H. Jiahong Pan
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Articles by H. Jiahong Pan
The Library Is Closed. Feel Free to Come In.
This story was originally published in the Daily Yonder. For more rural reporting and small-town stories visit dailyyonder.com. For Michael Sayen, visiting the local library after hours is a great way to get work done, or seek respite from the weather, regardless of what day it is. “We just had Labor Day, the library is closed all day.
H. Jiahong Pan
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Some Rural Libraries Are Letting Their Users Visit During Unstaffed Hours
For Michael Sayen, visiting the local library after hours is a great way to get work done, or seek respite from the weather, regardless of what day it is. “We just had Labor Day, the library is closed all day. But if you have extended hours, you can come in and do the work, or cool down from a hot day or whatever you need to do,” Sayen said the day after Labor Day while working on a novel at the Wyoming, Minnesota branch of the East Central Regional Library (ECRL) in Chisago County.
Fringe review: ‘Pineapple Kryptonite’ is a tepid monologue on the mundane
You Can Skip It In the half-hour monologue “Pineapple Kryptonite,” Eric Eichenlaub gives a glimpse into his childhood, tepidly presenting mundane scenes such as stealing a shopping cart from a department store where he worked and developing his interest in various genres of rock music.
Fringe review: ‘Academonic’ draws audiences into the suspense
Must see Decades before Professor Karass enters her office at an unnamed religious institution, a pastor and two hospital orderlies performed a failed exorcism in that same room. That, combined with a colleague’s reckless use of artificial intelligence to write Professor Karass’ course descriptions, makes her uneasy and frustrated.
Fringe review: ‘Duluth: An Improvised Midwest Murder’ is klutzy and funny
Must see “Duluth: An Improvised Midwest Murder” showcases what the performers know — and don’t know — about small-town Minnesota. In the first show, presented Friday evening, they explore a serial sandwich-making, smut-loving, womanizing killer as well as someone tainting sugar beets with meth on the loose in Ada, a town of 1,700 in northwestern Minnesota. The players adapt quickly with mixed results but big laughs, and they speak in the heaviest Minnesota accents imaginable.
MN Fringe Festival shows and information
Everything you need to know about the Minnesota Fringe Festival including reviews and recommendations. Fringe Festival August 1, 2025 at 8:16 a.m. Running from July 31 to Aug. 10, this year’s festival brings 99 independent stage shows... August 1, 2025 at 3:39 p.m. Go for the elastic bracelets that reminded her of the very bracelets she gave away... August 1, 2025 at 3:34 p.m. Most actors in this show don't know which parts they'll play until the day of...
Fringe review: Post-apocalyptic ‘Neon Breeze’ is quite choppy
Could Be Worse Somewhere in the not-too-distant future, two young friends — or perhaps cuddle buddies or lovers — accomplish missions throughout an underground metropolis savaged by capitalism to make ever-elusive rent, while facing flaky clients, bandits and low credit scores. “Neon Breeze” conveys a semblance of a post-apocalyptic scene well, owing to it being played at the cavernous Southern Theater. Otherwise, the show is hard to understand.
Fringe review: In ‘Romeo and Juliet: Lottery Style,’ who played it best?
Worth Considering You know the deal. Two people from families who hold grudges against each other fall in love and die for each other. Here’s the twist of “Romeo and Juliet: Lottery Style”: The whole cast, except for the actor playing Capulet, plays different characters at each show. The remaining four don’t know which part they play until the night of. They all do a great job adapting.
Greater Minnesota seeks transportation solutions beyond driving
From Other Nonprofit Media showcases select work from other nonprofit news sites around the nation. This article was first published by Project Optimist. A group of southeastern Minnesotans may start an organization to address transportation barriers.
Why aren't there more public restrooms in downtown Minneapolis?
Late December, Nicollet Mall was replete with people, along with clusters of portable toilets scattered throughout. Those portapotties were there to support those attending Holidazzle, the annual holiday celebration organized by the Minneapolis Downtown Council. Outside of Holidazzle, however, facilities for people to relieve themselves are few and far between. The Minneapolis Downtown Council hopes to change that by increasing the amount of available bathrooms by 20% in the next two years.
Could resource recovery help Hennepin Co.. achieve zero waste?
Imagine a place where you can offer your unwanted materials to others and, at the same time and location, take items discarded by others. Sure, there’s Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups. But not everyone wants to spend time online — particularly on a Meta platform, where Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing groups are commonly housed, as Meta eliminates fact checkers and changes their speech policies.
