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Jon Tevlin

Columnist | Metro

Jon Tevlin is a former Star Tribune columnist.

Recent content from Jon Tevlin
Former Star Tribune columnist Jon Tevlin retired early to care for his wife, Ellen. He turned to ketamine for treating his profound depression after t

Depressed after his wife's death, this Minneapolis man turned to ketamine therapy for help

When traditional antidepressants failed, he found an Eden Prairie clinic that uses ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Jon Tevlin

Tevlin: 'Against all odds, I survived a career in journalism'

After 20 years at the Star Tribune and almost nine years as a columnist, Jon Tevlin writes his last column.
Kristen and Jeff Kidder ORG XMIT: MIN1701061443540787

Tevlin: Grateful Frogtown couple fight their way back from fire and illness

The fire that wiped out the Kidders' possessions also brought new opportunities, including a chance to look at life a little more closely.
File photo former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer

Tevlin: Two political pros offer up some advice to new mayors

At the Jeremiah Program in St. Paul, Sinying Lee picked up her youngest child Cattleya,3. The older kids Benjamin,4, and Pashalia,5, came along for th

Tevlin: Jeremiah Program CEO follows her mom's lead

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., leaves the Capitol after speaking on the Senate floor, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Washington. Franken said he will resign fr

Tevlin: Sexual harassment purge turns 'Giant of Senate' Al Franken into a ghost

The Giant of the Senate, as Franken jokingly referred to himself in his latest book, is now the Ghost of the Senate.
The two-handed technique proved valuable to Sawyer Stevens.

Tevlin: Minnesota bus crash survivor was broken but never defeated

Sawyer Stevens' $100,000 scholarship won during the Big Ten title game doesn't compare to the story of his rise from the bus crash near Cottonwood, Minn., in 2008.

Tevlin: Things get ugly in town after three cats go missing in Cohasset, Minn.

When local authorities initially dismissed the issue of the missing pets, a group of neighbors turned into part-time sleuths -- and it led to a felony case.
Vandals broke into the Nawayee Center School in south Minneapolis over the Thanksgiving break, destroying art work, trashing offices and stealing two

Vandals trash small American Indian school in Minneapolis

Chairs and tables were overturned, doors were broken open. Vandals had spray-painted gang graffiti on the walls, on a washer and dryer used to clean the clothes of students who may be homeless, and on the art projects of the 45 students who see Center School as a second home, maybe even a first home.
At 87, Orin Scandrett went to a remote village in Cambodia to build houses for the poor. At right is 18-year-old Hannah Anfinrud, the trip's youngest

Tevlin: Habitat for Humanity's Orin Scandrett lives with energy, excitement at 87

"There is no question it was the greatest experience of my life," the group's founding director says of a recent trip to Cambodia.
In 2007, the town of Luverne awaited the arrival of Ken Burns, director and producer, of "The War" a seven-part series on World War II from the perspe

Tevlin: Luverne vets' last toast to fallen comrades is bittersweet

The two are all that remain of a blood-brothers group of World War II veterans who gathered at the former Glen's Bakery and Deli for years.
"The blinders have come off, partly because of social media. Now we have this powerful medium of truth-telling," said Lee Roper-Batker, president and

Tevlin: Men can play role in shifting culture of harassment

Photo by Elizabeth Flores: Longtime Minneapolis City Council Member Barb Johnson gave her sister, Therese VanBlarcom, a kiss on the hand after the fir

Tevlin: Barb Johnson's long Minneapolis City Council run comes to an end

For 20 years, 11 as council president, Johnson has been one of the more powerful people in the city.
JIM GEHRZ � jgehrz@startribune.comMinneapolis/April 6, 2010/11:00 AMPolice tape keeps unauthorized persons away from the scene of a fatal fire in th

Tevlin: Fatal bar fire yields new start for homeless seniors in Minneapolis

Twin Cities strip clubs are hoping for a boost during the Super Bowl in February.

Tevlin: Strip clubs love football, especially the Super Bowl

Just as the Minneapolis City Council is meeting Wednesday to come up with a strategy to disrupt sex-trafficking statewide in advance of the big game, the exotic dance industry is ramping up for a bigger surge in business.
Candidate Melvin Carter III chats with the attendees inside the Ward 6 restaurant before the forum begins.

Tevlin: St. Paul's police union shamelessly attacks a mayoral candidate

The attack on Melvin Carter is a dangerous, and perhaps unprecedented, abuse of the power of the police federation for political means.
Natalie Ringsmuth, Unite Cloud founder and director.

