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. Before joining the staff of the Reformer in 2021 she was a contributor to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. She and her husband have a daughter, son, and very grand child. In her spare time, she likes to play tennis, jog, garden and attempt to check out all the best restaurants in the metro area.
Bill would create mental health ‘urgency rooms’ for people under 25
By: Deena Winter - March 24, 2022
Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill that would give out grants for medical providers and nonprofits to quickly provide mental health care for young people in crisis for up to 72 hours. The grants would be used to create mental health “urgency rooms” for people under 25.
Federal largesse can trigger big audits for nonprofits
By: Deena Winter - March 22, 2022
Many nonprofits and other organizations may get more familiar with single audits — which are more onerous than a regular audit, with more reporting and tracking required — given the outpouring of federal funds during the pandemic.
Police called to county GOP convention after right-wing activists raise ruckus
By: Deena Winter - March 21, 2022
Police were called to the recent Morrison County Republican convention in Little Falls — twice — to deal with an “unruly crowd” after right-wing activists from Action 4 Liberty took over the convention floor.
Critics say proposed police contract doesn’t rein in out-of-control MPD
By: Deena Winter - March 17, 2022
Next week Minneapolis city leaders will consider the first new police union labor agreement since George Floyd was murdered by police in May 2020. The proposed deal makes no changes to a department disciplinary process that rarely metes out serious punishment, despite high-profile instances of police misconduct that have led to millions of dollars in payouts to victims.
Minneapolis police officers’ starting salaries would go from $69k to $75k under proposed labor contract
By: Deena Winter - March 16, 2022
Minneapolis police sergeants who earned about $44 an hour in 2020 — the equivalent of $91,520 annually for 40 hours per week — would make $48 an hour, or nearly $100,000 by the end of this year under the tentative police union deal.
$190k workers’ comp settlement to officer involved in beating incident
By: Deena Winter - March 15, 2022
A Minneapolis officer involved in a police brutality incident, which is now under investigation by state and federal authorities, will get a $190,000 workers compensation settlement from the city. The Minneapolis City Council voted Friday to approve the payment — which will be spread out over four years — to Minneapolis police officer Cory Taylor.
Order requiring Minneapolis to hire more cops reversed by Court of Appeals
By: Deena Winter - March 14, 2022
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has overturned a judge’s decision ordering the city of Minneapolis to hire more police officers to meet a threshold set out in the city charter.
Cities push for PTSD bill; cops, law firm say it wouldn’t help workers
By: Deena Winter - March 10, 2022
Cities need help dealing with the wave of cops leaving the field by getting disability pensions due to post-traumatic stress disorder — at an average age of 42 — since George Floyd’s killing, their representatives told lawmakers Tuesday. They support a bill introduced at the state Legislature Monday that would require cops and firefighters to get treatment for PTSD in order to get workers’ compensation benefits or apply for disability pensions.
The big lie goes on tour in Minnesota
By: Deena Winter - March 7, 2022
A former small-town Minnesota mayor and a retired Army captain from Texas have been traveling the state claiming the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans, including GOP U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis. Trump supporters and members of the “America First” movement, armed with the sophisticated-seeming but ultimately debunked statistical […]
Minneapolis police union reaches tentative labor agreement
By: Deena Winter - March 4, 2022
The Minneapolis police union and city have reached a tentative three-year deal that would give police raises dating back to 2020.
Legislation aims to stem deluge of Minnesota cops retiring with PTSD
By: Deena Winter - March 2, 2022
A Republican state senator and a DFL House member have teamed up to stem the deluge of Minnesota law enforcement officers claiming post-traumatic stress disorder and retiring early rather than first trying treatment that could put them back to work.
House GOP unveils slate of public safety bills
By: Deena Winter - March 1, 2022
House Republicans unveiled proposals Tuesday that would toughen criminal penalties, provide money to recruit peace officers and place more power with the Legislature to oversee prison sentences.