December 8, 2022 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

Metro Transit upgrades state’s busiest bus route

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

One extremely brisk Saturday morning, at close to 4 am, a Metro Transit rapid bus pulled up to the 8th St. and Nicollet station across from the Dayton build ing in downtown Minneapolis. These buses, specially painted in red, yellow, and blue, are prevalent on the C Line that runs on Penn Ave.

This bus, however, is instead running on the D Line, which will be similar to the C Line except it runs most of where Route 5 runs. The D Line began running on Dec. 3.

The route still has some issues to work out, and people still need to adjust to the new route. But commuters are already liking it, and drivers, who struggle to keep up amid a driver shortage, hope it will be safer for them to work.

“I’ve ridden the C Line

before; I know it’s a little bit faster. Anything that gets me to work quicker is fine in my book,” said Cynthia Ramsey, a Southside native, as she rode the D Line to work on Satur day afternoon.

The D Line has been in the

works for almost a decade. It was identified in 2012 as one of 10 corridors to receive the rapid bus treatment, which consists of higher-quality shel ters and fewer stops, priority snow clearing, the ability to pay before you board like on

light rail, and for police officers to patrol for fares. Construc tion began in 2020, mostly concluded in September, and cost $75 million to build.

Among those excited for the D Line was Hennepin

■ See D-LINE on page 5

Re-envisioning public transit at George Floyd Square

By Al Brown Contributing Writer

South Minneapolis residents recently attended a com munity engagement “learning table” cen tered on the City’s ongoing efforts re-envision the 38th & Chicago intersection, also known as George Floyd Square (GFS).

Many were on hand to lis ten and share ideas surround ing the reconstruction of the popular intersection, memori alized following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The site could easily be clas sified as a national monument but the streets leading up to the intersection were paved decades ago and are not built to accommodate modern-day increases in traffic, especially the amount of new outside traffic, both pedestrian and automotive.

Currently, only one lane of traffic exists surrounding a community-made roundabout. The learning table was created by the Public Policy Project in 2021 and has since conducted several on an

Cracking down on police misconduct

State police licensing board proposes tougher standards

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

A state body that licenses police officers may soon make changes to how back ground checks for officers are conducted. To ward off racists and those who lied in court, the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board, known as the POST Board, has pro posed changes over the past three years.

The proposed changes have the support of social justice organizations but are opposed by police boosters.

Today, the POST Board requires background checks for police officer candidates to scrutinize their names, addresses, social media accounts, police departments they have applied to in the past six years, and their personnel files if they were ever an officer. They also require candidates

to disclose if they could be impeached in court or hindered by Brady-Giglio impairment because of their behavior. The Brady-Giglio name comes from two court cases that deter mined the police officer, who must work with the prosecu tor to prosecute a case, needs to provide evidence that can be favorable to the defendant as well as to check a witness’ account.

■ See POST BOARD on page 5

Oversight of Mpls police remains contentious

By Cole Miska Contributing Writer

A Minneapolis City Council committee voted on Wednes day, Nov. 30 to recommend an ordinance to amend Title 9, Chapter 172 of the Min neapolis Code of Ordinances, which covers police conduct oversight. The amendment would make changes to, but ultimately preserve, the Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR).

The city council com mittee’s 3-2 vote follows criticism from activists. On Monday, Nov. 28, the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar (TCC4J) held a press conference at City Hall to oppose the council’s measure.

“Minneapolis residents are tired of toothless work groups, panels, and community review boards with little to no power to stop or prevent police violence,” TCC4J’s press release stated. “We deserve

sen by the mayor’s office.

“Ultimately, this is a way for the city council to pre tend to do something about police brutality without actual accountability of the police.”

Jae Yates, an organizer with TCC4J, said he believes

“Currently, the only real police oversight that we have

■ See OVERSIGHT on page 5

Democrats signal a changing of the guard

Rep. Jeffries, young and Black, one of several new party leaders

By Stacy M. Brown Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, when House Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) as minority speaker, he became the first Black leader of a party in Congress. Jeffries might be precisely what Democrats need in America’s increasingly con tentious political civil war, where most Republicans behave as if it’s a North vs. South redux.

For starters, Jeffries is unapolo getically Black. During his campaign, he often wore tracksuits. When he presented arguments for former President Donald Trump’s impeach ment, Jefferies punctuated his remarks by quoting none other than the late hip-hop icon the Notorious B.I.G. “And if you don’t know, now

you know,” Jeffries said in the quint essential mic drop moment.

But most importantly, Jeffries’s ascension into a leadership role sig

More pointedly, Washington insiders—and many outsiders—have argued that it’s time for the younger generation of leaders to take the helm. Both Pelosi and Clyburn are 82.

Along with Jeffries, 52, taking over for Pelosi, Rep. Katherine Clark, 59, of Massachusetts was elected to replace Clyburn as whip. At the same time, Rep. Pete Aguilar, 43, of California, ascended to the role of Democratic conference chair.

As one journalist pointed out, the “oldest member of the incoming Democratic leadership team is near ly a quarter-century younger than the youngest member of the current Democratic leadership team.”

“The thing about us,” Jeffries said during a nationally televised inter view this week, “is that while we can

have some noisy conversations at times about how we can make prog ress for the American people, what we’ve seen is that under the leader ship of Speaker Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn, we’ve constantly been able to come together.”

Maxwell Frost, the 25-year-old from Florida, perhaps best illus trates the changing of the guard in the Democratic party. Frost won the election this month as the first mem ber of Generation Z to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he’ll serve under Jeffries’ lead ership.

“I think it’s important that we have a government that looks like the people,” Frost stated.

The change in Democratic lead ership comes at a time when their

nals a much-needed changing of the guard as vets like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Whip James Clyburn step aside.

better than a commission with unclear structure that is staffed by law enforcement and unelected yes-men cho

all communities deserve selfdetermination in how police accountability is handled.

