Recent content from Liz Navratil
City didn't change charter, but pressure on police remains
Having survived vote, the Minneapolis police force faces a reform push and a new council.
Opposition to policing amendment spanned north and south Minneapolis
Through impassioned debates in the nearly 18 months since George Floyd's killing by police, one question was frequently asked: Who would decide the future of policing in Minneapolis? Black residents disproportionately impacted by crime and police use of force, or white voters who often dominate local election turnout?
Precinct-by-precinct look at how Minneapolis voted down police charter question
While other younger, more diverse areas showed stronger support for the failed amendment, precincts on the North Side had narrower results.
Minneapolis voters reject plan to replace Police Department
The final votes came at the end of a contentious election cycle that drew intense scrutiny as people across the country waited to see how far the city would go to reinvent policing.
Mpls. council president files ethics complaint over chief's news conference
Lisa Bender said Chief Medaria Arradondo's public criticism of the policing charter amendment appeared to violate city ethics rules. She has filed an ethics complaint against him and Mayor Jacob Frey.
Big-spending political committees hire national firms to influence Minneapolis elections
New reports provide a window into the money funneling into city elections.
Groups seeking to influence Mpls. election spend millions
Reports give a glimpse into the spending frenzy by political action committees.
Chief Medaria Arradondo's fate looms large in Mpls. elections
Arguments over the ballot question to replace the police department often bring in the fate of the popular chief, whose term expires soon.
Divided left field: Don't rank Frey in Minneapolis mayor's race
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar weighed in Monday as organizations leaning furthest left are waging social media campaigns and launching ads encouraging voters not to re-elect current Mayor Jacob Frey.
Public safety debate dominates Minneapolis mayor's race
Candidates try to create a plan that prevents crime and police violence.
Q&A;: How ranked-choice voting works in Minneapolis
Voters' second- and third-choice rankings could be crucial in determining which candidates win historic Minneapolis elections in November.With a near-record 102 candidates, residents will have…
Early voter turnout high in Minneapolis
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people grew more accustomed to voting early or by mail. It's too early to tell whether that might shift the turnout on Election Day.
Frey: Conduct in Minneapolis police body cam footage 'galling'
The mayor faces renewed pressure from challengers and council colleagues, who argue he should have done more to rein in the department.
Minneapolis receives grant for program flagging trouble officers
The City Council previously rejected a proposal to fund such a system.
What you need to know about the Minneapolis charter amendments
Proposals tackle the future of policing, how power is divided in City Hall and whether to limit rent increases.
State Supreme Court clears way for Minneapolis vote on police
Early balloting begins Friday in a historic election that could shape the city's future.
Minn. Supreme Court to take up case on Mpls. policing proposal
The state's high court faces intense pressure to act quickly on the ballot question, with early voting set to begin Friday.
Judge throws out latest Minneapolis policing ballot language
The legal saga is likely not over, with an almost certain emergency appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Yes 4 Mpls. asks state high court to intervene on ballot issue
The case raises concerns about whether the Minneapolis proposal could be kicked off the ballot, days before early voting begins.
Judge schedules hearing in request to block latest Minneapolis policing ballot language
The emergency hearing is set for Monday morning, four days before early voting is set to begin.
Could Minneapolis policing measure get blocked from November ballot?
A trio of residents wants a judge to reject the latest wording, a week before early voting starts.
Trio of residents seeks emergency hearing on new Mpls. policing ballot language
The request came a week and a half before early voting begins in the first municipal races since George Floyd was killed by police.
New language for Minneapolis policing measure set for ballot
The City Council approved the new wording in an emergency meeting, and Mayor Jacob Frey allowed it to be "deemed approved" without his signature.
Read the text of Minneapolis policing ballot question
Minneapolis officials on Tuesday approved new ballot language for a proposal that would clear the way for city officials to replace the Minneapolis Police Department,…
Judge hears new arguments over ballot language for Minneapolis policing, public safety proposal
The judge hearing the case faces a tight deadline for making a decision. Early voting begins in just over two weeks.
