Minneapolis, MN
Pride gem: Country’s 2nd queer library celebrates decades in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – In the heart of the Twin Cities lies a hidden gem for the LGBTQ community.
Long aisles filled with books featuring queer characters define the Quatrefoil Library — the second oldest of its kind in the United States. But the nonprofit on Lake and 13th Avenue South is still somewhat unknown.
“There’s a lot of LGBTQ people who don’t know of us,” said Quatrefoil board president Paul Kaefer.
The library got its name from the James Barr book Quatrefoil, which came out in 1950 and was one of the first books to positively portray gay characters.
Books, magazines, periodicals and a lot more are free to check out, just like at any library. But one specific book reflects how far the country has come since the days of founding fathers David Irwin and Dick Hewetson.
“One of them would read books and throw them out because at that time you could be arrested under the postal code,” Kaefer said.
“I’m still blown away,” said Karen Hogan, who has volunteered at the library since the late 1980s. “It was a tiny little office, maybe a couple of hundred books.”
The Quatrefoil originally opened in north Minneapolis, moved to St. Paul, and then to its current home.
No matter where it was, the library has always given Hogan a sense of belonging. As she pursued her own career as a librarian, she took pride in helping this one expand.
“There’s fiction and science fiction and fantasy and mystery and erotica and academic tones and theory and graphic novels and zines and music and just more than I ever thought possible,” Hogan said.
The library also serves as a community center, hosting trivia nights and other events. But with no full-time employees, its hours are limited.
Kaefer is hoping to keep growing the collection of more than 24,000 items while also expanding hours and membership.
“I definitely see the library being a place where more people are here,” he said.
It hasn’t always been this way, but membership is now free and easy. You can sign up at the library, at a pride event, or even online here.
In fact, they have hundreds of books available digitally.
Minneapolis, MN
3 people shot in Dinkytown early Friday morning
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Authorities are investigating a Dinkytown shooting that left three people injured early Friday morning.
What we know
A SAFE-U Emergency Alert states that three people were shot at the intersection of 4th Street Southeast and 13th Avenue Southeast around 2:15 a.m.
This area is in the heart of Dinkytown, just over half a mile west of Mariucci Arena and Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The shooting happened off of the University of Minnesota campus.
What we don’t know
Police have not released information on whether any U of M students were involved.
No suspect information is currently available.
Minneapolis, MN
Xcel faces challenges with old utility poles
More than two thirds of the utility poles throughout Minnesota are at least a half-century old and records show their failure rate dramatically increases with age, a problem exacerbated by climate change, experts said.
Minneapolis, MN
City Council calls for audit of MPD response to neighbor dispute that led to shooting
A group of Minneapolis city leaders are calling for an independent review of a recent neighbor dispute that ended with one man hospitalized after being shot and another man in custody.
As reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS last week, Davis Moturi says he repeatedly called police about threats made by his neighbor, 54-year-old John Sawchak.
Many city council members are saying a separate review is necessary in this case. Prosecutors say Sawchak shot Moturi after a months-long dispute. Video shows Moturi pruning a tree near the property line and then a pop is heard before he falls to the ground.
However, it took days for officers to arrest Sawchak after prosecutors charged him with the shooting and after city council members called for police to take action.
Moturi also says for nearly a year, he had been reaching out for help from Minneapolis police regarding harassment and threats from Sawchak. On Sunday, Police Chief Brian O’Hara also apologized, saying the department “failed” Moturi.
During Thursday’s meeting, council members called for an independent review of the case in addition to the internal review.
“Seeing another Black man not be delivered the justice that they deserved and to see our police department or leadership initially blame said victim for the cause of their near-death experience — it was disheartening to hear that our actions to bring attention to eight months of inaction was labeled as political,” Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley said.
Early Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey issued the following statement regarding an independent review into the shooting:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow.
“The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community.
Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
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