Many High-Income Minnesotans Got E-Bike Rebates
Editor’s note: This article first appeared on December 9, 2024, in the Minnesota Reformer and is reprinted under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. More than two out of five Minnesotans who received an e-bike tax rebate from the state government are tax filers with more than $100,000 in income, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, obtained by the Minnesota Reformer through a public records request. About half had more than $80,000 in income.
With parts of line ready, why aren't Southwest LRT trains rolling?
Eden Prairie resident Jasper Hanke hoped to ride the Southwest light rail extension, now dubbed the Green Line extension, to get to classes at the University of Minnesota. But Hanke, a senior environmental sciences student who expects to graduate this summer, likely won’t have the chance, at least for school.
E-bike rebate recipients: poorest and richest Minnesotans were the winners Original
More than half of the people who received an e-bike tax rebate are tax filers with more than $100,000 in income, according to data from the state Department of Revenue, obtained by the Reformer through a public records request. Meanwhile, just under 37% of the roughly 1,500 Minnesotans who received an e-bike tax rebate are low income, falling just short of the law’s 40% mandate, which was intended to give working people a chance at the ascendant transportation option.
E-bike rebate recipients: poorest and richest Minnesotans were the winners
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There’s little momentum for turnstiles at Twin Cities LRT stations
Faced with growing community concerns about crime and fare evasion, last fall Metro Transit began a study on installing turnstiles at four of its light-rail stations. This past July, they learned how much that would cost: $14 million, according to a report prepared by a consultant and obtained through a data practices request.
‘Bus bunching’ prevention: Metro Transit hopes D Line schedule changes will make it more reliable and less crowded
This winter, Metro Transit is promising to make D Line buses more predictable and less crowded. From Dec. 9 until March 21, Metro Transit will try what is called “headway-based scheduling” on the state’s busiest route serving Brooklyn Center, north and south Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, and the Mall of America.
Metro Transit's plan for D Line 'bus bunching' prevention, reliability
This winter, Metro Transit is promising to make D Line buses more predictable and less crowded. From Dec. 9 until March 21, Metro Transit will try what is called “headway-based scheduling” on the state’s busiest route serving Brooklyn Center, north and south Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, and the Mall of America.
Election Day is here: Finally, mercifully, the voters get to do the talking
Minnesotans are typically the nation’s most enthusiastic voters, and this year is likely to be no different with DFL Gov. Tim Walz running for vice-president. Already, more than 1.1 million Minnesotans have voted. Following the most volatile presidential election in modern times — assassination attempts, felony convictions, a candidate switcheroo — the voters will finally have their say Tuesday in what most election analysts are calling a true toss-up.
Election Day is here: Finally, mercifully, the voters get to do the talking
Voters a ZOE Church in Burnsville on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer. Minnesotans are typically the nation’s most enthusiastic voters, and this year is likely to be no different with DFL Gov. Tim Walz running for vice-president. Already, more than 1.1 million Minnesotans have voted.
Twin Cities’ Transit Link rural bus service now trackable online
Transit Link dial-a-ride users now can track their bus online and see when it will pick them up and drop them off. Transit Link, a Metropolitan Council service formed by a 2010 consolidation of 17 dial-a-ride providers in the Twin Cities suburbs, functions much like Uber and Lyft except one must make a phone call to speak with an agent to reserve a ride up to a week in advance.
Twin Cities’ Transit Link suburban/rural bus service now trackable online
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For rural transit agencies, a rocky road to zero emissions
Skip to Content Sign up for Route Fifty Today Your daily read on state and local government email Insights & Reports Connecting state and local government leaders This story was originally published by The Daily Yonder. Difficult terrain. Harsh winters. Pervasive wildfires. Limited vehicles and funds. These are just some of the challenges rural transit agencies face as they take on a project not often associated with rural: decarbonized public transportation.
For Rural Transit Agencies, a Rocky Road to Zero Emissions
Difficult terrain. Harsh winters. Pervasive wildfires. Limited vehicles and funds. These are just some of the challenges rural transit agencies face as they take on a project not often associated with rural: decarbonized public transportation. In 2017 the Tahoe Transportation District, serving communities near the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, received a grant to purchase three electric buses as part of their early transition to zero emissions.
Q&A: What does it take to put on an all-night participatory art event across multiple venues?
The organizers of an all-night participatory art event that graced the Twin Cities for the past 15 years have published a book to reflect on the challenges of organizing such an event. The organizers in question, Northern Lights.mn, shuttered the nonprofit’s doors on June 30. The organization organized the annual event, known as the Northern Spark Festival. The organization dissolved because of funding challenges, exasperated by the pandemic and ongoing inflation.