Ellison, Omar back Minneapolis policing ballot question
The DFL representative is breaking from some Democrats in Minnesota's congressional delegation.
3 Mpls. residents sue to have police ballot question thrown out
Mpls. police reform issue draws a late challenge.
Battle over policing opens money spigot in Mpls. races
Several political operatives and former city officials said they believe the fundraising is on record pace with two months left before the election.
Minneapolis' review of George Floyd protest: Still waiting
More than a year after George Floyd's killing, no complete review is available of Minneapolis' handling of the protests that followed — even as other cities have completed similar studies.
Swimmer missing in White Bear Lake dies
A person who went missing after swimming off a boat in White Bear Lake has died, Ramsey County officials said Saturday.A team of local agencies…
Fire in St. Paul's Snelling Hamline neighborhood sends black smoke aloft
Firefighters said they didn't believe anyone was in the building and didn't have any reports of injuries.
Mpls. City Council overrides 2nd Frey veto on policing ballot language
Facing an 11:59 p.m. deadline, the council convened three times in one day, for the first time in at least 35 years.
Mayor Frey says he'll veto latest ballot language on policing
His warning set the stage for a series of down-to-the-wire negotiations.
Mpls. council signals changes in ballot measure wording on policing, power
The city's voters will decide the fate of MPD and government power in November.
Yes 4 Minneapolis asks judge to intervene again on ballot language for policing proposal
The court scheduled an emergency hearing less than an hour before city officials meet.
Judge rules Minneapolis must change police proposal ballot language
The city attorney's office said it was reviewing the order to determine its response.
Minneapolis voters will see only one rent-control question on ballot
Council members meanwhile approved the ballot language for a proposal that could change the power dynamics in City Hall.
Mpls. Mayor Jacob Frey unveils plan to boost police funding
The mayor's budget address on Friday marked the beginning of a monthslong negotiation process with the City Council.
State Supreme Court denies Mpls. appeal on ruling requiring more officers
Decision is not necessarily an end to the court battle.
Near-record number of candidates file to run in Minneapolis
The races are drawing national attention as the city grapples with questions on policing, political power and housing affordability.
Attorneys argue over ballot language for Minneapolis policing proposal
The judge's decision could have implications for other initiatives on the November ballot.
Fight over Mpls. ballot questions intensifies as key deadline looms
A judge scheduled a Monday hearing in a lawsuit challenging whether city officials can include an explanatory note alongside policing ballot question.
National, local campaign money flowing into Minneapolis policing question
The campaign contributions signal intense local and national interest in an election still three months away.
Political committee sues Minneapolis over policing ballot language
Some city officials defended the language in the "explanatory note."
On first day, 26 candidates file to run for office in Minneapolis
Mayor, 13 City Council seats and spots on park or taxation boards on ballot.
Mpls. seeks speedy review of appeal over police numbers
City attorneys are asking the state Supreme Court to take the unusual step of granting "accelerated review" as they challenge an order requiring Minneapolis to hire at least 730 police officers by next summer.
Political committee raises concerns about ballot language on Minneapolis public safety proposal
Political action group calls extra note "underhanded."
Mpls. City Hall tension spills into open over policing, rent control, power
Council debates election questions over public safety overhaul, rent control and City Hall power structure.
Mpls. neighbors hopeful after ruling backing police minimum
Ruling — and an influx of federal pandemic aid — are adding a new wrinkle to the MPD debate.
St. Paul's emergency orders currently slated to stay in effect for at least another 2 months
Officials in Minnesota cities are wrestling with how long to grant local mayors COVID-19 emergency powers now that Gov. Tim Walz lost his executive pandemic…
Minneapolis City Council votes to extend COVID-19 emergency
City leaders said they hope the move will allow for a smoother transition back to normal operations.
