An AI-powered local news network shut down after questions emerged about copied content on its local site in Virginia — and grew into a broader plagiarism scandal
Story broken by my colleague at @axios.com Richmond >> www.axios.com/local/richmo...
I said city officials said it's a perfect site. I wrote a whole story unpacking this debate; I'd encourage you to read that.
*other existing law enforcement facilities.
The MPD reform settlement did order needs assessments that recommended upgrades to the training facilities, including the building of a "one-stop shop."
Opponents have argued these facilities could be acquired by other means — including with leases of other facilities, etc.
As @jchavezmpls.bsky.social is now telling me about my above post, reflective of many council opponents’ critique:
The facility itself isn’t required by the reform settlement.
Stop Cop City banner
The vote was to send the matter to staff — but this fight is not going away. As if to illustrate this…
“The people of Minneapolis do not want more militarized police,” shouts one protestor after a small group took over the council meeting. (It’s now in recess.)
"The timing is terrible," with city still recovering from ICE surge, facility supporter CM LaTrisha Vetaw (@ward4.minneapolismn.gov) said
Swing vote CM Jamal Osman (@ward6.minneapolismn.gov) said the purchase was "poorly planned," without federal or state matching funding in-hand.
"We have put our legislators in a deeply awkward position," CM @aurinmpls.bsky.social said. #mnleg "authors" don't feel looped in on details.
The Minneapolis City Council has voted 7-6 to delay buying a property city officials say is perfect for new public safety training facility to fulfill part of MPD's reform settlement
Background >> www.axios.com/2026/03/24/m...
This was the moment bsky.app/profile/liam...
CM Vetaw ( @ward4.minneapolismn.gov ) was also upset at Council President @elliottpayne.org for calling her out for some cross-talk during today's meeting
Vetaw she it was a benign side conversation — and she accused Payne of being less likely to enforce decorum rules against his ideological allies
The Minneapolis City Council is taking a five-minute recess.
Council Member @aurinmpls.bsky.social just said that she was called a "fucking child (direct quote)" by another CM while chairing a recent committee meeting.
Legally, MPD reform plan doesn't *require* building the all-new training facility on the City Council's agenda this week
But practically, experts say the city is "pretty boxed in."
It highlights a real debate about the costs and methods for police reform >>
www.axios.com/2026/03/24/m...
Breathtaking sums of donated money may be helping hold back a wave of eviction filings in the Twin Cities after the ICE enforcement surge
A survey of 124 of those groups offers a sense of just how much mutual aid money was distributed… and it’s a LOT >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
Johnny Gaudreau’s kids
🥹🥹🥹 Johnny Gaudreau’s kids
AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WARN MAIN STREET SPORTS GROUP The State Rapid Response Team (SRRT) received a Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. ("WARN") email from Main Street Sports Group, LLC (the “Company”) informing us of the closure and permanent layoff of approximately 20 employees from their facility located at: 800 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402 Per the WARN, the entire facility will close and all employees including those in remote positions will be impacted. The resulting action will occur during the 14- day period beginning on April 14, 2026. Employees are not represented by ta union and therefore do not have bumping rights.
FanDuel Sports Net's parent company just gave notice it's laying off 20 Minneapolis-based employees
FDSN broadcasts the Wild, Wolves and Lynx. It's been reported it might shut down if its parent company can't complete a sale.
Layoffs are effective April 14 — the end of the NHL/NBA regular season
This morning, @governorwalz.mn.gov announced he'll pitch #mnleg on a small business relief package with emergency loans.
It's a COVID-era solution to businesses currently experiencing strains they're comparing to the height of the pandemic >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
Gov. Tim Walz at a podium in an ornamented room
Speaking now: @governorwalz.mn.gov is "cautiously optimistic" about news of federal drawdown in MN.
BUT "they left us with deep damage, generational trauma … and many unanswered questions: Where are our children?" Where do the investigations into Good and Pretti shootings stand?
"Ana Voss is one of the eight prosecutors included in this second wave of resignations, according to multiple reports. Voss, the civil division chief, was the point person for most wrongful detention petitions the office has handled." -KSTP
The wildest court record you will ever read, full stop ⤵️
Journalism doesn't work without sources. Sources are often the brave ones in this work — AND journalism ethics demands we protect our sources.
Journalists won't be able to accurately, fully tell the story of what ICE watch observers groups are doing without willing sources.
I'm a journalist. Here's the story based on a ridealong I did >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
My rapid response ridealong host and I talked through concerns beforehand. I agreed that certain details about communication wouldn't be included, nor would identities of other RR volunteers w/o consent.
At 3:45, the ICE watch network spotted ICE agents as they entered the neighborhood
By 4, they knew their final destination
By 4:15, 40+ people were in the streets
What I saw on a ridealong with Minnesota "rapid responders" that have been tracking ICE's every move:
www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Today, Mayor Jacob Frey released the following statement after speaking with President Donald Trump over the phone: “I spoke with President Trump this afternoon and appreciated the conversation. I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end. The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue. Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go. Minneapolis will continue to cooperate with state and federal law enforcement on real criminal investigations — but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law. Violent criminals should be held accountable based on the crimes they commit, not based on where they are from. I will continue working with all levels of government to keep our communities safe, keep crime down, and put Minneapolis residents first. I plan to meet with Border Czar Tom Homan tomorrow to further discuss next steps.”
BREAKING: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issues a statement saying he spoke with Trump today
"The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue. Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go."
@mayorher.bsky.social declines direct comment on Cities Church protest by anti-ICE activists — but also says there's a double-standard:
"Churches have always been our sacred spaces — but so are hospitals, so are schools" (where DHS has changed policy to allow for ICE enforcement)
Frey has no regrets about his use of language — F-bomb about ICE in the city, or calling the federal narrative of Renee Good's shooting "bullshit."
His job as mayor is to "channel what our city is feeling."
Mayor Jacob Frey said Secretary Noem's suggestion that he set up "safe zones" for protests is unconstitutional: "The entire country is a safe zone" for free speech
Also, he quipped: "Could you imagine *ME* telling *Minneapolis activists,* 'Hey guys. Just protest in this single park. Nowhere else.'"
A large convention hall where Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her are onstage
"There’s an old Jewish phrase which goes… [a few lines of Hebrew*]… which is generally translates to, 'There’s nothing that brings two mayors together like a bullshit federal investigation."
—Mpls Mayor Jacob Frey, on stage with St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her this morning
