Minneapolis city council members voted Thursday to settle complaints filed by two police officers who claimed they faced discrimination and were unfairly disciplined for speaking critically about the department in media interviews. Arthur Knight, who has served 28 years with the Minneapolis Police Department, will receive a $70,000 settlement. Knight was serving as Deputy Chief in October, 2020, when he was demoted for telling the Star Tribune about some of his concerns over resources for recruiting staff with diverse backgrounds. Former MPD officer Colleen Ryan, who filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, will receive a settlement for $133,600. Ryan was issued a letter of reprimand by Chief Medaria Arradondo after she spoke to GQ magazine under a pseudonym, but was later identified as part of a larger human rights investigation into the department’s practices, according to the Star Tribune. Ryan criticized the department for having what she called a toxic culture.
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Two deaths reported as storms with hurricane-force winds sweep across Minnesota, South Dakota At least two people died as severe storms packing winds in excess of 100 miles per hour swept across eastern South Dakota and much of western and central Minnesota on Thursday. Emergency management officials in Kandiyohi County, Minn., reported one person died near Blomkest, south of Willmar, when a grain bin fell onto an occupied vehicle at about 7 p.m.
Hmong queer community: The movement towards acceptance and equity. Although no data exists about LGBTQ Hmong demographics, it is estimated that between 15,000 to 20,000 LGBTQ Hmong people live in Minnesota. This estimate is based on national mainstream LGBTQ population statistics and the 81,000 estimated Hmong people living in Minnesota. The hard data doesn’t exist, because in the Hmong culture talking about LGBTQ people is a “taboo topic.” New public service newsroom will train, emloy young journalists of color. An independent news organization led by a Black journalist has announced the launch of a newsroom dedicated to training the next generation of journalists of color. Journalist Georgia Fort is leading the effort to launch the BLCK Press newsroom. Fort said BLCK Press has hired five young women of color, who will produce news content ranging from radio to video. She said the goal is to train them to cover news in their communities. And Fort said she’s expanding her efforts to cover the news in a way that’s respectful of communities of color.