TCC4J wants to pass an

amendment to the city charter that would create a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC), with council members being directly elected.

Activists gathered at City Hall on Nov. 28. Photo by Cole Miska

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

Courtesy of NNPA

A community member speaking at the event.

Photo by Al Brown

County Commissioner Angela Conley at the D Line grand opening

Winter Wonderland promises a magical night Highschoolers plan event for younger kids and their families

By Nikki Love Contributing Writer

Be the Change is making its mark in the community, one school at a time. The lo cal nonprofit organization, cofounded by community lead ers John Baker and Houston White, is focused on investing in our youth.

BTC is proud to be men tors to a passionate group of high school students this year, with the hope that one day these students will be lead ers in their communities. This year, BTC Youth will sponsor a holiday event for K-5 students that celebrates joy, family, connection and togetherness as a school community.

“Last year, BTC started this

cal and memorable night that includes games, activities, and a dance party with a whimsical wonderland theme.

Gifts will be provided for students at every grade level. The students will be able to shop free of charge at the on-site store. They will also be able to take home a nonperishable bag and will receive a grocery gift card for the holi day break. Parents will also re ceive a gift bag.

The MSR linked up with the first group of BTC mentees to ask what key roles they would play in this event.

Miles McMoore, a ninth grader at Groves Academy, will oversee contacting the schools to ensure they are aware of BTC and to request donations from Groves. “I started receiv ing donations last week,” said McMoore, “I joined BTC to help the community.”

Kristian Baker, a 16-yearold sophomore at Blake School, said, “I am focusing on canned goods and hygiene donations from my school. I plan on re questing donations from my school for the Winter Won derland event we are hosting at NSJ [Nellie Stone Johnson].”

Tarran Austin, a senior at Armstrong High School, said: “We are trying to focus on giv ing back to the community and the underrepresented in our world.

“We want to transform the school to make it a fun, safe environment for one night. This will give families an op portunity to break away from life’s stress and have a magical event that they can remember forever,” said Austin.

McKenzie McMoore, a 15-year-old attending BenildeSt. Margaret, said: “I’m very ex cited about this coming event.

I’m not only excited for the kids but the parents as well. I spoke at a mass event to in form the students about Be the Change.

“This will give parents a break and is an opportunity for us to show the parents that the community cares,” said McMoore. “We want to sup port the kids while they strive. We want them to learn life skills and be able to use them as they grow.

“Just because they do not have everything they want doesn’t mean they can’t use the opportunities given. I’m excited to be a part of BTC and the Winter Wonderland event!”

Trent Page, a junior at Min nehaha Academy, said: “I’m most excited about working with Be the Change to have a positive impact on the com munity. We want to be able to be a beacon of hope for peo ple who may not have.

“Schools provide essential needs for families. My job is to get volunteers to help make the event run as smoothly as possible.”

Be the Change is asking for in-kind donations, sponsors to adopt a family, and volunteers. The Winter Wonderland event will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, from 4-8 pm. For more information, contact bethechangemn.com.

Nikki Love welcomes reader responses to nlove@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Photo of the Week

A snow bunny at Minnehaha Creek

Jeff Barber’s “Cottontail on the Trail” statue appeared fashion ably festive and warm on Sunday afternoon December 4 along Minnehaha Parkway and Portland Ave. in South Minneapolis.

Photo and text by Paige Elliott

endeavor by sponsoring a class room at Nelly Stone Johnson Community School,” recalled

Dr. John Baker. This year, BTC plans to sponsor the whole school, which is located in the

heart of North Minneapolis. The school would be deco rated to look like a Winter

Wonderland. A sit-down din ner prepared by celebrated lo cal youth chefs will be served

by high school volunteer teams. Organizers hope that 210 families will enjoy a magi

(l-r) Dr. John Baker, Miles McMoore, Trent Page, McKenzie McMoore, Tarran Austin, and Kristian Baker

Photo by Nikki Love

Courtesy of Be the Change MN

By David Hamlar MD, DDS Guest Contributor

As we as underrepresented consumers of disparate medi cal care worry about how we are going to afford and even gain access to the appropriate medical care for us, big corpo rations are playing “Monopo ly” with the institutions where we can actually receive care. The question is what quality of care?

The backstory is that San ford Medical is again seeking to sign a merger with Fairview Medical, which is the owner of the University of Minne sota Hospital and Clinics. The details for the merger are as follows:

Sanford Health is named for St. Paul native and University of Minnesota graduate T. Den ny Sanford, a philanthropist who made his fortune in the subprime, high-interest credit card business. The Sioux Valley Hospital and Health System was renamed Sanford Health in 2007 after Sanford donated $400 million to the Sioux Fallsbased care system.

Minneapolis-based Fairview

For-profit business again pursues U of M Medical Center

Will providing equal care remain a priority?

has 11 hospitals, including the University of Minnesota Medi cal Center, and about 31,000 employees. Fairview has been struggling financially for sev eral years.

It reported an operating loss in 2021 of $132.6 million on top of a $209 million loss in 2020. In financial statements, the system has pointed to the COVID-19 crisis as contribut ing to its financial woes, driv ing up operating costs while driving down the number of nonelective procedures.

2013. The center would no longer be Minnesota owned.

Without the altruistic, mission-driven goals that the University system of medi cal training and care, I worry about the future of not only that aspect but the already disparate care that exists. Will that be a concern for the new corporation controlled by prof it-driven leadership?

In 2013 a similar proposal was put forth. Lawmakers’ ac tions then revealed signs of se rious consternation over talks between Sanford and Fairview. The potential deal to create a medical behemoth could harm not only Minnesota’s control of its own health systems, but also the university’s teaching hospitals and mission.

