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Unruly behavior prompts police response on Stone Arch Bridge
Video on social media shows groups of young people aiming Roman Candles at police.
MINNEAPOLIS — Sixteen people were arrested after allegedly discharging fireworks at vehicles and other people Wednesday morning.
“The targeting of innocent people with fireworks is unlawful, dangerous, and wholly unacceptable,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara at a press conference.
Eleven of the 16 arrested people were juveniles, O’Hara added, and one person who was shooting fireworks near Boom Island Park injured themself.
Some of the projectiles were reportedly aimed at police, and KARE 11 crews on the scene in Minneapolis said that a group of young people were firing off Roman Candles.
There were no serious injuries from individuals discharging fireworks at other people, including the officer who was in an MPD cruiser when it was seeming targeting by fireworks, added O’Hara.
West River Parkway near the Stone Arch Bridge was closed after 10 p.m. to deter groups from congregating, O’Hara said.
O’Hara explained Tuesday night that the closure was pre-planned since officials anticipated disorderly conduct similar to last year when people shot off fireworks toward cars and buildings after the Independence Day holiday.
Nearby in the area of Boom Island Park, the Minneapolis Park Police reported responding to a group of about 40 young adults shooting fireworks on the Plymouth Avenue Bridge and targeting people and police officers.
Boom Island, Minneapolis:
Hundreds set off a war zone of fireworks shooting at people and vehicles – behind and all around me.
One person even started shooting roman candles at me while I filmed. pic.twitter.com/q1y28Zcl14
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) July 5, 2023
A 17-year-old boy was taken into custody and booked after allegedly launching mortars at Park Police, according to officials. A driver also allegedly shot fireworks at Park Police but fled in their vehicle, officials said.
Despite the pockets of chaos, O’Hara said he was pleased with the department’s plan for safety following the Fourth of July festivities.
“There’s a very robust plan in place to secure some of these locations that we knew would be problematic beforehand to close some of the streets, to close the bridge, to ensure additional visible, you know, presence to deter some of these gatherings in the first place,” O’Hara told KARE 11.
Multiple agencies, including the Minnesota State Patrol and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office assisted MPD throughout the night.
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
Wadena-Deer Creek head coach Kyle Petermeier told families in a letter that a rash of injuries has reduced the roster to the point that playing is a “safety issue.”
WADENA, Minn. — A central Minnesota high school is pulling the plug on the remainder of its varsity football season, saying continuing to play would not be “safe or realistic.”
Wadena-Deer Creek head coach Kyle Petermeier sent a letter home to families earlier in the week, explaining the decision to skip the Wolverines’ final game and subsequent district playoffs. Petermeier said injuries began piling up as the club reached midseason, and roster numbers hit a dangerous low following Wadena-Deer Creek’s game in week 7.
Heading into the final regular season game against Staples-Motley, Wadena-Deer Creek had just eight healthy players from 10th to 12th grade. At that point, the coach said, a difficult but necessary decision had to be made in the interest of safety.
“We are in a position now where we would have to trot out a majority of our team that is 14 and 15 years old, and that is not in the best interest of our kids,” coach Petermeier explained. “To us, safety is ahead of any individual game result. Football is a physical sport and putting out a team of mostly 14-15 year olds vs. 17-18 year olds is not safe or realistic for our team, and even the opposing team playing. “
Before the decision to end their season, the Wolverines were 1-6 on the year, losing games by up to 50 points.
Coach Petermeier credited this year’s varsity squad for their preparation, training and effort, and told parents he believes the future of the Wadena-Deer Creek football program is bright with big participation numbers with players at the fifth- to ninth-grade levels.
“Football is a game that requires strength in numbers, and we will do anything we can to keep these numbers high and keep kids out for football,” he promised.
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