Recent content from Randy Furst
Harvey Feldman, passionate advocate for Twin Cities area parks and recreation, dies
Parks director around the Twin Cities believed parks "could improve the lives of people."
Ukrainian refugees giving blood in Minneapolis as thanks for U.S. support in conflict
The blood drive will be held Saturday at the Ukrainian American Community Center in northeast Minneapolis.
Mike Meyers, economics journalist and longtime Star Tribune reporter, dies at 75
Meyers was a sharp critic of government subsidies for big business.
Joe Selvaggio, social change agent who started Project for Pride in Living, dies at 87
He effectively lobbied some of Minnesota's wealthiest citizens to contribute to his projects: "You were just compelled to step up and do whatever Joe wanted to do."
Prominent Twin Cities attorney Michael Padden disbarred over harm to clients
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that acts of misconduct were not isolated or owing to a lapse in judgment.
Nearly two dozen arrested in downtown Minneapolis demonstration to protest Netanyahu visit
The pro-Palestinian demonstration was one of several held across the country to protest Netanyahu's visit to the United States.
Leonard Peltier seeks parole in 1975 murder of two FBI agents
Leonard Peltier is serving a pair of life sentences for the murder of two FBI agents during a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
Minneapolis Park Board will close some roads to block vehicle cruising during July 4 events
The parkways will remain open for pedestrians and bike traffic.
Accused of misconduct, attorney Michael Padden argues to Supreme Court that he's been 'railroaded'
The state's lawyers responsibility board has recommended his disbarment. He called the claims "outrageous."
Activists demand Minneapolis police contract negotiations be open to the public
They criticized city officials for agreeing to closed-door mediation to resolve long-expired police union contract.
Lou Kilzer, one-time investigative reporter and Pulitzer winner for the Star Tribune, dies
Kilzer worked at the Star Tribune from 1987 to 1994, and with colleague Chris Ison won the Pulitzer for investigative reporting for a 1989 series that exposed corruption in the St. Paul Fire Department.
Opioid epidemic hits hardest among Minnesotans of color
In response to the disparities, which are particularly stark for American Indian and Black Minnesotans, officials are investing millions of dollars from the opioid settlement in culturally specific treatment programs.
Two members of Minneapolis civilian oversight commission abruptly resign
The departures are the latest fallout after recent terminations, resignations.
Professor will visit St. Paul to discuss history of white supremacy in U.S. textbooks
Donald Yacovone is the author of a book about how white supremacy was infused in American public education for centuries.
Decades of turmoil mark legacy of civilian police oversight in Minneapolis
City operations director commits to making oversight work after the termination of one official and the departure of another.
Civilian police oversight: 3 decades of controversy
Through resistance and several iterations, it continues to face challenges.
Minneapolis city official is named interim director of police civilian review agency
Carolina Amini, who has experience with the City Attorney's Office and the Civil Rights Department, will take over next week.
Strip searches curtailed at Shakopee women's prison
After protests, the Minnesota Department of Corrections says it has begun moving toward use of electronic searches. "We want to reduce the risk of further traumatizing people," Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell said.
Minneapolis civil rights director fired
Civil Rights Director Alberder Gillespie was terminated Friday after superiors said she 'poses an immediate threat' to police reform.
With new comic book, young Minneapolis author, artist makes his debut
"Kings of Quests" is a magical tale about four Black teens who meet in the forest.
Minneapolis has faced 'unique trauma,' says newly named police monitor
David Douglass plans to bring his monitoring team to Minneapolis in early March.
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.
Louisiana man's murder conviction, death sentence vacated with help from Minneapolis lawyers
Darrell Robinson had been on death row for 23 years and was ordered a new trial.
Appeals Court: Landlords can't bar tenants due to subsidized housing
The decision will help tenants in a tight rental market, advocates say.
Local activists join D.C. march, urging U.S. to stop funding Israel's bombing of Gaza
About 25,000 people from around the United States are expected to attend Saturday's rally near the White House.
Betty Wilson, tenacious and respected Star Tribune political reporter, has died at 99
Wilson worked for the Minneapolis Star and the Star Tribune from 1968 until her retirement in 1991.
Suspended Twin Cities attorney predicts Minnesota Supreme Court will exonerate him
Michael Padden, who faces disbarment, denies allegations that he advised a client to jump bail and misappropriated client funds in a series of cases.
Prominent Twin Cities attorney suspended and faces disbarment for alleged misconduct
Michael Padden is alleged to have lied to a judge and mishandled client funds. He calls the matter "a witch hunt" and that he's been shown to have done nothing wrong.
No stranger to hardship, Fartun Weli uses nonprofit Isuroon to help East African families
The 13-year-old organization has a staff of 38 and provides a wide range of services to Somali and East African women and their families.
Erica Bouza, peace activist and wife of former Minneapolis police chief, dies at 92
She made headlines in the 1980s when she was arrested at anti-nuclear protests.
Demonstrators protest Rep. Dean Phillips' stance on Israel-Hamas conflict at his Minnetonka office
They had planned a sit-in but found the offices locked.
Sister Rita McDonald, oldest of four sisters who long protested war, dies at 101
Spurred by opposition to the Vietnam War, McDonald and her sisters took to the streets, and became peace protest fixtures in Minnesota for decades.
Judge temporarily blocks limits on disability pensions for police officers, firefighters
A hearing on the state's motion to dismiss the lawsuit is slated for Jan. 31.