Tevlin: Untruths fan flames of fear in St. Cloud

"It's extremely embarrassing to be in the news for this," said Natalie Ringsmuth, director of #UniteCloud, a nonprofit that seeks to ease racial, religious and cultural tensions in St. Cloud.
Jacobo Gabriel-Tomas attended a mass with his children in Worthington in 2014. On Tuesday, he crossed the border from Mexico back to Guatemala, leavin

Tevlin: Deported Worthington father was a victim of political optics

Window washers work on a recently built trio of geodesic domes that are part of Amazon's headquarters building, visible in the background, in Seattle,

Tevlin: In making a play for Amazon, would we be selling our souls?

Across the Twin Cities, from Arden Hills to Shakopee, city planners are huddling with developers and Mad Men to put together the biggest "welcome basket'' the state has ever seen.
FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2010 file photo, a pharmacy tech poses for a picture with hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets, the generic version

Tevlin: Minn. pharmacist who faced addiction demons now helps teens

Some might see him as an atypical example of America's opioid crisis, but Sean Higgins will tell you his story is very common.
Acting police chief Medaria Arrodondo shook hands with Dave Bicking, a long-time police critic with Communities United Against Police Brutality, prior

Tevlin: Police/community relations can't be fixed overnight

University of Minnesota law Prof. Richard Painter said he didn't foresee ever becoming one of the nation's go-to experts on government ethics. Then Tr

Tevlin: U ethics expert says Trump White House is a nightmare

Law Prof. Richard Painter, who was George W. Bush's White House ethics chief, considers himself a loyal Republican.

Tevlin: Vet's phone call was inspired by strong feelings toward the VA

If you work at the VA and met Mike Krueger, you should know that he appreciates you more than you can imagine.

Tevlin: From serving in Iraq to working on Ph.D, U scholar is 'like a kid in a candy store'

Jason Jones is the first in his family to go to college, and he said the U's TRIO McNair Scholars program has been instrumental in getting an advanced degree.
Street outreach workers like Joseph Desenclos at St. Stephen's Human Services, right, regularly canvass downtown for homeless residents and try to off

Tevlin: Assault leads to community dialogue on 'Suicide Hill' homeless camp

The Electric Fetus, where Prince once shopped, was among the stops along the tour. ] JIM GEHRZ ï james.gehrz@startribune.com / Waconia, MN / May 28,

Tevlin: Get ready for some more traffic chaos, Minneapolis

When Franklin Avenue shuts down near I-35W to rebuild a bridge, MnDOT's detour for the nearly 15,000 cars that use Franklin Avenue each day will go to 26th and 28th streets, facing restrictions.
The defunct monorail track passes above the Hanifl Family Wild Woods Play Area as seen Thursday afternoon. ] AARON LAVINSKY ï aaron.lavinsky@star

Tevlin: When it comes to discussing politics, it's a zoo out there

What does it say about the political temperament of America when an argument over politics gets a senior citizen volunteer fired from the Minnesota Zoo?
Sara Glassman, sglassman@startribune.com A garden party celebrated the Minnesota Film and TV Board at the home of Leo Furcht and Katherine Roepke in G

Tevlin: Legendary defense attorney Ron Meshbesher struggling with Alzheimer's

"If our story can help bring awareness that even brilliant people like my husband can be afflicted with this disease, it will be worth it," Kim Meshbesher said.
Peter Kirihara was honored Tuesday by area business owners, politicians and customers for his vision of the North Loop.

Tevlin: North Loop entrepreneur Peter Kirihara kept his imagination unchained

He was honored for his pioneering vision and his determination to transform the once ghostly Warehouse District into a legitimate destination spot, now known as the trendy North Loop.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges

Tevlin: A crisis in Minneapolis just can't compete with L.A.

Hodges better hope the race doesn't come down to the main blunder on her fundraising trip: the menu.
Lee and Bev Bahr, owners of the Lunch Box diner

Tevlin: Reopening State Fair diner is family's rite of August

Lee and Bev Bahr have turned management of the Lunch Box over to the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, but on Tuesday were still there before first light.
Photo by Jon Tevlin: Nick and Lilie (cq) Johnson, owners of Tootie's.

Tevlin: North Side's Tooties is almost back from brink

The basement fire started by a burglar has closed the neighborhood joint for 40 days and counting.
St. Louis Park police provided this photo of a toy gun wielded Friday night by teens they encountered.

Tevlin: Two kids were able to play with toy guns and not get killed

This is now the world in which we live.
Acting police chief Medaria �Rondo� Arradondo laughed at the end of the public hearing.

Tevlin: Being the good guy won't be enough for Arradondo as potential chief

Praise for Arradondo at last week's hearing was one of the few genuinely hopeful moments in the recent history of relations between police and the public, but it's a tenuous one.
Jonathan O'Shaughnessy, 24, was shot and killed Monday night in Richfield outside where he grew up, his sister said.

