By | | Pioneer PressSt. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell is considering terminating the officer who shot and wounded a man this weekend, a law enforcement source said Monday.Axtell is planning to release body-camera footage from the incident on Tuesday or Wednesday.The officer received written notice that Axtell wanted to meet with him on Tuesday, according to the St. Paul Police Federation. Its leaders haven’t seen the body-camera footage.Police said in a statement several hours after the that the man, who was hiding in a dumpster in the North End neighborhood, climbed out and ran toward...…By | | Pioneer PressSt. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell is considering terminating the officer who shot and wounded a man this weekend, a law enforcement source said Monday.Axtell is planning to release body-camera footage from the incident on Tuesday or Wednesday.The officer received written notice that Axtell wanted to meet with him on Tuesday, according to the St. Paul Police Federation. Its leaders haven’t seen the body-camera footage.Police said in a statement several hours after the that the man, who was hiding in a dumpster in the North End neighborhood, climbed out and ran toward...WW…

By | | Pioneer PressMinnesota cannot repeat what’s been seen in places hit hard by COVID-19 and where bodies piled up, officials said Friday.That’s why state leaders asked for $6.9 million to purchase a refrigerated warehouse for storage of human remains, which the Legislative COVID-19 Response Commission authorized.“We will not allow our dead to be set somewhere undignified, which is a horrible, worst-case scenario,” said Gov. Tim Walz.Negotiations are underway to buy a building “where we can properly handle with dignity and respect and safety the bodies of Minnesotans who … may fall...…By | | Pioneer PressMinnesota cannot repeat what’s been seen in places hit hard by COVID-19 and where bodies piled up, officials said Friday.That’s why state leaders asked for $6.9 million to purchase a refrigerated warehouse for storage of human remains, which the Legislative COVID-19 Response Commission authorized.“We will not allow our dead to be set somewhere undignified, which is a horrible, worst-case scenario,” said Gov. Tim Walz.Negotiations are underway to buy a building “where we can properly handle with dignity and respect and safety the bodies of Minnesotans who … may fall...WW…

By | | Pioneer PressRamsey County Attorney John Choi submitted a letter of resignation from a presidential criminal justice commission, saying it became obvious the process “was intent on providing cover for a predetermined agenda that ignores the lessons of the past, furthering failed tough-on-crime policies that led to our current mass incarceration crisis.”In a letter last Thursday to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Choi pointed out that President Donald on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, that they would have recommendations soon “because most of them know many of...…By | | Pioneer PressRamsey County Attorney John Choi submitted a letter of resignation from a presidential criminal justice commission, saying it became obvious the process “was intent on providing cover for a predetermined agenda that ignores the lessons of the past, furthering failed tough-on-crime policies that led to our current mass incarceration crisis.”In a letter last Thursday to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Choi pointed out that President Donald on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, that they would have recommendations soon “because most of them know many of...WW…

By | | Pioneer PressWhile ordering a drink Wednesday in St. Paul, a 19-year-old Muslim woman gave the barista her name — Aishah — and repeated it for clarity.The Minneapolis woman was shocked when she saw what the barista then wrote on her coffee cup: “ISIS.”“The word that was written on the drink is a word that shatters the Muslim reputation all around the world,” said Aishah, whom the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter identified only by her first name for safety reasons.Target, which runs and operates the Starbucks in St. Paul’s Midway store, says it has apologized...…By | | Pioneer PressWhile ordering a drink Wednesday in St. Paul, a 19-year-old Muslim woman gave the barista her name — Aishah — and repeated it for clarity.The Minneapolis woman was shocked when she saw what the barista then wrote on her coffee cup: “ISIS.”“The word that was written on the drink is a word that shatters the Muslim reputation all around the world,” said Aishah, whom the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Minnesota chapter identified only by her first name for safety reasons.Target, which runs and operates the Starbucks in St. Paul’s Midway store, says it has apologized...WW…

Show Caption of By | and | | Pioneer PressWhat appeared to start as impromptu demonstrations for George Floyd, the man who died in Minneapolis police custody, turned into a day of scattered arson, looting and significant destruction of retail shops in St. Paul’s Midway and elsewhere in the capital city on Thursday.The unrest continued into the evening — more than 170 businesses were damaged or looted, and dozens of fires were set, according to police. There were no reports of serious injuries in St. Paul.Just after 1 a.m. Friday, a fire broke out at Lloyd’s Pharmacy, which dates back to...…Show Caption of By | and | | Pioneer PressWhat appeared to start as impromptu demonstrations for George Floyd, the man who died in Minneapolis police custody, turned into a day of scattered arson, looting and significant destruction of retail shops in St. Paul’s Midway and elsewhere in the capital city on Thursday.The unrest continued into the evening — more than 170 businesses were damaged or looted, and dozens of fires were set, according to police. There were no reports of serious injuries in St. Paul.Just after 1 a.m. Friday, a fire broke out at Lloyd’s Pharmacy, which dates back to...WW…

By | | Pioneer PressGov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Thursday, activating the Minnesota National Guard as Minneapolis, St. Paul and Oakdale have been beset by protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody.The National Guard announced Thursday night that more than 500 soldiers have been activated to St. Paul, Minneapolis and surrounding communities.“Our mission is to protect life, preserve property and the right to peacefully demonstrate,” the National Guard said in a tweet. “A key objective is to ensure fire departments are able to respond to calls.”Looting has...…By | | Pioneer PressGov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Thursday, activating the Minnesota National Guard as Minneapolis, St. Paul and Oakdale have been beset by protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody.The National Guard announced Thursday night that more than 500 soldiers have been activated to St. Paul, Minneapolis and surrounding communities.“Our mission is to protect life, preserve property and the right to peacefully demonstrate,” the National Guard said in a tweet. “A key objective is to ensure fire departments are able to respond to calls.”Looting has...WW…

By | | Pioneer PressPolice found a woman fatally shot in a vehicle on St. Paul’s West Side after multiple people called 911 to report hearing gunshots early Wednesday.Officers responded to the area of Hall Avenue and West Stevens Street just before 3 a.m.Paramedics also arrived, but “sadly there was nothing they could do” and the woman was pronounced dead, said Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman.Police on Thursday identified the woman as Ashli K. Johnson, 29, of Minneapolis.The Forensic Services Unit collected evidence and homicide investigators were “combing the area to find any...…By | | Pioneer PressPolice found a woman fatally shot in a vehicle on St. Paul’s West Side after multiple people called 911 to report hearing gunshots early Wednesday.Officers responded to the area of Hall Avenue and West Stevens Street just before 3 a.m.Paramedics also arrived, but “sadly there was nothing they could do” and the woman was pronounced dead, said Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman.Police on Thursday identified the woman as Ashli K. Johnson, 29, of Minneapolis.The Forensic Services Unit collected evidence and homicide investigators were “combing the area to find any...WW…

By | and | | Pioneer PressDays after taking over the case, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison beefed up the murder charge against a former Minneapolis police officer and filed criminal charges against three others, saying justice would be found for George Floyd.Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman Wednesday filed an amended criminal complaint against Derek Chauvin, adding a charge of second-degree murder.Three other Minneapolis officers, who have also been fired, were charged Wednesday with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s...…By | and | | Pioneer PressDays after taking over the case, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison beefed up the murder charge against a former Minneapolis police officer and filed criminal charges against three others, saying justice would be found for George Floyd.Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman Wednesday filed an amended criminal complaint against Derek Chauvin, adding a charge of second-degree murder.Three other Minneapolis officers, who have also been fired, were charged Wednesday with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s...WW…