Star Tribune
Developers sue Lino Lakes over alleged discrimination for treatment of “Madinah Lakes” proposal
The developers behind a fiercely-debated “Muslim-friendly” housing development in Lino Lakes sued the city and two of its council members on Tuesday in federal court, alleging that anti-Muslim discrimination was behind the decision to enact a moratorium that delayed the project.
The suit was filed by developers Faraaz Yussuf and Jameel Ahmed, along with their company Zikar Holdings LLC. It names the city and Council Members Michael Ruhland and Christopher Lyden as defendants. Speaking to reporters outside of U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, attorney Sam Diehl said his clients were treated unfairly because the proposal contained a mosque, and said he believes there would not have been opposition if the project was centered around a different place of worship such as a church.
“My clients have received blatantly discriminatory treatment and there’s been a pattern of unlawful behavior by the City Council and the city of Lino Lakes,” Diehl said.
In an email, spokeswoman Meg Sawyer said the city declined to comment. Ruhland and Lyden did not respond to email and phone requests for comment.
“The matter has been referred to legal counsel and the City has no comment at this time,” Sawyer said.
The project in question, “Madinah Lakes,” would bring an estimated 1,200 to 1,300 new homeowners and renters on the site of an old sod farm in Lino Lakes, and was hotly debated since it was introduced this spring. It would also contain a mosque.
Hundreds of opponents and supporters for the project showed up at a series of public meetings, with opponents saying they had legitimate concerns about the project’s impacts on local infrastructure and water use. Supporters of the project, including many Muslim community members, alleged that the opposition was rooted in Islamophobia. To slow the project, the council voted 4-1 to enact a one-year moratorium on residential building in the northwest quadrant of the city. It does not prevent building the project’s mosque or shopping components.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs say the city, and Ruhland and Lyden, were “personally motivated by discriminatory animus against Muslims.” It alleges that the city treated this proposal differently and unfairly based on the religion as protected in the Constitution.
Sen. JD Vance has picked another Minnesota politician to play the role of Gov. Tim Walz in practice sessions ahead of their televised vice presidential debate: U.S. Rep Tom Emmer.
The selection of Emmer was confirmed by a source familiar with the Republican candidate’s debate preparation. Emmer and his team have also spent the past month studying Walz’s past debates, his mannerisms and his policy positions, according to the source. The vice presidential debate will be at 8 p.m. Central Time in New York.
Walz, who was elected to the House before running for governor, overlapped for a period with Emmer when they were both in Congress. Emmer is the House majority whip, which is the the third highest ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.
On the Democratic side, sources have told news outlets including NBC and Politico that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will be playing the role of Vance in Walz’s debate preparations.
There’s nothing like experiencing a Gophers volleyball Border Battle against Wisconsin at Maturi Pavilion. The atmosphere. The rivalry. The intensity.
This will be Gophers coach Keegan Cook’s first time in that home environment when the No. 16 Gophers (7-3) play host to the No. 7 Badgers (6-3) on Wednesday night.
“Rivalries are what makes sports special,” said Cook, who will be coaching in front of a sellout crowd.
The one thing Cook already knows about the Badgers from playing them last year is their size on the frontline. He’ll see a similar display for Big Ten opening night.
Carter Booth, an ex-Gopher who is a 6-7 middle blocker, and Anna Smrek a 6-9 right side hitter, are both All-Americas. Last year’s NCAA player of the year, Sarah Franklin, is a 6-4 outside hitter.
“It’s about as physical as you’re going to see going back and forth across the net,” Cook said. “Big athletes doing big things.”
In 2023, the Badgers swept the Gophers in three sets. Wisconsin is pretty much the same physically imposing team as last year.
Cook has seen some of his squad’s biggest strides come from sophomore Calissa Minatee and senior Phoebe Awoleye. The pair are on the small side for middle blockers but big on athleticism and versatility.
Star Tribune
Man charged with getting in a shootout with trooper on I-94 in Minneapolis after causing crash.
A man grabbed the steering wheel from his girlfriend, crashed the vehicle on a Minneapolis interstate and got in a shootout with a state trooper, according to charges filed Tuesday.
Eddie James Freeman, 23, of Minneapolis, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with one count of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault in connection with the confrontation Saturday on Interstate near the Dowling Avenue exit. None of the gunfire resulted in any injuries.
Freeman remains jailed in lieu of $300,000 bail ahead of a court appearance Wednesday. Court records do not list an attorney for him.
Also Tuesday, the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) identified the trooper involved in the altercation as as Mark Vande Steeg. The agency said Vande Steeg has been in law enforcement slightly more than a year and is on standard critical incident leave as its investigation continues. Body camera and squad camera video captured portions of the incident, the BCA said.
The agency said said its crime scene personnel recovered a handgun from the where Freeman was arrested. The personnel also saw bullet damage to Vande Steeg’s squad, the BCA added.
According to the charges:
Troopers were sent about 10:15 p.m. Saturday to the spot where Freeman crashed his vehicle. While en route, they were alerted to shots being fired near the crash scene and were given a description of a possible suspect.
As Vande Steeg arrived, he put his squad spotlight on a man who matched the description. In response, Freeman fired several shots at the trooper.
