Recent content from Randy Furst
Minn. cities, counties paid $60.8M in police misconduct claims in decade
From 2007 to 2017, Minnesota jurisdictions made at least 933 payouts for alleged misconduct. And they're on the rise.
Activists recall the local tension and outrage after King's assassination
Sorrow, frustration and anger exploded locally after 1968 assassination.
Mpls. could face record payout if Damond family sued
If the family filed a lawsuit related to her shooting death by Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor, legal experts suggest settlement may set record.
Racial dynamic draws focus in case vs. Noor in Damond killing
Some Somali-Americans worried their community, rather than the use of deadly force by an officer, will end up on trial.
Despite penalties, Khan's tenants still waiting for repairs
Three months after Khan lost landlord licenses, tenants are frustrated that most major repair work has not yet begun, leaving some of them in uninhabitable conditions.
Vadnais Heights father will challenge search that led to firearms discovery
Attorney said a boy who talked of shooting students, was responding to a school bully and didn't mean it.
Jury convicts man of murder in Brooklyn Center marijuana deal gone bad
It was the second murder trial for Lannon Burdunice after a mistrial last fall.
Man sentenced to 24 years in woman's fatal Minneapolis parking ramp stabbing
Mai Yer Cha was heading home after a night out with friends when she was killed.
Charges: 2 men rob, beat elderly woman at Mpls. transit center, record video of the crime
"The video is appalling," Metro Transit police officer Michael Leubner wrote in the criminal complaint.
Elderly man assaulted in East Bethel in road rage incident
Anoka County authorities say driver was taunted by another motorist, followed home and badly beaten.
Man pleads guilty in murder of woman in ramp near Target Field
Benjamin Love, 44, faces a sentence of 24 years in prison in death of Mai Yer Cha.
Minneapolis man charged with beating, shocking nephew with wires
Boy, now 15, said he was made to run in place all night as punishment.
Life without parole in shooting death of Mpls. grandmother in minivan
Sa'Lesha Beeks sobbed as she poured out her contempt toward the gangland atmosphere in her Minneapolis neighborhood and the man who shot and killed her…
Wright County says that needs for child protection services have grown
Social workers responsible for dealing with child abuse are stretched thin, director says.
Hennepin County Drug Court offers a new lease on life
A 42-year-old woman recovering from heroin addiction said that Hennepin County Drug Court saved her life.
Citing lies, judge OKs punitive damages in Minneapolis tenants' lawsuit
A Hennepin County judge says that during fraud, one landlord threatened to expose the other.
Man gets 15 years for ISIS-inspired knife attack at Mall of America
Mahad A. Abdiraham raised an index finger after being sentenced, an ISIS symbol.
Minneapolis day-care provider pleads guilty to attempted murder of 16-month-old
Daycare operator Nataliia Karia testified in court that she did not have a clear memory of hanging a baby in her basement.
Maplewood police say study shows they are unbiased, but others raise questions
Others note disparities in arrests required by state law or department policy.
Curtis Roy, a Civil War buff, led Minnesota Historical Society board
As president, Roy led the process to determine the best place to build the $60 million Minnesota History Center, which opened in 1992.
![Stephen Frenz and attorney Douglas Turner walked through City Hall in Minneapolis on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. ] Shari L. Gross ï shari.gross@startrib](http://stmedia.stimg.co/ows_151785435890504.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Citing 'suspicious' sale of embattled landlord's properties, judge backs refusal of rental licenses
He rejects buyer's claim of racial discrimination in city's handling of sale.
Lawyers in Minnesota Toyota case battle over legal fees
Settlement in fatal Toyota case left $1 million in legal fees.
A corporate lawyer in Minneapolis fights for low-income tenants
Michael Cockson goes after problem landlords.
'Money mule' charged with scamming 3 Minnesotans out of $360,000
One alleged victim thought he was sending $205,000 to a title company to complete a real estate deal.
Walter Mondale at 90 talks about sexual harassment, climate change, nuclear war
He doesn't feel like 90, he said in an interview, and he still enjoys talking politics.