Talks broke down amid an onslaught of public criticism. Some state lawmakers pur sued legislation that blocked Sanford from controlling the University of Minnesota hos pitals. Then-attorney general Lori Swanson raised concerns about a merger because of the role that tax breaks and do nations from Minnesota and Minnesotans played in Fair view’s development.

Subsequently, as a result, in 2013 Sanford Health with drew from merger discussions with Fairview.

Current Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said last week his office is investigating the proposed transaction.

the merger, it is critical for us to do the same now.

Ownership and control of the U’s medical center—the state’s top teaching hospital— was an issue closely examined by Minnesota lawmakers in

Gov. Mark Dayton and the University Board of Regents then intervened, noting “these are decisions that…would have a huge public impact.”

I hope that we as a commu nity will support what is best for our families, friends and neighbors. Knowing the facts and making our voices heard is critical to that process.

Just like in 2013 when our legislative representa tives heard us speak out and acted on our behalf to stop

I want you as a health con sumer, a patient or future pa tient to know that this deci sion could affect your health care in the future. We have been fighting for equitable access and equitable delivery of care. Let us continue on a path forward that will benefit all of us, and not just the big corporations who seek profits in a shell-game that potentially endangers our lives.

David Hamlar MD, DDS is an assistant professor in the

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Minnesota. He spe cializes in craniofacial skull base surgery. He attended Howard University College of Dentistry (DDS) and Ohio State University (MD), and came to Minnesota for his fellowship in facial plas tic and reconstructive surgery. Besides medicine, he is a retired Minnesota National Guards man achieving the rank of ma jor general. His passion today is empowering students of color to achieve their dreams of entering the medical professions as well as other STEM-oriented careers.

FOR CHILDHOOD. FOR LIFE.

Our children deserve to be lifted up. Every single child, in every community. And that’s why we’re raising the bar. Raising standards for health care. Raising questions — about equity, inclusion and justice. Raising our hands. Our voices. Raising up kids’ health to the highest priority — so every child can reach their full potential.

Big corporations are playing Monopoly with the institutions where we can actually receive health care.

U of M Medical Center

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

Access “means going from underserved to unstoppable”

U.S. BANK ACCESS COMMITMENT™ offers expertise and resources that empower Black communities, families, and businesses. Whether it’s growing your small business, becoming a homeowner, or building generational wealth, U.S. Bank is committed to supporting you in reaching your goals.

Access your financial goals at usbank.com/access

County Commissioner Angela Conley, who represents the South Side east of I-35W and grew up riding the 5.

“Route 5 took me to school. It brought me home from school. And it brought me to work right here [at Mall of America] 30 years ago when the transit center looked way different than it does today,” said Conley at the D Line’s rib bon cutting inside the Mall of America Transit Station.

The agency acknowledges the D Line is not perfect yet as it has kinks to work out. Not every station has permanent

TransiT

Continued from page 1

trash cans in place, so the agen cy installed temporary ones inside shelters. Some buses also had audio announcements that did not work.

Not every rider was aware of the changes, particularly those who could not under stand English. Some prepared to hand over coins, flash their Go-To cards, and asked for courtesy rides without real izing that the rides were not only free for the weekend, but they normally will need to pay before they board.

Some riders also were not aware that replacing the D Line with the 5 meant the 5 would be reduced to run only once an hour, and stops served by the 5 would not be served by the D Line.

A D Line bus this reporter was on picked up a passenger who only spoke Spanish at a stop in North Minneapolis not designat ed for it. Another rider with two

suitcases on hand who boarded at 38th and Park Ave. decided to get off at Chicago-Lake Tran sit Center and wait 20 minutes for the next 5 because it would get them closer to home in the North Loop neighborhood.

Perhaps the biggest issue to solve is how the D Line will interact with 38th and Chicago, if at all. 38th and Chicago became occupied by local activists in the days after George Floyd was murdered by former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin.

The City reopened the intersection to car traffic in June 2021 while preserving the memorial. They also plan to reconstruct the intersec tion and may include Metro Transit buses in the mix. (The MSR will provide more report

ing about the future of 38th and Chicago in a future issue.)

Metro Transit plans to build more of these routes in the coming years. In early Decem ber, they sought feedback on where to locate stops for the F Line, which will upgrade Route 10U to be similar to the D Line.

When the DFL trifecta takes control of state government in January, they anticipate fully fund ing efforts to upgrade the portion of Route 62 on Rice Street and the portion of Route 68 on Rob ert Street, as well as create an entirely new rapid bus route to run along Como Ave. between the University of Minnesota and Sun Ray Transit Center.

H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader responses to hpan@ spokesman-recorder.com.

array of topics central to the area’s redesign. According to marketing material, the sessions provide a place for community members to ask critical questions, learn together, create a shared approach, and develop relationships and create partnerships.

The discussion, held at Sabathani Community Center on Nov. 28, included special guest speak ers from Metro Transit’s Sophia Ginis, director of Community Affairs, and Cody Olsen, community outreach coordinator, who spoke about city bus routes, including the 5 Route, which is surpris ingly one of the more used of all Metro bus lines as it carves an 18-mile journey through the city.

“We’re here to share but also to listen,” began

POsT BOarD

Continued from page 1

Officers who are dishonest, tamper with witnesses, withhold evidence favorable to the defendant, or lie in court can be placed on this list by a prosecutor.

The proposed rules expand and clarify what police officer candidates are required to disclose. They include whether or not they have abused their authority, used excessive force, dis criminated against a protected class such as race or income, have been convicted of a felony or for being dishonest, mishandled evidence or property, tampered with witnesses or suspects, misused government data, or if a prosecutor listed them on a

Jeffries

Olsen, as he explained the impact of key routes in the area as the city emerges from the pandemic. Ginis, meanwhile, expressed the importance of rider input: “Your input as riders means the world to us. We cherish opportunities for your direct feedback and input. A lot of what you will hear today is based upon this type of input. Ques tions like, ‘Who is this route serving and how will the detours impact our riders?” she explained.

