From Minnesota Public Radio: With Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria, shutting down all power and most communication, many Puerto Ricans in Minnesota are still awaiting word from friends and family on the island. There are an estimated 13,000 Puerto Ricans living in Minnesota, including DFL State Sen. Melisa Franzen of Edina, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Minnesota in 2001. She joined several local politicians and leaders in urging Minnesotans and Minnesota companies to do what they can to help. "The situation is dire, there are 3.5 million U.S. citizens on the island of Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. Commonwealth," she said. She urged donations, but said people should research where they are donating relief funds. She vouched for El Fondo Boricua, or the Boricua Fund for Hurricane Relief, a fund that is being operated by the St. Paul Foundation and can be donated to at givemn.org.