Tevlin: A night of fun in Richfield ended in gunfire and tears for a young man slain

The shooting death of Jonathan O'Shaughnessy has left his family reeling and asking for anyone who knows what happened to step forward.
Dean Phillips, who is running for Congress against Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen, turned heads in Brooklyn Park by arriving in a 1960 Internationa

Tevlin: Dean Phillips taking his campaign for Congress to the people

Phillips knows it's an uphill battle against Rep. Erik Paulsen, but he's been there before.
President Donald Trump at the Boy Scouts of America's 2017 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel National Scout Reserve in Glen Jean, W.Va., J

Tevlin: A proud Eagle Scout from Minnesota turns in his badge after Trump's speech

"It didn't matter what the speaker said, I identified it as an enormous failure of leadership by the adults who were there," said John Rowell of Moorhead.
Eileen Espinosa shared on Facebook her tale of encountering a robber at her daughter's Minneapolis shop.

Tevlin: Minneapolis shop owner's mother fearless in standing up to armed robber

It happened at the ColorWheel Gallery, a combination hair salon and gallery in south Minneapolis where local artists sell their wares and neighbors often gather for folk music.
Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau, lelft, with Mayor Betsy Hodges in March. The two met on Wednesday.

Tevlin: Police chief's absence spelled the end

Janee Harteau certainly doesn't own all the crises that have tarnished the police force the past few years, but political expediency made her departure inevitable.
Detail of the larger memorial on the sidewalk on W. 51st. St. in the Fulton neighborhood Monday night. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.

Tevlin: Where Justine Damond died, cameras roll too late

We are international news, again, for all the wrong reasons.
Dr. Ayaz Virji, 42, and his wife Musarrat Virji, 36, walks home from work on a May day in Dawson, Minn. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Salwan G

Small-town doctor in Minnesota gives voice to Islam

Two weeks after a major profile in the Washington Post brought huge attention, Ayaz Virji is still working through his emotions.
State Rep. Raymond Dehn, center, spoke at Wednesday night's mayoral election forum. Sitting besides him are incumbent Mayor Betsy Hodges and candidate

Tevlin: Who will rise from huddled mass of Minneapolis mayor candidates?

Ray Dehn scored a victory over an incumbent mayor in Saturday's DFL convention, but that certainly doesn't make him a lock.

Tevlin: For this July 4th, waving a flag and making a vow

The run-up to celebrate all that's good in this country comes with plenty of reasons to fear that things we once celebrated are now targets.

Tevlin: Preparing his granddaughter for a life without sight

Hiawatha Golf Course could close if it is forced by the Minnesota DNR to reduce the amount of water it pumps off the grounds. ] Shari L. Gross ï

Tevlin: For these friends, Hiawatha's not just a golf course

The Minneapolis golf course, much of it under sea level and with fairways undulated like a spongy bog following the rain, is under threat.
"I own a business here because of all the unique small business that are in Tangletown, and I think, 'How are they all going to stay open?' " Jane E

Tevlin: South Minneapolis biz owners conflicted over $15 wage issue

A number of South Side small business owners find themselves emotionally and politically conflicted between their progressive values and the city's push for a mandatory minimum wage of $15 an hour.
Officer Jeronimo Yanez has been acquitted of all charges related to the shooting death of Philando Castile.

Tevlin: When it mattered most, Yanez wasn't a good cop

In the end, it seemed like all parties could agree on something: Jeronimo Yanez should not be a cop.
Owner Joe Minjares stands outside of Pepito's Parkway.

Tevlin: Garrulous Mpls. restaurateur too sick to work keeps on laughing

Despite low energy and the need for an oxygen tank, Joe Minjares has kept his creativity and his sense of humor.
St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez, left, and his attorney Tom Kelly, right, leave the Ramsey County Courthouse, Tuesday, May 30, 2017, in St.

Tevlin: Yanez jurors find themselves in an imperfect world

Jurors will face the unenviable task of sorting through a myriad of sometimes contradictory recollections and infinitesimal details to affix blame and perhaps find justice.

Tevlin: Health care debate is 'legacy' of the times

Rep. Keith Ellison, a Fifth District Democrat, spoke to a standing-room-only crowd in the Third District, about the proposed changes to health care.
Church and community leaders held a news conference Wednesday in North Minneapolis to announce a June 17 peace summit among gang members and Stevie Wo

Tevlin: Two decades after 'Murderapolis,' some old names resurface

Ny'kia Williams, far right, with her dad, Maurice Verser, and her siblings, Maurice and Renee

Tevlin: One teenager's poignant struggle to 'get it out'

An eighth-grade English assignment is a heartbreaking view of life coming apart for a 14-year-old girl, and a stark reminder that violent acts have many victims.
Justice Alan Page spoke to scholarship recipients during the Page Foundation awards ceremony at the University of Minnesota Thursday, June 25, 2015 in

Tevlin: At Minneapolis' Ramsey Middle School, students study, then change history

