🏗️ Construction at George Floyd Square (finally)

George Floyd Square Redevelopment (Finally) Set To Begin

After years of controversy within the Minneapolis City Council and the mayor's office, the city is set to start construction at George Floyd Square this June with substantial completion expected in 2027. City officials say that gathering spaces will remain available to the community throughout construction. [Star Tribune]

• What's changing: Largely, the redesign plan seems to be formalizing and making permanent the structures that have already been set up by community members at 38th and Chicago. The location where George Floyd was murdered will still be protected from traffic, and the roundabout with the raised fist sculpture will remain. The redevelopment will also include new bikeways and green space along the boulevards near the intersection. [City of Minneapolis]
• Whose streets? After the murder of George Floyd, community members created an autonomous zone at 38th and Chicago and vowed to stay until their 24 demands were met. As the city moves forward with construction, daily and weekly protests continue, raising a central tension over whether the city’s presence makes the space less radical. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities / MPR News]

Honoring Pretti's Legacy: The University of Minnesota is raising money for a new Alex Pretti Nursing Scholarship. Pretti was a 2011 graduate of the U and an ICU nurse with the VA healthcare system. The school has worked directly with Pretti's family to develop the scholarship for students in need, and preference will be given to nursing students who hope to work with veterans. Donations are being accepted now. [Racket]

Footage released: The City of Minneapolis released security camera footage showing the Jan. 14 incident when an ICE agent shot Julio Sosa-Celis in the leg in north Minneapolis. The video appears to show Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna tripping while fleeing an ICE agent, followed by the agent jumping on top of him. The man believed to be Sosa-Celis picks Aljorna up and they escape into the house. This directly contradicts the DHS's account that three men "violently assaulted" an agent with a shovel and a broom, which is still up on their website. [Bring Me The News]

'Minnesota Batman': The Star Tribune recently interviewed Minneapolis' vigilante NoMark, who has been garnering a lot of attention on social media. NoMark revealed that his videos of taking down the "Minnesota Pisser" and recovering a stolen bike were staged, but he said he did actually break up a fight outside a Dinkytown bar and that the fake videos have become a distraction as he's now "actually trying to do something." [Star Tribune]

Another Cities Church arrest: A woman was arrested by St. Paul police outside of the Cities Church in St. Paul on Sunday while protesting during Easter service. Protesters who were present said they turned off their speakers and brought the noise down when asked to by police, and SPPD claimed the protester they arrested had not complied. At a court hearing yesterday, a judge dismissed all of the charges for the protester and set her free. A police spokesperson said the department intends to resubmit the case to the city attorney's office. [MPR News / Star Tribune]

Fighting food deserts: A study by The Food Trust identified 900,000 Minnesotans living in food deserts, or areas lacking convenient access to nutritious and fresh food like fruits and vegetables. The Twin Cities are among the hardest hit areas. In the Twin Cities, organizations like Brightside Produce and Twin Cities Mobile Market are working to bring fresh food to people who live in these areas. [Spokesman-Recorder]

Raffled meat: During a year when bipartisanship has been scarce in Minnesota, our legislators can stand united behind … meat raffles. Legislation that author Sen. Zach Duckworth, R-Lakeville, called "a big, beautiful meat raffle bill" aims to raise the maximum prize money allowed at a meat raffle from $70 to $200, and it appears to have broad support across the aisle. [MPR News]

Tuesday, Apr 7

• 🎸 The Knife Kickers | Pilllar Forum
• 🆓 Red Planet | MetroNOME Brewery
• 🆓 Claire Kingsley launches Captivation Creek | Magers & Quinn
• 🇺🇦 Yagódy with Ukrainian Village Band | The Cedar Cultural Center
• 🤘 GWAR | First Avenue
• 🎬 Back to the Future Part II | The Parkway Theater
• 🎼 Marissa Nadler | Turf Club

Wednesday, Apr 8

• 📽️ MSP International Film Fest | The Main Cinema
• 📚 Karen Parkman in conversation with Claire Lombardo | University Club of Saint Paul
• 🆓 Pop Up Dance Party | Bryant Square Park
• 🆓 Line Dancing at Animales BBQ | Animales BBQ Co.
• 🆓 MinneCulture Season 10 Launch Party | Cloudland
• 🌈 Wensgay Comedy Night | Sisyphus Brewing
• 🎹 An Evening with Jimmy Webb | The Parkway Theater

• Director of Data & Technology at Unidos MN | Starting at $80k per year
• Music Co-Directors at BareBones Puppets | $1k – $2k (PT Contract)
• Manager, Equity & Inclusion at City of Minneapolis | $119k – $140k per year
• Train Operator at Metro Transit | $62k – $77k per year
• Zoo Security Officer – Evening Shift at Minnesota Zoo | $23.61 – $32.54 per hour (PT)