Recent content from Dave Orrick
These Uptown business owners are hoping for a comeback
Years after riots, the once-vibrant Minneapolis destination is still losing businesses amid safety fears and construction headaches. But supporters say Uptown is the "comeback queen" of neighborhoods, and some businesses aren't going anywhere
Locally owned grocery store to open in former north Minneapolis Aldi building
Owner Daniel Hernandez, who operates Colonial Market in south Minneapolis, is eyeing a December opening for a new grocery store with a butcher counter, fast-food eatery and ice cream shop. The site, a former Aldi, is on Penn Avenue near Lowry.
![Mike Forcia, of the Black River Anishinabe, celebrated after the Christopher Columbus statue was toppled. ] LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/PL2327SJQEV7B6ESAVYMML5JDI.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Appeals court tosses restraining order against activist who threatened Minneapolis council member
Council Member Michael Rainville won the order from a judge against activist Mike Forcia last year, but an appellate court reversed the order.
Some Minneapolis workers are getting big raises. Will they all?
Following double-digit raises for police and public works employees, more than a dozen other unions will soon be demanding their own pay hikes as the city faces a budget deficit.
Minneapolis City Council approves police union contract
The contract includes historic raises, amounting to 21.7% over three years, and will make Minneapolis police among the top five highest-paid in the state.
Hennepin Avenue in Uptown is a mess. What's happening, and why now?
The two-year project to fully reconstruct the street and infrastructure is a major pain, but officials say it's needed.
Minneapolis to pay $365,000 for police shooting man in the head with rubber bullet during George Floyd protests
Abdi Adam, then 56, said he was waiting for a bus and had nothing to do with protests outside the Third Precinct the day before it was set ablaze by a mob.
Public weighs in as City Council considers proposed Minneapolis police contract, pay raises
The 22% raises are critical to recruitment and retention, mayor and chief say. Opponents say the department still lacks accountability.
Minneapolis signs lease for new safety center on E. Lake Street
The temporary facility at Lake and Hiawatha aims to bring social services and police to a stretch troubled by drug addiction and crime.
5 U fraternities put artificial turf on their front lawns. The city is like: bros, no.
Despite advances in drainage, Minneapolis still considers synthetic grass an "impervious surface," and elected officials aren't backing down in U zoning spat.
Battle brewing between Frey and Minneapolis council over police union contract
City Council leaders lay out possible conditions before they'll approve $9 million in police pay raises next week. Mayor Jacob Frey doesn't like their tone.
How police critics on Mpls. City Council responded to an officer's killing
Some leaders hailed Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell as a hero, while others didn't name him, focusing instead on community trauma.
Minneapolis police union votes to approve tentative contract for historic 21.7% pay raise
Rank-and-file members voted to ratify the new contract; accord still requires City Council approval.
Police officer, civilian and shooter dead, and responders wounded in Minneapolis shooting
Jamal Mitchell was 'ambushed' while responding to a shooting at an apartment building in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue, making him the first Minneapolis police officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty in more than 20 years.
As city deals with shock, details remain sparse as to what set off chaos that claimed three lives
A chaotic sequence of events in south Minneapolis on Thursday left three people — including a police officer — dead, and four others injured, two critically.
Minneapolis police union reaches tentative 3-year contract agreement with City Hall
Few details are being made public before the Minneapolis Police Federation brings it to its members for a vote.
Black plastic and foam to-go containers are banned in Minneapolis. Restaurants are still getting up to speed.
One in 10 restaurants was out of compliance with the city's requirement for recyclable or compostable containers. The black plastic ban started Jan. 1.
Minneapolis wonders: Was rideshare deal worth trouble?
Even though they sacrificed local control, council members lauded the new statewide Uber and Lyft driver pay plan as the strongest in nation. Critics disagree.
Minneapolis announces plan to flag police officer problems early
The five-year contract will create a database with goals of supporting cops — and preventing the next Derek Chauvin.
Minneapolis facing $21.6 million budget hole
Expected worker pay raises — and the end of federal COVID funds — are driving the gap that could lead to a steep hike in property taxes.
Minneapolis traffic deaths still well above pre-pandemic levels
The total number of crashes in the city has fallen, but deaths remain stubbornly high; officials think speeding is to blame.
Frey's pick for Minneapolis civil rights director has strong support, but why would she want the job?
Michelle Phillips has strong support from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and his critics on the City Council. But she's walking into a messy situation.
Minneapolis rideshare controversy shows growing power of progressive Democrats
Gov. Walz's administration signals it is not comfortable with a compromise bill as Uber and Lyft threaten to leave.
