporting Workshop in February 2025.
Host: Daphne Kleinschmit, Columbia Heights High School
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00:00-03:39 The Political Divide
Reporter McCall Vickers (DeLaSalle High School) covers the political turmoil dividing the House, and spoke with MN State Rep. Athena Hollins to understand more.
03:40-06:43 Funding Transportation in Minnesota
Reporter Ella Barbosa (Central High School) breaks down the state of the budget and how it’s related to Minnesota’s growing transportation needs. Barbosa spoke with Margaret Donohoe executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance and MN State Sen. Scott Dibble.
06:44-10:37 Immigration Policies and Aging in Rural Minnesota
Nursing facilities are facing staffing shortages in rural Minnesota, and immigrant workers could help fill the gap. Reporter Sonia Kharbanda (St Paul Academy) spoke with MN State Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura on what needs to be done.
10:38-14:20 Medicaid Coverage
Reporter Aketzally Murillo (FAIR High School) breaks down the recent state-level changes to Medicaid. She also spoke with Nathan Chomilo, medical director for the State of Minnesota’s Medicaid, and MN State Sen. Liz Bolden who expressed concern about imminent changes by the Trump administration.
14:21-17:40 Barriers to Mental Health Care
The high cost of mental health care prevents many from seeking necessary services. But many other barriers persist. Reporter Angeline Patrick Pacheco (Johnson High School) spoke with practitioner Carolina Gentry and advocates from Emma Norton Services and NAMI MN to understand.
