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Minneapolis townhome fire leaves 5 displaced

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Minneapolis townhome fire leaves 5 displaced


The townhomes that caught fire Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis.  (FOX 9)

A fire at a Minneapolis townhome left five people displaced Saturday afternoon. 

What we know

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According to the Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD), just after 4 p.m., fire crews responded to residential townhomes in the 300 block of 17th Avenue Northeast on reports of smoke and fire on the roof of the building. 

Once at the scene, fire crews found the fire on the roof and evacuated a construction crew from the roof. They then worked to extinguish the fire. 

Firefighters learned the fire had extended from the roof into the attic of two of the residential units in the building, and all the residents of the townhome on fire and all adjacent townhomes were evacuated. 

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A second alarm was called on the fire for extra help and equipment to combat the fire, officials said. At one point, firefighters had to open the interior ceiling of both units on fire to extinguish it. 

No injuries were reported, and one cat was rescued unharmed, authorities said. Four residential units were deemed uninhabitable, and five people were displaced. 

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The Red Cross was called in to assist those who were displaced. 

What we don’t know

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 



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Minneapolis, MN

Local activists call for Target boycott after the Minneapolis-based retailer rolled back DEI initiatives

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Local activists call for Target boycott after the Minneapolis-based retailer rolled back DEI initiatives


Racial justice group leaders called for a national boycott of Target during a rally Thursday in front of the offices of the Minneapolis-based retailer.

Target announced last week that it would end its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and investments. The initiatives include a program it established aimed at helping Black employees build meaningful careers, improving the experience of Black shoppers and promoting Black-owned businesses, following the police killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Becky Dankowski holds an anti-Target sign during a news conference outside Target Corporation’s headquarters.

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

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Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong said the boycott against Target will begin on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month.

She said they believe Target phasing out DEI programs is “completely unacceptable.”

Levy Armstrong, who had her 7-year-old daughter Assata Armstrong by her side, said the group believes that “this decision was not made independently by Target, but it was made as a result of the pressure that is coming from the White House and the administration under Donald Trump.”

“They acted cowardly, and they made the decision to bow down to the Trump administration when we are here today, saying we will not bow down,” Levy Armstrong said.

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She added that different ethnic groups and races make up the “fabric of America and our presence in this country should be embraced.”

She and others at the event urged people to shop at businesses that are committed to DEI efforts.

Community members protest against Target

Protesters hold signs, including a repurposed Target bag reading “You said ‘expect more.’ We do!” during a demonstration outside Target Corporation’s headquarters.

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Another rally speaker, activist Sheletta Brundidge, also addressed the crowd with her daughter by her side. She said the community shouldn’t have to wage battles repeatedly.

“I don’t want to fight the same fight that my grandmother fought in. I don’t want my daughter to be out here with Nekima’s daughter in 20 years fighting the same battle. Which is why we have to make our voices heard now,” Brundidge said. “We have to create lasting change, and we have to stop shopping at Target.”

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The announcement from Target follows an executive order by President Donald Trump to end federal DEI programs.

Target said in its next chapter, they will continue to create “inclusive work and guest environments that welcome all.”

“Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, wrote in a memo to employees, which Target shared Friday. “As a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”

Nekima Levy Armstrong said the company “didn’t understand that its decision was not only offensive, but it’s bad for business.”

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Akshay Rao, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota, agrees. He told MPR News that ending DEI programs could alienate customers.

“Choosing to not incorporate those points of view is going to limit their ability to cater to those people, and that will have an effect not only because those people will go elsewhere but because competitors will then leap into the fray and say, ‘hey come talk to me. I’m friendly to you,’” Rao said.

Community members protest against Target

Nekima Levy Armstrong, a local civil rights lawyer and activist speaks to media during a news conference outside Target Corporation’s headquarters.

Kerem Yücel | MPR News

In response to Target’s announcement, Twin Cities Pride removed the company from its June LGBTQ+ festival.

