Protesters gathered outside the home of Minneapolis’ interim police chief on Sunday night, following the death of Amir Locke last week. The activists said they were calling for Minneapolis Interim Chief Amelia Huffman, as well as Officer Mark Hanneman, and Mayor Jacob Frey, to resign.
Read the full storyTag: Minneapolis
Minnesota Democratic Politicians Respond to Death of Amir Locke
Several Minnesota officials have responded to the death of Amir Locke at the hands of Minneapolis Police earlier this week. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said, “Amir Locke’s life mattered. He was only 22 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. His family and friends must now live the rest of their lives without him.”
Read the full storyMinneapolis Interim Chief of Police Notifies Local Activist About Officer Involved Shooting That Leaves African American Man Dead
The Interim Chief of Police with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) notified a local Black Lives Matter activist about an officer involved shooting that left an African American man dead on Wednesday morning.
Read the full storyRestaurant Database Says Seated Dining in Minneapolis Down 76 Percent Since 2019
According to a restaurant database called Open Table, seated dining in Minneapolis is down 76% since 2019. As of Monday, January 23, the database said dining rates were only down 67%, but it dropped another 9% on Tuesday.
Read the full storySeven Restaurants Join Lawsuit Against Minneapolis’ COVID Restrictions
Seven restaurants in Minneapolis have joined a lawsuit against Mayor Jacob Frey (D) over COVID-19 restrictions that they say are hurting their businesses.
The plaintiffs include Smack Shack, Sneaky Pete’s, Jimmy John’s, Bunkers Music Bar & Grill, The Gay 90’s, Wild Greg’s Saloon and Urban Forage, according to WCCO.
Read the full storyNewly Elected Minneapolis Council Member Makes Statement After Defending Homeless Encampment from Eviction
A newly elected Minneapolis council member made a statement on Saturday after she defended a homeless encampment from eviction two weeks ago. Robin Wonsley-Worlobah, a Democratic Socialist, said that all pending evictions from Minneapolis homeless encampments need to be stopped. Wonsley-Worlobah was elected to the Minneapolis City Council in November.
Read the full storyRestaurant and Bar Owners Launch Lawsuit Against Minneapolis Mayor over COVID Vaccine Mandate
Several Minneapolis restaurants initiated a lawsuit on Thursday against the mayor of Minneapolis over the COVID vaccine mandate that took effect last week. According to the complaint, the restaurants are seeking a judgement from the court that the emergency declaration requiring restaurant and bar owners to verify COVID vaccine status from Mayor Jacob Frey be considered null and void.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Bagel Shop Says ‘All Are Welcome Here’ After Closing Indoor Dining Due to COVID Vaccine Mandate
A bagel shop in Minneapolis made the decision to close indoor dining on Wednesday due to the COVID vaccine mandate taking effect. Rise Bagel Co., an organic artisan bagelry located in the North Loop of Minneapolis, announced in social media posts on Tuesday that they made the “tough decision” to close their indoor dining, saying that “All are welcome here.”
Read the full storyRochester Man Gets 10 Years for May 2020 Arson During the George Floyd Riots That Resulted in Man’s Death
A Rochester man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the May 2020 arson of a pawn shop that led to the death of a man. According to court documents, on May 28, 2020, in the riots that followed the death of George Floyd, Montez Terriel Lee, along with other unnamed individuals, broke into the Max It Pawn Shop on East Lake Street in Minneapolis.
Read the full storyRepublican Candidates Respond to St. Paul, Minneapolis Vaccine Mandate
Several Republican candidates responded to the recently announced COVID vaccine mandates in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The mandates will go into effect on Wednesday, requiring restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and any other place of “public accommodation” where food or drink is served to only allow vaccinated patrons inside.
Read the full storyMinnesota Man Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for 2020 Arson
A Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to over two years in prison and over $30,000 restitution for his participation in the May 2020 riots and arson. According to the District of Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, “Samuel Elliott Frey, 20, and co-defendant McKenzy Ann DeGidio Dunn, 21, joined other individuals who had gathered near the Great Health and Nutrition store located at 1360 University Avenue West, in St. Paul.”
Read the full storyFormer Sheriff Slams Walz for ‘Apathetic’ Response to Record Homicides
In 1995, Minneapolis saw a record-setting 97 homicides. Operating by the strict definition of a homicide as an event where one person intentionally kills another, there were 97 homicides in the city last year.
The final homicide of 2021 occurred just hours before the new year as a 15-year-old boy was gunned down in north Minneapolis. No arrests have been made. The shooters are believed to have fired from a vehicle.
Some homicides, like the killing of Winston Smith in June, were justified and non-criminal. Technicalities aside, most share a concern about the high number of murders in 2021.
