Recent content from Jon Tevlin
Tevlin: 'Against all odds, I survived a career in journalism'
After 20 years at the Star Tribune and almost nine years as a columnist, Jon Tevlin writes his last column.
Tevlin: Grateful Frogtown couple fight their way back from fire and illness
The fire that wiped out the Kidders' possessions also brought new opportunities, including a chance to look at life a little more closely.
Tevlin: Two political pros offer up some advice to new mayors
Shortly after George Latimer was sworn in as St. Paul’s mayor 1976, he arrived to work to learn of a broken water main. “It…
Tevlin: Jeremiah Program CEO follows her mom's lead
Some of Gloria Perez’s earliest memories include filling the family’s old Buick with day-old bread and delivering it to poor families in the San…
Tevlin: Sexual harassment purge turns 'Giant of Senate' Al Franken into a ghost
The Giant of the Senate, as Franken jokingly referred to himself in his latest book, is now the Ghost of the Senate.
Tevlin: Minnesota bus crash survivor was broken but never defeated
Sawyer Stevens' $100,000 scholarship won during the Big Ten title game doesn't compare to the story of his rise from the bus crash near Cottonwood, Minn., in 2008.
Tevlin: Things get ugly in town after three cats go missing in Cohasset, Minn.
When local authorities initially dismissed the issue of the missing pets, a group of neighbors turned into part-time sleuths -- and it led to a felony case.
Vandals trash small American Indian school in Minneapolis
Chairs and tables were overturned, doors were broken open. Vandals had spray-painted gang graffiti on the walls, on a washer and dryer used to clean the clothes of students who may be homeless, and on the art projects of the 45 students who see Center School as a second home, maybe even a first home.
Tevlin: Habitat for Humanity's Orin Scandrett lives with energy, excitement at 87
"There is no question it was the greatest experience of my life," the group's founding director says of a recent trip to Cambodia.
Tevlin: Luverne vets' last toast to fallen comrades is bittersweet
The two are all that remain of a blood-brothers group of World War II veterans who gathered at the former Glen's Bakery and Deli for years.
Tevlin: Men can play role in shifting culture of harassment
The good news this week is that Democrats and Republicans are finally on the same page about something. The bad news is that it’s sexual…
Tevlin: Barb Johnson's long Minneapolis City Council run comes to an end
For 20 years, 11 as council president, Johnson has been one of the more powerful people in the city.
Tevlin: Fatal bar fire yields new start for homeless seniors in Minneapolis
In March 2010, a fire ripped through McMahon’s Pub on East Lake Street, killing six people in the apartments above the bar. The victims included…
Tevlin: Strip clubs love football, especially the Super Bowl
Just as the Minneapolis City Council is meeting Wednesday to come up with a strategy to disrupt sex-trafficking statewide in advance of the big game, the exotic dance industry is ramping up for a bigger surge in business.
Tevlin: St. Paul's police union shamelessly attacks a mayoral candidate
The attack on Melvin Carter is a dangerous, and perhaps unprecedented, abuse of the power of the police federation for political means.
Tevlin: Untruths fan flames of fear in St. Cloud
"It's extremely embarrassing to be in the news for this," said Natalie Ringsmuth, director of #UniteCloud, a nonprofit that seeks to ease racial, religious and cultural tensions in St. Cloud.
Tevlin: Deported Worthington father was a victim of political optics
Jacobo Gabriel-Tomas is no bad hombre. He is beloved by his family, his church, his employer and what he considers his hometown of Worthington,…
Tevlin: In making a play for Amazon, would we be selling our souls?
Across the Twin Cities, from Arden Hills to Shakopee, city planners are huddling with developers and Mad Men to put together the biggest "welcome basket'' the state has ever seen.
Tevlin: Minn. pharmacist who faced addiction demons now helps teens
Some might see him as an atypical example of America's opioid crisis, but Sean Higgins will tell you his story is very common.
Tevlin: Police/community relations can't be fixed overnight
After St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop, Gov. Mark Dayton created the Council on Law Enforcement and Community…
Tevlin: U ethics expert says Trump White House is a nightmare
Law Prof. Richard Painter, who was George W. Bush's White House ethics chief, considers himself a loyal Republican.
Tevlin: Vet's phone call was inspired by strong feelings toward the VA
If you work at the VA and met Mike Krueger, you should know that he appreciates you more than you can imagine.
Tevlin: From serving in Iraq to working on Ph.D, U scholar is 'like a kid in a candy store'
Jason Jones is the first in his family to go to college, and he said the U's TRIO McNair Scholars program has been instrumental in getting an advanced degree.
Tevlin: Assault leads to community dialogue on 'Suicide Hill' homeless camp
They call it "Suicide Hill" because the homeless and addicted people who gather there sometimes pass out and roll down the embankment into traffic.The area,…
Tevlin: Get ready for some more traffic chaos, Minneapolis
When Franklin Avenue shuts down near I-35W to rebuild a bridge, MnDOT's detour for the nearly 15,000 cars that use Franklin Avenue each day will go to 26th and 28th streets, facing restrictions.
