Minneapolis, MN
From rails to trails: Stone Arch Bridge links Minneapolis' past to present
Maury’s Stories: Stone Arch Bridge
A longstanding fixture in Minneapolis, this Maury’s Stories goes in-depth on the history of the Stone Arch Bridge – a popular attraction to this day.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Above the rushing waters of the Mighty Mississippi, a testament to engineering and ingenuity stands tall.
“It’s a great color and also has a gentler appearance than you would guess with how heavy it is. This curve at the back makes it really special,” said amateur historian Vince Netz.
With its gleaming arches and golden hu, the Stone Arch Bridge has become a symbol of the city it calls home.
But underneath all the rock and mortar, there’s a hidden history with more stories than there are stones on the beloved landmark.
“There’s no reason to be here other than the waterfall and the railway. so the origin story for the city is on this bridge,” said Netz.
In the late 1800s, Minneapolis was a roaring boom town, where the population had more than doubled in less than a decade. The city hired railroad baron James J Hill to build a giant train station to integrate what was then a mess of railway lines into one place.
“It was bad for flour and lumber shipping. It was worse for passengers. They wanted to make the city’s economic future better by building a railway station. To get there, they had to get across the river,” said Netz.
At first, Hill wanted to build an iron bridge directly over nearby St Anthony Falls but his engineer told him that would destroy the falls. So they started construction just to the south in 1882, with 600 people working around the clock.
Five trains a day carried limestone, granite, and marble quarried in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
“The idea behind the stone is that it could hold a lot of weight and I think James J Hill, his ego was in it too. It’s a big bridge. It’s very much a testament to his power, to his wealth and to his capability. No one was denying James J Hill and his ability once this bridge was constructed,” said MnDOT historian Katie Haun Schuring.
When the project was finished 22 months later, it was considered a modern marvel, with its 23 stone arches, S-shaped structure and six degree curve at the end creating a smooth and scenic path to bring passengers into the heart of Minneapolis.
At its peak, nearly 100 trains a day crossed the bridge and helped Hill expand his empire and conquer The West.
“It was considered a folly at the time. People didn’t really think it was a great idea. Construction was very expensive, but time has told a different tale,” said Haun Schuring.
The Stone Arch remained a railroad bridge until the late 1970s when it was abandoned, as the public began to use the interstate highway system for travel and commerce instead. It sat unused until the 90’s when it was refurbished as a pedestrian and bike bridge with a new deck and decorative railings.
“In the 90s, there was this idea of rails to trails where abandoned rail lines would become trail systems. Here’s this great resource in the middle of Minneapolis that is no longer being used as a rail line so what can we do with it? Turning it into a pedestrian bridge, a trail system made a lot of sense,” said Haun Schuring.
Over the years, two arches were replaced by a steel truss for the lock and dam and two others are now supported by concrete because of a flood. But more work needs to be done, so the bridge is now closed to replace the mortar and some stones to preserve the bridge for the future.
“I think it is one of the most important and interesting bridges in the state. I think it tells the story of one man’s rise to power and fortune. It tells the story of transportation use over time from railroads to trails. I think it is also one of those things that if it weren’t there, there would be a big loss within the community,” said Haun Schuring.
The Stone Arch is the only bridge of its kind on the Mississippi and the second oldest bridge on the river.
It is also on the National Register Of Historic Places, a vital link in the center of the city for more than a century.
“There are more bridges that have more technical complexity to them, but there is only one Stone Arch,” said Netz.
Minneapolis, MN
Man dead, 2 others hurt in overnight shooting in Minneapolis
Police say two people were hurt and one other man died.
A homicide investigation is underway in Minneapolis after a shooting early Friday morning killed one man and hurt two others.
Minneapolis police were called to the area of East Franklin Avenue and Chicago Avenue at around 12:30 a.m.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS cameras caught more than 65 evidence markers scattered across the ground in the area and shattered glass at a bus shelter. Some nearby businesses also appeared to have some damage.
Minneapolis police are still working to determine what led up to the shooting and who was involved but investigators say first responders found the three men suffering from gunshot wounds.
One injured man is in his 40s, the other in his 50s, police say. Both were taken to a hospital by ambulance.
The third man died at the scene. His name and age haven’t yet been publicly released.
Police say early information suggests the men were on a sidewalk when at least one person opened fire, then fled in a vehicle.
So far, no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call police at 612-673-5845 to leave a voicemail or email policetips@minneapolismn.gov.