“The community is just very disappointed that someone like Target, who has been a staple in our corner for so many years, has made this decision and not made the decision to stand up against those who are fighting against us,” said Twin Cities Pride executive director Andi Otto.

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis City Council to vote on imposing fees for MPD officers' off-duty work

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Minneapolis City Council to vote on imposing fees for MPD officers' off-duty work


The Minneapolis City Council plans to vote on an ordinance that would charge fees for city police officers who participate in off-duty work.  

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MPD off-duty police work 

Big picture view:

The new ordinance would allow the city to charge fees to Minneapolis Police Department officers who use city-issued weapons, uniforms and vehicles to conduct off-duty work. The goal of the ordinance is to help recoup the costs associated with these activities and offset the administration liability coverage expenses. 

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Estimates based on MPD data suggest these fees could have generated up to $1.4 million in 2024, according to the city council. 

The ordinance was unanimously passed by the Minneapolis Public Health and Safety Committee on Jan. 22, sending it to the full council for a vote.

What’s next:

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The Minneapolis City Council will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, followed by a press conference after the meeting adjourns. 

The backstory:

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A court ruling from the mid-1990s mandates that Minneapolis must allow MPD officers to participate in off-duty work – enabling them to take private security jobs paid directly by private companies. While working these jobs, the officers use city-issued weapons, vehicles, uniforms, and are covered by city liability.

Minneapolis City CouncilMinneapolis Police DepartmentCrime and Public Safety



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Minneapolis, MN

Lucky Cat Records brings good fortune to iconic corner

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Lucky Cat Records brings good fortune to iconic corner


When it comes to the evolution of Minnesota music, few intersections are as instrumental as 26th and Lyndale in south Minneapolis.

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Michelle Swanson, Lucky Cat Records owner (FOX 9)

A new spin on a local landmark

What we know:

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At Lucky Cat Records, vinyl heads can get their fix from the store’s new and vintage stacks of wax, but it is also a mini-museum for the local music scene.

“With all the history here, it’s really big shoes to fill,” said owner Michele Swanson.

Swanson opened the shop this past summer after learning the historic space was available, even though the retired Delta Airlines manager had never run a record store before.

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“It’s something I never planned on. There’s a pie in the sky sort of idea that came to fruition and it’s just been fantastic,” said Swanson.

When it began

The backstory:

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Back in the 70s and 80s, the space was home to Oak Folkjokeopus, which was a mecca for legendary local bands like The Suburbs, Soul Asylum and Husker Du, who hung out to listen to punk and post punk records, while also frequenting the CC Club across the street for a drink.

In fact, The Replacements were discovered here when their frontman Paul Westerberg handed the band’s demo to their future manager Peter Jesperson, who was working at Oar Folk.

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After Oar Folkjokeopus closed in 2001, employee Mark Trehus ran Treehouse Records in the building until 2017.

The shop sat empty for 7 years until Swanson decided to bring another record store to the neighborhood.

“This space is so special and I really wanted to make sure to honor the past, not only Oar Folk and Treehouse and what came before, but all the artists and all the music community,” said Swanson.

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Dropping the needle on a new era

What they’re saying:

There are nods to the past beyond just the posters on the wall.

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The sign out front is in the same font as the one for Oar Folkjokeopus.

For opening weekend last July, Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson performed in the store with a surprise encore with the son of Minnesota legend Bob Dylan, Jacob Dylan and The Wallflowers, who happened to have a show in town.

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Swanson named her shop after the items she saw in every storefront while traveling in Japan with Delta, but she hopes her focus on local music will hit a groove with a new generation of fans without skipping a beat.

“It’s been just amazing being able to open a record store in this kind of hallowed spot and this place. We just hope to continue to be part of the community and to be something that’s valuable and also a place where we can continue to educate people about the past,” said Swanson.

Maury’s StoriesEntertainmentMinneapolis
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