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Jeffrey Meitrodt

Reporter
Investigations
Previously, Meitrodt was an investigative reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He also covered the Illinois statehouse for the Chicago Tribune. He grew up in southeastern Minnesota and graduated in 1984 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. He has won national journalism awards for his reporting on public corruption in Louisiana and Illinois, and for his coverage of corporate misconduct and educational disparities in Minnesota.

Latest from Jeffrey Meitrodt

A state law has prevented school and workplace shootings, but enforcement is inconsistent

Public records show that the state’s red flag gun law has helped law enforcement confiscate guns from people with violent plans. Some counties, though, have rarely or never used it, raising worry about gaps in its effectiveness.
October 4, 2025

Minnesota's red flag law prevented deaths, but an investigation found gaps

The red flag law has been successful in removing guns from people who are a danger to themselves or others. But many counties have not filed any petitions.
September 30, 2025

Minneapolis church shooter turned violent after sometimes turbulent upbringing

She expressed love for her family, but knew they’d wonder how they could have missed obvious signs.
August 31, 2025

What we know about the Annunciation shooter

Robin Westman graduated from Annunciation eight years before committing violent act.
August 29, 2025

Federal judge: Minnesota can’t bar religious colleges requiring faith statements from participating in high school program

The 2023 state law was an unconstitutional restriction of students’ religious freedom, the judge ruled.
August 24, 2025

Assassinations place Vance Boelter’s religion in the spotlight

He was steeped in a thriving strain of Christianity. For some, the alleged assassin is a symbol of the growing politicization of faith.
August 17, 2025
Vance Boelter preached several times while doing missionary work in the Democratic Republic of Congo and videos of those sermons were posted on YouTube by ceflabornematadi.officiel.

Fight over a Cowles fortune includes claims of sexual abuse and financial exploitation

A complex and lurid legal fight is pitting members of a wealthy family with Minnesota roots against the state’s largest bank and one of its former employees.
July 17, 2025
Illustration from court documents by JAKE LOVETT - The Minnesota Star Tribune

Wife of alleged political assassin says she’s ‘absolutely shocked,’ pledges cooperation with police

In her first public comments, Jenny Boelter also offered condolences to the Hortman and Hoffman families.
June 27, 2025

A devout Christian with failed ambitions and an arsenal of firearms who chose ‘war’

Vance Boelter had visions of business success at home and abroad. But in the words of one acquaintance, he was “living a double life.”
June 21, 2025

Letter to FBI from shooting suspect made wild claims about Klobuchar and Walz, sources say

People with direct knowledge of a letter Vance Boelter addressed to the FBI say it is rambling and conspiratorial.
June 20, 2025

Pretending to be a police officer has never been easier in Minnesota

The shootings of state lawmakers is likely to spur debate on Minnesota laws governing impersonation, equipment purchases
June 15, 2025

Charter school leaders balk at telling parents Minneapolis elementary closing at end of year

Skyline Math and Science is shutting down over low test scores and ‘poor financial management’
May 19, 2025
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