Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

The 27th Avenue block between Lake and 31st Street bustled with community life. The block included a Latino night club, a popular Indian-Bangladeshi restaurant, and a community organization serving … more

By Iric Nathanson | 6/26/22

“For me, this is the most peaceful place on earth," explained Dr. Remi Douah, who is a listening presence at the "Say Their Names Cemetery" near George Floyd Square. "I can easily spend eight hours a day here. It’s not a chore; it’s not an intervention. It’s my way of life now. It’s what I structure my days around.” (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Learn to listen

Dr. Remi Douah is a listening presence at the “Say Their Names” Cemetery near George Floyd Square, just off East 37th Street between Chicago and Columbus avenues. He spends hours there … more

By Margie O’Loughlin | 9/16/21

Tina Tavera stands with her billboard “La Conneccion” on the Cup Foods rooftop behind her. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

Billboards at George floyd square show connection, unity

Two new artist-created billboards are up on the rooftops at George Floyd Square. Part of the Social Justice Billboard Project, “La Conneccion,” by Maria Cristina “Tina” … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 8/12/21

Ribbon cut at Lloyd’s Pharmacy

Lloyd’s Pharmacy owner Jim Stage (back center) and his family officially cut the ribbon of their rebuilt pharmacy on Aug. 5, 2021. Celebrating with them were Mayor Melvin Carter (far left), … more

8/12/21

The Stage family: (Back) Jim and Cally, (middle) Evelyn, Gracen, Elliot, (front) Lydia and Edmund. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Lloyd’s Pharmacy rebuilds

Lloyd’s Pharmacy has rebuilt at the corner of Snelling and Minnehaha and expects to reopen with free food, giveaways, and more on Monday, July 26 and Friday, July 30, 2021, providing they pass … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 7/23/21

The interior, including the historic wooden bar at the Turf Club (at right) has been restored following fire damage in May 2020. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Turf Club revived

The front door of the Turf Club (1601 University Ave. W.) was still covered in plywood in late June, but it is finally off. General manager Nathan Kranz, who manages the Turf Club as well as First … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/23/21

“I’m staying for the community. I’m staying for the love of the people,” said Gloria Wong, owner of Sunrise Plaza and Century Plaza in the Midway. (Photo submitted)

Investing in Resiliency

If you thought the 350 or so Minneapolis and St. Paul small business owners on Lake Street and West Broadway in Minneapolis, and University Avenue in St. Paul’s Midway who watched their … more

7/23/21

Fire damaged part of the Midway Center structure in 2020.

Four sue after eviction from Midway Center

Customers have flocked to Peking Garden since spring, happy that the Midway Center mainstay has reopened at University and Western avenues. Owners the Lau family were pleased to find a new … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/23/21

Forging community at George Floyd Square

At the start of the Derek Chauvin trial, visitors from the Metro area of Detroit, Mich., approached the south gate of George Floyd Square at 39th and Chicago. They had just one day left in … more

By Jill Boogren | 4/30/21

Crowd at George Floyd Square jubilant, resolute as Chauvin found guilty

Hundreds of people poured into 38th St. and Chicago Ave. anxiously awaiting the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial with the whole world watching. As Mileesha Smith, standing in front of Peyton Scott … more

By Jill Boogren | 4/30/21

Is Round Two coming?

Minneapolis and St. Paul are braced for civil unrest as the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin commences. City councils in both cities have been receiving updates on plans to … more

By JANE McCLURE | 3/10/21

Rev. Dr. Gary Green II (Photo by Margie O'Loughlin)

Seeking justice, caring for people:

As the criminal trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin begins, the Twin Cities will once again be front and center in confronting the trauma of racism, police brutality, and White supremacy.To … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 3/10/21

St. Paul businesses get $1.6 million after civil unrest

St. Paul businesses have received more than $1.6 million for to recover from 2020’s civil unrest. Another $4.725 million went to help small business affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/11/21

They work to reverse wrongful convictions

A bedrock principle of the American criminal justice system is that a person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. According to Sara Jones, executive … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 2/11/21

St. Paul COAST Unit members include (left to right) officer Lori Goulet, social worker Sally Vanerstrom, and officer Jen Hale. They respond to mental health calls, as well other crises. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Police officers, social workers ride together on crisis calls

While communities everywhere are calling for a changed model of policing, a small unit within the Saint Paul Police Department has been taking a different approach for almost three years. In March of … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21 | 1 comment

Looking back to move forward

As a young child, Denise Pike experienced an attempted cross-burning on the front lawn of her family’s home in St. Louis Park. Her own family was multi-racial, and they shared the duplex with a … more

By CHLOE PETERS | 12/9/20

TIF district moving ahead around Allianz Field

A new tax increment financing (TIF) district for the Snelling-Midway redevelopment site is moving ahead, with hopes it will spur affordable housing and redevelopment by Allianz Field. On Nov. 3, the … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/11/20

Modern-day abolitionist

Hamline University adjunct criminal justice professor Jason Sole calls himself a survivor of the War on Drugs. He went from being a soldier on the streets to being a scholar, and said, … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 9/18/20

City ‘desperately’ needs help from other levels of government, says CM Jalali

About 330 St. Paul businesses sustained $73 million in property damage and $8.8 million in lost inventory and other assets during the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. St. Paul City … more

By JANE McCLURE | 9/18/20

A Prayer for White America

By REV. DR. RON BELL, ronaldbelljr@gmail.com Dr. Ronald Bell When morning comes and the lingering stench of teargas burning wood and burned rubber fills the air Will you remember … more

By REV. DR. RON BELL, ronaldbelljr@gmail.com | 9/18/20