Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council considering fees for off-duty police work
Minneapolis City Council considering fees for off-duty police work
There’s a push for more oversight of the off-duty work of Minneapolis Police Department officers. They’re allowed to accept off-duty assignments under the police union contract with the city.
Some city council members want a clearer picture of how city resources are being used when officers are doing that work. The Minneapolis City Council voted 9 to 2 on Thursday to start considering implementing fees to recoup the cost of city resources being used during off-duty work by officers.
“I’m really glad we’re speaking about this,” said Council Member Jamal Osman, who represents Ward 6. “I think it’s smart to know what the cost of taxpayers’ money is.”
The council authorized the city attorney to draft an ordinance allowing the city to collect fees for off-duty use of city resources. Members also moved forward with a fee study to look at MPD’s use of vehicles, uniforms and other resources during off-duty work.
Council President Elliot Payne previously said it will allow the city to better track and manage the system.
“Police officers are taking on essentially gig work and they’re pocketing that as direct employment and they’re utilizing city resources,” said Payne during Thursday’s meeting.
Off-duty police work has been under scrutiny for years. Concerns surfaced during the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor, who served prison time for shooting and killing Justin Ruszczyk Damond during an on-duty shift after he worked for hours at a private business.
A 2023 Department of Justice investigation found the jobs pay significantly more than overtime at MPD and “the officer keeps all the compensation, the city gets nothing.” The investigation said “off-duty employment also undermines supervision at MPD”, noting private entities hire the officers.
“We absolutely need to know who is out there, when they’re out there and where they’re at,” said Council Member Andrea Jenkins, who represents Ward 8.
She told 5 EYEWITTNESS NEWS more oversight of the system is needed but she questions whether a fee system is the right choice.
“I do think there is some public good that’s being served even if those police officers are off-duty,” said Jenkins. “Having police in uniform even if they’re off duty, per se, serves as a deterrent but also if something does happen, they’re right there.”
During the council meeting, Jenkins questioned how a fee would work if the officer has to respond to a call.
“Today’s action is to work with the City Attorney’s Office to be able to be responsive to those exact considerations,” responded Payne.
Details, such as who will pay the fee and what the fee will be, are expected to be worked out as the process moves forward. The process of drafting an ordinance will likely take weeks if not months. Further discussion by council members will follow.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Office of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette and Mayor Jacob Frey declined to comment following the vote.
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis did not respond to KSTP’s requests for comment.
Minneapolis, MN
Truck driver dead after crash sends Metro Transit bus into home in south Minneapolis
It happened early Monday morning in Minneapolis.
One person is dead and another is hospitalized after an early-morning crash in south Minneapolis on Monday that sent a Metro Transit bus into a home.
It happened at around 4 a.m. at 10th Avenue South and East 38th Street, just a few blocks east of George Floyd Square.
A spokesperson for Metro Transit police tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that a truck was speeding down 10th Avenue when it hit the back of the bus, ripping a tire off the bus and sending it into the front of a home.
The driver of that truck died, according to Metro Transit police, while the driver of the bus was taken to a hospital but is expected to be OK.
Officials say nobody besides the driver was on the bus at the time, and the home the bus hit was also empty at the time.
Investigators are still at the scene, working to clean up all of the debris and determine exactly what led up to the crash.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is at the scene and working to learn more. Download the KSTP app and follow 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on social media for the latest updates.
Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta Dream survive thriller in Minneapolis, edge Lynx 91-90 to open 2026 WNBA season
The Atlanta Dream trailed by double digits, fought back twice and still needed Angel Reese’s game-saving block in the final seconds to survive.
Atlanta opened the 2026 WNBA season with a 91-90 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night, powered by Allisha Gray’s 24 points, Te-Hina Paopao’s pull-up jumper with 12 seconds remaining, and a performance that left little doubt about what this team intends to do this season.
Reese’s block on Emese Hof’s layup attempt in the closing seconds sealed one of the most dramatic opening-night wins before 10,821 fans at Target Center.
When Minnesota pushed its advantage to 13 points in the second quarter and the Dream looked like they were in serious trouble, Allisha Gray took over. The veteran guard finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting, going a near-perfect 9-of-11 from the free throw line to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Gray’s ability to get to the line and convert kept Atlanta within striking distance throughout a game that could have spiraled out of control multiple times. She scored 11 points in the third quarter alone as the Dream chipped away at Minnesota’s lead.
Rhyne Howard was equally important on both ends, finishing with 15 points, five assists and three steals. Jordin Canada ran the offense efficiently with 12 points and six assists, and Paopao added six points and four assists in a composed performance off the bench.
With Atlanta trailing 85-87 and the clock winding down, Naz Hillmon stepped back and drained a 22-foot three-pointer with 2:44 left to tie the game and silence the fans in the Target Center. It was the shot of the night, and arguably the play that won Atlanta the game.
Hillmon finished with 15 points on an efficient 6-of-10 from the field, adding seven rebounds in 33 minutes. She was the Dream’s most reliable scorer off the bench and delivered her best basketball when Atlanta needed it most.
Rookie Madina Okot also impressed in her WNBA debut, scoring eight points on 3-of-6 shooting with four rebounds in just 10 minutes, showing the poise and physicality that earned her a roster spot out of training camp.
Angel Reese’s first game in a Dream uniform was complicated. She shot 4-of-11 from the field, committed five turnovers and picked up a first-quarter technical foul that gifted Minnesota a free point. At one point in the first half, she missed three consecutive shots on the same possession.
But Reese also grabbed 14 rebounds, nine on the offensive glass, blocked three shots, came up with two steals, and made the most important play of the game when it mattered most. Her block on Hof’s layup in the final seconds was the kind of athletic, instinctive play that changes games and defines seasons.
That is the player Atlanta acquired this offseason. On opening night, in the most pressure-packed moment of the game, she showed exactly why.
Minnesota had every opportunity to win this game and couldn’t finish it. Olivia Miles finished with 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting and eight assists to go along with eight free throws made. Kayla McBride scored 20 points and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:11 left that looked like it might be the dagger.
Courtney Williams added 14 points and six assists, and the Lynx shot 50 percent from the field, a number that should have been good enough to win.
But 15 turnovers and an inability to execute in the game’s final minute proved too costly. Minnesota had chances to put Atlanta away in the fourth quarter and couldn’t. The Dream made them pay every time.
Atlanta continues its opening road trip Tuesday against the Dallas Wings before returning home for the May 17 opener against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena. Minnesota hosts Atlanta again on May 27.
Minneapolis, MN
Woman dead after argument leads to shooting in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A shooting in south Minneapolis left a woman dead Saturday night.
Fatal shooting on Pillsbury Avenue South
What we know:
According to Minneapolis police, officers responded to a report of gunfire near Pillsbury Avenue South and West 25th Street around 5:30 p.m.
A woman was found at the scene with life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.
Police believe that an argument inside an apartment led to gunfire.
The suspected shooter fled the scene before police responded.
What we don’t know:
Police did not say what led up to the shooting or if they made any arrests.
The woman has not yet been identified.
What you can do:
Anyone with information on the shooting can call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or click here to submit a tip.
The Source: A press release from the Minneapolis Police Department.
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