MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – While the number of stolen vehicles continues to decline across the region, one issue still haunting law enforcement is young people targeting Kias and Hyundais.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told FOX 9, the so-called “Kia boys” remain a top public safety threat in the city. On Sunday night, one of his officers was injured when young people in a stolen Kia crashed into a police squad car.

For Shauna Valdez, she recalls having little time to react during her recent run-in with the Kia boys.

“It all happened so fast,” Valdez said. “As they say, in the blink of an eye, anything could happen. And that was it.”

Valdez, a mental health counselor, was driving her client southbound on one-way Portland Avenue in south Minneapolis last week when she caught a glimpse of a Kia coming towards her, from her left, along 31st Street. The driver did not stop at the red light, plowing into Valdez’s vehicle practically head-on.

“It was a shock. I thought it was actually smoke. That is what it looked like to me. But it was just shocking,” Valdez told FOX 9’s Paul Blume during an interview back at the crash scene. Her car was totaled. “I thought he was going to see me and slow down, but he didn’t at all. So, I almost think maybe he meant to hit me. Like, maybe they think that is fun, I don’t know.”

Valdez and her passenger are just the latest victims of a crime trend that has wreaked havoc on the streets of the state’s largest city for several years now — young car thieves turning easily stolen Kias and Hyundais into what seems like their own video game adventures.

“It is crazy,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “I am sure people see it on the street. They see it in videos posted online.”

Chief O’Hara described countless incidents of reckless, high-speed driving, quick-hitting robbery sprees involving packs of youth in stolen vehicles, and on occasion, deadly rolling shootouts.

“This problem is frustrating because it feels like it is something we should be able to prevent at this point,” added O’Hara.

On Sunday night, MPD reported a group of young suspects in a stolen red Kia Sol was involved in a multi-vehicle crash that included a Minneapolis squad car. The officer inside was injured and sent to the hospital.

Among the suspects rounded up in the aftermath was an 11-year-old boy as well as 22-year-old Jahkel Oneal. Oneal was charged with a gross misdemeanor weapons violation and a single misdemeanor count of obstructing the legal process on Tuesday. 

Said O’Hara, “So many kids out here stealing them and joyriding them and really driving crazy. It is really, a significant public safety risk to our community. It is a risk to these own kids’ health and well-being.”

The squad crash involving a stolen Kia (Supplied)

Advertisement

Despite the hassle of a totaled vehicle, Valdez said she knows all too well her run-in with the Kia boys could have ended a whole lot worse.

“I just thought to myself, ‘I actually could have died.’ Like, I am lucky to be alive, you know?” said Valdez. “So, this is not victimless by any means. They could kill people. They could kill themselves. These young folks have a whole life ahead of them.”

Fortunately for Valdez, outside of some bumps and bruises, she is doing fine. Insurance provided a new vehicle. The Kia boys who hit her in their stolen vehicle were captured in a blurry cell phone photograph, running from the crash scene, and have not been either identified or apprehended as far as she knows.

Valdez personally blames the Kia and Hyundai automakers for not doing more to prevent the thefts of their cars and SUVs, and like the Minneapolis police chief, hopes the community can somehow figure out the issue.

“I think it is sad, you know, and I do my best to hold some empathy,” concluded Valdez. “These young folks must not have good home lives to be out doing stuff like this. And so, I wish society could do something to help them have some sense of hope and make some changes.”

“Good Morning America” dedicated more than four minutes of airtime Tuesday to celebrate the “St. Anthony Main neighborhood,” the artsy area along the Mississippi River across from downtown Minneapolis.

In a live segment in front of the Main Cinema, correspondent Alex Perez called the area in the Marcy Holmes neighborhood a “hidden gem” as about two dozen locals held up signs proclaiming their love for the Twin Cities.

A taped segment gave viewers a quick history lesson of the area and spotlighted folks including Aster Cafe general manager Shane Arundel, water taxi operator Cory Parkos and Bill Neuenschwander, who leads Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront. After nodding to the TC Swing classes that take place in the area, Perez introduced a couple who showed off their moves on cobblestone SE. Main Street.

Back in the New York studio, the show’s hosts burst into the applause. No one cheered louder than ABC News chief business reporter Rebecca Jarvis, who grew up in Minnesota.

“Minneapolis represents!” she said before tacking on the fact she used to take art classes not far from where Perez was broadcasting.

The segment was part of “GMA’s” regular series, “Main Street USA,” which kicked off last July in Stillwater.

The long-running morning show, which airs locally from 7 to 9 a.m., will visit Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday.

Delta to Tulum

Delta Air Lines is expanding its warm-weather options for next winter, including an all-new connection to a Mexican gem. With little fanfare last week, Delta added weekly flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul to the new airport in Tulum, Mexico (TQO), on Saturdays from Dec. 21 to April 5. The Caribbean coastal town is considered a more laid-back alternative to nearby Cancun, and a gateway to the all-inclusive resorts of the Riviera Maya. On July 1, we spotted round-trip fares for Jan. 4-11 as low as $469 in economy, or 30,000 SkyMiles plus $110. (Those prices are subject to change.) The four-hour flight is on a Boeing 737-800.

Delta previously announced it was adding service from MSP to the Caribbean islands of Aruba and St. Maarten, and increasing flights to Grand Cayman and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sun Country Airlines also flies the latter four routes.

Simon Peter Groebner

‘The Bear’ food tour in Chicago

Claudia Dietrich and Ross Lloyd boarded a bus bound for the hottest tourist spot in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The couple weren’t deterred by the winding line out the front door. Their destination? Mr. Beef, the no-frills sandwich joint featured on Hulu’s smash hit “The Bear.” It’s the first stop on a guided food tour inspired by the series. A traditional Chicago sandwich shop may seem like an unconventional excursion. But since “The Bear” debuted, tourists have flocked to Mr. Beef, which opened in 1963. Chicago Food & City Tours began the themed excursions in November after months of requests from guests. The tour is modeled after an episode when sous chef Sydney treks across the city to try different restaurants “This is something that brought us to Chicago, there’s no doubt about that,” said Dietrich, a 72-year-old Milwaukee resident. “I just think the show is so authentic. And you can practically taste the food when you watch.”

Chicago Tribune

Airbnb vs. hotels

Upgraded Points recently analyzed average nightly rates for hotels and Airbnbs in 100 of the largest U.S. cities to reveal where it’s worth it to book a hotel stay over an Airbnb or vice versa. Airbnb was determined to be more cost-effective in 71 of the 100 cities, with an average nightly rate of $156 (entire homes only) compared with $208 for hotels. In some cities in the Midwest, the difference was roughly $200 per night.

The top U.S. cities where hotels cost more than Airbnbs included: Milwaukee (hotel average $351 vs. Airbnb average $138); Chicago (hotel average $364 vs. Airbnb average $166) Omaha (hotel $343 vs. Airbnb $145); and Cleveland (hotel $322 vs. Airbnb $125).

The top U.S. cities where Airbnbs cost more than hotels included: Madison, Wis. (Airbnb $223 vs. hotel $167); Tucson (Airbnb $142 vs. hotel $99); Bakersfield, Calif. (Airbnb $164 vs. hotel $123); and Jackson, Miss. (Airbnb $1501 vs. hotel $113).

TravelPulse