Recent content from Faiza Mahamud
Want to stop crime? Walk with us, say Minneapolis block clubs
Neighborhood groups are forming walking clubs to deter crime around the city.
Advocates push Mpls. to issue city IDs to residents, unveil list of 'pro-immigrant' demands
Minneapolis passed municipal ID ordinance in 2018 but halted implementation over concerns information could be used to identify immigrants for deportation.
Rainville tries to make peace after firestorm over remarks about Somali youth
He had blamed Somali American youth for a wave of violence in the city over the July 4th weekend.
Some Minneapolis council members want to censure Rainville, but it's not so easy
Council Member Michael Rainville's comments singling out Somali American youth for violence over the July 4th weekend sparked anger.
Pressure mounts against Minneapolis City Council's Rainville
He has apologized for singling out Somali youth after a wave of violence over the July 4th weekend.
Minneapolis to demolish vacant building on former Kmart site
A St. Paul-based consulting firm hired by the city will begin community engagement in August around the future of the site.
Vacant ice arena in north Minneapolis could gain new life as roller-skating rink
Though the plan is still in its infancy, the hope is to open the roller rink by 2024.
Twin Cities minimum-wage workers get pay raises. Here's what you need to know
The step increases will occur over several years, with Minneapolis small businesses expected to hit the $15 rate by 2024, followed by St. Paul's in 2027.
Minneapolis City Council fails to override Mayor Frey's veto on Hennepin Av. redo
The matter has been sent back to the city's public works committee.
Minneapolis City Council postpones nomination of Barret Lane as city's emergency director
Several members raise questions about Barret Lane's leadership during the unrest of 2020,
Minneapolis seeks injunction to stop court order blocking 2040 plan
The city argues that allowing the order to go into effect would throw a wrench into its long-range plan and expose it to possible lawsuits.
Mpls. City Council committee approves nomination of Barret Lane to head emergency management
The department is tasked with coordinating the city's disaster plans, training and response.
Heat wave parks itself over state; highs in triple digits likely
Authorities urge people to stay hydrated when possible, and to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat stroke, heat exhaustion: How to recognize, what to do
HEATSTROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION What is heat stroke? It is a serious medical emergency where the body's temperature rises above the normal level and the…
Mpls. Council OKs $150K settlement for tenant who said city failed to enforce code violations in public housing
City officials said they didn't know before that they had the authority to inspect public housing properties.
Minneapolis City Council approves Heather Johnston's nomination for city coordinator
Appointment came as some current and former staffers said Johnston could have done more to combat a racist culture within the department.
$27M upgrade for aging Elliot Twins public housing towers is complete
Housing Authority officials said the redevelopment of the towers will serve as a blueprint for how the agency can preserve and produce more affordable housing amid a crisis.
Downtown Minneapolis residents want to hire police to curb crime in neighborhood
The pilot project would bring an off-duty beat officer to patrol the Mill District in the summer.
Pay increase coming to Twin Cities minimum wage earners July 1
Tips and gratuities do not count toward wage payments.
Why hasn't a fire-damaged apartment building in north Minneapolis been repaired?
The charred remains have been sitting vacant for more than a year, leaving many concerned about safety.
Minneapolis to pay $600K to journalist blinded in one eye by police projectile after George Floyd's death
Photojournalist Linda Tirado argued that the city and police conspired to deprive journalists of their constitutional rights during the unrest.
Three Mpls. department heads get nod; city coordinator decision postponed
While voting to delay the city coordinator appointment, council members acknowledged the position will likely cease to exist in a matter of months.
Two years later: 'I'm going to still be out here to honor George'
George Floyd's brother and his aunt came to the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue on Wednesday night, exactly two years after his killing, and quietly made official the name the intersection has carried almost ever since.
Minneapolis council committee forwards city coordinator appointment without recommendation
The full council could decide on Heather Johnston's nomination later this week. She's served as interim head of the department since August.
Retired Minneapolis deputy city attorney named acting head of the department
Peter Ginder will serve as interim city attorney until a permanent replacement is selected.
Minnesota Somali singer fights deportation as he faces death threats in native country
The Minneapolis resident who came to the U.S. as a refugee teenager said he fears militants will kill him if he's deported to Somalia.