“That’s how we develop our paths forward.”

Community members listened intently and were eager to ask questions and share opinions. Their thoughts varied on the future design of the renowned and socially important site of Floyd’s murder by then-Minneapolis Police Officer Der rick Chauvin, now serving 22 years in prison.

One of the biggest challenges surrounds how transit will flow up to and through the GFS inter section. The opinions ranged from finding ways to slow traffic in hopes of more pedestrian safety, to changing the area to allow transit buses only.

Brady-Giglio list.

The rules also propose to prohibit anyone from becoming a police officer who has been a part of an extremist or hate group. The Board proposes to define hate groups as those that dis criminate against race, income, public assistance, or another protected class, as well as if the affiliated group wants to overthrow the government.

Participating in a hate group is defined as promoting or posting about the group anywhere, including on social media, going to events, giving them money, and displaying signs and codes such as tattoos or hand symbols.

Some community members sup port the proposals because they would screen out police officers who are prejudiced against people who don’t look like them. “As the mother of a Black son who experienced a terrible and inappropriate interaction

tioned leader, Donald Trump, announcing his 2024 White House bid, Democrats have finally read the room and recognized the need to get younger.

Republican counterparts have seized control of the House, weaponized the U.S. Supreme Court, gerrymandered con gressional maps throughout the country, and have used their pulpits to spark and spread messages of hate and division.

And with the G.O.P.’s unchecked and unques

OversighT

Continued from page 1

“Americans have tended to see younger candidates as less qualified to serve in office rel ative to a middle-aged or older candidate,” Damon Roberts, a political scientist at the Uni versity of Colorado Boulder, told CBS News.

That view partly comes from age requirements. To serve in the U.S. House, a can didate must be at least 25. A

is the OPCR, and they routinely refuse to actually conduct investiga tions, and all the people that run it are cops,” Yates said. “To us that rep resents a huge conflict of interest.”

“With the CPAC, if the chief of police decides that he doesn’t want to discipline a certain officer or if he disagrees with the finding of fact that [CPAC] has done,” Yates contin ued, “there is a process to essential

Also, on hand was Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins, Ward 8, who has been instrumental in projects pertaining to 38th St. business development and redesign questions about to GFS.

“[I’ve been a] strong proponent of the D Line, by lobbying at the State Capitol and Metro to ensure that our community has the amenities it needs. But admittedly, it has been a struggle to ensure that our community has what it needs transit-wise.

“As we’ve heard here, the 5 Route is the most used transit route in the entire state,” the council president explained. “More people ride this bus to jobs, doctor’s appointments, to school, the air

with a White [Minneapolis Police] officer at the age of 15, it is obvious that racially discriminatory and biased policing occurs,” said Alexa Ricciardi. “At the very least, the law enforcement entrusted with fairly and safely polic

ing BIPOC communities should not be allowed to espouse White suprema cist views.”

Some police officers and groups who represent them oppose the pro

U.S. Senator must be at least 30, while a presidential hope ful can’t be younger than 35.

“People do seem to be pretty positive toward hav ing a younger representative,”

Roberts asserted.

Stressed and sickened by thoughts of their rights and democracy slipping away, young Americans across gender, racial, geographic

ly go around the police chief and start to get the mayor’s office involved, start to get city council involved.”

Michelle Gross, president of Com munities United Against Police Bru tality (CUAPB), called the flaws of the Title 9 amendment proposal “glaringly obvious.”

“The Community Commission on Police Oversight proposal being pre sented does not change anything about the underlying Office of Police Conduct Review structure,” a CUAPB press release stated. “The only thing that will change is that the hearing panel pool will include more people, and those same people will hold occasional meetings the community

port, and to shopping. It is a very important asset to Metro Transit and to this community.”

The 38th Street reconstruction project, accord ing to the City’s website, will involve the entire public right-of-way and will include the identifi cation and preservation of memorial space, new sidewalks, ADA pedestrian ramps, pavement, curb and gutter, lighting, and utility improvements.

Public Works and community stakeholders will evaluate a range of options that represent transportation, utility, and community-centered public realm needs. This work will also thorough ly consider and explore the integration of the D Line bus rapid transit and local bus service on routes 5 and 23.

The event also featured a light meal provided by West Indies Soul. The next session will take place in Jan. 2023.

Al Brown welcomes reader responses to abrown@ spokesman-recorder.com.

posed rules for a number of reasons. Aaron Nestrud, a Hennepin County Sheriff’s detective, believes those who want to be officers should have a chance to explain themselves. “The rules overall seem politically motivated, which is not something that improves our profession,” said Nestrud in writ ten comments to the POST Board. “I support the goals of increased recruit ment and retention of the best officers, but this isn’t it.”

At the special meeting POST Board members held on December 1, they made changes to clarify the language in the proposed rules. Some changes include clarifying that the officer must disclose if they are aware a prosecutor put them on a Brady-Giglio list, as well as allowing officers to provide context about why they did what they did.

The Board will meet again on December 9 at their headquarters

and education lines banded together last week to help save the Democrats from what many foresaw as a sizable mid term defeat, John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the

at Snelling and University Avenues to finalize the changes. The meeting will only be held in person. Although the POST Board will make a meeting video available afterward, it will not be live-streamed.

The POST Board will accept comments from the public on the proposed policy until December 6 at 4:30 pm. From December 7 to December 13 at 4:30 pm, the public will have the opportunity to respond to comments made in the initial peri od. Comments can be made by going to bit.ly/MNPOSTBoardComments.

