Recent content from Chris Serres
Barnett 'Bud' Rosenfield, fierce voice for Minnesotans with disabilities, dies at 57
As an attorney, he won landmark legal advances for people with disabilities.
St. Paul fire captain and union leader Chris Parsons dies at 48
His cause of death listed as cardiac arrest.
Wrong-way driver on I-94 dies in crash with FedEx truck
Another driver was rushed to the hospital after both vehicles burst into flames.
'It was now or never.' After brain injury, Minneapolis woman, 87, wins struggle for bus safety
The measure was among a bevy of items passed this spring that seek to improve the lives of those with disabilities.
Steps from George Floyd Square, a mental health treatment center will open
The 13-bed treatment center will help people transition back to everyday life after a mental health crisis.
Minn.'s juvenile justice system set to see sweeping changes
The legislation could shift power away from local prosecutors and courts by encouraging the use of restorative justice practices.
'Tough love' out, unconditional support in for Minnesotans struggling with addiction
Amid a torrent of drug overdoses, some families are turning away from a tough-love response.
Minnesota woman with disabilities returns home after legal saga
Cindy Hagen's case had galvanized disability rights advocates.
Minneapolis toddler's death triggers fresh concerns about child protection
The short and chaotic life of Derric Fulks Jr. exposes gaps in Minnesota's system for protecting children.
Sexual assault of senior with dementia caught on camera in Burnsville, underscoring power of video surveillance
Small cameras have grown in popularity as tools for families to detect abuse in senior homes.
Lifeline of medical gear flows from Minneapolis to Ukraine
Nearly $4 million in life-saving medical supplies have been shipped to Ukraine by local volunteers.
Minnesota woman wins legal victory in bid to free herself from guardianship
Cindy Hagen is confident she'll move home in May.
New lawsuit accuses Minnesota Sex Offender Program of violating patients' civil rights
State officials blamed lengthy delays in moving offenders to less-secure settings on staffing and space shortages.
Parents of kids with disabilities push for accessible restrooms
A bill in the Legislature would mandate adult-size changing tables. Their efforts have reignited a broader discussion about equal access for people with disabilities: "This is about human dignity," Sarah St. Louis. from Shorewood, who has an 11-year-old son with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Minnesota pushes to abolish subminimum wages for disabled
More than 4,000 Minnesotans with disabilities earn less than the minimum wage — often in mundane jobs with little hope for advancement.
Minnesota Health Department tightens scrutiny of troubled Minneapolis care homes
The state withdrew its request for a receivership, a move the homes' owner called a vindication.
Surge in mental crisis calls after switch to 988 strains call centers
Mental health advocates are calling for more stable funding through a new telecom fee.
Whistleblower accuses Mpls. care home of putting residents in harm's way
The former administrator alleges she was fired for speaking out about unsafe conditions at the home, but the company's owner denies it.
Minneapolis care home staffer reportedly sexually assaulted a resident with disabilities
The facility waited about 40 hours to report the assault, a report finds.
Dennis Prothero, a firefighter, veteran and quadriplegic who sought better home care, dies at 68
His plight inspired hearings and proposals at the Legislature.
Troubled provider of care to Minnesotans with mental illness falls into financial disarray
Some care staff are calling on state regulators to take control of the facilities to avoid displacement of residents.
Major study highlights deadly toll of being homeless in Minnesota
Alarmingly, researchers found that 20-year-olds experiencing homelessness in Minnesota have the same likelihood of dying as 50-year-olds in the general population.
North-central Minnesota senior home blamed in resident's death
An assisted-living facility in Baxter is cited for neglect for failing to monitor a resident's foot infection.
Inside a Minnesota woman's fight to overturn a guardianship
Disability advocates say Cindy Hagen's case demonstrates that change is needed to protect rights of disabled people.
Troubled Minnesota disability services provider accused of $4M Medicaid fraud
State investigators claim to have found more than $4 million in fraudulent billings.
