A veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council indicated support Sunday for dismantling the city's police department.The show of support from nine council members came at a rally at Powderhorn Park calling for defunding of the department, in the wake of the May 25 killing of George Floyd while in police custody.The council members said past efforts to reform the department have failed, so they are not going to try and implement new training policies or civilian oversight. But Council member Phillipe Cunningham said the process will not happen overnight."This isn't like, tomorrow...…A veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council indicated support Sunday for dismantling the city's police department.The show of support from nine council members came at a rally at Powderhorn Park calling for defunding of the department, in the wake of the May 25 killing of George Floyd while in police custody.The council members said past efforts to reform the department have failed, so they are not going to try and implement new training policies or civilian oversight. But Council member Phillipe Cunningham said the process will not happen overnight."This isn't like, tomorrow...WW…

Protests turned violent Tuesday night in Minneapolis as anger over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody, spilled out onto city streets. Several hundred protesters gathered in the street where Floyd died, chanting and carrying banners that read, “I can’t breathe” and “hands up, don’t shoot.” Protesters eventually marched about 2 1/2 miles to the 3rd Precinct police headquarters, with some protesters damaging windows and and spraying graffiti on the building. A line of police in riot gear eventually confronted the protesters, firing tear gas.The chaos...…Protests turned violent Tuesday night in Minneapolis as anger over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody, spilled out onto city streets. Several hundred protesters gathered in the street where Floyd died, chanting and carrying banners that read, “I can’t breathe” and “hands up, don’t shoot.” Protesters eventually marched about 2 1/2 miles to the 3rd Precinct police headquarters, with some protesters damaging windows and and spraying graffiti on the building. A line of police in riot gear eventually confronted the protesters, firing tear gas.The chaos...WW…

The head of the Minneapolis police union is saying former officer Derek Chauvin and three other officers who were involved in the killing of George Floyd last week were fired without due process, suggesting the officers may try to get their jobs back. “I’ve worked with the four defense attorneys that are representing each of our four terminated individuals under criminal investigation, in addition with our labor attorneys to fight for their jobs,” Lt. Bob Kroll said in a letter to union members that surfaced on social media.In past cases involving allegations of wrongdoing by officers,...…The head of the Minneapolis police union is saying former officer Derek Chauvin and three other officers who were involved in the killing of George Floyd last week were fired without due process, suggesting the officers may try to get their jobs back. “I’ve worked with the four defense attorneys that are representing each of our four terminated individuals under criminal investigation, in addition with our labor attorneys to fight for their jobs,” Lt. Bob Kroll said in a letter to union members that surfaced on social media.In past cases involving allegations of wrongdoing by officers,...WW…

Family members of Fong Lee expressed their anger Thursday at a verdict exonerating the Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed the 19-year-old in 2006.A jury ruled Thursday that Officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot Lee. The verdict was announced before Lee's family could get to the courtroom to hear it in person. Youa Vang Lee, Fong Lee's mother and the named plaintiff for the lawsuit, burst into tears as she walked toward a row of cameras and microphones. Her daughter, Shoua, choked back tears as she read a statement on behalf of the rest of the family....…Family members of Fong Lee expressed their anger Thursday at a verdict exonerating the Minneapolis police officer who shot and killed the 19-year-old in 2006.A jury ruled Thursday that Officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot Lee. The verdict was announced before Lee's family could get to the courtroom to hear it in person. Youa Vang Lee, Fong Lee's mother and the named plaintiff for the lawsuit, burst into tears as she walked toward a row of cameras and microphones. Her daughter, Shoua, choked back tears as she read a statement on behalf of the rest of the family....WW…

A 27-year-old Minneapolis man is charged in Sunday night in south Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Wednesday charged Zachary Robinson with second-degree murder and second-degree assault in the shooting death of Leneesha Columbus, 27. He is also charged with being a felon in possession of a gun.Police were called to a shooting near East 37th Street and Elliot Avenue just after 9 p.m. Sunday, where they found the woman suffering a gunshot wound outside her car. Prosecutors say that witnesses heard Robinson and Columbus arguing in a parking lot before the...…A 27-year-old Minneapolis man is charged in Sunday night in south Minneapolis. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Wednesday charged Zachary Robinson with second-degree murder and second-degree assault in the shooting death of Leneesha Columbus, 27. He is also charged with being a felon in possession of a gun.Police were called to a shooting near East 37th Street and Elliot Avenue just after 9 p.m. Sunday, where they found the woman suffering a gunshot wound outside her car. Prosecutors say that witnesses heard Robinson and Columbus arguing in a parking lot before the...WW…