An administrative law judge will review the comments and make a decision sometime between mid-Jan uary to mid-February.

H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader responses to hpan@spokesmanrecorder.com.

passion of the grassroots melds with the power of insti tutions to forge progress,” Del la Volpe asserted. “As political analysts methodically review the numbers after an election for the ages, anyone interest ed in the winning formula for 2024 should closely examine those between the ages of 18 and 39.”

Harvard Kennedy School Insti tute of Politics, wrote in an editorial.

“In the eyes of many young voters, this is how America meets its destiny: when the

can attend. The current process that leads to an extremely small percent age of sustained complaints will remain the same.”

CUAPB advocates for a complete dismantling of the Office of Police Conduct Review in favor of creating an independent agency that does not include Minneapolis staff or police

Gerald Warburg, a profes sor of practice of public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, noted that turnover in the youth-challenged leadership of the Democratic House and

officers. CUAPB also wants com plaints to be received by the inde pendent agency rather than through

Senate caucuses had frozen for decades. Until now, all Democratic legislative leaders were over 70 years of age. Warburg contends that both parties might now wel come the opportunity to pass the torch to a new, post-babyboomer generation with fresh ideas. Pelosi and Democrats, Warburg said, “had the cour age to step back, making way for new leaders and new ideas.”

MPD, saying filing complaints at precinct headquarters lacks account ability and can be intimidating for complainants.

Ward 2 Councilmember Robin Wonsley held an online public meet

Stacy

is the NNPA News Wire national senior correspondent.

ing Monday evening regarding the Title 9 amendment, with the majority of public comments being negative, saying the city council should go fur ther than the proposed amendment. Wonsley and Councilmember Elliott Payne voted no on the measure. A full city council vote is set for Dec. 8.

Yates said TCC4J has 6,000 of the 8,900 signatures required to bring the CPAC proposal to Minneapolis ballots in 2023. He said he is “quite confident” they will be able to collect the remaining signatures in time.

Cole Miska welcomes reader responses to cmiska@spokesmanrecorder.com.

M. Brown

“I think it’s important that we have a government that looks like the people.”

“We’re here to share but also to listen.”

“It is obvious that racially discriminatory and biased policing occurs.”

“This is a way for the city council to pretend to do something about police brutality without actual accountability of the police.”

Edhephesians Bailey rides the D Line on his way to North Minneapolis. Photos by H. Jiahong Pan

By Laura Poehlman Contributing Writer

It may have been cold out side, but the room at Eastside Neighborhood Services last Sat., Dec. 3 was glowing with love and light as 17 phenom enal mothers were honored by a large crowd of family, friends and loved ones at Sis ter Spokesman’s “Celebrating Moms of All Ages” event.

Crooner Ray Covington started the show right with a performance of “You’ve Got a Friend” that had the entire room singing along before the tributes began. A personalized certificate and trophy were presented to each “Phenom enal Mom” as the person who nominated them read the trib ute published in last week’s edition of the MSR paper.

MSR Publisher/CEO and

17 phenomenal mothers were honored at this year’s event.

Sister Spokesman host Tracey Williams-Dillard prepared a special salute to her mother Norma Jean Williams, MSR

Pianist John Beasley picked up the most nominations this year with a total of three: Best Improvised Jazz Solo, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, and Best Arrangement, Instru mental or A Cappella, which are all related to his album “Bird Lives,” a Charlie Parker tribute.

Besides Beasley, other jazz musicians nominated for 2023

Follow Us!

John Beasley

vice president emeritus, that included a slideshow of pho tos of her through the years with family and friends, many

Covington treated the audi ence to several songs, culminat ing in a moving performance of “Always and Forever” (Luther Van

Tis the season: The Grammys, the start of holiday music, and more

hope Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Nicholas Payton and Matthew Stevens win for Best Jazz In strumental album for “New Standards, Vol 1.”

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Grammy Awards include Terri Lyne Carrington, Cecile McLo rin Salvant, Samara Joy, Wayne Shorter, Leo Genovese, Me lissa Aldana, Ron Carter, Am brose Akinmusire and Arturo O’Farrill,

Jazz artists are also repre sented in a wide spectrum of Grammy categories as well. Robert Glasper is nominated for best R&B album and best engineered album (non-classi cal); the late Dr. John is post humously nominated for best Americana album.

The 65th annual Grammy Awards takes place on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. To see a full list of this year’s Grammy nominees, visit grammy.com.

sions Records, the most-added album on the JazzWeek jazz radio chart for the week of Nov. 28 was Nicholas Payton’s latest from Smoke Sessions, “Couch Sessions,” with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. Check out jazz week.com.

Wilkins’s album “The 7th Hand” was also named one of the “Best Jazz Albums of 2022” by the New York Times.

Saxophonist, composer and educator Bobby Watson has a new album out entitled “Bobby Watson: Back Home in Kansas City” (Smoke Sessions).

Speaking of Smoke Ses

I’m excited about the new Ahmad Jamal music—the twovolume “Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 19631964” (Jazz Detective). Plus there’s also reason to be ex cited about new music from the late great drummer Elvin Jones. Just out is a previously unreleased set of July 1967 quartet recordings made by Jones at the NYC venue Pook ie’s Pub. The album is entitled, “Elvin Jones: Revival: Live at Pookie’s Pub” (Blue Note).

The holidays are also a good time to check out the new documentary “Louis Arm strong’s Black & Blues” (Apple TV+) directed by Sacha Jen

Take time to tell me you re ally care /

The afternoon also included lively games, lunch, shopping with the small business vendors, and drawings for cash and priz es. KMOJ’s DJ Walter “Q Bear” Banks played a steady stream of R&B classics as attendees shopped, networked, and cel ebrated with one another.

