MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — In a country with so much diversity, around 8.75 million people identify, at least partially, as American Indian or Alaska Native.

In Minnesota, a state with more than 100,000 of those residents, the Dakota people have the largest presence.

Shelley Buck, who has devoted her life to her culture and tribe, serves as the president of Friends of the Falls. She is pushing to transform the heart of Minneapolis' Central Riverfront into an iconic destination honoring Indigenous history.

Friends of the Falls has been working with the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park Board and Dakota nations to possibly reassume ownership of a historic stretch of the city's downtown riverfront that was traditionally a Dakota sacred site.

"I want it to be a place of healing, connecting and reconnecting," Buck said. "A place for education where we can educate the people about things they weren't taught growing up and also that community building."

Dakota people went to Owámniyomni, meaning turbulent waters, for ceremony and women traveled to Spirit Island to give birth. Both sites have since experienced extensive damage and destruction.

"Friends of the Falls did a ton of work to arrive at a vision for what this place could ultimately be, that would highlight it in a way that would set us apart as a city and sets this particular destination apart from anything else you'll find in the rest of the country," said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Frey says acknowledgment of the lost history is one part of the process. He said another part is rectifying broken treaties.

"This is an opportunity for us to use that same legal system that did wrong to do right," Frey said.

Buck points out it's rare for people to want to help tribes get their land back.

"And saying, 'Here you go, it's your project. It needs to be native-led and native-focused, have at it.' You never hear about that," Buck said.

This project began with non-native people. People like Kjersti Duval, the CEO of Duval Companies, which is a real estate development and policy solutions company, first helped to protect the site.

"I was really one of those folks that were there at the beginning," Duval said. "The initial push was to prevent the site from further industrialization."

Quickly, native leaders were brought on board. One of the biggest hurdles is working to change land ownership.

"It has been extremely difficult to move this very small piece of land from federal ownership to local ownership. Like I said, seven years, it should be easier," Duval said.

These leaders want their work to be encouraging and emulated in other parts of the country.

"Great opportunity to touch people to have something that was once invisible become very visible, become a learning opportunity," Duval said.

"I'm excited for this to be a one-of-a-kind and really something that can help other states work towards," Buck said.

MASON, Ohio —

Masks are now a big debate happening in school districts across Greater Cincinnati as the new school year quickly approaches.

Some parents in Mason, and even doctors, are pushing the district to require them.

A mother we talked with said mask-wearing is a collective effort.

She said that means everyone should be wearing masks in Mason City Schools this year.

"Everyone, K-12 in the building, should be wearing masks," parent, Joy Bennett, said.

That's the standard Bennett wants to see in Mason City Schools.

Two of her children will return to the classroom soon, but she fears COVID-19 could make it rough, especially for young students who can't get a shot.

"How do we reduce excessive and prolonged quarantines? How do we keep our kids healthy and able to attend? That's why I think that masking needs to be one of our layers," Bennett said.

The mask debate prompted 108 physicians who live in the Mason School District to pen a letter urging leaders to require masks for children and staff.

"There's a lot of things that we agree upon and that is the importance of safety for our kids. We agree that the masks help us with that and that's why we're strongly recommending that to all of our families," Mason City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Cooper said.

Cooper said they are following data and science and not requiring masks now.

"We are looking at how many cases do we have? Just like we did last year. We are looking at the transmission rates around here. How quick is it passing through our community?" Cooper said.

He also said distancing, barriers, handwashing and cleaning will continue.

On the flip side, some parents have started petitions to keep masks optional.

We found one for Forest Hills Schools.

Districts including Lakota Local Schools and Hamilton City Schools are not requiring masks, leaving it up to families.

Bennett said the schools have the power.

She wants to see them take action.

"It's really uncomfortable to have to wear something on your face, but I would just ask people to consider that we are a community," Bennett said.

Mason City School officials said more than 95 percent of its staff have been vaccinated.

The superintendent also said any changes are possible with compelling data.

School is set to start in the district next Thursday.

At a special public meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m., Cincinnati Public School board members are also expected to discuss its policy on mask-wearing in the district.

CHEVIOT, Ohio —

A car came flying through a Cheviot neighborhood launching through a yard and hitting a house before coming to a stop in a front yard.

Neighbors are still talking about it and joined the homeowners pushing for a change to make their street safer.

They came together to call for action at Cheviot City Hall, but the meeting, which got heated at some points, left them feeling less than heard.

Alyssa and Will Bryant believe the woman who hit their house was going 60 miles per hour or faster.

"I had seen two headlights coming in my direction and then a really big, loud sound that almost sounded like a bomb," Alyssa Bryant said.

It was enough to nearly stop her heartbeat.

A Ford Taurus wagon slammed into her and her husband's home on Applegate Avenue in Cheviot Sunday night.

"Literally, 'Bo Duke'd it' up here and hit my column, took out my handrails, rode the front step actually and, then, ended up in the yard right next to the magnolia tree," Will Bryant said.

They found twisted iron railing ripped off the house and brick columns damaged.

Shattered glass was sprinkled like glitter.

The driver, Lacey Wurster, 35, from Cleves, is charged with Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operation without Reasonable Control, according to a citation filed by Cheviot police.

The Bryants said hours earlier, their 3-year-old son was playing in the area where Wurster crashed.

"We made his slide over here into a little water slide. So, we actually had it positioned right where this crater is," Alyssa Bryant said.

The husband and wife came to Cheviot City Hall on Tuesday, joined by neighbors pushing for new safety measures.

"I constantly hear cars screeching their tires and honking at each other because they've almost hit each other while they're speeding down my street," Alyssa Bryant said.

Several council members said speed bumps are expensive and a liability.

The mayor said 50 to 60 streets in Cheviot want speed humps, but added that they're hard on garbage and emergency vehicles.

That infuriated neighbors who worried their children could become the next emergency.

A councilwoman said they also slow down response times.

"I'm hoping that they are hoping to look into other options, getting, if it's not speed bumps or speed humps, getting some kind of other alternative that is not just a quick fix and won't be temporary," Alyssa Bryant said following the meeting.

The charged driver told WLWT she was having a seizure when the crash occurred and had only had one margarita that day.

She said the medication in her car was for her seizures and said she will not be driving.

Wurster also said she did not cause damage and that she is sorry for what has happened.

Cheviot's mayor said police will clearly run a radar sign on the street indicating the speed limit and the speed of the approaching car.

Neighbors said they still left feeling less than impressed with city leaders.

A streets and sidewalks committee will have a special meeting about the concerns on Applegate Avenue.

The public meeting is set for June 1, following the city council meeting.