Minneapolis, MN
Yuen: Minnesota is about to get a new center for LGBTQ youth
At the time, Luca hadn’t spoken to many people about his queer identity, which he describes as an important but not outsized aspect of his life. Today he thrives in a socially welcoming charter school in Eden Prairie where, when it comes to gender identity and expression, “nobody cares — but in a good way.”
Still, he said, he loves being part of Queerspace, a place where says he can exist without judgment and find a friend like Kate, who is not his parent or teacher, therapist or peer.
“We’re able to have a lot of fun and joke around, but also have deep conversations,” he said. “Having advice from someone who’s lived longer than me is really important. After our hangouts, I’ve thought, ‘Yeah, that’s helpful. I’m going to use that.’”
A Queerspace celebration will be held Oct. 13, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new center at 12:30 p.m. It will be followed by the organization’s annual Spirit Day festivities from 1-4 p.m., at 1936 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Music, drag queens and appearances from Mayor Jacob Frey and other elected officials and community leaders are planned. For more information, visit queerspacecollective.org.
Minneapolis leaders are divided over whether to keep paying for ShotSpotter as the city weighs a new contract for the gunfire detection system.
A public hearing at City Hall focused on the technology as Minneapolis negotiates a new contract with SoundThinking, the company that provides ShotSpotter. Deputy Chief of Investigations Travis Riddle told the council the system supports gun violence strategies and can alert police no later than 60 seconds after shots are fired.
Critics at the hearing said the technology is not proven enough and argued the money could be spent in other ways. The proposed deal would cost $3.7 million through 2029 and would expand ShotSpotter into new areas of Minneapolis.
“We have actually had a contract with SoundThinking for their ShotSpotter services since 2014, and even with this technology for over 12 years now, MPD’s solve rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings were some of the worst in the country,” Council member Robin Wonsley said.
Council members pushed back on the long-term proposal and said they want a one-year deal instead. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw disagreed with concerns raised by her colleague during the debate.
“In my opinion, and in folks I’ve heard from the North Side who have shown up here time and time again to say that we want this technology, we believe that ShotSpotter is a tool that the police use to save lives,” LaTrisha Vetaw said
City Council is set to take up the issue again on June 17. Minneapolis police are expected to return with a one-year contract instead of the three-year contract brought forward at the hearing.
Premiere vocal ensemble, Cantus is bringing the songs of Dolly Parton to the stage with fresh interpretations. The show will cover her classics like “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” Cantus Presents, COVERS: Dolly & Friends runs through June 7th at the Luminary Arts Center at 700 N 1st St. in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis police are investigating a hit-and-run that left a man seriously injured Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened near Oliver Avenue North and Lowry Avenue North just before 2 p.m., according to the Minneapolis Police Department.
Investigators say an SUV struck another vehicle, which then collided with a motorcyclist. The driver of the SUV then fled the scene.
The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. Police say the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
No arrests have been made as of Tuesday night.
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