As fatal overdoses surge, demand for fentanyl test strips grows in Minnesota
More than 100,000 of the lifesaving strips have been distributed since they became legalized.
After injury, Mpls. woman takes fight for bus safety to Capitol
For a retired 86-year-old teacher with a brain injury from a fall at a bus stop, every step is a struggle.
State contract delays thrust mobile mental health crisis services into uncertainty
Crisis responders say the contract delays have already disrupted the life-saving service.
Citing failures, Minnesota DFL lawmakers push juvenile justice system reforms
The proposals would be the most significant changes in more than a generation
Minnesota's juvenile justice system is broken. Colorado shows how it could be better.
In Minnesota, as in much of the country, alternative approaches to handling youth crimes have been slow to gain public support. But Colorado has overcome these obstacles through a series of hard-won legislative victories and a commitment to measuring outcomes.
'Life-threatening' cold has shelters and outreach workers scrambling to get homeless inside
Emergency measures are being rolled out across the state, as county agencies and nonprofits try to prevent people from getting seriously ill or dying in the cold. Shelters were squeezing in cots and mats and extending hours so that people could stay through the day.
'Life-threatening' cold has shelters and outreach workers scrambling to get homeless inside
Emergency measures are being rolled out across the state, as county agencies and nonprofits try to prevent people from getting seriously ill or dying in the cold. Shelters were squeezing in cots and mats and extending hours so that people could stay through the day.
How extended probation for young Minnesotans can become a 'backdoor to prison'
Extended youth probation was once heralded as an innovative alternative to prison for adolescents who commit violent crimes. Instead, an alarming number end up incarcerated for minor probation offenses.
Searching for a senior home? A new tool helps Minnesotans screen out unsafe providers
The website is a collaboration of elder advocates and the state Department of Health.
Minn. counties take millions in benefits meant for children in foster care
Foster youth and their advocates are pushing to ban the practice — which they say is tantamount to theft.
![Jody Brennan and her daughter Maddie, who has Down syndrome and lives at a Bridges MN group home, on a walk at Memorial Park in Shakopee, Minn. ] CARL](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/2PIYWBUHINR7LPAZ7SBE4U4YVE.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Troubled Minnesota provider of disability services agrees to be acquired
Hundreds of people with disabilities have been in limbo since Bridges MN had its license revoked in June.
State regulators move to take control of three troubled care homes in Minneapolis
Thousands of dollars were transferred out of resident accounts, state health officials allege.
Minnesota tribal members ponder future of Native child welfare ahead of Supreme Court challenge
The case challenges a law meant to protect American Indian children from being removed from their families.
Sunday's red-flag warning for wildfires was rare for November in Minnesota
A storm system will move in this week that should bring some relief to drought-stricken parts of the state.
Stranded without care, Minn. man loses limbs because of severe staffing shortage
Thousands of home caregiving jobs are going unfilled, jeopardizing the health of people with disabilities.
Minnesota youth most in need of juvenile system help have nowhere to go
As youth detention centers close, Minnesota runs out of places to rehabilitate kids who commit serious crimes.
Minnesotans with disabilities flex political muscle ahead of midterm elections
One of the state's largest voting blocs is seeking to build momentum through a new wave of organizing.
Spurred by friend's death, man builds tiny house for homeless Native Americans
A grieving mother described the 146-square-foot home as "an act of love."
Minnesota seniors strike back against soaring rents
A sharp increase in rent has galvanized tenants struggling to get by on fixed incomes
Lawmakers grill DHS chief about shoddy financial controls
Several Republican legislators repeated their call to split up the massive agency.
Minn. expands push to phase out subminimum wages for people with disabilities
The state on Friday announced $10.5 million in grants for employment service providers.
Troubled nursing home ordered to pay millions in neglect cases
The Estates at St. Louis Park has been cited nearly 50 times in recent years for violating federal health standards
Choosing a safe nursing home: Where to get information
There are several ways to learn more about such sites in Minnesota.
