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Minnesota DPS commissioner promises full review of deadly Minneapolis crash

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Minnesota DPS commissioner promises full review of deadly Minneapolis crash


After calls from the victim’s families for an independent investigation into the Minneapolis crash that killed five young women, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety commissioner promises families a review of the moments before the crash.

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At issue is a Minnesota State Patrol squad that was trailing the Escalade, which police say was driven by Derrick Thompson, before the Escalade collided with a car carrying the young women. The crash killed 20-year-old Sahra Gesaade, 20-year-old Salma Abdikadir, 19-year-old Segal Hersey, 19-year-old Siham Adam, and 17-year-old Sabiriin Ali, while an injured Thompson was allegedly able to run away from the scene before being arrested a short distance away.

According to charges, a state trooper clocked Thompson on I-35W in Minneapolis driving 95 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone “weaving in and out of traffic lanes in a reckless manner.” The trooper pulled out and attempted to catch up with Thompson, without activating the squad lights, but charges state Thompson quickly took an exit for Lake Street. Moments later, the Escalade collided with the victim’s vehicle.

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In a news conference on Monday, the families of the five victims laid blame on the trooper for chasing Thompson. In a letter to the CAIR Minnesota executive director, DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson made it clear that Thompson “was not being pursued,” citing Minnesota State Patrol’s assessment. He promised a review of the night but did not respond directly to calls for an independent investigation, instead putting faith behind the institutions already reviewing the crash.

Driver arrested for fatal Minneapolis crash pled guilty in earlier wreck

“The lawless and reckless behavior that took the lives of these five bright, thriving women is unacceptable,” wrote Jacobson, referencing Thompson’s actions. “There will be a thorough review of this entire incident, from the moment the trooper’s attention was drawn to the vehicle Mr. Thompson was driving, to his arrest after fleeing on foot.”

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Traffic camera video from the night of the collision shows the Escalade traveling at a high rate of speed down I-35W and onto the Lake Street exit, with a trooper following a distance behind.

“We want to see full accountability for this horrific tragedy. We have confidence in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and United States Attorney’s Office, both of which have reviewed the full incident for the criminal charges,” Jacobson added. “I want to ensure you are also aware that a homicide agent from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) responded to the scene and provided assistance to the Minneapolis Police Department. The BCA laboratory has conducted and continues to provide forensic analysis of the evidence. The State Patrol has also provided their technical expertise on the crash reconstruction.”

Jacobson also offered the families a chance to meet with him and review the squad video from the night of the crash.

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Minneapolis, MN

Readers Write: Gaetz, letters, political division, Election Day, Minneapolis City Council

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Readers Write: Gaetz, letters, political division, Election Day, Minneapolis City Council


What about retail workers, you may ask? Well, Black Friday has rightly been criticized for its imposition on Thanksgiving given its early start for shoppers and especially for employees. With the Friday recast as Election Day, stores would be disinclined to maintain their emphasis on this one shopping day, given the competition for media and public attention. They could instead put the third day of the four-day holiday weekend to good use, perhaps designating it as “Super Sale Saturday.” It’s likely that those fond of the new election results will be in a good spending mood, and those in distress about them will love a distracting day at the mall.

Perhaps most importantly, having the election right after Thanksgiving may also help inspire some American cohesion on the eve of what has become an intensely polarizing event. Our sense of belonging provided by family and friends, and celebrated with a group feast that is unique to American culture in all of its diversity, may emphasize the good will that we should hold toward each other, no matter our perceived differences.

Michael Friedman, Minneapolis

Andy Brehm’s lengthy Nov. 25 reconciliation piece, “Here’s one way we can help heal our divided country,” lacks the substance of the problem that is nine years old: no mention of the felon and alleged sexual predator who has laid out plans to bully the nation. Without this, Brehm, the aspiring peacemaker, remains a part of the national problem. No justice, no peace.

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Steve Watson, Minneapolis



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5 artists to keep an eye on from 2024’s Minneapolis College of Art and Design art sale

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5 artists to keep an eye on from 2024’s Minneapolis College of Art and Design art sale


The 27th annual Minneapolis College of Art and Design’s art sale was like a mix between a thrift store hunt and a stroll through a gallery.