Mpls. council OKs new Nicollet Avenue, bike promenade and park for former Kmart space
The broad-strokes concepts gained support from council members Thursday for the area along Lake Street.
Seeing Minneapolis as continuing post-pandemic rebound, Mayor Frey says city 'brimming with possibility'
In his annual State of the City speech, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spun positive against the backdrop of a struggling downtown and rising property taxes.
Minneapolis residential property taxes could rise steeply in 2025
With federal COVID funds drying up and downtown commercial values falling, homeowners and renters will be asked to shoulder the burden, Mayor Jacob Frey cautions.
How well are Minneapolis residents recycling?
Only about half of aluminum cans and paper are being recycled, and other stuff is being wish-cycled, according to a city study of what Minneapolis residents throw out.
Former MnDOT official approved as Minneapolis public works director
Timothy Sexton replaces Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who became city operations officer.
Minneapolis approves $15 minimum for cigarette packs, highest in U.S.
The city's tobacco crackdown allows existing limited "sampling" inside cigar lounge.
Minneapolis will bid to host Sundance Film Festival
Sundance organizers have said they're open to moving away from Utah in 2027. Minneapolis wants to try to nab the star-studded festival.
American reportedly killed in Ukraine ran for Minnesota U.S. Senate seat in 1990
Russell Bentley was a marijuana legalization activist when he challenged Rudy Boschwitz in the race won by Paul Wellstone.
Cigarettes at $15 per pack? Minneapolis might do it.
The anti-smoking move would set the highest minimum price for smokes in the country and ban discounts.
Wimpy winter saves Mpls. and St. Paul a (small) pile of snow spending
The money saved is small, but crews were able to get ahead on pothole patching, tree trimming and street sweeping.
Minneapolis rolls out new emergency-alert text and app system
The change follows the city's completion of federal emergency training exercise and changes following post-Floyd unrest.
Here's how Uber, Lyft are trying to get their way in Minnesota
The multibillion-dollar rideshare companies have mobilized go-to allies to make their case to policymakers, but their lobbying spending is relatively modest.
Some Uber and Lyft drivers say they'll start their own rideshare co-op
Based on a New York venture, the driver-owned rideshare campaign announced Friday is among a parade of ideas to fill the void if Uber and Lyft leave.
7 Minneapolis Uber/Lyft questions. 7 answers.
'Is this really happening?' and other questions about the rideshare companies' vows to leave Minneapolis.
Majority of Mpls. council now open to tweaking Uber/Lyft ordinance. Maybe.
Minneapolis City Council leaders said they could bring changes April 25 — days before the rideshare companies have vowed to leave.
Minneapolis City Council might reconsider Uber/Lyft vote
Council Member Andrea Jenkins says she wants to try to figure out how to keep the rideshare companies from leaving.
Frey nominates MnDOT official to lead Minneapolis public works
Timothy Sexton, an assistant commissioner, would need to be confirmed by the City Council.
How many taxi cabs are left in Minneapolis?
Uber's entry a decade ago caused an astonishing collapse of the local taxi industry.
Missing 3-year-old boy found safe in northern Minnesota; 36-year-old woman arrested
An Amber Alert for the pair was canceled about 90 minutes after it was issued.
Rep. Ilhan Omar supports Biden, despite criticism of his support for Israel
In a KSTP-TV interview, Omar said she's an "ally" of Democrats who voted uncommitted, but she still supports Biden.
Oak Park Heights inmate sentenced to 15 years for partially blinding female prison guard
Dominique Antoine Jefferson pleaded guilty to punching a correctional sergeant, who lost vision in one eye.
Uber, Lyft say they'll leave May 1 after Mpls. City Council overrides Frey veto
Uber said it will leave the entire metro, including the airport. Lyft said it would cease operations in Minneapolis May 1, when the ordinance takes effect.
Will Uber and Lyft really leave Minneapolis? Maybe. Here's how it could play out.
The Minneapolis City Council will vote Thursday afternoon whether to override Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of an ordinance that increases driver pay.
Minnesota Uber and Lyft drivers often earn less than minimum wage, state study says
The state-commissioned study offers data for policymakers in Minneapolis and statewide hoping to boost pay for rideshare drivers.
Frey vetoes plan to raise pay for Uber and Lyft drivers, calls for swift override vote
Minneapolis City Council approved the plan Thursday. Uber and Lyft say the increase would force them to leave town May 1.
Veto-proof Mpls. City Council approves rideshare driver pay hike; Frey vows veto
Uber and Lyft say they will leave Minneapolis -- and possibly all of Minnesota -- May 1 if the pay hike takes effect.
