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Minneapolis firefighters form first all-Native American crew

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Minneapolis firefighters form first all-Native American crew


Growing up as a kid in Minneapolis, Johnny Crow never saw Native American firefighters manning the trucks responding to emergencies in his Phillips neighborhood south of downtown.

Still, it didn’t deter Crow, a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, from becoming a firefighter for the city — a decision he looks back on with pride.

“That made a huge difference in the community for them to see a Native man with long hair that looks like me on a fire rig going to 911 calls,” Crow said.

About six months ago Crow, 37, and three other Minneapolis firefighters — Bobby Headbird, 38, Capt. Michael Graves, 41, and fire motor operator Jesse Strong, 45 — teamed up at Fire Station 6 downtown to respond to emergency calls on Engine 10. It’s the first time the city has had an all-Native crew, who spoke about their jobs ahead of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday.

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Graves, who was recently promoted to captain, said bringing the crew together was intentional, with the goal of showing Native American kids and adults alike that they can also work for the fire department. The four said they hope it can help build trust between the department and the communities they serve.

“That they would see people that look like them, and kids could see someone to look up to and something to aspire to, that was a big conversation we had,” said Graves, a member of the Red Lake Nation.

Along with responding to fires and emergency medical calls, the group has gone to various community events in the city’s Little Earth and Franklin neighborhoods, which both have high Native American populations. The response has been positive, Graves said, with some captains telling him callers will sometimes say they wish the all-Native crew would be the ones to respond.

“We had a call not far from here where it was unhoused Natives, and when we showed up, they were just completely different than when another crew responded,” Graves said.



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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records

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Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records


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:

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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. 

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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. 

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“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. 

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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

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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HiFi Hair and Records continues to be a place where music and style meet, giving Minnesota’s music scene a little extra volume.

Maury’s StoriesMinneapolis



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Minneapolis, MN

Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run

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Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run


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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Police say they are looking for more than one suspect involved in the shooting.

What we don’t know:

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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)

EdinaCrime and Public Safety
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Ellison, Minneapolis, St. Paul update lawsuit against Operation Metro Surge with new data

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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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