Read the full storySt. Paul and Minneapolis Mayors Reinstate Mask Mandate ‘When Distancing Cannot Be Maintained’
St. Paul and Minneapolis mayors announced on Wednesday morning that they are reinstating mask mandates for city buildings and licensed businesses when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Read the full storyEconomists: Minnesota’s Minimum Wage Increase Doesn’t Make Up for Rising Inflation
Minnesota’s minimum wages increase 2.5% Jan. 1.
The increases are an adjustment for inflation.
Read the full storyRecovered Carjacked Vehicle Processing Backed Up Five to Six Weeks, Police Say
The processing for recovered carjacked vehicles is backed up five to six weeks, the police say. Carjackings are happening across the Twin Cities, spilling out into the suburbs. In Golden Valley, Minnesota they experienced five carjackings in a span of 24 hours last weekend.
Read the full storyAmid Rising Crime, Twin Cities Boost Police Funding
With two 30-year veteran police chiefs retiring amid surging record violent crime, Minneapolis and St. Paul are increasing police funding.
Both cities have either surpassed their record homicide numbers or are single digits from it with 15 days left in 2021. The Pioneer Press reported a Dec. 2 fatal stabbing over a parking dispute pushed St. Paul to its record 35th homicide in one year.
Read the full storyRacial Justice Network Demand a Ban on High-Speed Chases by Law Enforcement
The Racial Justice Network (RJN) called for a ban on high-speed chases by law enforcement. They released a statement following several cases of stolen cars being involved in chases in the Twin Cities. The statement references a fatal crash following five teenages stealing a vehicle and being pursued into Northeast Minneapolis from Robbinsdale.
Read the full storyHundreds of Black Lives Matter Protesters Block Minneapolis Streets, Protesting Rittenhouse Verdict
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters blocked some Minneapolis streets Saturday evening, protesting the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. The protest began at the Hennepin County Government Center, a 24-story skyscraper in the heart of Minneapolis, where many masked protesters gathered.
Read the full storyMinneapolis City Council Candidate Yusra Arab Requests Recount
A Minneapolis City Council candidate is requesting a recount after narrowly losing to a candidate endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Democrat Yusra Arab, announced her intentions on Twitter saying, “The outcome is one of the closest margins Minneapolis has ever experienced in a city council race using rank choice voting.”
Read the full storyMinneapolis DFL Chair Says Minneapolis City Council Should ‘Refuse’ to Accept Election Results
Minneapolis DFL Chair Devin Hogan suggested that the City Council should “refuse” to accept the results of an election that weakens the council’s authority.
“Refuse to cede power!” Hogan urged in a Twitter conversation that involved outgoing Council Member Phillipe Cunningham. The DFL leader aired this anti-democratic position days after voters chose to reduce the City Council’s power in a free and fair election.
Read the full storyThree Socialists Elected to Minneapolis City Council
Three socialists were elected to the Minneapolis City Council during the November general election. Jason Chavez, a 26 year old, was endorsed by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). “People are tired of doing the same thing over and over again,” Chavez said. “This new wave in Minneapolis that just hit with the three of us is something that is going to return power back to regular people.”
Read the full storyCriminal Defense Attorney Calls Demonstrators ‘Abusive’ Who Protested at Potter Judge’s Minneapolis Home
Minnesota criminal defense attorney Thomas Gallagher, with Gallagher Criminal Defense, told The Minnesota Sun that he believes that protesters who went to Judge Regina Chu’s apartment in the Loring Park neighborhood are being “abusive.”
Read the full storyMinneapolis and St. Paul Mayors Reelected Despite ‘Failed Leadership’ Amidst 2020 Riots
Both the Minneapolis and St. Paul mayors were reelected despite many claiming “failed leadership” during the riots of 2020. Current Mayors Melvin Carter and Jacob Frey were both reelected in Minnesota’s November general election.
Read the full storyMinnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Responds to Minneapolis Voting Against Replacing Police
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association responded to Minneapolis residents voting against replacing the police with a Department of Public Safety. The ballot question, sponsored by Yes 4 Minneapolis, asked if residents wanted to replace the Minneapolis Police Department.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Voters Reject Ballot Initiative to Dismantle Police Department
Minneapolis voters Tuesday rejected a ballot initiative to dismantle the police department, according to Fox News.
The measure asked voters whether they wanted to amend the city’s charter to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety.
Read the full storyMultimillion-Dollar Minnesota ‘Black Power’ Group Is Using Strippers to Entice Voters
A well-funded black power group will use strippers and party buses to entice people to vote for a measure to amend the Minneapolis City Charter to “remove” the police department later this month.
The Black Visions Collective is a Minnesota-based organization that promotes “black power” and advocates for total abolition of the police. It has also raised $30 million since the George Floyd riots last summer and is using some of this money to run shuttles from a strip club to a voting center to turn out the vote for the municipal election.
