Minneapolis, MN
Ukrainian Easter egg festival raises money for refugees, humanitarian aid
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Lots of of Ukrainian American households attended an Easter Egg competition and bake sale Sunday in Minneapolis, with a portion of the proceeds going towards serving to Ukrainian refugees and humanitarian assist for Ukraine.
The gadgets on the market at Saint Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church In Minneapolis included “pysanky,” or ornately painted Ukrainian Easter eggs, and “babka,” Ukrainian Easter breads, in addition to different Ukrainian crafts, reminiscent of embroideries, ceramics and work.
In response to Julie Pawluk, one of many organizers, the bake sale has been taking place yearly for many years. She stated that previously, the proceeds had gone to assist earlier waves of Ukrainian refugees, reminiscent of those that got here to Minnesota within the Nineteen Thirties and the Fifties.
“When our mother and father and grandparents first came to visit and so they had very comparable considerations and wishes that we’re seeing immediately with the immigrants and refugees which might be coming over… and we’re elevating funds and immediately we’re elevating funds for among the exact same causes,” she stated.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis announces plan to flag police officer problems early
Minneapolis leaders on Monday announced they had selected a company to build a database designed to flag problems with police officers — before they become problematic.
The idea is a technological approach — an “early intervention system” — to both support officers in need of say, mental health services, while also preventing cops with patterns of potential misconduct from ascending the ranks unchecked.
The latter was arguably the case for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who had pressed his knee against the necks of at least two men before he did the same maneuver to George Floyd in 2020. Floyd’s murder by Chauvin was the impetus for state and federal legal interventions that will lead to years of court-approved police oversight. City officials see an early intervention system as satisfying one of a litany of changes mandated by those legal cases.
“People say all the time, ‘How could they not know that this officer would do that?’” Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a news conference Monday. “This is the answer to that.”
On Monday, Mayor Jacob Frey, O’Hara and other officials announced that after a national bidding process, they had selected Benchmark Analytics, a Chicago-based firm that includes researchers at the University of Chicago and has implemented similar systems in several other major cities, to build the Minneapolis system.
“It is not going to solve all our problems,” O’Hara said. He emphasized that the system “is not discipline” but rather an “early-warning system” that can identify potential concerns for officers that go beyond traditional complaints around misconduct.
O’Hara said the database will analyze information — such as overtime, patterns of calling in sick, arrest records and off-duty work — in search of outliers. The program can assist supervisors, who can intervene in an attempt to “correct officers’ behavior” before actual problems arise, he said.
Nick Barkley, a civilian member of a team implementing the program, said officer wellness was an essential part of it. “Happy, healthy humans produce the best work,” he said.
The five-year contract for $2.375 million needs approval from the City Council, which could take up the measure as soon as Thursday.
The money would be paid in part by a $500,000 grant from the Pohlad Foundation. The rest of the funding would come from general fund spending from the city’s police and information technology budgets.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis music teacher recognized by GMA
A special teacher in Minneapolis was recognized for his efforts in and out of the classroom on live television on Monday morning.
Good Morning America is shining a light on exceptional educators who go the extra mile as classes begin wrapping up for the school year.
On Monday morning, they gave Edward Barlow – a Minneapolis music teacher – an incredible surprise. Over the decades, thousands of students have called him Mr. Barlow, but some like to call him The Music Man.
“He has a marching band that goes around the neighborhood, and they play for the neighborhood,” said one person familiar with Barlow.
Barlow has been teaching music for nearly 40 years, but his impact goes far beyond Anwatin Middle School.
“Everybody always goes to Mr. Barlow for any advice or support that they need. He’s really engrained in Minneapolis Public Schools culture,” said one student.
“He gives me a lot of motivation speeches. He doesn’t give up on anyone,” said another student.
That’s why GMA hand-picked him for a live surprise on national television on Monday.
When asked what keeps him coming back to the classroom despite being able to retire, Barlow kept the reason simple.
“Well, it’s purpose. There’s purpose in meaning in what we do as teachers,” he said.
Cheers rang out from students, staff, and his wife – a fellow teacher – as Barlow was given two checks for $35,000.
“I was totally unprepared; I had no idea. People can keep really good secrets,” he said.
Coworkers think a big chunk of the money may go toward repairing the school’s broken piano.
Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota passes new driver pay minimums
A plan to boost pay for Uber and Lyft drivers in Minnesota that lawmakers believe would prevent the companies from leaving the market advanced in the state Legislature on Sunday before the midnight deadline.
The House passed the compensation bill but the measure was held up in the Senate before winning approval prior to the deadline for lawmakers to pass bills before they adjourned. The bill now moves to Gov. Tim Walz to be signed into law, the Star Tribune reported.
The proposal that initially gained approval in the House was crafted by Democrats to replace a minimum pay measure the Minneapolis City Council passed that prompted Uber and Lyft to threaten to leave the state’s biggest city.
The House agreement announced Saturday after a day of negotiations would set a minimum pay rate at $1.28 per mile and 31 cents per minute. Uber has said it will keep operating in the state under those rates. The bill would take effect next January if passed.
“While the coming price increases may hurt riders and drivers alike, we will be able to continue to operate across the State under the compromise brokered by the Governor,” Uber spokesperson Josh Gold said in an email to the Star Tribune.
Lyft representatives didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions from The Associated Press about the deal.
The measure that raised objections from the companies would have required them to pay drivers at least $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute — or $5 per ride, whichever is greater — excluding tips, for the time spent transporting passengers in Minneapolis.
Marianna Brown, vice president of the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association, told the Star Tribune that even though the pay rates are lower than drivers sought, they were happy to see the deal come together.
Following passage in the House, the governor said in a post on social media platform X that the deal “gives rideshare drivers a 20% raise and keeps these important services operating in Minnesota. I’m grateful to our partners in the House and Senate DFL for coming together to get this done.”
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