Author

Deena Winter has covered local and state government in four states over the past three decades, with stints at the Bismarck Tribune in North Dakota, as a correspondent for the Denver Post, city hall reporter in Lincoln, Nebraska, and regional editor for Southwest News in the western Minneapolis suburbs.
Mike Lindell’s conspiracy-fueled pillow company fights to survive his election obsession
By: Deena Winter - November 28, 2023
Mike Lindell’s conspiracy-fueled pillow company fights to survive his election obsession.
MAGA delegates push to remove state Republican leadership, alleging mismanagement
By: Deena Winter - November 27, 2023
A contingent of Republicans wants to remove the leaders of the Minnesota Republican Party, including Chair David Hann, at the Dec. 9 meeting of the State Central Committee.
Duty disability group granted injunction in lawsuit against state
By: Deena Winter - November 22, 2023
A group representing emergency workers like police and firefighters who were disabled in the line of duty has scored a victory in its lawsuit over a new state law.
Blaine City Council rocked by allegations the mayor has a conflict of interest in sports project
By: Deena Winter - November 21, 2023
The mayor of Blaine is an investor in a baseball-themed restaurant going up near a planned massive sports entertainment district that may include a taxpayer-subsidized minor league baseball stadium.
Minneapolis legislative agenda includes tightening public records laws it deems burdensome
By: Deena Winter - November 17, 2023
The city of Minneapolis’ agenda at the Legislature next year includes tightening public records laws the city deems overly burdensome on public agencies.
Minnesota lawmakers changed felony murder laws, which could mean the release of prisoners
By: Deena Winter - November 15, 2023
The DFL-controlled Legislature changed the law this year so people can no longer be charged with murder unless they intended to cause a death or were a major participant in a murder.
Environmental group calls on state to do more about forever chemicals in sludge used as fertilizer
By: Deena Winter - November 8, 2023
An environmental law nonprofit group is pushing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to start looking at the toxic chemicals — sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment — in treated sewage, which is often spread on farmland as fertilizer and is lurking underground.
MPD cop making big time overtime has been disciplined for manipulating time records
By: Deena Winter - October 30, 2023
The Minneapolis police officer earning the most overtime cash so far this year, Lt. Robert Berry, was fired in 2007 for several violations of MPD policy, including manipulating his timecard to get overtime pay.
Some MPD officers have made six figures in overtime already this year
By: Deena Winter and Christopher Ingraham - October 26, 2023
Eight months into 2023, MPD had already paid $14.4 million in overtime — already exceeding the $10 million the city budgeted for overtime in 2023 and eclipsing the amount of overtime spent each of the past four years.
Minneapolis council candidates cool to helping pay for a new arena to replace Target Center
By: Deena Winter and Nafi Soumare - October 25, 2023
Many candidates running for the Minneapolis City Council oppose helping pay to build a new arena to replace the city-owned Target Center, as the new owners have said they intend to do.
Small business owners say they’re pressured to hire off-duty MPD cops for security
By: Deena Winter - October 17, 2023
Small business owners — particularly immigrant owned — say they've been pressured by police to hire off-duty officers to provide security.
Former sheriff tries to enlist Minnesota law enforcement in his far-right crusade
By: Deena Winter - October 13, 2023
Constitutional sheriff advocate Richard Mack barnstormed the state of Minnesota this month.