Minneapolis, MN
MPD adds 23 new officers, including first Somali woman and non-citizen
Somali-American woman sworn in as MPD officer
City leaders say the years-long effort to rebuild the Minneapolis Police Department, while not over, is starting to be seen and felt—nearly two dozen more officers, including new firsts, are on the force following a graduation ceremony.
“Just as they’re about to take their oaths today, before all of you and before God, I know that I have a sacred obligation to do that all I can for them,” MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said at the ceremony. “I pledge to you tonight that I will do everything within my power to take care of them.”
Now part of the rank-and-file are 11 recruits and 12 lateral officers who are joining from other agencies, some with more than a decade of experience. Of the recruits is the first-ever Somali woman, Ikran Mohamed, and permanent resident, Lesly Vera, for the department.
A permanent resident who is a non-citizen can be part of the department now due to a recent law change, Chief O’Hara said. Officer Vera said she moved to Minneapolis from Mexico when she was 4 and has called it home since.
“I didn’t see anybody that really looked like me, Latina,” Vera said about her drive to become a police officer. “I want to have that face for my people.”
The chief is standing firm behind his new officer.
“There may be people who question it, but that’s completely ridiculous. There’s, like I mentioned, there is a history in this country of people immediately on arrival to the country, enlisting in the military and serving,” O’Hara said, adding, “Somebody like [Officer Vera], who has been here essentially her entire life, absolutely is entitled to protect her community in the same way that anyone else here has, and we’re honored to have her.”
Her colleague, Officer Mohamed, with a similar message about her next big chapter in life.
“This is what I wanted to do, and it was very challenging. That’s why I’m here. And I want to be that somebody, [to] be a role model for girls who look like me. So they can say, I can do it too,” Mohamed said.
Mayor Jacob Frey feels the work they’ve been putting in to build up the department – not just in numbers, but culture – is starting to be seen and felt.
“It’s moving. It’s emotional. I mean, I talked about the hope in the room, from a personal standpoint as mayor of the city, it gives me a lot of hope. Our police department is looking more and more like the communities that we are charged with protecting and serving,” Frey said.
Also part of the graduation was four new Minneapolis Park Police Officers.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minneapolis City Council has released its proposed restrictions on cannabis businesses in the city, as the state moves into the next steps of recreational marijuana legalization.
What we know
The city is working to update its zoning for cannabis businesses, as licenses are issued in the coming months in Minnesota.
City staff have proposed a series of restrictions for businesses.
- Dispensaries must be a minimum of 500 feet from schools and 500 feet from other dispensaries.
- Cannabis businesses can’t grow plants outdoors.
- Cannabis will also face restrictions on odors.
- Cannabis manufacturing will only be allowed in commercial and mixed-use areas – similar to breweries.
Context
Earlier this month, the state met with cities to provide guidance on cannabis restrictions that cities can implement under the new state law.
Just last week, the City of St. Paul passed a similar set of restrictions on cannabis businesses.
What’s next?
The proposed zoning restrictions are still in the early stages of consideration and need further approval from the council.
Currently, the Office of Cannabis Management expects to finalize its draft rules for businesses in early 2025. The licensing process is expected to start in 2025 after the rules are in place. Currently, cannabis sales are only allowed on tribal lands.
Drivers who use I-94 to make the trip from Minneapolis to St. Paul and the east metro suburbs will be on detour this weekend as the Minnesota Department of Transportation shuts down a long stretch of the freeway.
Eastbound lanes will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday between Hwy. 280 and Western Avenue, MnDOT said.
Drivers will be rerouted north on Hwy. 280 to eastbound Hwy. 36 to southbound I-35E.
Crews will use the weekend to inspect and repair bridge decks, clean and repair stormwater drainage structures, remove overgrown vegetation, replace and repair lighting, and remove graffiti on bridges and noise walls said MnDOT spokesman Kent Barnard.
A new park has opened in northeast Minneapolis featuring walking paths, a riverside landing, picnic tables, and hundreds of native plants.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board partnered with Graco Inc. and the Mississippi
Watershed Management Organization on the project.
Graco Park is named after the company, which is located right next to the property north of the Plymouth Avenue bridge near Boom Island Park.
“This is another monumental milestone in our ongoing, decades long mission to transition Minneapolis’ northern riverfront to being fully accessible,” said board president Meg Forney.
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She said Graco Park is part of a bigger vision to turn the city’s northern riverfront into a string of continuous parks.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board purchased the land from the Sheer Brothers Lumber company in 2010 with the intentions to rehabilitate the land, Minneapolis parks superintendent Al Bangoura said. In that time frame, the board was able to restore Halls Island and its ecosystem.
The island is located directly across from Graco Park.
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board with partners at a ribbon cutting ceremony of Graco Park. Courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
A building located in the park will provide spaces for an incoming dance company and public use creative studio set to open in 2025.
Bangoura said it’s “where young people can come to a space and use their creative imaginations.”
The park also features geothermal heated sidewalks, which will prevent ice and keep the salt that is often used in Minnesota winter out of the waters.
There are plans to connect Graco Park’s riverfront to Boom Island Park’s trail under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge.
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