Arts & Culture Brilliant British advertisements this way! The annual holiday tradition returns with the most innovative and daring commercials from the creative world of British advertising. Screenings fill up quickly Get tickets at walkerart.org. The Walker s presentation of the 2022 British Arrows Awards is sponsored by

that changed the meaning of the lyrics from one of romantic love into a beautiful expression of motherly love and devotion:

dross)

“Melt

Sister Spokesman’s next event “What Is Your Vision for 2023?” takes place on Jan. 7 from 12-4 pm at the University of Minnesota Robert J. Jones Ur ban Research and Outreach-En gagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N. in Minneapo lis. Visit @SisterSpokesman on Facebook for the latest.

Laura Poehlman welcomes reader responses to lpoehlman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

kins. It honors Armstrong’s legacy and highlights his life surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and how he fared during that turbulent era. The film also offers archival foot age, personal and never-be fore-heard personal conversa tion, and home recordings.

Happy birthday to pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn, who was born on November 29, 1915 in Dayton, Ohio. He collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Elling ton for nearly three decades.

Among his most iconic compo sitions are “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Lush Life.”

He is the brother of saxophon ist Julian “Cannonball” Adder ley and well-known for his song “Work Song,” which has become a beloved jazz standard.

Congrats to pianist and com poser Jon Batiste, who head lined President Joe Biden’s first State Dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, Dec. 1. “An artist who transcends generations, Jon Batiste’s music inspires and brings people together,” said Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesper son for first lady Jill Biden to the Associated Press.

Happy holidays and happy album shopping to everyone!

Also celebrating a birthday this November is trumpeter Nat Adderley, born on Novem ber 25, 1931 in Tampa, Florida.

Robin James welcomes reader responses to jamesonjazz@ spokesman-recorder.com.

that pictured her representing the Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder in the community.

It ended with a few words from Ms. Norma, who sparkles with emotion and wit the mo ment someone hands her a microphone. With many of her family in attendance, she thanked the room for their love and support.

all my heart away with a smile /

And we’ll share tomorrow together.”

Photo by Jennifer Jackman

The room was full to capacity to celebrate mothers.

Photo by Ray Seville

By Robin James Contributing Writer

It’s Grammy Awards time, and the holiday season is upon us, so there’s plenty of poten tial gift-giving ideas here, not to mention “Best Albums of 2022” lists and some other jazz-related happenings to be aware of. Let’s jump right in.

The 2023 Grammy Awards nominations were announced Nov. 15 and include 26 nomi nations of artists and/or re cordings across five jazz cat egories.

I

Jazz artists Charles Lloyd, Immanuel Wilkins and Julian Lage are all on the Jazzwise magazine best jazz albums of 2022. To hear them all, go to “Jazz Now” playlist: bluenote. Ink.to/JazzNow.

Apple TV+

Photo by Jennifer Jackman

Shakopee prison conditions constitute cruel and unusual punishment

By Mary E. Petersen

No teaching license for Castile’s killer

An open letter from Black parents,

It has recently come to our attention that Jeronimo Yanez, the former Saint Anthony po lice officer who killed Philando Castile, a Black motorist, has applied for a substitute teach er’s license.

We were further dismayed to learn that he has been quietly teaching Spanish part-time at a parochial school. Needless to say, it is shocking and traumatiz ing to know that a former police officer who unjustly killed an innocent Black man would dare assume another position of au thority over children.

We stand in solidarity with the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Stan dards Board in their decision to deny Yanez’s application to teach on moral grounds. We would add to that the likely traumatic and psychologi cal impacts to Black children placed in Yanez’s classroom.

Our community continues to collectively grieve over the senseless police killing of Phi lando Castile. Children of all racial backgrounds, and par ticularly Black children, were heartbroken over the killing of Castile, given his own role as a cafeteria supervisor within St. Paul Public Schools.

educators

in a court of law for his egre gious actions. Instead, his reck less behavior resulted in a $3 million settlement for which the City of St. Anthony was respon sible. Although this was a finan cial loss for the City, the loss to Castile’s family is incalculable.

In light of the above, we re spectfully request that the Min nesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board affirm its decision to deny a teaching license to Jeronimo Yanez. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Additionally, Yanez’s pres ence has the potential to cre ate an unwelcoming environ ment for Black teachers, who already struggle with finding a safe environment in which to teach. This is counterproduc tive to retaining Black teachers.

It is a travesty of justice that Yanez was not held accountable

Signed,

At

MCF-Shakopee

[a Min nesota Correctional Facility for women] the female inmates are witnessing and being sub jected to multiple forms of cruel and unusual punishment.

First, there has been this ongoing drive by the warden and her staff to double-bunk all rooms throughout the Shakopee facility. Further more, she intends to gut and replace all wood with nothing but a metal bunk bed and two storage bins to store inmate property in. No more wooden closets, drawers, or anywhere to hang items neat and orderly.

Second, last winter/early spring the warden began this construction project in the Anthony Unit with four single rooms on the upper floors. Slowly all summer and fall of 2022 the maintenance depart ment has assisted in gutting more rooms until all upper rooms/single cells have now been double-bunked in that unit.

I was told that due to time constraints, the warden is seeking electrical contractor bids to move this project along fast. She wants Anthony com pleted, then on to the other small units (Tubman and Roo sevelt), then off to the larger units until all of Shakopee is metal beds and living out of bins.

Last week the warden emp tied out the lower “B” wing and overcrowded other units

preparing for the next round of construction. Here are all of the problems with this entire construction project.

All the way back to the year 2000, MNDOC was denied any further expansion due to the inability to further expand the sewage system and the in ability to alter the fire codes. This would also explain why all of this remodeling construc tion has been done without any permits.

sioner declared in 2020 that all inmates that are in “closed” custody and above must be single-celled. Shakopee refus es to comply.

