SAINT PAUL, Minn. — St. Paul officials are asking for the public’s help after a recent surge in violent crime. 

In the last two months there have been nine homicides in the city and three shootings involving St. Paul police officers.

A group of police, city, and church leaders leaders, as well as community advocates gathered in front of media Thursday at SPPD headquarters. The main message from police, the mayor, and community advocates was a plea from residents to speak up and help them tackle gun violence. And that in order to tackle gun violence residents need to speak up. 

Chief Axel Henry was among them and didn’t take questions about those specific instances because the BCA is investigating. Axel did say those three cases involved homicide suspects with firearms. 

“We don’t want people being shot in our city,” said Henry. “Most of our weapons offenders, some of someone in their lives knew they had access to a gun or had a gun.”

“There are so many people that are on your side, young people,” said Senior Pastor Melvin Miller of Progressive Baptist Church. “If you find a young person that is stressed and is challenged and is about to make a bad choice, please reach out.”

Advocates are also calling for more resources for youth. 

Despite this uptick in crime in St. Paul, the city is on track to see fewer killings than 2023. Police also pointed to the recovery of more than 550 guns this year. 

MINNEAPOLIS — There’s a troubling trend nationwide, more preschoolers are getting expelled and suspended. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the rate is three times more for preschoolers than children in K-through-12, and educators are sounding the alarm.

At a community briefing Thursday hosted by St. David’s Center, Doctor Tim Zeng with the Institute for Early Education Leadership and Innovation in Boston presented his research. Among other observations, Zeng found that 49% of pre-school teachers said they suspended a child in the past year.

Black children account for almost 50% of public preschool suspensions but less than one-fifth of all preschoolers. Children with disabilities are also more likely to be suspended, and boys are expelled 4.5 times more than girls.

“The children have to learn about problem solving skills in the classroom setting, instead of just sending them home,” Zeng said.

Grace Neighborhood Nursery School in Uptown aims to be part of the solution in turning the page on expulsion and suspension rates. The preschool’s executive director, Barb Murphy, says these early developmental years are foundational for lifelong success, and the school takes an individualized approach with each student.

“They are living in the real world, and we have to understand their world, so that we can tailor our strategies to meet them where they are,” Murphy said. “We want every child to leave here to say, I like school and I know how to do school.”

Murphy says in the 10 years she has been at Grace Neighborhood, they have never expelled a child. She believes a big reason for their success is because class sizes are small, and they have the staff to be able to give students the one on one time they may need. Unfortunately, this is a luxury not all preschools have.

MILLE LACS, Minn — One year after the death of a beloved central Minnesota doctor, her family is pleading for justice. 

Dr. Cathy Ann Donovan was struck by a vehicle and killed as the 56-year-old walked her dogs along Highway 169 near her home just outside Onamia, Minnesota, on Nov. 13, 2023. 

The family is still pleading for justice.

“I think it was the assistant medical examiner who was one of the first people on the scene and just sat there with her and she told me that and so it’s been very hard for them,” said Donovan’s twin sister Robin Councilman. “This isn’t just a case, this is their doctor, their friend, their neighbor.”

Donovan – who worked at Mille Lacs Health System – was known by colleagues for her “strong and compassionate” leadership. She is survived by two adult children and her sisters and parents. 

“It was a relationship so close, we knew what was going on with each other sometimes without even saying,” said Councilman. “I had never taken a breath that she wasn’t also breathing.”

The area where Donovan was hit is fairly remote and there’s no description of the vehicle involved, but law enforcement asked residents to watch for vehicles with “significant front-end damage.”

At one point investigators believed a Twin Cities resident who owns a Tesla was involved in the fatal hit-and-run, but charges were never filed and eventually authorities said that driver had been ruled out as a suspect. 

The sheriff said any of the dozen or so vehicles of interest have since been cleared. He said they’re looking for a car that wasn’t caught on camera and only seen by witnesses near the area. He said it’s silver and similar to a Ford Focus. 

The reward for a tip leading to an arrest in Donovan’s death has grown to $25,000. 

Anyone with information on the fatal incident or the driver responsible is asked to contact the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office at 320-983-8346.

“That’s my hope, that somebody will decide to come forward,” said Councilman. “We need to know, we need to stop worrying every time the phone rings is this going to be the answer or not.”