The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey have approved a federal settlement to reform the Minneapolis Police Department, which includes the use of body-worn cameras and increased community involvement in the police reform process.
Clint Combs
Posted inLocal & State
Consent decrees no panacea for police reform
Minneapolis is the first city to agree to police reform settlements under both state and federal jurisdictions, with a compliance report due by March 17, and has selected the nonprofit Effective Law Enforcement For All (EFLEFA) as an independent review board to ensure compliance.
Posted inLocal & State
City, DOJ agree to police reforms
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to enter into a sweeping agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to overhaul racist policing practices, with the final terms resulting from a DOJ investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.
Posted inEducation
Students who are also parents get higher ed help
The Jeremiah Program has been awarded a $1.7 million grant from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education to support Black student parents in their pursuit of education and economic stability, with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and building generational wealth.
Posted inLocal & State
Robbinsdale School Board squabbles over personal attacks
Robbinsdale School Board voted to censure Board Member Sharon Brooks for violating board rules against harassment, removing her from all board committees and putting her on notice that further violations could lead to her removal from the board.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Rising infections tied to lower vaccination rates
The racial gap in vaccination rates in Hennepin County is attributed to historical mistrust of the health care system, post-pandemic fatigue, and misinformation, leading to an increase in measles and whooping cough cases.
Posted inLocal & State
Imagine what true justice might look like
The Minnesota Justice Research Center hosted its annual Re-Imagining Justice Conference, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Shawn Ginwright, who discussed the importance of reimagining a criminal legal system that focuses on possibilities rather than problems, and the need for a “healing diet” within organizations.
Posted inLocal & State
Child offenders need help, not incarceration, advocates say
Youth activists and public defenders are calling for Hennepin County officials to take appropriate measures to prevent youth incarceration, as the county is not expanding social services to avoid sending teens to the Juvenile Detention Center.
Posted inLocal & State
Hennepin County domestic violence resources
The Domestic Abuse Service Center (DASC) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a panel of social workers, community advocates, city attorneys, and county attorneys, who discussed the importance of protecting victims of domestic violence and the need for red flag laws.