Tom Hoch tapped to lead Minneapolis Public Housing Authority board
Hoch, who previously served as MPHA's deputy executive director, will preside over the board through 2024.
City Coordinator's Office staffers allege 'toxic, racist and unsafe workplace conditions'
Groups says they want the interim head of the department gone and have made several demands to create a better work environment for employees of color.
Man who sued Minneapolis, police settles for $50K
Damareion McKizzie accused officers of violating his civil rights when they used excessive force and detained him in March 2021 when he was 17. The settlement awaits the mayor's approval.
Minneapolis officials say it's time to take lead out of homes
Mayor Jacob Frey announced that more than 3,000 school-age children, the majority of whom are students of color, have been poisoned by lead.
Minneapolis closes homeless encampment in Phillips West neighborhood
The camp, which was on city property, was a temporary home to more than 20 adults.
Minneapolis to form rent control work group
The 25-member panel must submit a final report to the council by the end of the year. The City Council will submit a ballot question to voters in 2023.
Convention Center expects slow recovery after pandemic crash
It could take three years before business returns to normal at the Convention Center, which saw at least 70% decline in revenue during the pandemic.
Panel says Mpls. should invest more in youth, entrepreneurs, new homebuyers
Mayor Jacob Frey said the recommendations will be used in planning for the second phase spending of the pandemic relief money and the city's 2023 budget
Mpls. mosques will broadcast call to prayer all year round
The City Council unanimously supported the broadcasts and recognizing Ramadan, which begins April 2.
Minneapolis landlord ordered to pay $1 million in legal fees after tenants' rights violations
Judge notes a "disrespectful and unlawful treatment of vulnerable low-income residential tenants."
Minneapolis City Council approves $15,000 settlement to couple injured by rubber bullets during George Floyd protests
Rally took place downtown the night of May 28, 2020.
Frey unveils plan for new cabinet, with a safety office
Some local groups said they're intrigued by the idea, while others dismissed it as window dressing.
New federal funds to bring sprinklers to public housing high-rises in Mpls.
A fatal 2019 fire prompted the Public Housing Authority to set the goal that all of its 42 high-rise buildings would have that safeguard.
Minnesota Somali community on edge over FBI fraud allegations
Many of the child nutrition spending program subcontractors named in documents are in the community.
Brenda Abari, a longtime special education teacher and humanitarian, dies at 75
Her love for children extended beyond the classroom to the world.
Meals program in Willmar offers a window into investigation
The owner of a local restaurant contradicts FBI allegations and says disadvantaged families were served by the thousands.
Mayor's office to lead replacement process for public housing board leader
The Housing Authority's board chair resigned after a building he co-owns was tied to a federal investigation of alleged fraud in programs meant to feed those in need.
Mpls. Housing Authority board chair resigns after feds move to seize property he helped buy
Sharmarke Issa said his resignation had nothing to do with the federal investigation.
As omicron fades, Mpls., St. Paul maintain mask mandates
Some other governments — at the local, state and national levels — have already rolled back mask mandates as the omicron wave recedes. Minneapolis and St. Paul have not.
Former Frey aide named in forfeiture suit over alleged fraud in meals program
Federal prosecutors move to seize 14 properties owned by people associated with allegations of misappropriation of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
Some on council want to skip voters, create public safety unit
Changing the Minneapolis charter by an ordinance requires several steps, including a unanimous vote by the 13-member council and the mayor's approval.
Mpls. council debates future of MPD, ban on no-knock warrants
The Council's Policy and Government Oversight Committee convened a conversation on no-knock warrants, and one member said he would revive a charter amendment aimed at replacing the MPD with a new public safety department.
Restaurant owners, Mpls. face off over vaccine mandate
The case is raising questions about how much authority the city has to enact emergency measures during the pandemic. The judge presiding over the case didn't issue a ruling Wednesday but promised to do so "as soon as I can."
Restaurant owners sue Mpls. and Frey over vaccine mandate
Plaintiffs say the requirements of the vaccine pose challenges and go against guidance from medical experts.
City moves forward on emergency shelter for women in Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood
A City Council committee rejected a neighbor's appeal.