Former Minneapolis Chief Tony Bouza hailed as police innovator
Several internationally known experts on policing methodologies eulogized Bouza at a program at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota.
Minneapolis civilian oversight is moving slowly as complaints against police mount
In its first six months, the Community Commission on Police Oversight has handled only two cases out of the hundreds of complaints filed.
Dr. Erick Hakanson, OB-GYN who advocated for teen mothers and women's rights, dies at 102
In a 49-year-career, the doctor focused on urgently needed prenatal and reproductive health care.
American Indians once protested outside the old Park Rapids library. Now they have a museum there.
In Park Rapids, Minn., a museum on Native and treaty rights opened last week in a former Carnegie library once used by pipeline builder Enbridge.
Ruling likely puts pressure on Minneapolis to settle lawsuit by journalists, observers say
A sharply worded federal court ruling denied summary judgment motions by the city and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to throw out the case.
Judge allows journalists' lawsuit against Minneapolis police to proceed, says evidence of misconduct exists
U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina Wright rejected motions by the city and Hennepin County to dismiss the suit.
Man found behind south Minneapolis home dies from gunshot wounds
The death put the homicide death toll in Minneapolis at 46 so far this year, according to a Star Tribune database.
Fire crews free man pinned under light-rail train in Minneapolis
The pedestrian was stuck under the train at the Lake Street station.
Hennepin County inmate dies in custody, the second in nine days
The 36-year-old man was found unresponsive in his bed.
St. Louis Park man gets 4 years in prison for cyberstalking ex-wife, her family in 'vicious' case
Julyen Alonzo Martin, 30, repeatedly threatened to kill his victims.
Judge dismisses charges against activists accused of disrupting Enbridge Line 3
In her memorandum, Senior Judge Leslie Metzen cited injustices against Native Americans.
Escaping bombs and war sirens, 30 Ukrainian teens visit Minnesota
The youths are spending five weeks in the state this summer, visiting civic and business leaders and building skills to lead their country in the future.
Former Mayo Clinic researcher sentenced to 18 years in prison for planning to aid ISIS
Muhammad Masood, a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan, was arrested in 2020 by the FBI as he prepared to leave for Syria.
Deeds barred home buyers of color in parts of Dakota County
Researchers say statistics suggest an effort was made to create a buffer around the urban core.
Former GOP activist Lazzaro sentenced to 21 years for sex trafficking
"Mr. Lazzaro has not shown a shred of remorse," said the judge at the sentencing.
Prosecutors seeking 30-year sentence for Lazzaro on sex trafficking conviction
The businessman and former GOP donor will be sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.
Jury awards $11.5 million to family of a Black man fatally shot in 2017 by St. Paul police
The award is the largest payout in St. Paul's history, city officials said.
Federal appeals court rules for Mpls. police in 2019 incident criticized by DOJ
The ruling last week by the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court decision that found in favor of a couple alleging police violated their rights.
Biden names state Appeals Court judge to Minnesota's federal bench
If confirmed by the Senate, Jeffrey Bryan will be the first Latino on the state's federal bench.
New policy bars top Hennepin County officials from living and working out-of-state
Two high-ranking department heads were allowed to live and work in California during the pandemic, drawing criticism.
Minnesota's new PTSD law undermines treatment, experts say
Third parties should decide whether public safety workers can return to work and not the therapists who treat them, according to some experts.
Judge Jeffrey Bryan is expected to become the first Latino on the federal bench in Minnesota
The White House is expected to announce Bryan's nomination to the U.S. District Court next month, filling the vacancy left by Judge John Tunheim.
Local antiwar groups divided over U.S. military aid to Ukraine
Many say the U.S. is using Ukraine as a pawn, but others say that view ignores Russian aggression.
New rules a 'game changer' in state licensing of police officers
The Minnesota Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training can now revoke the license of an officer who violates its conduct guidelines, based on evidence presented in an administrative hearing — regardless of whether the officer has been charged or convicted of a crime.
Minnesota House passes $104M bill covering police with PTSD
Similar legislation in the Senate has had one committee hearing, with another scheduled Wednesday.
City Council unanimously approves Minneapolis police oversight commission members
The commission has no Hispanic or Asian representatives, an omission that went unmentioned by council members.
Minneapolis City Council to vote on whether to approve police oversight commission nominees
Nominees represent cross-section of professions, but not all races.
St. Paul announces program to help homeowners discharge racial covenants
The city now has a website where residents can go to learn whether their home has a racial covenant.
Woman fatally shot in St. Paul
St. Paul authorities say the shooting Saturday morning in the Battle Creek neighborhood appears to have been "domestic related."
Vic Rosenthal, 'pillar of the local Jewish activist community,' dies at 68
Even in his final days, he lobbied for social justice.
Minneapolis police oversight board applicants with police ties draw critics
About a dozen people with law enforcement ties are among 160 applicants for the 15-member commission.
New Mpls. police oversight panel sees a record 160 applicants
Created last fall by the City Council, the CCPO replaces previous watchdog groups that were criticized as ineffective before going dormant last year.
Police disability retirements stressing communities, sending state pension costs soaring
The Public Employees Retirement Association estimates that police and fire pensions are costing $40 million more per year than expected.
State POST board adopts rules barring police involvement in extremist activity
Violations by an officer could result in sanctions by the board, up to and including revocation of their license.
Man serving life for 1992 murder of Minneapolis officer is denied parole
Another hearing will be scheduled to consider parole for Nantambu Noah Kambon in four years.