Metro Transit Weighs Bus Network Changes
Metro Transit is eyeing a restructure of its local and express bus network as early as next year, as it accounts for pandemic-induced changes to regional travel patterns. The changes, outlined in a process called Network Now, call for concentrating bus service on some of its heavily-used local and express routes, creating new routes to significantly reduce travel time between suburban locales, as well as support the development of the region’s bus rapid transit and light rail lines.
Q&A: Why the revamped Our Streets wants to help you re-imagine your freeway
A transportation advocacy organization has been organizing events this summer to encourage community members to rethink their streets. The organization, Our Streets, formerly known as Our Streets Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, hosted their first event July 14 at Central Village Park in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood.
I’m (Nearly) Broke and I’m Hungry. Can I Be a Vegetarian?
The journalism industry hasn’t been doing well lately, and I've got the bank statements to prove it. In addition to declining work opportunities, two of my publications were late on paying my invoices this summer. (I can assure you that Racket is not one of them!) Add in a demanding schedule—applying for jobs, working on stories, and attempting to decompress from doing the two—and I have little time to cook.
Twin Cities ride patterns foster changes in Metro Transit bus routes
Metro Transit is eyeing a restructure of its local and express bus network as early as next year, as it accounts for pandemic-induced changes to regional travel patterns. The changes, outlined in a process called Network Now, call for concentrating bus service on some of its heavily-used local and express routes, creating new routes to significantly reduce travel time between suburban locales, as well as support the development of the region’s bus rapid transit and light rail lines.
‘Is this how you want the Blue Line Extension built?’
When it comes to dating, yes means yes, no means no, and no action probably means they ghosted you for one reason or another and you should move on. However, different rules apply to the Met Council and their light rail projects, as well as highways being planned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. For example, this fall, the Met Council will give cities a statute-mandated opportunity to say “yes” or “no” to the Blue Line Extension project’s engineering design.
Minneapolis to change critical parking area rules
For some drivers, parking is critical, especially when it’s near their home. It’s even more critical to those who don’t want to drive to work, like Loring Park resident Ben Bockover. “If I could leave my car here, if there weren’t hours where I’d have to move it, I’d bike,” Bockover said of his commute to his job on Lyndale Avenue, while walking to his car to go grocery shopping.
Q&A: Minnesota’s first Humanistic rabbi on God, justice and human responsibility
This form of Judaism doesn’t worship a God. It’s called Humanistic Judaism, and it was founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine in the Detroit area in 1963. The Judaism practice, which is grounded on solidarity, made its way to Minnesota in the 1980s. “Rabbi Wine, who started the Society for Humanistic Judaism, spent a weekend at the First Unitarian Society as a principal guest lecturer talking about Humanistic Judaism.
Fringe review: Both an album release and cacophonous journey, ‘Show Me Your Wings’ attempts to inspire you to be yourself
Worth considering Musician and theater artist Rhiannon Fiskradatz didn’t want to release her new album at a bar or coffee shop. Instead, in this production, “Show Me Your Wings,” she and her crew created an immersive journey through her evolution a multidisciplinary artist. Expect to share in writing who you are as a person while participating in art exhibits, puppetry, singing, movement and critiques of capitalism, patriarchy and modern technology.
Fringe Review: ‘Defibrillator’ uses dance and puppets to show the panic and anxiety of an unexpected cardiac arrest
Must see In January 2021, playwright Jennie Ward suffered a cardiac arrest, the cause of which she still does not know. She wrote the play ‘Defibrillator’ in honor of how her friends felt. “I missed it. I was in a coma for seven to eight days. They just had to wait and be terrified,” Ward recounts. The trauma-informed play intersperses panic and anxiety faced by Ward and her friends through dance and dialogue, along with explanations of the heart’s function aided by a heart-shaped puppet.
Fringe Review: In ‘Material Boy Living In A Madonna World,’ a comedian recounts his upbringing inspired by his pop heroine
Worth considering “A Material Boy Living In A Madonna World!” is, literally, a story about a boy trying to live like pop singer Madonna. Comedian Jason Schommer recounts how big a role Madonna played in his life and how he tried to live like her, as much as possible, in all dimensions. But the “why” only starts to make sense toward the end of the show; he should have talked about her influence on his Little Falls, Minn., upbringing earlier.
Fringe review: In ‘Peña Flamenca,” last-minute performers attempt to push boundaries of flamenco
To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to obits@pioneerpress.com. There is no option to place them through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.
Are plans for the Somali Museum in flux?
The Somali Museum of Minnesota hopes to open a Somali cultural center to display its 1,500-piece collection in a new museum on Franklin Avenue. What will ultimately be built, however, remains in question. As museum representatives work with their consultants and their board on a vision, they are not entirely sure whether they will build a new museum on Franklin Avenue. Some neighbors oppose a new museum proposal because it could destroy a historic resource and gentrify the neighborhood.
