The Minnesota Supreme Court says “No!”

BY ED FELIEN The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, Aug. 31, that the citizens of the City of Minneapolis do not have the right to govern themselves by deciding to require liability insurance for police officers or raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2022. It was the…

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Chief Harteau’s modest proposal

BY ED FELIEN Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau has updated the manual on police conduct. She says officers should “reduce their exposure to a potential threat using distance, cover or concealment”; they should “communicate from a safe position intended to gain the subject’s compliance, using verbal persuasion, advisements or warnings”;…

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My lake in my basement

BY DEANNA BOSS After discovering a flood in my basement in June, and more water after each rainfall, I focused on finding a solution. Once I realized the problem could extend beyond my dwelling is when the real work began. Why is my basement taking in water when it never…

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Dick and Dorothy Pitheon

BY ED FELIEN Our lovely summer flew by so quickly. The state fair is over.  Kids are back in school.  The first cool breezes remind us to close the windows and take in the air conditioner. This summer was hectic for me.  At my age, most of my summer is…

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‘Bars and Measures’ at the Jungle Theater

BY ADAM M. SCHENCK “Bars and Measures,” like the emotive Guthrie play “Disgraced,” takes as its theme the intersection of Islam, terrorism and our politics. The characters have their traits and flaws: Bilal (Ansa Akyea) is a hotheaded convert to Islam and a talented jazz bassist. His younger brother Eric…

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Women in policing

BY TONY BOUZA The NYPD I entered on 1/1/53 had a Police-woman’s Bureau (adopting the androgynous “police officer” came about 20 years later and the police union is still called “The Patrolman’s Benevolent Association” —a classic anachronism).  There were maybe 150 females in a department of over 20,000, and they…

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