👮 MPD progress report

Is MPD fixing its race-based policing?

With ICE agents running amok, you may have forgotten that Minneapolis’s own police department is still under scrutiny. A nonprofit hired by the city to evaluate changes made by MPD after the murder of George Floyd released its third report, which spans April to September 2025. Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA) reports that MPD has made “measurable and meaningful progress” but has been hindered by a lack of coordination, communication, and resources. [Northeaster / ELEFA]

• Background: Following the murder of George Floyd, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights launched an investigation into the MPD and found that the city and police department have engaged in a “pattern of race discrimination.” In response, Minneapolis and MDHR have a court-enforced agreement to make changes in the city’s policing. ELEFA was hired to check on MPD’s compliance with the agreement. [Northeaster]
• Diving in: The report concludes there’s a lack of coordination and buy-in from city and police leadership that is leading to some misunderstanding among staff. It also notes that MPD is assigning too many tasks to too few people, causing “bottlenecks” in the policy revision process. In a letter attached to the report, MDHR Commissioner Rebecca Lucero wrote that past and present city and MPD leaders “have not collectively acted with the urgency, coordination, and intentionality necessary” to address racial disparities in policing. [ELEFA]
• Interesting: According to the report, MPD solicited feedback from officers on policy changes. But officers often veered into complaining how the policy shouldn’t be revised because it would lead to “unfair investigations and discipline, or other tangential issues.” [ELEFA]

Pricey cleanup: The St. Paul City Council wants Ford Motor Co. to clean up a hazardous waste dump site in Highland Park. The contamination is leftover from the Twin Cities Assembly Plant, and a full clean-up would cost $71 million. Fred Melo reports the Council is hoping the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will compel Ford to shoulder the costs. The agency, for its part, wants a partial cleanup at $8.8 million. [Pioneer Press]

Wild (Mid)west: You may have seen a video of alleged bounty hunters arresting a resident in Minneapolis. The men in a van marked as Midwest Bail Bonds are seen pulling a gun on bystanders. Izzy Canizares reports the city is investigating the incident, and explains that bounty hunters are hired by bail bond agencies to arrest defendants who fail to appear in court. [Spokesman-Recorder]

“Desperation”: The fallout of the war in Iran is hitting home. Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor from White Bear Lake was killed in Kuwait the day after Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran. Gas prices in Minnesota are rising, on average, about 20 cents more per gallon than around this time last year. One Iranian American man living in Minnesota shared his family’s story of escaping the regime, and told FOX 9: “That’s a level of desperation I don’t know how to convey to people.” [Star Tribune / MPR / FOX 9]

Suburbs speak out: Twin Cities suburbs are asking for emergency aid to deal with the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge. Northeaster editor Michael McKinney joins today’s show to talk about how at least 21 cities in the greater Twin Cities metro area formed a coalition in response to the “unsustainable” immigration enforcement. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities / Northeaster]

Innovation: Occupational therapist Najma Omar invented a sensory-friendly hijab, which has padding on the inside to quiet loud noises. Omar told reporter Binta Kanteh she was inspired by the needs of her autistic siblings, and her sister was the first to test it. The SereniHijab is set to launch online in early May. [Sahan Journal]

Tuesday, Mar 10

• 💸 You Belong Here Cash Mob (Ramadan edition) | Zizi Boutique, Taste of East African, and Laina Cafe
• 🎷 Immanuel Wilkins Quartet | Dakota
• 🗣️ ¡Hablamos Pues! Spanish Conversation Club 🆓 | La Doña Cervecería
• 🚘 Mario Kart Tournament 🆓 | Indeed Brewing
• 🎹 Moonchild | The Varsity Theater
• 🎤 Community Sing-A-Long 🆓 | Loring Park
• 📚 Tayari Jones in Conversation with Louise Erdrich | Birchbark Bizhiw
• 🎸 Old Town Tuesday Night Jam 🆓 | Whitey's Old Town Saloon

Wednesday, Mar 11

• 🚴 Sociable Ride 🆓 | Sociable Cider Werks
• 🧩 Pairs Jigsaw Puzzle Contest | Malcolm Yards
• 📚 Sean Sherman 🆓 | Minneapolis Central Library
• 🇨🇺 Minnesota Cuban Film Festival | Main Cinema
• 🕺 Pop Up Dance Party 🆓 | Bryant Square Park
• 🤓 Nerd Night 🆓 | The Black Hart of St. Paul
• 🎶 The Cherry Pit Open Jam 🆓 | Berlin
• 🎭 Sketches of Minnesota 🆓| Luminary Arts Center

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• Communications Director at Minneapolis Downtown Council | $80k - $95k per year
• Director of Litigation at Housing Justice Center | $102k - $112k per year
• Extended Adventures & Partnerships Manager at Wilderness Inquiry | $62k - $72k per year