Melody Hoffmann

Clarify: BCR response times have been slow, no reports of them being short staffed

If MPD wasn't intervening in ICE calls, how did they rack up all this overtime? In my reporting on Uptown, there has been very little/slow response times due to MPD being short staffed (including BCR). Even the chief said MPD's presence heightens the energy re: ICE. So where are they?

Keep the mitten

A graph showing there has been 469 mentions of bus stops (school or transit) in ICE observations in Minnesota since Operation Metro Surge began

Data published by Star Tribune this week through People Over Papers:

Current state of affairs in Southwest Minneapolis: students are too scared to wait at bus stops and parents need help getting their kids to school. (This reflects crowdsourced data that show many ICE observations at bus stops)

A mayor in a snowstorm shoveling people out. Note: no PR cameras following.

There were clues along way (e.g. school shootings), but I never imagined so many Decemberists war songs would be relatable.

What a concept.

I can't get over this number: in 2007, there were 360,000 newspaper jobs. Now, there are 80,000. "My local paper sucked!" Sure. What sucks even more? The void. "I get all my news from the Guardian!" No, the Guardian doesn't report on your town council, your school board, local cops.

“We Belong to Each Other Now”: Lessons from Minneapolis “This extreme closeness, togetherness and intimacy — you cannot infiltrate your way into a space where you'll understand that," says May, a rapid responder in Minneapolis.

An essay on organizing in Minneapolis:

"Margaret stressed that the collective courage on display in Minneapolis shouldn’t be construed as a lack of fear, but rather, as a willful, collective persistence."

Well worth the long read.

I think this is a fair ask. It is also a lot of fun to ride bikes with 6-year-olds down city streets so the end goal is more biking and less fear.

Morning, Minneapolis. 1. We are close to 11 hours of sunlight (10:51) with the sun awake at 7 a.m. today 2. Mercury retrograde is upon us. Shadowy info will be exposed this week. Stay in solidarity and keep up the critical thinking. (summarized from Chani Nicholas)

He is so good at new media communications.

Operation Metro Love Thy Neighbor Hello Friends of Operation Metro Love Thy Neighbor! Many of our neighbors in Minneapolis are being targeted based on the color of their skin, their accent, or their country of origin. From a healthcare standpoint, this is leading to very scary outcomes, as patients are terrified to leave home and are foregoing necessary care in an effort to stay safe. For moms and babies, medical professionals scramble to meet these needs and to ensure patient safety. As neighbors and community members, we want to ensure these moms and babies have their needs met in terms of supplies, personal care items, and infant and toddler items. While it's a far cry from a baby shower, we are doing our best to ensure that our neighboring mamas have what they need in times of massive distress. All items purchased on this list will be delivered to me and then immediately sent out into the community for maximum impact. On behalf of all the mama and baby teams, we so appreciate your love and generosity.

Black image with white text and white line drawing of a parent holding a baby. Text reads: "Mama + Baby donations needed. All items with an asterisk must be unused. Other items may be gently used. These items will go to immediate homes and be appreciated. [heart emoji] Thank you! ITEMS NEEDED: diapers (size 0-6)*, baby wipes*, pacifiers*, teething items*, free and clear detergent, baby shampoo, baby-safe lotion, infant clothing (all sizes), infant hats, baby blankets, burp cloths, swaddlers, hands-free baby carriers, breastfeeding guards*, feeding pillows, maternity pillows, belly bands, nipple cream*, pimps, infant safe toys, pack + play, epsom salt."

We're seeing a drop off in newborn donations in Minneapolis. Birth workers are seeing small/early babies due to stress/food insecurity—ICE has not stopped—families still in desperate need of support. If you're able, here is a wishlist compiled by folks doing mutual aid
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

Email reads: "Your Google One Premium 2 TB plan has been updated to include the same AI benefits as the Google AI Plus plan at no additional cost. Here is a summary of the benefits added to your plan: More access to Gemini 3 Pro, our most capable model More access to Deep Research in the Gemini app Video generation with limited access to Veo 3.1 Fast in the Gemini app More access to image generation with Nano Banana Pro Additional AI credits for video generation in Flow Access Gemini directly in Google apps like Gmail"

No. Stop. Delete. I don't want any AI. Make it go away for the love of Mr. Rogers and the VHS tapes that he pushed into the wall.

What about the free Charmin roll extender thingie for ceramic toilet paper holders that you can order?

Southwest Voices will have deeper coverage on the state of Uptown in March.

Bet

Please hold while I confirm.

Where's your GFM link?

We actually broke this news in our print edition in a story about poinsettia donations (it pays to read every story!) but here it is again:

My best friend forever is still surviving Stage 4 colon cancer from lapsed colonoscopies. It is truly a miracle he is alive. Colonoscopies suck but cancer sucks even worse. It sucks for you and it sucks so much for the people around you. It's cool to get colonoscopies.

Morning, Minneapolis. Two things: 1. We are up to 10.5 hours of sunlight. 2. The astrology this week is wild but on The People's side. Dream big, let the envisioning fly. Don't let them write the ending.

Hugs to you. 💞✨

Have fun...not

A screenshot of a helicopter radar that shows the helicopter circling around Broadway Avenue from 23rd Avenue to the north and 14th to the South.

They keep circling this part of North (Broadway Avenue, 24th to the North, 14th to the South). I am at the North News office and can hear it continuously. Very calming to the nerves (sarcasm).

Minnesota State Patrol helicopter N118SP left St. Paul at 12:47 p.m.

A map of State patrol helicopter making circles all around North Minneapolis, as far North as Camden, down to Boom Island Park.

Minnesota State Patrol all over the Northside this afternoon.

This is really serious and also if you watch "The Morning Show" it's deeply uncanny.

Statement from Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne after announcement that Operation Metro Surge is winding down.

MPR News verifies brutal car crash connected to federal agent activity: