July 23, 2008 - The racial discrimination lawsuit involving five black Minneapolis police officers maybe getting close to some sort of resolution.
July 25, 2008 - Minneapolis city officials discussed the lawsuit involving five black police officers today, but took no action.
July 26, 2008 - Minneapolis city officials got an update about the progress of settlement talks today involving a lawsuit filed by five African American police officers. The officers filed the suit late last year claiming they were denied promotions and unfairly disciplined because of their race. Police officials deny claims of bias. City council president Barb Johnson read a statement following the closed-door discussion.
August 14, 2008 - St. Paul police have identified 60 individuals they think are responsible for most of the gang-related violence in the city. With the help of a new federal grant, officers plan on watching the gang members closely over the next year. Police are also teaming up with a group of crime-fighting ministers to help the young men get off the street. But the new program has been controversial in the city's black community. All 60 men on the list are African-American.
August 28, 2008 - St. Paul police are asking a group of protesters who have set up camp at Harriet Island to leave the park when it closes at 11 tonight. About 20 protesters with the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign hauled in a generator and mattresses into the park this afternoon. They're calling the encampment "Bushville." Organizer Tim Dowlin says he drove through the night from his home in Philadelphia to protest next week's Republican National Convention. And he says many more people are coming.
August 29, 2008 - St. Paul police cleared out an outdoor encampment on Harriet Island late last night that was organized by advocates for the poor and homeless. Two people were arrested and taken to Ramsey County Jail. Senior Commander Joe Neuberger says the night provided a first glimpse of how police might respond to civil disobedience next week during the Republican National Convention.
August 29, 2008 - Two anti-poverty protesters who organized an outdoor encampment on Harriet Island in St. Paul were arrested last night, after they refused to clear the park by the 11 pm closing time. The arrests were peaceful, but the situation drew a strong police response. About 60 officers arrived in the park late last night by bike and on foot. Many were part of a crowd-control team that will be sent out to trouble spots during next week's Republican National Convention. Protester Shamako Noble of San Jose, California, is a member of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign. He thinks the police reaction was overkill.
August 31, 2008 - Activists with the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign have moved to a vacant parking lot in St. Paul after police evicted them from Harriet Island late Friday. About 125 people set up a tent city in the parking lot that they are calling "Bushville." The encampment is intended to highlight what they say are President Bush's failed economic policies. Lead organizer Cheri Honkala says the group plans to sleep in the parking lot for the duration of the Republican National Convention.
August 31, 2008 - Police arrested nine people taking part in an antiwar march at the Republican National Convention this afternoonafter they crossed a security fence into a restricted area near Xcel Energy Center. Police say the nine were arrested for trespassing. They were part of an anti-Iraq war protest which drew about 250 people that was otherwise uneventful also, today members of the protest group, the RNC Welcoming Committee, are demanding a stop to police raids and what they claim is harassment. Police raided homes in St. Paul and Minneapolis and made six arrests over the weekend. The raids were led by the Ramsey County Sheriff's office and coordinated with the Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments and the FBI. Authorities say the group was planning to block delegates from getting to the Republican National Convention, attack police lines and break into the Xcel Energy Center. They also confiscated items they say were intended to incite violence during the RNC.
August 31, 2008 - Members of the RNC Welcoming Committee are demanding a stop to police raids and what they claim is harassment. Police raided homes in St. Paul and Minneapolis and made six arrests over the weekend. The raids were led by the Ramsey County Sheriff's office and coordinated with the Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments and the FBI. Authorities say the group was planning to block delegates from getting to the Republican National Convention, attack police lines and break into the Xcel Energy Center. They also confiscated items they say were intended to incite violence during the RNC. All six are being held without charges Andy Fahlstrom says the police have no evidence the materials they confiscated can be linked to violence.