ByEgregious, grotesque, absurd, crazy, ridiculous.These are a handful of the words that some local African American leaders are using to rebuke the Minneapolis City Council’s moves toward dismantling the Police Department, even as they demand an overhaul of law enforcement.While the movement to defund the police has been driven by Black activists, others say that city politicians rushed the process and failed to include a police chief who has the backing of many Black residents.“They have shown a complete disregard for the voices and perspectives of many members of the African American...…ByEgregious, grotesque, absurd, crazy, ridiculous.These are a handful of the words that some local African American leaders are using to rebuke the Minneapolis City Council’s moves toward dismantling the Police Department, even as they demand an overhaul of law enforcement.While the movement to defund the police has been driven by Black activists, others say that city politicians rushed the process and failed to include a police chief who has the backing of many Black residents.“They have shown a complete disregard for the voices and perspectives of many members of the African American...WW…

Story by • Photos by • Star TribuneIllustration by • Special to the Star Tribune • Dec. 27, 2020Story by Photos by Star TribunePart Iobert Fonteno was calling on God.He had found his way out of the darkness into a life of Christian faith upon moving to Minneapolis from Houston. Over the years he tried to aid the passage of fellow Texans riding on the same prayers.But he no longer paid the way of anybody who asked. After seeing some fumble the chance to better their lives here, Fonteno came to rely on divine guidance over several days when answering requests for help.This...…Story by • Photos by • Star TribuneIllustration by • Special to the Star Tribune • Dec. 27, 2020Story by Photos by Star TribunePart Iobert Fonteno was calling on God.He had found his way out of the darkness into a life of Christian faith upon moving to Minneapolis from Houston. Over the years he tried to aid the passage of fellow Texans riding on the same prayers.But he no longer paid the way of anybody who asked. After seeing some fumble the chance to better their lives here, Fonteno came to rely on divine guidance over several days when answering requests for help.This...WW…

BySoot darkens the letters on the sign for 7 Mile Fashion, months after rioters torched the Lake Street shopping center where it stands.The store that thrived for 24 years is now a mass of debris. The buildings on either side are boarded, the ruins cordoned off by a chain-link fence.The Ahn family that owns 7 Mile Fashion estimates they lost $2.5 million here and at two other stores attacked on Nicollet Avenue and W. Broadway. Yet insurance will cover just $600,000 because they had not updated their policy in many years.Private insurance won’t come close to paying the cost of rebuilding...…BySoot darkens the letters on the sign for 7 Mile Fashion, months after rioters torched the Lake Street shopping center where it stands.The store that thrived for 24 years is now a mass of debris. The buildings on either side are boarded, the ruins cordoned off by a chain-link fence.The Ahn family that owns 7 Mile Fashion estimates they lost $2.5 million here and at two other stores attacked on Nicollet Avenue and W. Broadway. Yet insurance will cover just $600,000 because they had not updated their policy in many years.Private insurance won’t come close to paying the cost of rebuilding...WW…

More from the HomepageAdvocate helps gunshot victims recover, avoid retaliation. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:He can tell you who was shot here.Driving along W. Broadway in north Minneapolis, Farji Shaheer talks about a woman who took a bullet through her Dodge Durango in this very spot. He tells the story of a 10-year-old who was shot in the back seat of his mother's car. He speaks of the teenager who was about to leave for college when rivals shot up his house.Shaheer, 41, is on his way to visit yet another man recovering from gunshots at North Memorial Health Hospital in...…More from the HomepageAdvocate helps gunshot victims recover, avoid retaliation. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:He can tell you who was shot here.Driving along W. Broadway in north Minneapolis, Farji Shaheer talks about a woman who took a bullet through her Dodge Durango in this very spot. He tells the story of a 10-year-old who was shot in the back seat of his mother's car. He speaks of the teenager who was about to leave for college when rivals shot up his house.Shaheer, 41, is on his way to visit yet another man recovering from gunshots at North Memorial Health Hospital in...WW…

More from the HomepageThe efforts by those living in the encampments to forge more hospitable surroundings come as public officials and homeless advocates raise alarms that the growing settlement is neither safe nor sustainable. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:Just past midnight, Fred Smith walked the northwest side of Powderhorn Park looking for signs of trouble.Most tents in the Minneapolis homeless camp had gone dark. Some people quietly clustered around as a middle-aged man stripped down to his boxers next to a kiddie pool. “You trying to cool off?” Smith asked. Stepping inside,...…More from the HomepageThe efforts by those living in the encampments to forge more hospitable surroundings come as public officials and homeless advocates raise alarms that the growing settlement is neither safe nor sustainable. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:Just past midnight, Fred Smith walked the northwest side of Powderhorn Park looking for signs of trouble.Most tents in the Minneapolis homeless camp had gone dark. Some people quietly clustered around as a middle-aged man stripped down to his boxers next to a kiddie pool. “You trying to cool off?” Smith asked. Stepping inside,...WW…

More from the HomepageBy Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:Under a tent on a blazing hot morning, Minneapolis officer Mike Nimlos described a police force that is overwhelmed.“We need to get out there and do more proactive work, but we don’t have the bodies,” Nimlos told several dozen North Siders gathered in a backyard. “We barely have enough time to answer calls — we’re going from one call to the next call to the next call. Officers are getting burned out. They’re getting tired.”From the side of the garage, resident Dave Haddy countered that the lack of response sent a message: People can...…More from the HomepageBy Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:Under a tent on a blazing hot morning, Minneapolis officer Mike Nimlos described a police force that is overwhelmed.“We need to get out there and do more proactive work, but we don’t have the bodies,” Nimlos told several dozen North Siders gathered in a backyard. “We barely have enough time to answer calls — we’re going from one call to the next call to the next call. Officers are getting burned out. They’re getting tired.”From the side of the garage, resident Dave Haddy countered that the lack of response sent a message: People can...WW…