Manifesto of the Farmer Labor Association, Part One

BY ED FELIEN “Capitalism has failed and should be abolished!” “We mean to establish a Cooperative Commonwealth!” That’s the Preamble to the 1934 Farmer Labor Party Platform, and the party that believed in those principles went on to elect Floyd B. Olson governor and win a majority in the Minnesota…

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Bloat

BY TONY BOUZA As I travel about the state, people, invariably kind, seem incredulous 1) that I’m still alive, and 2) that I make Minnesota my home. Maybe I should get out more. Then comes, “What are you doing now?” The truth is, as little as possible. “Are you writing?”…

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New Year’s Day tragedy on the West Bank

BY DEBRA KEEFER RAMAGE It started with an explosion, at approximately 8:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. By the time the firefighters arrived, the building was in flames. There were injured victims lying around outside the building, having jumped from second- and third-floor windows. The crew fought the blaze inside for…

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Hiawatha Death Star kills again

BY ED FELIEN Sunday night, Jan. 12, at about 6 p.m., the Hiawatha Deathstar struck again. A pedestrian who lives in the area was killed walking across the light rail tracks at 42nd and Hiawatha. He became the 10th victim since June 2004. Metro Transit spokes-man John Siqveland said the…

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The Stadium Financing is unfair

BY DAVID TILSEN People have asked me a lot over the summer why I am trying to stop the new Vikings stadium. I have a few stock answers. One is that I have no objection to a new stadium, I just don’t think I should be forced to pay for…

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Majority of City Council side with equity

BY NICK ESPINOSA AND ANTHONY NEWBY One hundred fifty community members braved a record cold snap to demand that the new City Council prioritize closing Minneapolis’ worst-in-the-nation racial equity gaps as they begin their new term. After the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony for the new council, hundreds kicked off…

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Nuclear Iran

BY RICHARD TAYLOR “Omission,” George Orwell once noted, “is the greatest form of lie,” an observation relevant to the U.S. conflict with Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons program. The omissions provide ironic support to Obama’s statement,” I wouldn’t say [chances of success of the interim agreement] are more than…

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Powderhorn fireworks for 2014 canceled?

BY ED FELIEN There will be a special meeting hosted by the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (PPNA) and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m. at the park building at 3400 15th Ave. S. to discuss fireworks at Powderhorn for the Fourth of…

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Walker Community Church 2.0 rising

BY DEBRA KEEFER RAMAGE On Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, neighbors of 3104 16th Ave. S. may have seen something that hadn’t occurred for 18 months—churchgoers, some toting musical instruments, trickling into the building. Just two days earlier, the trustees and Rev. Walter Lockhart had received the certificate of occupancy from…

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Legislative agenda 2014

We sent the following letter to State Senators Jeff Hayden and Patricia Torres Ray and Representatives Jim Davnie, Jean Wagenius, Karen Clark and Susan Allen: An Open Letter to our state representatives and senators: You represent the most progressive districts in the State of Minnesota. As your constituents we have…

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In response to John Delmonico

BY ED FELIEN On Dec. 23, 2013, John Delmonico, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation (MPF), wrote an op-ed piece for the Star Tribune arguing that the Minneapolis Police Department should not seek outside investigators when MPD officers use deadly force. The proposal of Chief Harteau to use the Bureau…

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Richard “Skip” Nelson

BY ED FELIEN Richard “Skip” Nelson lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 18, 2013. No one can replace him. He was so gentle and so kind. Walt Whitman has a line, “He shamed silliness out of me.” Skip had a wonderful sense of humor and loved a good joke,…

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