Minnesota DHS chief addresses revelations of shoddy oversight of housing grants
She testifies a week after the Office of the Legislative Auditor released a critique of the agency.
DHS oversight of housing grants flawed, legislative auditor finds
The Minnesota Department of Human Services failed to provide adequate oversight while awarding tens of millions of dollars of grants to support the homeless and others in need of housing assistance, according to a report.
Minnesota guardian cleared of liability in sexual assault case
Guardians have broad immunity from claims of negligence, an appellate panel ruled.
Disabled Minnesotans face growing waits for home care
Hundreds of Minnesotans with physical and mental disabilities are experiencing prolonged waits for crucial social services because county governments are failing to keep pace with a surge in demand amid a workforce shortage.
Two cousins with diverging fates show promise, failure of youth rehabilitation in Minn.
Each day, Minnesota judges and prosecutors make life-altering decisions about children who break the law. Most kids end up entangled in the county court system, but some youth are offered an alternative, known as diversion. A child's future can hinge on the path that is chosen.
Minnesota senior homes are besieged by staff stealing pain medications
More than 11,300 medications have been stolen from residents in the past eight years, study reveals
For disabled Minnesotans, a step closer to homes of their own
A lawsuit settlement could end the isolation of hundreds of Minnesotans in group homes.
Missing 10-year-old Minneapolis girl found safe, police say
Investigators are working to develop a chronology of what occurred, police said.
Death of Minneapolis toddler ruled a homicide
An autopsy found the boy suffered "multiple blunt force injuries."
Farmington teen who fought rare genetic disorder dies at 17
Madison 'Madi' Meyer went hunting with her dad, attended prom and joined her school cheerleading squad, refusing to be limited by her condition.
Dial 988: New mental health crisis hotline launches Saturday
The new hotline is expected to send crisis call volumes soaring, prompting some to ask if Minnesota is ready.
What you need to know about the new 988 crisis support hotline
The new, easy-to-remember number launches Saturday.
![Jody Brennan and her daughter Maddie photographed Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Memorial Park in Shakopee, Minn. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/OAGFZBTU64GU3KKGVHOYPY2KJI.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Future of a major provider of disability services in Minnesota remains in doubt
Hundreds of Bridges MN clients are in limbo while provider appeals state enforcement action.
![Jody Brennan and her daughter Maddie photographed Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Memorial Park in Shakopee, Minn. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • carlos.gonzalez@](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/4HQP5IINVK72OVVQ7HHYAPNJYA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
State action vs. disability service provider could affect hundreds
Bridges MN has been sanctioned more than 50 times for a wide range of health and safety violations.
![Legislative Auditor Judy Randall, testified about the federally funded meals program Feeding our Future, Monday, April 4, 2022, St. Paul, Minn. ] GLEN](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/A3T2RJ7PBQUOQ4UFS3VU5EX4N4.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Minnesota's child welfare policies vary widely across state, report finds
The number of children removed from families has dropped sharply in recent years, a report from the legislative auditor has found.
Homeless Minnesotans struggle to get COVID-19 vaccine
An expansive new study found that rates of vaccination among Minnesotans who are homeless or in jail are drastically lower than in the general population, suggesting they are not getting equal access to the shots despite aggressive outreach.
Tourniquets and body armor: A lifeline of help for Ukraine
A volunteer effort more than 5,000 miles away in Minnesota ships crucial supplies to the front lines.
Tourniquets, body armor, ambulances: A lifeline from Minnesota to Ukraine
A volunteer effort more than 5,000 miles away in Minnesota ships crucial supplies to the front lines.
Minnesotans with disabilities feel left behind amid workforce shortage
More than 3,500 adults with disabilities await openings in day and employment programs, according to an industry survey.
Minnesota's juvenile justice system failing youth, families, victims
A Star Tribune examination of hundreds of juvenile court records finds that the system is failing to effectively intervene in the lives of Minnesota's most troubled youth, often despite anguished pleas from parents.
Large fire drives hundreds from apartment building in New Hope
One person was taken to the hospital with injuries.