Read the full storyCharges Will Not Be Filed in Winston Smith Shooting, Attorneys Say
Charges will not be issued against the officers involved in the shooting of Winston Smith, county attorneys say. The incident that killed Smith was ruled a justified use of deadly force, calling the conduct of the U.S. Marshals involved in attempting to apprehend Smith “reasonable and justified.”
Read the full storyTwin Cities Landlords Ask Voters to Oppose Rent Control on November Ballot
Twin Cities landlords are asking voters to oppose rent control on the November ballots. The landlords say that rent controls would create more issues within an already struggling housing market.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Police Department Short by over 200 Officers Due to Defund Police Movement
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) is short by over 200 officers due in part to the defund the police movement, according to the MPD Union president. She said that they should have around 888 officers, but their current staffing numbers are under 600 total officers.
Read the full storyYoung People Task Force Assembled in Minneapolis to Address Rising Violence
The Young People Task Force was assembled in Minneapolis to help combat rising violence. Young Minneapolis residents between the ages of 13 and 28 are taking part in the initiative.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Residents Plead for State Assistance as Officer Exodus Continues
A group of north Minneapolis residents said they feel like they live in a “war zone” in an open letter to Gov. Tim Walz this week.
“North Minneapolis, the most diverse part of the state, is a war zone, with a child murdered, a man killed when a barbershop was shot-up in broad daylight, a school teacher executed by fully automatic gunfire, a drive by shooting across an elementary school playground with children at recess, a bus evacuated after being shot at. All this in little more than a week,” says the letter.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Residents Send Letter to Gov Walz Asking for National Guard
A group of Minneapolis residents sent an open letter to Governor Tim Walz (D) asking that he send in the National Guard or State Troopers, calling Minneapolis “a war zone.” The group of 26 residents said that they have been living amidst violence for long enough. As was reported by WCCO, Walz responded to the letter on Wednesday saying that“he shares their urgency to want to improve public safety, but that the state patrol and National Guard are not a substitute for a qualified, local police department.”
Read the full storyBrother of Minneapolis City Council Member in ‘Critical Condition’ Following Stabbing Incident
The brother of Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman is in critical condition following a stabbing incident in Minneapolis. In a Facebook post, Osman said that his brother is currently in the ICU. Osman said, “Yesterday afternoon my brother Liban was brutally attacked. He was stabbed in the head multiple times. After hours of surgery yesterday he is in the ICU currently and in critical condition.”
Read the full storyMinneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Running for Re-Election
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) will be running for re-election. Frey has been the mayor of Minneapolis since 2017, and was heavily criticized for his actions regarding the COVID pandemic and civil unrest of 2020.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Mom Says CRT Teaches Her Kids ‘They’ll Never Be Able to Make It’
A Minnesota mom recently told her local school board that critical race theory teaches her black children “that they will never be able to make it.”
Kofi Montzka, an attorney and mother of three children, urged the Roseville Area Schools Board to “stop promoting critical race theory and Black Lives Matter” in the classroom.
Read the full storyFormer Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor Murder Conviction Overturned
The ruling for a former Minneapolis police officer, Mohamed Noor, who fatally shot a woman in 2017 was overturned, removing a third-degree murder conviction. Noor was initially convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and sentences to 12.5 years. As was reported by ABC News, Noor shot and killed “Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual U.S.-Australian citizen who called 911 to report a possible sexual assault behind her home.”
Read the full storyMinneapolis and St. Paul Mayors Refused to Comment on Mayors Conference Support of Critical Race Theory
The Minneapolis and St. Paul mayors refused to comment on the decisions made by the U.S. Conference of Mayors embracing the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in K-12 schools. At the conference, the mayors adopted Resolution Number 68, called “In Support of Critical Race Theory in Public K-12 Education.”
Read the full storyJudge Strikes Down Ballot Language in Minneapolis Effort to Replace Police
After a legal challenge, a ballot question on Minneapolis’ November election ballot has be struck down in court.
“Tuesday morning, a Hennepin County judge tossed the initially approved language by the Minneapolis City Council to be on the November ballot regarding the public safety charter amendment,” KTSP said.
Read the full storyHennepin County Sheriff Candidate Tells Minneapolis Residents to Vote No on Police Charter Amendment
Hennepin County Sheriff candidate Jai Hanson told Minneapolis residents to vote no on the Yes 4 Minneapolis police charter amendment. In a tweet, Hanson said “Politicians like Keith Ellison and Ilhan Omar want to pass the amendment because they’re only interested in dismantling the police, not public safety.”
Read the full storyGov. Walz, Angie Craig Oppose Minneapolis Effort to Defund Police
Two prominent Democrats have come out against the ballot effort to defund the Minneapolis Police Department, saying police reform, not defunding, is needed.