Our toilets already hardly flush without issue due to the overcrowding that currently exists from women being stuffed into wing lounges four to six deep, as if they are se cured housing rooms.

The beds MNDOC plans to use are a major suicide risk for hangings. The ladders are nothing but 3/8” to 1/2” bolts that bare feet will be stepping on. How much liability is the state willing to incur? That is the real question.

To follow through with this remodeling construction would mean that the MNDOC would break several Minneso ta laws. The first would be the law requiring one shower for every eight people; next is the size of the building’s square footage required per person for fire codes.

Then there is the Minnesota law that dictates the required square footage per person in a room in a prison; and finally, MN Rule #2900.0200 is being violated, which will not pro vide each inmate the minimum storage space required for their personal property due to the bins MNDOC provides be ing too small.

In addition to all I have shared here, the Commis

Then there is the recent heat fiasco. True to MCF-Sha kopee fashion, the inmates in the majority of the prison are freezing due to lack of heat and severely old heating units. For approximately 10-11 days now, Upper and Lower “B” wings in the Roosevelt Unit have been suffering from se vere cold temperatures under 68° (this is also the case in An thony).

The average temperature over this time period has been in the low 60s. When the DOC staff has been taking these room temperatures, they rely on a governor’s executive or der from 2005 that states 68° is acceptable.

What it does not allow for is outside brick walls that have zero insulation, floors that have zero insulation, and windows that leak air like sieves, all adding to the room temperature’s decline. These continual indifferent attitudes and cold conditions violate in mates’ civil rights and endan ger their health.

Continual staff excuses range from, “It’s the weekend, so there is no one here to fix it”; but during the week, no one shows up to fix it. Either way it is the inmates who are forced to live with frozen feet, frozen hands, frozen noses, etc. I think you get the picture. Cruel and unusual punishment says it all.

MNDOC cannot use fund ing as an excuse when they are doing construction they have no funding for. The inmate’s cost of confinement account has more than $200,000, so not having money for heat is not an excuse.

The truth is MNDOC can afford a little more heat. Just take a stroll over to the Core Building where the administra tion staff works, and you will find it to be toasty warm!

Mary E. Petersen, #259723 Shakopee Correctional Facility

How to stop The New Reconstruction 2022

By Dr. John E. Warren

While many are watching 47 out of the 50 states pro pose and enact voter suppres sion laws, the question be comes one of what can we as individuals do to counter such attacks against us?

the real agenda of those hiding behind the Republican Party’s control of state legislatures, embracing Donald Trump’s lie that the election was stolen.

tive White Republicans are en gaged in attempts to recreate the conditions that existed by 1901 when all Black elected officials were removed from office at both the national and state level.

deal made with the South to have no national interference with State’s Rights. The re sult was there were no Blacks elected to Congress between 1901 (John Roy Lynch from Mississippi) and 1928 (Oscar De Priest from Chicago).

publican Party (GOP), under the out-of-office leadership of Donald Trump, that is us ing voter suppression laws in 47 states and the soon-to-be

redistricting of congressional districts under the 2020 Cen sus, as required by the U.S. Constitution every 10 years, that will seek to usher in a modern-day “Reconstruction.”

This modern-day Recon struction will once again have

the actions of our former pres ident, that racism on the part of conservative and right-wing Whites is fear of the “brown ing” of America.

This “browning” exists in an America in which Whites are a minority among other ethnic groups such as Blacks, Latinos and Asians. Blacks, Whites, and all people of color who believe in our democratic form of government under a Consti tution that guarantees human and civil rights must come to

We can do this by register ing to vote and selecting and funding people to run for of fice against the Republican “Reconstruction” program de scribed here. We must repli cate the state of Georgia’s ex perience in both voter turnout and election of the right peo ple at all levels of government.

We must not lose sight of the real plan behind voter sup pression and the Republican Party. Let’s call the Republican Party’s agenda for what it is, The New Reconstruction 2022, and let’s get busy dealing with

Titilayo Bediako Executive Director, WE WIN Institute Education Justice Co-Chair, Racial Justice Network

And 32 other signers [see MSR website for all names]

Our community con tinues to collectively grieve over the senseless police killing of Philando Castile.

Dr. John E. Warren is publish er of The San Diego Voice and

These continual indifferent attitudes and cold conditions violate inmates’ civil rights and endanger their health.

Obituary Jamar Curtiss Whitlock

Sunrise, February 22, 1977 — Sunset, November 25, 2022

Jamar is preceded in death by his fa ther, Curtiss Whitlock; his paternal grandfather Lewis Whitlock II; paternal grandmother Beverly Whitlock; maternal grandfather McClinton Webb, Sr; and ma ternal grandmother Willie Mae Webb.

He leaves to cherish his memory his mother Marion Webb Whitlock; broth ers Marcu Whitlock (Jamila) and Bran don Kirksey; sisters LaKeshia Kirksey and Carmen Kirksey; stepmother Maude Whit lock, a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, neph ews, cousins, “little siblings” and friends.

His Celebration of Life service will take place Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Kingdom Life Church, 3751 Sheridan Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN. The visita tion will take place from 10-11 am, with services at 11 am, entrusted to Wash burn-McReavy. The interment will follow at Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN

“Keep the Vision Clear.”

A vision board can have a profound impact on your life. It can influence your personal life, business life, spiritual life and other areas. I want to share with you how to create an effec tive vision board.

Free sand-salt for sidewalks and streets in Mpls

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—so the song goes. But along with the kids’ jingle-belling and everyone telling you to be of good cheer comes the mix of mild to chilly winter weather, which leads to slippery roads and icy sidewalks.