Fearing Uber and Lyft will leave Mpls., Frey pleads for City Council to soften rideshare pay raise
The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote Thursday on a pay raise for drivers; Uber and Lyft have vowed to cease operations April 1 if it takes effect.
Uber and Lyft up pressure campaign as Minneapolis City Council moves ahead with driver pay raise
Lyft told drivers and riders they would cease service April 1, while Uber took out an ad urging against the proposed ordinance.
Minneapolis' Lake Street Kmart is gone. Here's what could come next.
A city website offers renderings, and a public open house will be held to offer visions for reconnecting Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis charter amendment public hearing set for Monday
Voters could decide as soon as November whether they want citizens to be able to directly create or repeal ordinances.
Uber, Lyft resume threats to leave Minneapolis over new driver wage plan
Uber and Lyft are again threatening to leave as the Minneapolis City Council takes up a driver wage plan similar to one Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed last year.
Defenders of fired Minneapolis civil rights director speak out
Alberder Gillespie again declined to comment, but several current and former officials praised her integrity.
Minneapolis council tackles backlog of police workers' comp claims
Monday's council committee approval of 11 claims totaling $1.3 million follows skepticism from some council members of PTSD claims for cops with misconduct allegations.
Should Minneapolis let voters change city laws?
A public hearing is planned for March to discuss the idea, which could go to voters in November.
Minneapolis' first Black expo was its last. A year later, what's happened since?
The city's new racial equity director has no plans to bring back the event, which remains subject to probes into former director Tyeastia Green's conduct.
With Kia and Hyundai thefts still soaring, Minneapolis calls for recall
Thefts of the vulnerable vehicles nearly doubled in Minneapolis in 2023, while they fell somewhat in St. Paul.
Minneapolis civil rights director fired
Civil Rights Director Alberder Gillespie was terminated Friday after superiors said she 'poses an immediate threat' to police reform.
Minneapolis business owner tries to ban Frey over mayor's Israel-Hamas veto
Basim Sabri told Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey he's banned from entering Sabri's Karmel Mall; Frey says it's antisemitic.
Minneapolis to pay out $800,000 and apologize for arresting Freedom Fighters during unrest
Mayor Jacob Frey will apologize in person to eight members of the citizen-security group arrested by police during unrest after Winston Smith's killing in 2021.
Minneapolis City Council overrides Frey's Israel-Hamas veto
Resolution called for a cease-fire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military support for Israel.
Worried about parking your e-bike? More secure 'bike shelters' are coming to Minneapolis
A pilot program will offer covered, locked areas to better protect bikes from theft and vandalism.
New carbon tax and 4 other ideas from the Minneapolis City Council's new majority
From climate initiatives to homeless encampment policies, council members have begun to roll out a slate of progressive ideas for the year.
Minneapolis picks independent evaluator for policing reforms
The city has entered a court-enforceable settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and continues to negotiate a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Frey vetoes Minneapolis City Council's Israel-Hamas resolution
A veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council approved the symbolic resolution last week, so an override of Mayor Jacob Frey's veto is possible.
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New Minneapolis Third Precinct police station could open in early 2025, commissioner says
The timeline released Wednesday for the police station and "community safety center" is the most detailed since the City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey agreed on a site.
Divided Mpls. City Council rebuffs Frey appeal, approves Israel-Hamas resolution
Mayor Jacob Frey, who is Jewish, called the resolution's wording "lopsided" against Jewish history.
Veto-proof majority of Minneapolis City Council supports contentious Israel-Hamas resolution
The resolution, which will likely get final approval Thursday, calls for a ceasefire, but also an end to U.S. military funding for Israel.
Minneapolis' 10 biggest developments permitted in 2023, mapped
City leaders Monday said the $1.5 billion total value for residential and commercial construction permits last year shows the city remains desirable.
'Climate and infrastructure' replaces 'public works' — and other takeaways from new Minneapolis City Council
Early votes on the council leadership and committee structure could be a preview of how the council's new progressive majority might affect future discussions.
Meet Elliott Payne, the new Minneapolis City Council president
A self-described "nerdy engineer" and the first Black man to hold the post, Payne's election reflects a leftward shift of the council.
FBI investigates Minneapolis DFL endorsement process
Two people interviewed by the FBI said bureau personnel asked about irregularities in last year's City Council races.
Lyft sets $5 minimum charge per ride in Twin Cities metro
The change, which Uber implemented last year, is unlikely to end pressure from drivers and some elected officials to pay drivers more.
