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Communities that KARE: Heroes on the Hill
The new local nonprofit is looking to take some of the stigma out of mental health.
A new local nonprofit is looking to take some of the stigma out of mental health.
Heroes on the Hill looks to unite law enforcement officers, EMS workers and veterans alike in their cause.
“First responders and military veterans face unique challenges that can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being,” the organization explains on its website. “The stress and trauma associated with their service can lead to various behavioral health issues, including PTSD, depression and anxiety. Often, the financial burden of seeking proper care becomes an additional obstacle.”
Last weekend, they hosted an inaugural 12-hour relay at Buck Hill for the cause.
“We just want to continue to grow this and have more awareness and bring more people to our facility to cheer us all on and support these wonderful heroes,” said Heroes on the Hill founder Johnny Surprise.
“Every single day they get out there and are on the front lines and we need to make sure that we’re taking care of them too,” said Minneapolis city council member Emily Koski.
Six teams ran for 12 hours straight, comprised of both heroes and civilians.
To learn more about the organization, visit heroesonthehill.com.
Watch KARE 11 Sunrise or KARE Saturday from September 17 – September 21 for a chance to win a pair of tickets!
Watch KARE 11 Sunrise or KARE 11 Saturday from Tuesday, September 17 to Saturday, September 21 for the chance to win tickets to see Justin Timberlake at the Xcel Energy Center.
One winner will receive a pair of tickets to see Justin Timberlake at the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday, October 31. The winner will be notified by email on Monday, September 23, and have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.
To enter, fill out the contest form here or below for an entry to win.
You can enter once each day. Good luck!
Full contest rules can be found on this link here.
Officers say they found the man in the rear of an apartment building suffering from gunshot wounds.
ST PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul Police are investigating after finding a man dead following a shooting early Tuesday morning.
Squads were called to the 1200 block of University Ave. W around 12:30 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and seeing a person lying on the ground. Upon arrival, officers found a man with apparent gunshot wounds lying in the rear of an apartment building, according to a press conference.
St. Paul Fire medics pronounced the man dead on the scene, according to police spokesman Sgt. Mike Ernster.
The SPPD homicide team is investigating the events that led up to the man’s death and trying to identify potential suspects. If you have any information on this incident, call 651-266-5650.
Case updates and the victim’s name will be released on St. Paul Police social media channels.
A ceremony was help honoring the Minnesota Supreme Court’s newest member.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A vast array of judges, lawyers, family and friends gathered at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul to honor the newest member of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Natalie Hudson administered the oath of office to Associate Justice Theodora Gaitas, who was appointed last spring to replace retiring Associate Justice Margaret Chutich.
“A strong judiciary guards against tyranny, against oppression, against injustice. But a strong judiciary also serves the people,” Gaitas told the crowd.
Gaitas, who spent her childhood in Greece, quoted Greek philosopher Aristotle several times in her speech.
“Aristotle wrote law is order and good law is good order,” she said. “Here in Minnesota, we have good order. Good order relies on a strong judiciary.”
Gaitas has spent the past four years as a jurist on the Minnesota Court of Appeals and before that spent two years as a Ramsey County District Court Judge. She took the legal oath previously before joining the Supreme Court in August, so Monday’s event was purely ceremonial.
Gov. Walz appointed Gaitas and Judge Sarah Hennesy last April to fill two vacancies that were expected on the high court in the months ahead. Justice Hennesy joined the Supreme Court on May 13, replacing the retiring Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson.
Walz took a break from the vice-presidential campaign trail Monday afternoon to attend the ceremony and thank Gaitas for accepting the new role.
“One of the questions we asked is what life experiences shaped who you are,” Walz said. “Justice Gaitas’ personal journey, her personal heartaches, as well as her commitment to others shined through in so many ways. Putting others in front of herself, and her work as a public defender doing it with every ounce of her intellect, but with the compassion that needed to be there too, shined through.”
The heartache he referenced was the sudden death in 2023 of Justice Gaitas’s husband R. Christopher Sur. He died while cross-country skiing in Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis with a friend. Their daughter Clea performed with a musical combo at the ceremony and held a copy of the US and Minnesota Constitutions as Gaitas took the oath.
Lt. Gov. Flanagan praised Gaitas for her breadth of experience and connection to those who use the court system.
“Justice Gaitas has excelled at every level of the legal profession and the judiciary. Her extensive experience as an appellate public defender and judge in the district court and court of appeals instilled a deep understanding of how our justice system can and should treat real people.”
