Author

Rilyn Eischens

Rilyn Eischens

Rilyn Eischens is a former data reporter for the Minnesota Reformer. Rilyn was born and raised in Minnesota and has worked in newsrooms in the Twin Cities, Iowa, Texas and most recently Virginia, where she covered education for The Staunton News Leader. She's an alumna of the Dow Jones News Fund data journalism program and the Minnesota Daily. When Rilyn isn't in the newsroom, she likes to read, add to her plant collection and try new recipes.

Data show disparities between Black and white Minnesotans in education, income, criminal justice are among the worst in the nation

By: - June 8, 2020

George Floyd’s death after a white Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes sparked outrage and protests in Minnesota and across the world. Although the local demonstrations are ostensibly about Floyd’s death, they’re fueled by decades of frustration and anger at the state’s well-documented inequities for Black Minnesotans and Minnesotans of […]

Minnesota reports 712 new COVID-19 cases and 33 deaths

By: - June 5, 2020

More than 26,900 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,148 have died, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The totals reported Wednesday include 712 new cases and 33 deaths. Approximately 322,340 have been completed. The state changed how it reports testing totals Friday and revised past figures to show the number of tests […]

Minnesota reports 404 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths

By: - June 4, 2020

More than 26,200 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,115 have died, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The totals reported Wednesday include 404 new cases and 29 deaths. More than 9,900 tests were completed between Tuesday and Wednesday, a new single-day high. Approximately 275,622 Minnesotans have been tested for COVID-19. Of the […]

Saint Paul school board to discuss police contract next week

By: - June 3, 2020

The Saint Paul school board will discuss its contract with the Saint Paul Police Department at a June 9 meeting, the district announced Wednesday, the day after the Minneapolis school board voted unanimously to terminate its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department. The Saint Paul Police Department provides seven school resource officers for the district, […]

Ellison elevates murder charge for Chauvin, charges 3 other officers in George Floyd death

By: and - June 3, 2020

Attorney General Keith Ellison elevated charges against former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, formally accusing him of second-degree murder after he kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Ellison also filed charges against the other three officers present when Floyd died. “I believe the evidence available to us now supports the stronger charge,” […]

Photos: Thousands gather for sit-in at the state Capitol

By: - June 2, 2020

Thousands of Minnesotans gathered at the Capitol Tuesday under an unusually hot June sun for a student-led sit-in to protest against police for the death of George Floyd. The demonstration was organized to raise awareness of the policing of Black communities and as a tribute to the sit-ins of the civil rights era. The crowd […]

Minneapolis reeling after fourth night of chaos

By: and - May 30, 2020

Minneapolis descended into chaos for the fourth night Friday despite an 8 p.m. curfew, as suspected outsiders lit fires and looted businesses across the city. Peaceful demonstrators assembled near the Minneapolis police Third Precinct and marched down I-35W early in the evening to protest against police for the killing of George Floyd, but the tone […]

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin charged with third-degree murder

By: and - May 29, 2020

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the death of George Floyd, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday. Chauvin was captured on video Monday evening kneeling on Floyd’s neck just before his death. Floyd’s death sparked international outrage and set off protests across the […]

Residents express empathy, grief after second night of riots in Twin Cities

By: and - May 29, 2020

South Minneapolis residents expressed empathy, grief and anger Friday morning as smoke drifted through the air, sirens wailed and the state patrol surrounded the remnants of Third Precinct headquarters following the second night of riots in the Twin Cities. Alisha Bruce and her siblings came out to survey the wreckage. Standing outside a husk of […]

Protests and violent looting take hold in Minneapolis, St. Paul over George Floyd

By: , and - May 28, 2020

The chaos and rage blew east Thursday, as looting and fire swept through the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, this time under a brilliant blue sky.  Even as fires on East Lake Street in Minneapolis smoldered and disaster tourists gawked at the rubble of stores, apartments and cars there, the looting and fires began in […]

Mayor Frey pledges ‘all-out effort’ to restore peace in Mpls., urges calm

By: - May 28, 2020

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pledged an “all-out effort” to restore peace and urged the community to remain calm Thursday morning after peaceful demonstrations against police for the killing of George Floyd turned to looting, riots and fires overnight. Frey said he hoped Minneapolis would look back at today as a “a time where we picked […]

Minnesota Gov. Walz pledges justice for George Floyd as protests move into second day

By: , and - May 27, 2020

Gov. Tim Walz condemned the death of George Floyd — a day after protests erupted at Minneapolis Police Department’s 3rd Precinct Tuesday night — saying he too shared the frustration with Black Minnesotans who are once again seeking justice for one of their own. “Watching any of the video of what happened to George Floyd […]