University Avenue | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

How one St. Paul makeup artist built her business from the ground up after high school

by Lizzy Nyoike June 10, 2026June 17, 2026

Black Business Spotlight: Makeup artist Kelexis McKinley built Slayage By Keke over 11 years from experimenting in the mirror after high school into a storefront beauty studio on University Avenue in St. Paul.SUBTITLE
Black Business Spotlight: Makeup artist Kelexis McKinley spent 11 years building Slayage By Keke from a home glam room to a storefront

Black Business Spotlight

Urban Lights Music continues legacy as one of the Twin Cities’ last Black-owned record stores

by Lizzy Nyoike May 13, 2026May 22, 2026

Urban Lights Music, one of the last Black-owned record stores in the Twin Cities, has survived 32 years on University Avenue in St. Paul through industry shifts, the pandemic, civil unrest and construction by staying rooted in community and culture.

Local & State

St. Paul residents hope Midway development brings needed resources back to neighborhoods

by Damenica Ellis April 21, 2026April 20, 2026

The Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is in transition as United Village development rises near Allianz Field while a neighboring block sits largely vacant after the closure of major grocery and retail stores.

Youth

From the Basement to Brilliance: Barber Milan Dennie’s Mission to Uplift St. Paul’s Youth

by MSR News Online November 27, 2024November 27, 2024

Milan Dennie, owner of King Milan’s Barbershop, has created a youth-focused program in the basement of his shop, teaching students entrepreneurship, chess, and community service, while also offering free haircuts and school supplies to local children.

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