“This is a tragic and deeply disturbing act of violence that has taken a life, and left others seriously injured,” MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said. “This kind of violence is unacceptable, and we are committed to identifying those responsible and holding them accountable.”
Minneapolis police investigating alleyway shooting near East Franklin Avenue
It comes less than 30 hours after another serious shooting along East Franklin Avenue, just a half-mile west of Friday’s scene. That incident left a man hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening gunshot wound. No arrests have been announced in that case either.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is still working to learn more about this shooting. Stay with KSTP-TV for the latest updates on air and on the KSTP app.
Minneapolis, MN
A Minneapolis woman recounts death of Alex Pretti as lawyers eye a class action lawsuit
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis woman who confronted federal immigration officers alongside Alex Pretti in January was among a group of potential litigants who spoke out Thursday about alleged excessive force against people protesting or monitoring the enforcement surge in Minnesota.
Georgia Savageford, who introduced herself as Wynnie at a news conference, said she was inside an officer’s vehicle when she saw federal agents shoot Pretti.
“That day has changed me forever,” she said. “The trauma will haunt me for the rest of my life, and I will never be the same.”
Savageford said she had been legally observing the actions of federal officers in Minneapolis ever since the shooting death of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Jan. 7. She said she was doing so again on the morning of Jan. 24 when an agent pushed her twice and caused her to fall.
“As I was going down, three agents proceeded to tackle me and drag me face-down into the middle of the street. They knelt on my back, twisted my arms and my legs to the ground, and handcuffed me. The cuffs were so tight I lost feeling in my hands, which resulted in temporary nerve damage,” she recounted.
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond Thursday to emails seeking comment. Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration on Tuesday for access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate the killings.
Savageford said Pretti recorded video of her arrest and yelled at agents to leave her alone.
She said the officers put her in the back of a vehicle, from which she saw agents shoot and kill Pretti on the other side of the street.
“At that moment, I thought I was going to die too. I pleaded with the agents to understand why another life was taken, and to not take mine,” she said.
She added that they told her to shut up and to stop being hysterical. She said they then took her to an ICE holding facility where she was held for 12 hours in a cold cell without ready access to food, water or the bathroom until she was released without being charged.
“I did not know him, but I knew he had my back,” she said of Pretti. “I know the kind of heart he had. One that loves and protects without limits.”
Savageford shared her story at a news conference where civil rights attorney John Burris, of Oakland, California, and other lawyers laid out how they’re paving the way for potential class-action lawsuits over alleged excessive force used against protesters and monitors.
Burris, who specializes in police misconduct, helped win an $11 million settlement against the Oakland Police Department in 2003, and helped win a civil jury verdict of $3.8 million for the late motorist Rodney King, who was beaten by Los Angeles police officers in 1991.
He said he and his colleagues have filed complaints with federal agencies involved in the Minnesota enforcement surge on behalf of 10 people, including Savageford, as the first step in a process that’s likely to lead to a larger class-action lawsuit.
“We have many others that are under investigation that have not completed the process. But I thought it was important for us to start this process now. Put the government on notice that we’re here,” Burris said.
Minneapolis, MN
Boy who shielded classmate during school shooting receives Medal of Honor
WASHINGTON (TNND) — A fifth grader from Minneapolis received the Citizen Honor Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Victor Greenawalt jumped in front of his friend during a mass shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
Weston Halsne told local station KARE 11 that Greenawalt saved his life.
“It was really scary,” Halsne told KARE 11. “My friend Victor, like, saved me, though. Because he laid on top of me. But he got hit.”
Two students were killed and several were injured after a shooter opened fire through the windows of the church last year. The shooter died on the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Congressional Medal Society said in a statement that Greenawalt showed “extraordinary bravery far beyond his years.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 3: Flowers line a pathway to Annunciation Catholic Church as U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visit to pay their respects to victims of the shooting there on September 3, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The shooting left two students dead and many more wounded. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski-Pool/Getty Images)
“Instinctively, Victor protected a classmate with his own body, directly saving their life during the attack,” the society said in a written statement. “His courage and selflessness became a powerful symbol of hope and humanity for a community in crisis.”
Greenawalt was hospitalized following the shooting, according to a verified GoFundMe page. His sister was also injured.
He flew to Washington with his family on Wednesday to accept the award.
Greeenawalt met with Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., while on Capitol Hill. The ceremony also included a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery.
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He received the Young Hero award, which honors individuals age 17 or younger for their courage.
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