Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis offers $2 million a year to host the Sundance Film Festival
The city of Minneapolis is vying for the chance to host the Sundance Film Festival in 2027 and beyond, and has pledged $2 million in annual support to back it up.
“With our thriving arts and entertainment scene, diverse cultural heritage and passionate film community, Minneapolis is the ideal backdrop for the Sundance Film Festival,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a news release. “There is no city that embraces the arts quite like we do — and Minneapolis already has a long history of supporting independent filmmakers and their art of storytelling. Sundance would be a welcome addition to our theater community, and we’re excited to throw our hat in the ring to host this world-renowned festival.”
In April, Sundance organizers announced they were looking for a new location for the festival, which has called Utah home since its founding in 1985. The festival has faced leadership and sponsorship problems as well as declining attendance in recent years. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously moved to bid for the festival and the city submitted its proposal on June 21.
The CEOs from Target, Best Buy and U.S. Bancorp have committed to provide $2 million each year to sustain and grow the festival. “Everybody wants to be a part of this,” said Film North executive director Andrew Peterson.
In its pitch, Minneapolis touted its “unparalleled private sector, philanthropic and governmental support for the festival, combined with robust existing infrastructure, a nation-leading arts and culture scene, and its welcoming and inclusive community.”
According to Deadline, Sundance will send a search committee to potential new home cities over the next few months. A decision is expected to be made public during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will take place in late January. San Francisco, Chicago, Boulder, Atlanta, Buffalo and Santa Fe have also expressed interest in hosting the festival.
Founded in 1978 by the head of Robert Redford’s production company, Sundance set out to showcase American-made films, highlight the potential of independent film and increase visibility for filmmaking in Utah.
Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russell, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, Kevin Smith and Robert Rodriguez are among the many directors who earned vital early exposure through the festival.
Minneapolis, MN
MN weather: Bright with highs in the 50s Monday
Expect a pleasant Monday with light breezes, filtered sunshine, and highs in the 50s. Temperatures cool into the 40s this week with chances for rain and snow. FOX 9 meteorologist Cody Matz has the full forecast.
Minneapolis, MN
Murder charges filed in 2020 shooting that took life of young mother
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A man who admitted to firing the shots that killed an 18-year-old mother in south Minneapolis back in May 2020 is charged with murder.
The criminal complaint names Malcom Chan Johnson, 33, of Minneapolis, as a suspect in the fatal shooting after he told police he didn’t know there was a woman in the car he was shooting at.
The shooting claimed the life of Arionna Buckanaga, who was set to graduate high school a month after she was shot.
READ MORE: Vigil held for woman shot in vehicle in south Minneapolis
Man charged for 2020 shooting death of Arionna Buckanaga
Fatal shooting:
Court documents show the shooting happened near the intersection of 39th Street East and Cedar Avenue South in Minneapolis at about 11:25 p.m. on May 4, 2020.
Officers found Arionna in the driver’s seat of a crashed Ford Mustang, with a gunshot wound to her head. She died at the hospital days later.
Her boyfriend, who was a passenger in the Mustang, told police he did not know who shot at the vehicle.
Investigation:
The criminal complaint states officers found an abandoned Chevy Suburban with bullet holes in the hood about a mile-and-a-half away from the scene of the shooting. The bullet holes appeared to be consistent with the driver of the vehicle shooting over the hood and accidentally striking the vehicle.
Investigators also found 32 shell casings at the scene of the shooting. About two weeks later, police found two Glock 9mm handguns in a compost bin about eight blocks away from the shooting. Law enforcement officials determined the two guns fired the 32 shots.
DNA swabs taken from the Suburban were found to match Malcom Chan Johnson and another man, Namiri Tanner. Tests on the firearms also revealed a mixture of DNA that also matched Tanner.
Court documents say authorities then spoke to a witness on March 20, 2025, who told them Johnson confessed to the shooting and that Johnson had a “gang feud” with Arionna’s boyfriend.
Confession:
Police then spoke to Namiri Tanner, who is in a federal prison in Kentucky.
The complaint states Tanner confessed to shooting at the Mustang and from the passenger’s seat and said that Johnson was shooting from the driver’s seat, firing over the hood. Tanner added that the two men abandoned the Suburban and ditched the guns in a trash can.
Authorities then interviewed Johnson on March 4, 2026. He admitted driving the Suburban and firing one of the guns.
Johnson said he thought Arionna’s boyfriend was in the Mustang, but didn’t know she was as well, and said he did not mean to kill her, according to the complaint.
What we don’t know:
It’s unclear if Tanner will face charges in the case. Tanner is being held in federal prison on a drug case. However, it appears he is due to be released next month.
The Source: This story uses information from a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County Court and previous FOX 9 reporting.
Minneapolis, MN
Railyard fire in Minneapolis: Six semi-tractors burned
The semi-tractors that were on fire in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Early Saturday, the Minneapolis Fire Department responded to several semi-tractors on fire in a railyard.
Crews respond to fires and explosions
What we know:
Firefighters arrived at the railyard at 29th Avenue Northeast and Central Avenue Northeast around 12:15 a.m. They found six semi-tractors fully engulfed in flames.
Authorities say the railroad company confirmed that there were no hazardous materials in the area, and Xcel Energy was contacted to shut down a nearby electrical line exposed to the fire.
The fire came under control in about 20 minutes, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported in the incident.
What we don’t know:
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown as investigations continue.
The Source: Information from the Minneapolis Fire Department.
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