Tevlin: When it comes to discussing politics, it's a zoo out there
What does it say about the political temperament of America when an argument over politics gets a senior citizen volunteer fired from the Minnesota Zoo?
Tevlin: Legendary defense attorney Ron Meshbesher struggling with Alzheimer's
"If our story can help bring awareness that even brilliant people like my husband can be afflicted with this disease, it will be worth it," Kim Meshbesher said.
Tevlin: North Loop entrepreneur Peter Kirihara kept his imagination unchained
He was honored for his pioneering vision and his determination to transform the once ghostly Warehouse District into a legitimate destination spot, now known as the trendy North Loop.
Tevlin: A crisis in Minneapolis just can't compete with L.A.
Hodges better hope the race doesn't come down to the main blunder on her fundraising trip: the menu.
Tevlin: Reopening State Fair diner is family's rite of August
Lee and Bev Bahr have turned management of the Lunch Box over to the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, but on Tuesday were still there before first light.
Tevlin: Being the good guy won't be enough for Arradondo as potential chief
Praise for Arradondo at last week's hearing was one of the few genuinely hopeful moments in the recent history of relations between police and the public, but it's a tenuous one.
Tevlin: A night of fun in Richfield ended in gunfire and tears for a young man slain
The shooting death of Jonathan O'Shaughnessy has left his family reeling and asking for anyone who knows what happened to step forward.
Tevlin: A proud Eagle Scout from Minnesota turns in his badge after Trump's speech
"It didn't matter what the speaker said, I identified it as an enormous failure of leadership by the adults who were there," said John Rowell of Moorhead.
Tevlin: Minneapolis shop owner's mother fearless in standing up to armed robber
It happened at the ColorWheel Gallery, a combination hair salon and gallery in south Minneapolis where local artists sell their wares and neighbors often gather for folk music.
Tevlin: Police chief's absence spelled the end
Janee Harteau certainly doesn't own all the crises that have tarnished the police force the past few years, but political expediency made her departure inevitable.
Tevlin: Where Justine Damond died, cameras roll too late
We are international news, again, for all the wrong reasons.
Small-town doctor in Minnesota gives voice to Islam
Two weeks after a major profile in the Washington Post brought huge attention, Ayaz Virji is still working through his emotions.
Tevlin: Who will rise from huddled mass of Minneapolis mayor candidates?
Ray Dehn scored a victory over an incumbent mayor in Saturday's DFL convention, but that certainly doesn't make him a lock.
Tevlin: For this July 4th, waving a flag and making a vow
The run-up to celebrate all that's good in this country comes with plenty of reasons to fear that things we once celebrated are now targets.
Tevlin: Preparing his granddaughter for a life without sight
David House brought his 8-year-old granddaughter, Lily, to Minnesota this month for a three-week stay. She got to visit the Mall of America and a…
Tevlin: For these friends, Hiawatha's not just a golf course
The Minneapolis golf course, much of it under sea level and with fairways undulated like a spongy bog following the rain, is under threat.
Tevlin: South Minneapolis biz owners conflicted over $15 wage issue
A number of South Side small business owners find themselves emotionally and politically conflicted between their progressive values and the city's push for a mandatory minimum wage of $15 an hour.
Tevlin: When it mattered most, Yanez wasn't a good cop
In the end, it seemed like all parties could agree on something: Jeronimo Yanez should not be a cop.
Tevlin: Health care debate is 'legacy' of the times
Rep. Keith Ellison, a Fifth District Democrat, spoke to a standing-room-only crowd in the Third District, about the proposed changes to health care.
Tevlin: Two decades after 'Murderapolis,' some old names resurface
Minneapolis, the 1990s are calling, and they want their gangsters back. The cops and lawyers who have been around the police blotter for a while…
Tevlin: One teenager's poignant struggle to 'get it out'
An eighth-grade English assignment is a heartbreaking view of life coming apart for a 14-year-old girl, and a stark reminder that violent acts have many victims.
Tevlin: At Minneapolis' Ramsey Middle School, students study, then change history
Thanks to their yearlong campaign, the Minneapolis school board will vote June 13 on whether to keep Ramsey or rename it Justice Alan Page Middle School.
Tevlin: Fraud at Minneapolis agency hurt 'the poorest of the poor'
Authorities say former Community Action of Minneapolis CEO William Davis stole more than $800,000 from CAM's coffers and spent it on luxuries, trips and five girlfriends.
Tevlin: After reversing fortunes, Minn. prep football team faces uncertain future
The coach who rebuilt the Staples-Motley Cardinals after a five-year losing streak did not have his contract renewed. After the school board vote, the superintendent and five other football coaches said they were resigning.
Tevlin: Mayor Hodges has had a mind-boggling month
April is the cruelest month. You don't have to trust T.S. Eliot on that, just look to Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. To be fair, March didn't end so swell either.