Minneapolis down to one plan to replace police department
City Council members agree to withdraw their proposal to to avoid confusion on the November ballot.
Activists block Council Vice President Jenkins until she agrees to demands
The encounter comes at a tense time, when residents are making competing demands about the future of policing in the city.
Activists work behind the scenes at City Hall to influence the future of public safety in Minneapolis
More than 2,000 pages of e-mails provide a window into the extent to which outside groups are seeking to influence policing proposals.
Minneapolis City Council approves $5 million to cover police overtime
The move offsets some cuts the council made to police funding last fall.
Minnesota National Guard preparing to assist in Minneapolis
Decisions to bring the National Guard into Minneapolis have proved contentious, with some residents requesting them and others saying they escalate tensions.
Mpls. council committee calls for releasing $5M for police overtime
The move would offset some cuts council members made to MPD funding during budget discussions last fall.
Mpls. leaders project unity with violence prevention program
Escalating violence in the city — including the recent shootings of three children on the city's North Side — has challenged city leaders to find a way to stop the bloodshed while fulfilling a promise to transform public safety in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Minneapolis partnering with Harvard group to research safety efforts
A team based at Harvard University is assisting the city of Minneapolis as elected leaders attempt to fulfill a promise to transform public safety in…
Mpls. to bring in outside help to deal with surge in violence
Minneapolis police are bringing in outside help as they try to temper weekend violence that killed a least four people, including a college senior who was out celebrating graduation.
Mpls. business groups announce $30K reward in shooting of 3 children
The relatives of the three children recently shot in Minneapolis' North Side joined city and business leaders Sunday to ratchet up pressure for anyone who has information to come forward.
443 more COVID-19 cases, 7 new deaths in Minnesota
Nearly 2.5 million Minnesotans are fully vaccinated.
Gunshot victim found dead inside crashed car in downtown Minneapolis
The shooting and crash happened during an especially violent weekend in Minneapolis.
George Floyd's killing gave new momentum to the drive to change policing. Will it last?
The killing of George Floyd inspired a reckoning in major cities across the nation. But in a moment of intense political division, the future is far from clear.
Minneapolis' North Side council members encourage mayor to do more on preventing violence
Some in the community expressed frustration - saying they want elected leaders to merge their competing plans and take action quickly.
Minneapolis City Council votes to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for city employees
The city joins a growing number of employers acknowledging the day in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Mpls. residents will likely vote in November on future of Police Department
A political committee called Yes 4 Minneapolis succeeded in gathering enough signatures to get a plan on the ballot, the city announced Friday.
Minneapolis council is warned against using city resources to advocate for policing ballot questions
The future of the Minneapolis Police Department has dominated conversations in City Hall — and in the looming elections.
Some on Minneapolis City Council want to create unarmed traffic safety division
Minnesota law says only licensed peace officers can take some actions, such as requiring drivers to provide documentation.
Vote Yes 4 Minneapolis submits petition to remove MPD from charter
If the more than 20,000 signatures are verified, a citywide vote on a department overhaul is one step closer.
Mpls. panel issues statement after removing references to George Floyd, Chauvin trial
The city attorney' s office had advised the Civil Rights Commission against issuing a statement, saying it lacked the authority and the judge had asked the city to stop discussing the case.
Minneapolis considers making Juneteenth a paid holiday for city employees
If approved, the city would join a growing number of employers honoring the day celebrating emancipation in the United States.
Mpls. officials split at key moment for police reform
The divisions between Mayor Jacob Frey and some members of the City Council that have complicated efforts to overhaul policing were on full display last week.
As curfew passes, Brooklyn Center protest remains peaceful
Law enforcement made no moves to disperse the dwindling crowd after the 11 p.m. curfew took effect. Earlier, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., stopped by.
Mpls. council opposes tear gas, other 'less lethal' weapons in city
The final decision will rest with the law enforcement agencies working throughout the city.