September 17, 2008 - A Minneapolis city council committee has voted down a measure that would have allowed council members to influence the scope of a report on police conduct during the RNC. The police department is working on a so-called 'after action report' that will include how city cops performed during major events which happened in Minneapolis during the convention. Council member Cam Gordon offered to expand the report to include a series of police raids which happened before the RNC - one of which occurred at a house in his ward.
September 18, 2008 - A Minneapolis city council committee has voted down a measure that would have allowed council members to influence the scope of a report on police conduct during the RNC. The police department is working on a so-called 'after action report' that will include how city cops performed during major events which happened in Minneapolis during the convention. Council member Cam Gordon offered to expand the report to include a series of police raids which happened before the RNC - one of which occurred at a house in his ward.
September 25, 2008 - It's been three weeks since the Republican National Convention ended, and tensions are still running high in St. Paul. More than 150 people packed the City Council chambers last night at a community hearing organized by City Council member Dave Thune. Residents and peace activists described their frustrations with the police and security restrictions. Many demanded that authorities drop all charges against the protesters.
October 9, 2008 - A second activist will file legal papers tomorrow announcing his intentions to sue the city of St. Paul over police action tied to the Republican National Convention. More than 800 people were arrested during last month's RNC, and more civil-rights lawsuits are likely. But taxpayers won't pay any of the legal fees or losses stemming from the suits. That's because last year, the city of St. Paul negotiated a police-liability policy that will cover up to 10-million-dollars in damages.
October 24, 2008 - Latinos in the small south central town of Gaylord say police are racially discriminating against them in traffic stops. They say they will file discrimination complaints with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against the city and its police department. Minnesota Public Radio News analyzed police records. Over a period of five years police wrote 45 percent of their tickets to Latinos. Latinos make up thirteen percent of the population. Half of their tickets were for driving without a license. Police Chief Dale Roiger says the police do not discriminate.
October 24, 2008 - A group of Latinos says it will file civil rights charges with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against the city of Gaylord and its police department.
October 24, 2008 - Some latino residents in the small town of Gaylord are filing a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. They say they are victims of racial discrimination and retaliation by the town's police department. Latinos in the small south central Minnesota town say police in Gaylord are targeting them in traffic stops. Gaylord's police chief has investigated the complaints. He says he found no evidence of discrimination.
October 25, 2008 - A new survey by non-partisan group Take Action Minnesota shows that the state's Hmong voters are most concerned about domestic issues this election. Health care and the economy ranked high in a poll of about 1,000 eligible voters. Hundreds of Hmong voters turned out Saturday to hear Senate candidates Al Franken, Norm Coleman and Dean Barkley speak about the issues in a town hall forum. Dai Thao is a community organizer with Take Action Minnesota. He says there is a big effort to register Minnesota's Hmong voters and get out the vote in November.
December 26, 2008 - St. Paul police say a pair of jewelry bandits are using a similar ruse to gain entry into the homes of Hmong families. Investigators say two men, described as Asian males in their 20s, are asking residents if they can step inside their homes to use a phone or bathroom. Once they're let in, they draw their guns or assault the victims before taking their jewelry. Police spokesman Peter Panos says homeowners should use extra caution if approached by strangers at the door.
December 26, 2008 - St. Paul police are cautioning residents to protect themselves from home invasions targeting Hmong families. Police spokesman Peter Panos says the robbers have been knocking on people's doors, asking residents in Hmong or English to borrow their phones or use their bathroom.