Community members mourn food justice worker
Friends, neighbors and colleagues, such as artist Joe Davis, remember Jeremey Paulson as someone passionate about his connection with himself, his friends, and the earth and spreading that knowledge to his community. Davis first met Paulson at the Northside Artspace Lofts, where they both lived. “I first met him living there, then I started seeing him everywhere because he was a super busy man.
Minneapolis triples the fine for property owners who leave buildings vacant
Amid frustration over the growing number of empty buildings, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to change an ordinance governing how vacant buildings that are condemned, hazardous, and may have multiple code violations, are addressed. The changes, authored by Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, add additional accountability measures to the vacant building registration ordinance.
Twin Cities libraries accessible beyond posted hours
Just after noon one cloudy Sunday, Burnsville resident Fay Li found herself in a study room at the Burnhaven library studying for an exam to become a registered nurse. The library, however, wouldn’t open for another hour. Li got access to the library as part of initiatives by two south metro libraries, called Extended Access, to allow patrons access to facilities during hours when the building is officially closed and when staff isn’t present.
Warehouse District Live organizers deem its worthiness despite sparse attendance
Around 9 p.m. on a Friday in early June, roughly 40 people gathered on First Avenue North between Fifth and Sixth streets, surrounded by food trucks, bounce houses, and karaoke. That attendance number fluctuated throughout the night. About an hour and a half later, 60 people were on the block. Then, as midnight struck, the crowd dwindled to 20 people.
Man subdued for mental health crisis sues police for excessive force
At Southdale Mall one autumn day in October 2019, Kyle Moore felt he was being chased as he was shopping. “Two homeless guys are asking me to use my phone, originally. I said no to them multiple times, and they just started following me,” Moore said in a phone interview. He managed to get far away from the people wanting to use his phone and summoned a police officer.
A self-driving car service is coming to Eden Prairie
The Southwest Transit Commission, which oversees the Southwest Transit bus service serving Carver, Chaska, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, and Victoria, voted to enter into a three-year, $4.7 million agreement with Ann Arbor-based May Mobility to provide autonomous vehicle shuttle service in parts of the city of Eden Prairie. The service, which would launch in the fall and run with five autonomous Toyota Sienna vans Mondays through Saturdays during the day, has been in the works since last October.
Hennepin County refines HCMC expansion plans
Officials are proposing two new buildings as part of a yearslong effort to rearrange Hennepin County Medical Center’s footprint in downtown Minneapolis. Hennepin Healthcare has been plotting an HCMC campus overhaul since 2021. Current plans call for a 500-patient inpatient tower at Eighth Street and Chicago Avenue, as well as a 1,000-space parking ramp on a parcel immediately to the south.
Six things you need to know about the Blue Line Extension
After a year of waiting, project planners have answered some of their questions in a 2,800-page document they published on June 14.
Plans remain in flux for former Third Precinct headquarters | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
This summer, Minneapolis will begin cleaning up the former headquarters of the Third Precinct as it prepares to relocate its election operations there. The repurposed Third Precinct, now dubbed the Minnehaha 3000 building, will also include 8,000 square feet for community use. Despite the space available, organizers envisioning a Black cultural center on the site say it’s not big enough for them.
Buses may come off of Nicollet Mall, but not for awhile
Metro Transit and the City of Minneapolis are developing plans to permanently move buses off of Nicollet Mall, though it won’t happen for at least two years. Proponents believe turning the mile-long stretch of Nicollet into a public plaza will allow the City to activate Minneapolis’ main street and bring more people downtown.
Mass shooting in Minneapolis leaves three dead, including police officer and suspect
Three people are dead, and an additional three suffered serious injuries after a shooting in the Whittier neighborhood in South Minneapolis on May 30. The shooting occurred just after 5:30 p.m. in the area around 22nd Street and Blaisdell Avenue. Police officers found two people injured; one of them died, while the other is in “grave” condition. Police officials say Jamal Mitchell, a one-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, was shot as he tried to render aid to those injured.
Censure of Councilmember Doward in Kettle River sparks debate
Being one of the few people of color who live in Kettle River, 42 miles southwest of Duluth, Councilmember Monique Doward wants to improve her hometown. For example, she tried to apply for a grant to fix the city playground. “The kids deserve it,” Doward said, showing off the sinking play structure during a recent MSR visit. Though she submitted the application, Mayor David Lucas had it withdrawn because their colleagues hadn’t approved it and they didn’t have the matching funds.
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