Gov. Tim Walz revealed in an interview at the Minnesota State Fair last week that he thinks the ballot question does not provide enough detail and will leave residents “confused” on what they’re voting for or against, Fox 9 reported.
“It’s been distilled down to this: defund police or fund police? I know it’s more complex than that, but I think that poses problems,” Walz said.
Read the full storyDemocrat Representative Opposes Minneapolis Initiative to Replace Police
Representative Angie Craig (D-02-MN) has spoken in opposition of an initiative moving forward in Minneapolis to replace the Minneapolis Police Department. The initiative, sponsored by a group called Yes 4 Minneapolis, would essentially replace the Minneapolis Police Department with public safety and mental health professionals.
Read the full storyIndependent Candidate from Minneapolis Announces Run for Hennepin County Sheriff
An independent from Minneapolis has announced his run for Hennepin County Sheriff. Jai Hanson, a police officer, is hoping to make positive changes in Hennepin County and specifically in Minneapolis. Hanson is not seeking an endorsement from any political parties because he wants to be a true independent. He said he wants to be “part of the solution” and make policing about people rather than politics.
Read the full storyFormer Council Member Describes Minneapolis Neighborhood Plagued with Rampant Crime
A former member of the Minneapolis City Council painted a grim portrait of life in a neighborhood struggling with chronic lawlessness and virtually no police presence.
In an early August interview on “The Chad Hartman Show,” Don Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member, shared his thoughts on what he and his neighbors deal with on a regular basis.
Read the full storyTwice-Convicted Rapist Freed by Bail Minnesota Freedom Fund Charged with Strangling Girlfriend
A twice-convicted rapist who has gained notoriety in Minnesota for his long history of violence against women was freed by a left-wing bail fund and promptly resumed his criminal behavior.
Christopher Don Boswell, 38, has been convicted of raping two women — one of whom was a minor at the time of the incident. In 2020, he was arrested again for allegedly kidnapping and beating two more women whom he held at gunpoint in separate incidents. One of the cases has been dismissed and the other is still open. Following his arrest, Boswell’s bail was set at $350,000 and was paid by the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF) in August of last year.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Police Department Will Reduce Enforcing Low-Level Traffic Violations to Correct ‘Racial Disparities’
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) will be reducing the enforcement of some low-level traffic violations which officials say will help address racial disparities. According to an internal memo from Police Chief Medaria Arradondo that was obtained by Bring Me The News, there are three main low-level violations that the Minneapolis Police Department will no longer enforce: “Expired tabs, an item dangling from a mirror, or not having a working license plate light.”
Read the full storyJudge Orders Explanation About Replacing Police be Removed from Ballot
A judge ordered that an explanation about replacing the Minneapolis police be removed from the ballot. The explanation was supported by Major Jacob Frey and city officials, who said that the people deserved to understand what they were voting for. The ballot question, put up by Yes 4 Minneapolis, seeks to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety.
Read the full storyAs Plans to Reopen Offices Stall, Minneapolis Downtown Desolation Continues
The physical return of people to downtown Minneapolis offices expected after Labor Day likely will not transpire to the degree expected just a month ago.
It’s been a troubling time across the Twin Cities.
Read the full storyMinnesota Supreme Court Court Denies Appeal Seeking to Overturn Ruling About Minneapolis Hiring More Police
The Minnesota Supreme Court denied an appeal that was seeking to overturn the ruling requiring Minneapolis to hire more police officers. As reported by The Minnesota Sun, some city attorneys asked “the state Supreme Court to step in and offer an ‘accelerated review’ of the case ruling that ordered the city to hire more police officers. The attorneys are planning to challenge the order requiring Minneapolis to hire at least 730 police officers by next summer, saying it is ‘necessary to clarify the meaning of the provision’ before elections are held in November.”
Read the full storyMinneapolis Greek Festival Cancels Due to ‘Unrest’
The Minneapolis Greek Festival, Taste of Greece, canceled their 2021 festival because of recent unrest in Uptown. Organizers cited the safety and security of festival-goers as a primary reason for cancellation. A statement from the festival’s website reads that they felt they would be “unable to find a successful solution to ensure the safety and security” of all those participating in the festival. The festival was supposed to take place September 9 through September 11.
Read the full storyPolice Investigating Alleged Beheading in Minneapolis Suburb
A person was allegedly beheaded in Shakopee, a Minneapolis suburb, on Wednesday afternoon, video and pictures from the scene seem to confirm.
Alpha News reviewed the videos and pictures but has decided not to publish them due to their extremely graphic nature.
The victim and suspect were in “some type of relationship,” sources told Fox 9. The murder took place in broad daylight, shortly before 3 p.m., near the intersection of 4th Avenue and Spencer Street.
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