A court-ordered examination has concluded that the 84-year-old Champlin, Minn., man, who drove his van into several men at , is not competent to continue with his trial.In February, George Reeves Jensen to five counts of criminal vehicular operation.During the hearing, Jensen's attorney said his client suffered from dementia. Jensen told Hennepin County District Court Judge Jay Quam that he didn't mean to hit the men. Quam declined to accept the plea and ordered Jensen to undergo a neurological exam.Court records show that the exam found Jensen is not competent to stand trial. Proceedings...…A court-ordered examination has concluded that the 84-year-old Champlin, Minn., man, who drove his van into several men at , is not competent to continue with his trial.In February, George Reeves Jensen to five counts of criminal vehicular operation.During the hearing, Jensen's attorney said his client suffered from dementia. Jensen told Hennepin County District Court Judge Jay Quam that he didn't mean to hit the men. Quam declined to accept the plea and ordered Jensen to undergo a neurological exam.Court records show that the exam found Jensen is not competent to stand trial. Proceedings...WW…

A majority of Minneapolis voters say the city should redirect funding from the police department to mental health, drug treatment or violence prevention programs but many also say the city should keep the department in working order. That’s according to a new MPR News/StarTribune/KARE-11 Minnesota Poll which takes the temperature of city residents' opinions about city and police leadership, the police union and people's views about race and the criminal justice system. The poll sheds new light on residents’ views of the police department as a The poll of 800 registered Minneapolis...…A majority of Minneapolis voters say the city should redirect funding from the police department to mental health, drug treatment or violence prevention programs but many also say the city should keep the department in working order. That’s according to a new MPR News/StarTribune/KARE-11 Minnesota Poll which takes the temperature of city residents' opinions about city and police leadership, the police union and people's views about race and the criminal justice system. The poll sheds new light on residents’ views of the police department as a The poll of 800 registered Minneapolis...WW…

MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch Friday morning proceedings . Watch afternoon proceedings :Judge Peter Cahill said Friday he will not delay or move the Derek Chauvin trial. He also said he would allow limited evidence from a 2019 arrest of George Floyd.Cahill’s decision followed a defense request to delay or move the trial in the wake of last week’s announced between Minneapolis and the family of George Floyd.Chauvin’s attorneys argued that the massive...…MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 9 a.m. Monday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch Friday morning proceedings . Watch afternoon proceedings :Judge Peter Cahill said Friday he will not delay or move the Derek Chauvin trial. He also said he would allow limited evidence from a 2019 arrest of George Floyd.Cahill’s decision followed a defense request to delay or move the trial in the wake of last week’s announced between Minneapolis and the family of George Floyd.Chauvin’s attorneys argued that the massive...WW…

MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch the morning proceedings . Watch the afternoon proceedings The between Minneapolis and the George Floyd family continues to hang over jury selection in Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial. The judge on Wednesday dismissed two previously chosen jurors who said they knew of the payout.Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill interviewed jurors by video conference Wednesday morning who’d been selected prior to Friday’s settlement...…MPR News will stream live coverage of the trial beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Some images or material discussed during the trial will be disturbing to many viewers. Watch the morning proceedings . Watch the afternoon proceedings The between Minneapolis and the George Floyd family continues to hang over jury selection in Derek Chauvin’s criminal trial. The judge on Wednesday dismissed two previously chosen jurors who said they knew of the payout.Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill interviewed jurors by video conference Wednesday morning who’d been selected prior to Friday’s settlement...WW…

Whether it’s called rent stabilization or rent control, the measure is designed to set limits on the rates at which housing costs can grow. The Minneapolis City Council is expected to start the process Friday toward regulating rent increases.Supporters, like housing organizer Qannani Omar, say rent control is an important part of a larger strategy to keep people in their homes.“We’re seeing residents who have dealt with 15 percent rent increases,” she said. “We are seeing residents deal with rent increases in this pandemic, kind of forcing them out of their units.”Omar helps low-income...…Whether it’s called rent stabilization or rent control, the measure is designed to set limits on the rates at which housing costs can grow. The Minneapolis City Council is expected to start the process Friday toward regulating rent increases.Supporters, like housing organizer Qannani Omar, say rent control is an important part of a larger strategy to keep people in their homes.“We’re seeing residents who have dealt with 15 percent rent increases,” she said. “We are seeing residents deal with rent increases in this pandemic, kind of forcing them out of their units.”Omar helps low-income...WW…