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.
Woman says MPD officer told her Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization
By: Deena Winter - March 14, 2023
More than two years after an elderly Minneapolis woman filed a complaint against a Minneapolis police sergeant who told her Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization that should be wiped off the face of the Earth, he doesn't appear to have been disciplined and still works for MPD.
Bill would repeal law that limits city, county employees’ salaries at $207,000
By: Deena Winter - March 13, 2023
Minnesota lawmakers are considering repealing a law that caps city and county employees’ pay at nearly $207,000 this year. The law limits local government employees’ total compensation to an amount tied to the governor’s salary, though exceptions are made for school employees, certain medical workers and elected officials.
10 more indicted in Feeding Our Future fraud
By: Deena Winter - March 13, 2023
Ten more people were indicted Monday for misappropriating and laundering money they got through a federal child nutrition program prosecutors say was bilked out of more than $250 million, primarily in Minnesota. That brings the total number of people indicted to 60. So far, six people have pleaded guilty.
Bill aimed at stemming tide of PTSD police retirements prompts heated debate about police
By: Deena Winter - March 9, 2023
Minnesota lawmakers are considering a bill aimed at stemming the tide of police officers retiring early due to post-traumatic stress disorder, contributing to a police staffing shortage.
Election bill would make it illegal to knowingly spread false information that impedes voting
By: Deena Winter - March 7, 2023
Minnesota lawmakers are considering legislation that would make it a gross misdemeanor to knowingly spread materially false information with the intent to impede or prevent people from voting.
DFL pushes legislation to make Minnesota criminal justice system more rehabilitative, less punitive
By: Deena Winter - March 3, 2023
Democratic lawmakers are pushing bills to make the criminal justice system more rehabilitative and less punitive. One bill would allow state prisoners to be released earlier by not engaging in misconduct and participating in programming. Another would limit the conditions under which a person can be convicted of aiding and abetting two types of felony murder. And a third bill would free thousands of Minnesotans from lengthy terms of probation.
Open drug use, beatings, scared airport passengers; riders say public transit going off the rails
By: Deena Winter - March 2, 2023
A House transportation committee heard on a bill, HF2045, sponsored by Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, which would launch a three-month, intensive intervention program to “reset” the culture of the light rail.
Secretary of state recounts harassment of election workers; promotes protections in bill
By: Deena Winter - March 2, 2023
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said election officials were harassed, intimidated and threatened in Minnesota during the 2022 election, and the state needs a law protecting election workers. Simon supports a bill dubbed the Election Worker Protection Act (HF635) that would ban intimidation of election officials, interference with their work and tampering with election equipment.
Bills regulating toxic chemicals attract high-priced lobbyists
By: Deena Winter - March 1, 2023
The state that helped birth the so-called forever chemicals that have polluted water and soil around the world is now home to a heavyweight lobbying battle, with a bevy of multi-billion dollar industries fighting to protect their use of the toxic chemicals.
Bill would reduce assumed rate of return on state investments, require more money for retirement plans
By: Deena Winter - February 27, 2023
Lawmakers are mulling a bill to reduce the assumed rate of investment return for all state pension plans from 7.5% to 7%. Given recent market volatility and low investment returns, some lawmakers say assuming big returns is unrealistic and could lead to shortfalls later.
MPD officer threatened to arrest YouTube journalist filming Laura Ingraham interview
By: Deena Winter - February 24, 2023
When an independent journalist tried to film Fox News personality Laura Ingraham as she interviewed two Minneapolis police officers last year, the officers threatened to arrest him or put up police tape to keep him away from the sidewalk and alley where they were doing the interview.
Minneapolis man says Hennepin County didn’t disclose key evidence 24 years ago
By: Deena Winter - February 23, 2023
Nearly 24 years after being convicted of murder for the shooting, Kawaskii Blanche, 49, says Hennepin County prosecutors did not disclose to his attorney a three-hour interrogation with Scott about two months after the shooting — which he argues is a violation of constitutional rights and grounds for a new trial. He has long maintained his innocence.