Tevlin: With a bike lane scuffle, spring begins in earnest in Minneapolis
A group of Lyn-Lake business owners is angry with the city's plan to add protected bike lanes to two popular east-west corridors.
Tevlin: Lisa Goodman has proved she's a nice hue of blue
On a gorgeous Saturday morning, Lisa Goodman sat alone on a grassy hillside in Bryn Mawr, collecting her thoughts. She was about to go…
Tevlin: Vietnam veteran Don Elverd still looking after the troops
"I didn't volunteer for this," Elverd said of his work with addicted vets. "I was drafted."
Tevlin: Raucous caucuses in Mpls. are telling us ... something
The Trump dystopia is clearly motivating people to do something, and at the local level that means running for office, even against your own party.
GOP legislator bucks his party for internet privacy
In the days before the current legislative session, Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, was cajoling his colleagues to remain vigilant, and healthy, because they only…
Popular small-town baker had recipe for trouble
A homegrown cafe that helped resuscitate Main Street in Dodge Center is now shuttered after the owner was convicted of burglary.
Tevlin: Creating a new Peavey Plaza for all to treasure
Fixing one of the jewels of downtown Minneapolis promised the inevitable collision of two issues — preservation and accessibility.
Tevlin: GOP health plan is a study in betrayal
If you are young and healthy, or rich, or both, this column is not for you. You are bullet-proof. The government has your back.…
Tevlin: Noise, dust, odor from chipper still disrupting veterans in new housing
Nearly a year ago, I wrote about two veterans, James Hudson and Richard Greggersen, and their relentless efforts to move or shut down a…
Tevlin: First gathering is Minneapolis mayoral forum 'lite'
The event was fittingly labeled a forum, not a debate, because it was largely a pillow fight between besties. This race seems like it will be less over direction than voice.
Tevlin: Trade connection to Mexico essential
SAN DIEGO – Across America they were rounding up undocumented workers and promising to build that wall, but 10 floors above and a few…
Tevlin: Madelia's Main Street rises from the ashes
They are emerging from the ashes, one by one, along Madelia’s Main Street. Last month, it was the Culligan Water shop, with its eight employees.…
Tevlin: Preemie in 1942 battled odds, and he won
Calvin Lepp was locally famous almost from the moment he was born, and over the course of the next 120 days, readers of this newspaper…
Tevlin: To most blessed guy, ALS stands for 'a loving savior'
The stories started even before the smell of Sweet Martha’s cookies, being baked by Gary Olson, one of the actual founders of the Minnesota…
Tevlin: Stadium panel's Michele Kelm-Helgen wishes for a do-over
Two days after being grilled by legislators over the use of suites at the Vikings new home, she wishes she would have dealt with the bitter skepticism and conducted a thorough vetting of the MSFA's suite policies.
Tevlin: Downtown crime forces itself into Minneapolis mayoral race
In the last election, economic issues like mandatory sick days, increasing the minimum wage and equity dominated the discussion. Now, the issue of public safety, whether it be downtown violence or police-related shootings, is forcing itself into the mayoral race, with caucuses three months away.
Tevlin: Frogtown fire didn't claim what matters most
It was Christmas Eve, and Jeff and Kristen Kidder were having dinner with their next-door neighbors, just as they had for the past several…
Tevlin: At refurbished Capitol, democracy never looked so good
Shortly after 9 a.m., the sound of “Amazing Grace” rose from the rotunda floor at the State Capitol and bounced off columns of gleaming marble,…
Tevlin: Thanks, dear readers, for a woonerful 2016
Goodbye monkey. Hello, fire rooster. In China, or as our president-elect pronounces it, Chiina, 2016 was the Year of the Monkey, believed to be unlucky…
Tevlin: Victim of Coon Rapids hate crime finds grace in courtroom
It was Jama's measured and compassionate response to her attacker in court that has provoked an emotional response.
Flight serves as a rite of passage for three generations of pilots
Three generations of the Weber family will take the trip of a lifetime next week. Wallace, Steve and Brian Weber will be accompanied by a…
Tevlin: Is ballpark the best place to enforce patriotism?
Last week national and state branches of the American Legion said they would rigorously enforce "proper respect" toward the U.S. flag during the national anthem in their summer baseball leagues. Minnesota, with 325 teams and thousands of players, is among the top states for Legion ball.
Tevlin: It's too late now to apologize for the sweet deal on stadium suites
“Baby, you can crash my party anytime,” Luke Bryan sang. Baby, did they ever. Since the new Vikings stadium opened in August, dozens of…
Tevlin: Snippy letter shows awkward dance of Mpls. mayor, downtown leaders
Hodges' response was a masterpiece of barely controlled passive-aggressive seething, unique in a way that a Nut Goodie or a Post-it note is unique — in other words, something that could be manufactured only in Minnesota.
Tevlin: Councilman's Facebook post exposes postelection rancor in Ely
Ely is the kind of place where people normally escape the rancor and contentiousness of everyday life. They go for the lakes and loons and…