Thanks to their yearlong campaign, the Minneapolis school board will vote June 13 on whether to keep Ramsey or rename it Justice Alan Page Middle School.
FILE -- In this 2008 photo, Tom Petters is introduced by President of Petters Aviation Jay Salmen, Petters then spoke to employees and invited guests

Tevlin: Years later, Tom Petters scam still haunts halls of the Capitol

A measure buried in a state budget bill would limit the funds that cheated investors could recover from charities and religious organizations.
Community Action of Minneapolis employee Michelle Brown, seen in 2015, testified Friday in U.S. District Court against the agency's former CEO, Bill D

Tevlin: Fraud at Minneapolis agency hurt 'the poorest of the poor'

Authorities say former Community Action of Minneapolis CEO William Davis stole more than $800,000 from CAM's coffers and spent it on luxuries, trips and five girlfriends.
Moments after the Staples-Motley Cardinals broke a 39-game losing streak on Friday, fans stormed the football field to celebrate a 24-14 victory, last

Tevlin: After reversing fortunes, Minn. prep football team faces uncertain future

The coach who rebuilt the Staples-Motley Cardinals after a five-year losing streak did not have his contract renewed. After the school board vote, the superintendent and five other football coaches said they were resigning.
Demonstrators gathered at the Burnsville offices of Minnesota Republican congressman Jason Lewis in the wake of his vote on Thursday to repeal and rep

Tevlin: Dear Reps. Paulsen, Emmer and Lewis, spare us the crowing over your 'health' bill

With America in a health care crisis, the solution shouldn't be winning the lottery.
Mayor Betsy Hodges spoke at a mayoral forum in April.

Tevlin: Mayor Hodges has had a mind-boggling month

April is the cruelest month. You don't have to trust T.S. Eliot on that, just look to Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. To be fair, March didn't end so swell either.
Bicyclists ride along 28th Street E where it intersects with the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis,Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Tevlin: With a bike lane scuffle, spring begins in earnest in Minneapolis

A group of Lyn-Lake business owners is angry with the city's plan to add protected bike lanes to two popular east-west corridors.

Tevlin: Lisa Goodman has proved she's a nice hue of blue

The accomplished and dauntless Dr. Uzma Samadani with her plucky patient, Lupe Galeno-Rodriguez.

Tevlin: Neurosurgeon and her teen patient are put to a marathon test

Tevlin: Local LGBT cases being affected by regression on civil rights

Tevlin: Twin Cities cabbie and best friend take a final ride together

Their special, albeit unusual friendship began six months ago with a call for a ride to the grocery.

Tevlin: Vietnam veteran Don Elverd still looking after the troops

"I didn't volunteer for this," Elverd said of his work with addicted vets. "I was drafted."
A woman who refused to identify herself, explained results to caucus goers after a vote was taken to determine delegates supporting either Abdi Warsam

Tevlin: Raucous caucuses in Mpls. are telling us ... something

The Trump dystopia is clearly motivating people to do something, and at the local level that means running for office, even against your own party.

GOP legislator bucks his party for internet privacy

Popular small-town baker had recipe for trouble

Popular small-town baker had recipe for trouble

A homegrown cafe that helped resuscitate Main Street in Dodge Center is now shuttered after the owner was convicted of burglary.
Minneapolis officials and downtown business leaders announced future plans for Peavey Plaza Wednesday, June 10, 2015, in Minneapolis, MN. The plans we

Tevlin: Creating a new Peavey Plaza for all to treasure

Fixing one of the jewels of downtown Minneapolis promised the inevitable collision of two issues — preservation and accessibility.
Kenyon police chief Lee Sjolander ORG XMIT: mSkSaG95dvmqcVq2Q3f_

Tevlin: For Kenyon's police chief, humanity comes first

Funny, self-deprecatory and guileless, Lee Sjolander may be the male Marge Gunderson, the cop from the movie "Fargo," only in the internet age.
Mayor Betsy Hodges and Police Chief Janee Harteau held a press conference to react to the DOJ report. Behind them Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel

Tevlin: After harsh Justice Department report, Hodges takes her lumps

Tevlin: GOP health plan is a study in betrayal

Tevlin: Noise, dust, odor from chipper still disrupting veterans in new housing

Paulette Will, with the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging, asked the first question to candidates at Wednesday night's mayoral election forum.

Tevlin: First gathering is Minneapolis mayoral forum 'lite'

The event was fittingly labeled a forum, not a debate, because it was largely a pillow fight between besties. This race seems like it will be less over direction than voice.
New Hope Police Chief Tim Fournier addressed the media regarding Raymond Kmetz, the man who shot two New Hope police officers outside a City Council m

Tevlin: It's a first of its kind suit against gun shop owner

Tevlin: Trade connection to Mexico essential