Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis city leaders consider plan to retain violence interrupters in Cedar Riverside
The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday will discuss a proposal to include the Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park neighborhoods in the latest round of contracts for violence interruption services.
The discussion comes as the council considers contracts to fund interrupters in several other parts of the city, but not the areas that stretch from the edge of downtown to the West Bank of the University of Minnesota campus.
Ward 6 Council member Jamal Osman, who represents the area, is critical of the administration’s decision not to include these neighborhoods in the latest round of contracts.
“This program has consistently demonstrated its value, playing a crucial role in reducing violence, de-escalating conflicts and fostering trust within our community,” wrote Osman in a newsletter to constituents. “By choosing to eliminate these services, the administration is not only disregarding the evidence of their success but also abandoning the very community that has benefitted from their presence.”
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At a council committee meeting last week, Neighborhood Safety Deputy Director Lea Lakes told Osman and other members of the council that the city selected eight areas to receive violence interrupter services based on five years of crime data.
“And does that mean this specific region we’re talking about — the West Bank, Cedar Riverside area — is it showing there’s less violence and that we don’t need the program,” asked Osman.
“It indicates that it is not in the top eight areas of violence,” replied Lakes.
Violence interrupters first came to the area in 2021 and according to officials with the Elliot Park Neighborhood, served until the contract ended in October of 2024. Osman added that the reduction in crime in his ward is a testament to the effectiveness of the program and said it doesn’t make sense to eliminate something that’s already working.
Some Ward 6 residents agree with Osman’s assessment.
Zeynab Abukar has lived in the Cedar Riverside area for the past two decades.
“When I heard about the cut, I was so stressed,” she said. “I was like, do I have to go back to, like, 20 years ago. Do we have to go back to violence?”
The proposal drew spirited debate among council members and was forwarded to Thursday’s meeting without recommendation. A few council members pointed to the lack of some violence prevention services in their wards and called for a more equitable way to cover communities in need.
“Some of us represent wards that aren’t as privileged or don’t have as much wealth compared to other places in our city, and should be having more equitable resources into our neighborhoods to address the disparities institutional racism, the impact that violence has in some of our neighborhoods,” said Council member Jason Chavez, who represents neighborhoods in the south central and south east areas of the city.
“And that needs to be considered in this process.”
MPR News reporter Cari Spencer contributed to this story.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis salon is turning heads by mixing rock and roll with haircuts, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for music lovers.
A salon where music and haircuts go hand in hand
What we know:
HiFi Hair and Records sits on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, marked by a leopard print awning and a vibe that’s all about community through music.
“I tried to model it after a barbershop,” said Jonny Clifford, owner of the salon.
Clifford opened the shop in 2011, inspired by his father who introduced him to music and was battling terminal cancer at the time.
The salon brings together the hum of blow dryers and the sounds of rock and roll, with Clifford saying, “Music is the uniter. Most everyone who is alive today grew up on rock and roll.”
He added a record store the following year, letting customers browse new and used vinyl and CDs while waiting for their appointment.
“I jokingly refer to it as the coolest waiting room in the city,” said Clifford.
The shop is filled with memorabilia from music legends like Elvis, David Bowie and The Monkees. There’s even a wall dedicated to Minnesota’s local music scene.
Clifford said, “We’ve got Bobby V who I think never gets enough credit for his contributions to music in Minnesota.”
Clifford’s journey from punk haircuts to community hub
Why you should care:
Clifford started cutting hair in the early 1980s because he and his friends in southwest Minneapolis couldn’t afford the punk haircuts they wanted.
Now, he not only looks the part—”Ronny Wood, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, I’m always like old Keith Richards or young Keith Richards”—but he helps others feel like rock stars too.
“People are like make me look like a rock star and that is sort of a universal term right. Everyone wants to look like a rock star,” said Clifford.
His goal is simple:
“If I can make a living and raise my family, pay my bills, have a business and be a part of a community, that is important to me. I win. That’s everything,” said Clifford.
He is passionate about giving a boost to local musicians, saying, “I think they need it more. I love Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones, but they are doing fine. Our local people haven’t made it national yet. They could use a voice. They could use a boost, and they need to be heard.”
The salon’s rhythm is all about joy, music and community, and Clifford plans to keep it going.
“Til I kick over. I’ll probably be back standing behind the chair. And someone will complain I didn’t finish their haircut,” said Clifford.
HiFi Hair and Records continues to be a place where music and style meet, giving Minnesota’s music scene a little extra volume.
EDINA, Minn. (FOX 9) – A deadly shooting in Edina sparked a massive police response and forced a lockdown at nearby businesses at Southdale Mall on Wednesday as police are searching for the suspects.
Deadly Edina shooting
What we know:
Edina police responded around 12:30 p.m. to the report of a shooting along West 66th Street near Southdale Mall.
At the scene, officers found one victim with a gunshot wound. Officers tried to revive the victim but say they ultimately died from their wounds.
Local perspective:
Police say the suspects ran from the scene. As a precaution, they advised nearby businesses to go into lockdown. FOX 9 learned that MHealth Fairview also went into lockdown procedures as a precaution.
Aerial video from the scene showed the investigation appeared to be focused around an apartment building across from the mall. Police say the apartment building is described as a transitional housing.
Avoid the area
Big picture view:
Police are asking the public to avoid the area as the investigation is underway. Officers have blocked off West 66th for the time being.
Police say they are looking for more than one suspect involved in the shooting.
What we don’t know:
Police say some people were taken into custody at the scene but it’s unclear what their role was in relation to the shooting.
Law enforcement near the 3300 block of W. 66th Street in Edina. (FOX 9)
Minneapolis, MN
Ellison, Minneapolis, St. Paul update lawsuit against Operation Metro Surge with new data
(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis and Saint Paul updated their lawsuit over Operation Metro Surge with new survey data on economic harm.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego conducted two surveys tied to the amended lawsuit. The lawsuit says the federal operation violated the Constitution and caused lasting economic damage.
The first survey was done between February and March and included nearly 1,400 residents. It found workers lost more than $240 million in wages during the operation.
A separate newly released survey of about 900 businesses found more than $600 million in lost revenue. The updated lawsuit from Keith Ellison and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul adds that new data to its claims.
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