😬 Police chief sues St. Paul mayor

St. Paul Police Chief Files Lawsuit Against Mayor Her

Less than a week after St. Paul's top human resources official announced that Mayor Kaohly Her did not sexually harass employees (but did create an "uncomfortable work environment"), St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry filed a lawsuit against the mayor and the city. The lawsuit sharply escalates claims Henry previously made in an official complaint, alleging that Her sexually harassed and battered him. [Star Tribune]

• New allegations: The battery allegation stems from claims that Her made nonconsensual contact with Henry by placing her hand on his upper thigh twice under the table during a budget meeting. The lawsuit also alleges that Her started making advances toward Henry in December 2025 – shortly after she was elected – and that she later invited him out and repeatedly told him that her marriage was in trouble. Her allegedly made sexual innuendos about the size of Henry's penis and described herself to Chief Henry as a "MILF." [Star Tribune / Minnesota Court Records Online 62-CV-26-6829]
• "Retaliation": In addition to the allegations about Her's behavior, the lawsuit claims that Mayor Her hired a PR firm to discredit Henry, and that St. Paul officials violated the Whistleblower Act by retaliating against Henry after he made the complaint. [New York Times / Minnesota Court Records Online 62-CV-26-6829]
• Reminder: All of this information comes directly from the lawsuit filed by Chief Henry and has yet to be litigated in court. Mayor Her could not be immediately reached by The Star Tribune or The New York Times for comment. [Star Tribune / New York Times]

More drama at city hall: Yesterday, the St. Paul City Council held a closed-door meeting to discuss pending litigation filed by Biftu Adema-Jula, a former legislative aide of Ward 1 Council Member Anika Bowie. Adema-Jula has previously filed a formal complaint against Bowie for "religious discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, unclear instructions," and other issues. The pending litigation comes just a month after the City Council agreed to a $360,000 settlement of a defamation lawsuit filed by Jon Berry, another former aide of Bowie. [Pioneer Press]

A dam dilemma: Northeast of the Twin Cities, the small town of Scandia is under threat from a productive colony of beavers. Their impressive dam-building skills have flooded wetlands near the town’s City Hall and Swedish immigrant heritage museum, and city officials haven't been able to release the water because the dam resides on private property. The city is in a standoff with the private property owners as it searches for a long-term solution to the beaver-caused flooding. [Star Tribune]

"Nothing has changed": The killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti garnered new attention on Capitol Hill this week, as Good's family members and a firsthand witness of Pretti's killing testified to their experiences and asked members of Congress for more oversight at a hearing. The testimony from Good's mother is particularly heart-wrenching to watch. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, ranking member of the Senate oversight committee, said he wanted the proceeding to be bipartisan, but no Republicans participated. [Star Tribune]

We want to hear from you: We're working on putting together a comprehensive map of all of the Peanuts sculptures in the Twin Cities. Can you help us find them all? Reply to this email with the location of a hidden Peanuts sculpture (or your favorite one!). If you include a photo, we might use it in our map once it goes live!

Healthcare on the go: Minneapolis’ Mobile Medical Unit is an RV with two exam rooms and three nurses that brings healthcare to underserved communities. Funded by more than $1 million in opioid settlement dollars, the MMU has engaged with over 4,000 community members and distributed 1,484 doses of naloxone in its first year of operation. [MPR News]

Security shuffle: The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office is now providing security to St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her instead of the St. Paul Police Department. The change comes as an investigation into Her's conduct – originally initiated by a complaint from St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry – is wrapping up, though a spokesperson from the mayor's office said the office is making changes to be more efficient. [Pioneer Press]

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