Judge in Frenz case calls sale of apartment houses 'suspicious'
Hennepin County District Judge Kevin Burke said a company controlled by landlords Stephen Frenz and Spiros Zorbalas may have committed fraud.
Ousted Minneapolis landlord wants court referee removed from case
Ricky Misco claims bias while challenging a ruling stripping him of control of five buildings.
Police, BCA raid massage parlor in Buffalo, Minn.
After a yearlong human trafficking investigation, authorities say they plan to bring charges soon.
Tenants' attorney asked court to hold Minneapolis landlord in contempt
Buyer of five buildings from landlord Stephen Frenz is accused of failing to cooperate.
As the Moxy Hotel prepares to open in Uptown Minneapolis, not everyone's happy
Party images in ads worry neighbors; developer says not to worry.
Minneapolis seeks administrator for 23 apartment buildings with 1,200 tenants
Never before has the city sought an administrator to run so many apartment buildings.
Dayton creates task force to address 'persistent crisis' regarding affordable housing
The governor said he regrets it took seven years into his administration to create affordable housing task force.
Court puts five Mpls. apartment buildings under administrator
An independent administrator was granted control of five properties sold by him.
Court appoints administrator for 43 buildings owned by Minneapolis landlord
A Hennepin County housing court referee on Monday appointed an administrator to oversee 43 rental properties owned by Mahmood Khan after the embattled Minneapolis landlord…
Minneapolis City Council unanimously revokes landlord's rental licenses
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously revoked 60 rental licenses belonging to landlord Steve Frenz on Friday, culminating a two-year saga that began when low-income…
Homelessness in Minnesota jumped 4.5 percent in 2017, HUD reports
The 4.5 percent jump from 2016 to 2017 still puts the total below 2010 levels.
Ventura settles defamation lawsuit but won't say for how much
"Apology is in the bank," former governor says.
More residents using Minnetonka food shelf
Many in the western suburbs can't stretch their limited earnings enough to get by.
Jesse Ventura appears to have settled defamation lawsuit over book
Minnesota's former governor declined to comment on Friday about the apparent settlement of his defamation suit.
Crash, loss of legs forced two friends to rebuild their lives — again
After fleeing a war-torn country, living in refugee camps and starting new lives in the United States, the two Bloomington men now face a new ordeal.
David Nasby, General Mills philanthropy leader, dies at 78
David Nasby committed his life to helping the less fortunate — from his days as the head of a small alternative school in south Minneapolis…
Minneapolis denies rental licenses for 16 apartment buildings
The city is refusing to grant rental licenses for buildings Steve Frenz sold, saying he did not give up his ownership, leaving hundreds in limbo.
U.S. Supreme Court ends embattled Minneapolis landlord Mahmood Khan's appeals process
U.S. Supreme Court action allows Minneapolis to strip landlord's licenses.
Did Russian hackers organize Castile protest? Activists say no
Twin Cities activists discouraged people from attending a July 2016 rally organized by a Facebook group called "Don't Shoot," after the event description raised red flags.
New director of ACLU of Minnesota has been Mpls. lawyer for 40 years
John Gordon was chosen from 140 candidates to lead state civil liberties group.
Gov. Dayton's law enforcement commission comes under fire
The report ranges from training methods to transparency.
Angry renters demonstrate outside landlord Stephen Frenz's home
Renters demonstrate in Minneapolis and St. Paul over issues of gentrification and housing deterioration this week.
Landlord kept control of Mpls. apartments after he was banned
Major landlord Spiros Zorbalas continued to have majority ownership and controls of apartment complexes, documents show.
With too many homeless, too few beds, Mpls. policy debated
A $400,000 federal grant offered to Minneapolis is at the heart of a debate over the best way to help the city's homeless.
Embattled landlord files defiant affidavit in Mpls. case
Landlord mogul Spiros Zorbalas, who was banned by the Minneapolis City Council from renting property in the city for five years, has filed a defiant affidavit saying he has every right to co-own apartment buildings with Stephen Frenz.
Collection and disposal of old, unused medicines in Hennepin County mushrooms
Hennepin County effort has collected 100,000 pounds of expired and unused drugs.
