Author

Deena Winter

Deena Winter

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.

Conservative activist connected to Jan. 6 insurrection to train Minnesota Republicans

By: - July 17, 2023

The Benton County Republican Party is hosting an event Saturday featuring a right-wing activist connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection — Scott Presler.

Minneapolis police chief says he never saw excessive force video of officer whose hiring he OK’d

By: - July 10, 2023

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters Monday during a quickly arranged press conference that he had little involvement in the final interview of a former police officer who was hired after being involved in an excessive force case in Virginia.  

Minneapolis Police Department ‘separated’ from new officer with checkered past

By: - July 6, 2023

The city of Minneapolis has “separated” with Tyler Timberlake, a police officer who repeatedly used a stun gun on a disoriented, unarmed Black man in Virginia just days after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd.

Conservative law firm challenges new law restoring voting rights to felons

By: - June 29, 2023

A conservative law firm is challenging the constitutionality of a new Minnesota law restoring voting rights to felons once they’re released.

‘The state is not taking over Minneapolis Public Schools’ 

By: - June 28, 2023

Minneapolis Public Schools finance and budget officials put a positive spin on their financial outlook Tuesday, seeking to assure residents that the district can avoid state intervention. 

Activists accuse state corrections of delaying program that will let prisoners out earlier 

By: - June 27, 2023

Prisoner advocates say the Walz administration is already seeking to delay implementation of a law passed this year that will cut prisoners’ sentences and shave their community supervision if they seek help while behind bars.

DOJ finds Minneapolis police discriminate against Native Americans, a first in the country

By: - June 22, 2023

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that federal investigators found, for the first time ever, a U.S. police department discriminates against not only Black people, but also Native Americans. The Justice Department also made another first-time finding: the Minneapolis Police Department discriminates against Black and Native people by disproportionately using force during stops.

How a Minneapolis cop and DFL lawmaker worked together on juvenile justice reform

By: - June 20, 2023

How a Minneapolis cop and DFL lawmaker worked together to reform Minnesota's juvenile justice system.

U.S. Attorney Andy Luger wasn’t at the DOJ press conference on MPD. Here’s why.

By: - June 16, 2023

Conspicuously absent from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s press conference Friday to release a scathing investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department: U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. Here's why.

Some of the most jarring statements in the DOJ report on Minneapolis police

By: - June 16, 2023

Attorney General Merrick Garland was in Minneapolis Friday to release a damning indictment of the Minneapolis Police Department after a two-year investigation into racist policing practices.

Minneapolis police officers continue to rack up hefty overtime as understaffing continues

By: - June 15, 2023

Among the roughly 860 total employees of the Minneapolis Police Department, 70% made six figures in 2022— surpassing the year before, when 466 employees made at least $100,000.

Convicted sex offender who testified in support of making prison phone calls free arrested again

By: - June 14, 2023

A Bloomington man presented a compelling case to Minnesota lawmakers last month in support of making prison phone calls free. David John Ojeda, 41, told lawmakers he was a father of eight and spent over $40,000 — cashing out his retirement fund — to make phone calls to his family while imprisoned. He was recently arrested and again charged with sexual molestation, this time of a teenage girl.