In the weeks following the police-involved shooting of Thurman “Junior” Blevins, his family and community members have held protests and voiced their opinions at Minneapolis City Council meetings calling for more accountability and transparency in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).
Keith Schubert
Keith Schubert is a contributing writer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be reached at kschubert@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Blevins family demands immediate release of shooting video; Frey aims for end of July
In spite of the group’s deadline, Frey released a statement shortly after the news conference that said, “At this point, I can say with confidence that the video footage will be released by the end of July.”
Posted inLocal & State, News
Major update of 10-year Mpls plan gets citizen scrutiny
The City is now looking to close those gaps with its forthcoming Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive plan. Currently, in draft form, the 2040 Plan will serve as a guide for the City’s economic development, land use and natural resource decisions for the next 10 years.
Posted inNews
With Noonie’s, former gangster launches food empire
While oxtail and Jamaican jerk chicken are staples of the restaurant, which opened its doors this past March, its offerings include everything from candied yams to beans and rice. The owner, Harold “Noonie G” Ward, describes the menu as a mix of “Caribbean, Jamaican, Jerk Style and a little American” food fare.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Civil Right Director Korbel: ‘Folks want to see action right now’
As for the Civil Rights Department, Velma Korbel’s goal for this term is simple: “Continue the good work that we’ve done, improve, and become the relevant department for the City enterprise and for the city residents. That has always been my goal since I got here in 2010.”
Posted inLocal & State, News
Park police draw guns, handcuff Black teens at Minnehaha Falls
Minneapolis Parks Police Department officers drew guns on and handcuffed the teens in response to a 911 call about a “dangerous and escalating” situation involving knives and guns, said Communications and Marketing Director for the Parks, Dawn Sommers.
Posted inSports, Timberwolves/NBA
2018 NBA free agency highlights: LeBron to the Lakers and more
The excitement of free agency wasn’t limited to just LeBron James — well, it basically was — but there were other big names, too, like Demarcus Cousins, Chris Paul and Paul George.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Castile exhibit at Mia intersects art and activism
Hundreds of people filled the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) main lobby on June 16 for the opening of a historic exhibit combining community, equity, and art. The exhibit, “Art and Healing: In the Moment,” pays homage to Philando Castile, who was fatally shot by police almost two years ago in Falcon Heights, Minn.
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‘Date rape’ drug used to sedate police suspects?
From 2015 to 2017, MPD officers “urged” EMS responders from Hennepin Healthcare and North Memorial to inject people with the drug — even in some cases when the person was already restrained or “no apparent crime had been committed.”
Posted inLocal & State, News
The race is on for greater equity in governance
In the last election, Minnesota saw a significant increase in the representation of Africans and African Americans in several branches of government. This included the election of St. Paul’s first Black mayor, as well as three new Black members of the Minneapolis City Council and strong representation on school and park boards.
Posted inLocal & State, News
New Mpls parks commissioner ‘optimistic, hopeful, fearless’
Not only is AK Hassan one of the six newly elected commissioners, at 27 years old he is also the youngest commissioner and the first Somali American vice president in the board’s 130-year history.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Why no work got done today in the Twin Cities: a raccoon saga (updated)
A raccoon has found itself where no known raccoon has gone before, on the 23rd floor of the UBS Tower in downtown St. Paul. The raccoon’s plight has fascinated and concerned many on social media, as evidenced by the hashtag #mprraccoon that has been trending nationally on Twitter.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Suspect arrested in shooting death of community activist Tyrone Williams
A suspect wanted in connection to the April 3 shooting death of community activist Tyrone Williams was arrested on Monday, according to jail records. Sid Brady Strickland Green III, 27
Posted inLocal & State, News
Entrepreneur finds success through business and goodwill
After opening Olu’s Home, Inc. in 1999, Gloria Freeman knew she had found her calling: helping people live their best potential life and leaving a legacy for her family.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Minneapolis City Council votes to raise tobacco-buying age to 21
An ordinance to raise the minimum age to purchase and possess tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 in Minneapolis was put to vote in front of the entire city council this morning and passed unanimously.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Gov. Dayton vetoes bill increasing penalties for protesters
Governor Dayton has vetoed a bill increasing penalties for protesters that block freeway or mass transit.
Posted inLocal & State, News
A priority for new Mps. Parks commissioner: kids who need help
Relocating from Milwaukee to Minneapolis was a move that At-Large Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner Londel French said saved his life.
Posted inLocal & State, News
It’s put up or shut up time for Mpls progressive wave, says new parks commish
What Vetaw saw in the parks is something that she tries to instill in the youth she works with at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, that the parks are more than just a green space and can be a form of economic stability
Posted inLocal & State, News
Mayor Frey: More cops of color would change MPD culture
Improving community and police relations within communities of color is one of the most ambitious goals Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has set for himself, especially considering he came into office at a time when tensions with police in communities of color are at a high level. Though he has only been in office for just […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Cancer survivor draws from own experience to help others
When Alana Carrington lay on the floor in her house and told God she wanted a change, she was not expecting the response to come in the form of being diagnosed with cancer and later losing her job. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened. In January of 2008, Carrington walked out of the hospital, threw […]