Landlord Stephen Frenz sells off his apartment buildings, but lawsuit seeks to block him
Tenants say it clears him of what 'they are due.'
Massive project works to uncover racist restrictions in Mpls. housing deeds
As many as 10,000 or more Minneapolis homeowners have property deeds with so-called "racial covenants." A team of University of Minnesota researchers is determined to find them all.
'I was terrified,' said renter struck by bricks at Mpls. apartment facade collapse
Minneapolis resident woke up to a crash as part of an apartment facade collapsed.
3-story Mpls. apartment building evacuated after brick facade falls
The Elliot Park building is owned by Stephen Frenz, an apartment owner who faces revocation of all his rental licenses.
Minnesota company sells camera that police can put on gun
Maple Plain manufacturer makes a small device that records a gun's movements; several departments have offered to try them out.
Obituary: Marianne Hamilton dedicated her life to the antiwar movement
Hamilton traveled to some of the world's hot spots, including Hanoi during the Vietnam War, to advocate for peace while also working at home.
Former Minneapolis Star editor Leonard 'Lee' Canning dies at 87
Canning presided over the newsroom at the Minneapolis Star, the afternoon newspaper that would merge with the morning Tribune in 1982.
Millions at stake in class-action lawsuit against 2 Mpls. landlords
A rare class-action lawsuit against two Minneapolis landlords could cost them millions of dollars and benefit thousands of low-income tenants if they prevail.
Training course still in works 8 years after Gang Strike Force ends
Eight years after the scandal-ridden Metro Gang Strike Force was shut down, a law enforcement training course mandated as part of a settlement with victims has cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and is still in development — with no firm date of completion.
Family of five evicted as affordable housing crisis worsens in Minneapolis
"It's really so mean and unjust," says Jose Lopez, whose family is being evicted from an apartment in the Whittier neighborhood where he's lived for 23 years. "How can someone come in and buy the building, and we have to leave in 30 days?"
911 calls provide a glimpse into Justine Damond's final moments
Justine Damond spent her last moments trying to help a stranger, according to a 911 transcript. Soon afterward, a responding Minneapolis officer, Mohamed Noor, fired his gun from inside a patrol vehicle and killed her.
Gov. Dayton: Justine Damond shooting a tragedy, more information needed
He declined to draw parallels between it and other police shootings.
Southwest Minneapolis residents shocked by fatal police shooting
This is a place where neighbors help each other find lost pets. It’s where tidy yards are filled with flower beds and children pedal their…
Trauma counseling in wake of Yanez acquittal available in Minneapolis
Walk-in counseling and listening sessions are being set up in Minneapolis on both the north and south sides for people coping with trauma after the…
Yanez verdict is only widening the police, community divide
Activists and police say the case's outcome adds to longstanding tensions.
At Mpls. peace summit, Stevie Wonder joins plea to end street violence
Young people mired in poverty need help to build more peaceful lives, attendees said.
Judge orders new defamation trial for man cleared in Cold Spring cop killing
Judge rules that news media aired false statements and a jury must consider that in Cold Spring defamation case.
$11M jury award upheld in St. Paul Toyota crash that killed 3
The appeals panel said a jury had sufficient evidence to find Toyota 60 percent at fault in 2006 fatal crash the led to the imprisonment of Koua Fong Lee.
Workers press for union at three Seward Co-op facilities in Minneapolis
Managers deny the claim and say they'll work toward holding election.
Jesse Ventura has a new gig — on Russian television
Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura says he is now working for "the enemy of mainstream media."
Activists plan Minneapolis peace summit with Stevie Wonder as speaker in hopes of quelling violence
Sharif Willis, a Vice Lords leader, is back from prison, playing role in parley to be held in June.
8 counterdemonstrators charged in scuffles at pro-Trump rally in St. Paul
Ramsey County attorney said the right to assemble peacefully was at stake.
Housing court orders Mpls. landlord Stephen Frenz to return $27,813 to tenants
It is believed to be the largest rent abatement for multiple tenants in the 27-year history of housing courts in Minnesota.
Hennepin County Board approves Diversion Solutions to run its diversion program
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said his office will closely watch the company.
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