This year, organizers of the art sale made it easier to navigate by grouping artists together rather than sprinkling their work through the four-day show that ended Nov. 24. The event wasn’t just a chance for artists to sell work but also a place to discover new talent. It included works from current MCAD students and alumni, which precluded current professors or employees unless they attend the school. Here’s a list of artists whose works caught my eye and should catch yours as well.

J.M. Culver’s “That, There” is an oil and charcoal painting on canvas. (J.M. Culver)

J.M. Culver

In her paintings, Minneapolis-based artist J.M. Culver explores memory and the human condition. Her painting “That, There,” a 5-by-5-foot oil and charcoal painting on canvas, portrays a room devoid of people, with a bright blue chair placed in the center of hazy-looking furniture. The painting evokes a sense of memory, but fragmented and maybe even false. Culver got her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from MCAD, and did her graduate studies at Syracuse University in New York. Check out her work on the art sale’s website or jmculver.com.

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The price tag for “Kit” by photographer Shun Yong was $2,000 at the 27th annual MCAD Art Sale. (Shun Yong)

Shun Yong’s photograph of a woman dressed in white sitting on a red couch jumped out at me. This large-scale portrait, titled “Kit,” captures a subtle moment in time: she’s knitting something in a domestic setting. The photo left me wanting to know more, but also feeling cautious to ask. Yong graduated with a master’s degree in photography from MCAD in 2018. For more info, visit shunjyong.com or the art sale’s website.

Artist Troy McCall’s painting “Snow Angels” was listed for $1,000 at the 27th annual MCAD Art Sale. (Troy McCall)

In each of artist Troy McCall’s paintings, there is something haunting, eerie or just plain unnerving. “Snow Angels” depicts an idyllic snow-covered sledding hill and a kid carving a snow angel with his body as a girl with a sled walks toward him. But look closer and you’ll see the fear on his face. Why is he scared, though? McCall’s painting lets viewers’ minds wander to various conclusions. The same sinister feeling lurks in paintings of classic American holidays such as Christmas, Halloween and the Fourth of July. McCall graduated with his bachelor’s degree in filmmaking from MCAD in 2008. See more of his work on the art sale’s website or at themccallcompany.com

Niky Motekallem’s illustration titled “A New Bed With Soil Softer than Cotton” was on display at Minneapolis College of Art and Design’s art sale. (Niky Motekallem)

Illustrator and artist Niky Motekallem’s lush, hyper detail-oriented paintings mostly depict flowers, plants and animals in various moments of beautiful decay. In one illustration, a lavender-colored bunny is wrapped in pink and purple flowers; in another, a gathering of butterflies nestles on aqua-and-green-tinted flowers. At the art sale, Motekallem’s paintings were encased in frames as ornate as the works themselves. The Iranian-American received her master’s degree in illustration from MCAD in 2016. More at nikymotekallem.com or Instagram.com/royalghostmarch.

“Rebirth Cycle: Oak (green)”, a hand-carved relief print by Jamie Kubat, was priced at $40 at the MCAD Art Sale. (Jamie Kubat)

I uncovered two prints by Minneapolis-based artist Jamie Kubat hidden away on a shelf on the second-floor of the art sale. The hand-carved relief prints depict a crow holding a mushroom next to a sheep skull, and surrounded by plants. In the haunting print “Ghost,” a horse trots through a world of swirling smoke. Kubat graduated from MCAD in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in drawing and painting. A multidisciplinary artist, Kubat draws on their experiences as an autistic person with a rural upbringing, and displayed works recently at “The Art of Disability Justice Now” at the Mill City Museum. To see more on Kubat, visit the art sale’s website or jamiekubat.com.





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Minneapolis police gear up ahead of the holiday weekend

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Minneapolis police gear up ahead of the holiday weekend


Minneapolis police gear up ahead of the holiday weekend – CBS Minnesota

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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara talks about safety plans for the unofficial bar holiday, the night before Thanksgiving. WCCO’s Ubah Ali has the story.

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