Minneapolis council debate on rent control starts to take shape
There's sharp division among council members as they begin to draft a policy.
Minneapolis, St. Paul to require vaccine proof for bars, eateries
The moves come as an increasing number of large, Democrat-led cities across the country are adopting similar rules.
Fear, frustration, resolve resurface in Minneapolis, St. Paul as COVID again disrupts city life
Mask mandates are back. Businesses are shutting, and people are hunkering down.
Minneapolis, St. Paul reinstate indoor mask mandates
Mayors from both cities were citing a rise in COVID-19 cases from the fast-spreading omicron variant.
Incoming Mpls. council sounds note of caution on rent control
A majority of the City Council, including newly elected members, say they want to proceed with caution and design a policy that protects vulnerable tenants but is also workable for developers and landlords.
Redevelopment plan for former Minneapolis Kmart site to begin early next year
Construction on the 10-acre site could begin in 2024.
Minneapolis makes permanent caps on third-party food delivery fees
The city began capping the fees temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic to help its restaurants survive.
Andrea Jenkins favored to become next Minneapolis City Council president
Jenkins was first elected in 2017 and serves as vice president.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey gains unprecedented power in City Hall
The change to the city charter means staff can work "without the complications of politics muddling the efficiency of their work," he says.
Minneapolis aims to build 84 housing units across the city
With 8,000 families on the waiting list for public housing, the city's Public Housing Authority said it's a step toward meeting a dire need.
![Testing stations at a new saliva testing center for COVID, being set up in the Minneapolis Convention and opening Monday in Minneapolis ]](https://chorus.stimg.co/22988961/ows_32624b25_a2d1_4b8f_8f55_94cb3ea53343.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
After nearly 20 years in the role, Minneapolis Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant will retire
The city will undertake a search for Musicant's replacement in coming weeks.
Re-elected as mayor, Frey calls election turning point for Mpls.
The Minneapolis mayor won a second term, defeating opponents who aligned against him in a campaign focusing heavily on his track record on policing.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey holds significant early lead
Challengers said they wanted to wait for all votes to be counted as the race was headed into a second day of counting ranked-choice votes Wednesday.
Minneapolis police ballot question divides Black activists, leaders
Proponents say this is their one shot at addressing policing issues. Opponents argue "ending" police is too much of a risk.
Minneapolis mayoral candidates offer plans to fix housing crisis
Candidates for mayor of Minneapolis agree that the city is suffering a severe shortage of affordable housing, but they offer sharply differing solutions.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey opposes rent control, but says he will vote for ballot measure
The mayor has spent months expressing opposition to rent control, and vetoed a separate measure.
Marjorie Wunder, a peace activist, dies at 90
She was arrested numerous times for civil disobedience in her attempt to bring attention to the dangers of ongoing wars and the production of nuclear weapons and cluster bombs.
Minneapolis Ward 6 candidates at odds over policing, division of power in City Hall
Despite their split views on some of the other major issues, both candidates support rent control.
Candidates for Minneapolis City Council's Eighth Ward seat at odds over policing
City Council district includes the area where George Floyd was killed.
What you need to know about the Minneapolis charter amendments
Proposals tackle the future of policing, how power is divided in City Hall and whether to limit rent increases.
Jacob Frey faces new scrutiny in second run for Minneapolis mayor
Frey has worked under an intense international spotlight since George Floyd's death put the city into the epicenter of a reckoning over policing and racism. It placed the mayor at odds with many members of the City Council and powerful political forces bent on reducing police funding.
Early voters head to cast ballots in Minneapolis election
The city is facing historic questions on the future of policing, rental pricing and power in city hall.
![Early voting center workers prepped for the first day of early voting Thursday. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com Minneapolis elec](https://chorus.stimg.co/22856868/ows_da376b6a_8da7_499e_8e69_4736d87be930.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Big issues, lots of candidates: Minneapolis officials prep for historic vote starting today
Up for a vote are key ballot questions and elections for the mayor's office, all 13 City Council seats and more.
Minneapolis Jimmy John's to pay $17K for sick leave violations
A city investigation found workers had almost no access to sick leave.