Did you know the City of Minneapolis of fers several sites where residents can pick up a free sand-salt mixture for their residential sidewalks and driveways? The salt was add ed to the sand to prevent freezing. The ratio is up to 25% salt and 75% or more sand.

The sand-salt mix is for Minneapolis res idents only and is limited to one five-gallon

bucket. Locations are open 24 hours a day. Just bring your own bucket and shovel.

Sand-salt pick-up locations:

• 6036 Harriet Ave. S. on West 60th St. between Lyndale and Harriet avenues

• 1809 Washington St. N.E. at 18th and Jefferson

• East 27th Street just east of Longfel low Ave. near the Public Works gate

• 2710 Pacific St. outside the main Public Works gate between 27th and 28th Ave. N.

For more info, go to bit.ly/sandMpls or call 311.

Vision boards are often seen as an arts and crafts project involving glue sticks, scissors, magazine cut-outs, and printed pictures. But they can be so much more than this: They are a visual manifestation of the life you want to have. They display what you want out of your time on this earth and what your innermost desires are calling you to accomplish. There may be no other tool that can get you closer to fulfilling your idea of a perfect life than this tangible guide to the future.

gratitude, Coach Ella,

With

Jamar Curtiss Whitlock was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Febru ary 22, 1977, to the union of Curtiss Whitlock and Marion Webb Whitlock.

Employment & Legals

Sr. Consumer Affairs Specialist

Covidien LP (a Medtronic company), Minneapolis, MN. Req. Master’s deg. in Mechanical, Industrial, or Biomedi cal Engineering & 2 yrs. of exp. in quality engineering for medical devices. Must poss. a min. of 2 yrs. of exp. w/each of the following: Complaint handling for medical devices; FDA 21 CFR 820, 21 CFR 803, 21 CFR 806, & ISO 13485 for adverse event reporting requirements; ISO14971, CAPA, Field corrective Action, Issue Impact Assess., Clinical Risk Assess., Dsgn. Failure Mode & Effect Analysis, Hazard anal ysis & Root-Cause analysis; dsgn. of machine components, Engr. Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Kinematics, Electrical & electronics; SAP production modules, Agile systems, Share Point, & Box site; statistical analysis & trending analysis of complaints; & Optimization Techniques & Operations. May telecommute from anywhere in the U.S. Apply at https://jobs.medtronic.com/, Req. # 22000O69. No agencies or phone calls.

Covidien/Medtronic are equal opportunity employers committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

VITS Consulting Corp has openings for the positions:

QA Analyst with Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering (any), Technology, Management Information Systems or related to participate in code reviews and evaluation of test plan with development of high-quality software. Ensure that documentation for releases is accurate and timely understand. Creating and update Test cases, executing Test Cases, Logging and Tracking defects for the clients using JIRA. Participate in Bug review, QA and Project status meetings with cross-function al teams.

Programmer Analyst with bachelors’ degree in Com puter Science, Engineering any, Technology or related and 6 months experience to Support full life cycle development in cluding requirements analysis, design, prototyping, coding, unit testing, integration and test. Involve in design, develop ment, implementation, maintenance software development work. He/ She works with the technical team and interfac es directly with external vendors to define data requirements and resolve data integrity; prepare project status reports, and make formal presentations to management as necessary. Work location is Plymouth, MN with required travel to client locations throughout the USA.

Please mail resumes to 3350 Annapolis Lane N, Suite A, Plymouth, MN 55447 (or) e-mail : jobs-p@vitsconsulting.com

From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder

State of Minnesota District Court Ramsey County Second Judicial District Court File Number: 62-DA-FA-22-1152 Case Type: Domestic Abuse

PHONE: 612-827-4021

In The Matter Of Mercedes Parthenia Ann Marie Hysten Vs Kenneth Whiting

State of Minnesota District Court Ramsey County Second Judicial District Court File Number: 62-HR-CV-22-863 Case Type: Harassment

Notice

teammates at Tennessee in the late 1990s. Both admit ted in separate MSR inter views that at that time nei ther envisioned coaching in their respective futures.

“I never saw myself coach ing,” recalled Butts. “When I was a player in college, my coaches used to always say, ‘You’re here to coach.’ And I would always be dismissive of that because I was think ing no way.

“My life has taken me on this absolutely incred ible journey, and I wouldn’t change that,” said Butts. “But early on, I couldn’t see this far down the road.”

Elzy said she wanted to stay in basketball but in a non-coaching role. “Actually, I didn’t want to coach. I met with Coach [Pat] Summitt and she told me I would make a great coach. I said no, it’s too much responsibility, too much time.”

However, when an admin

SOe

Contunued from page 10

when offered a coaching job by her former coach, Williams jumped at the opportunity and hasn’t looked back since.

Chicago State is a histori cally Black public university located on the city’s South Side. In recent years the school has been struggling as a women’s hoops program. The challenge of turning

istrative position opened up with the Virginia Tech pro gram, “Coach Summitt con vinced me” to apply for the job, recalled Elzy. “I got the coaching bug, walking in my purpose. I am exactly where I am supposed to be and the person I am.

“Well, 22 years later, I guess Coach was right,” ad mitted Elzy.

Both Kentucky coaches are keenly aware of their unique position today in women’s college basketball— being a Black coach.

“It is an honor that Black coaches have not had,” said Elzy, one of six SEC Black coaches, a high among Power 5 conferences—the Big Ten only has two. “I think of the Black female coaches that have paved the way, opened the door for people like myself, to be in the position that I am in. We understand the assign ment and the responsibility.”

Butts added, “I’m definite ly happy with where I am— the woman, the coach I have become.”

Butts and Elzy both are

things around, of returning to a Division I school back in the Midwest was just too much to pass up, Williams said.

“It’s a big challenge turning it in the right direction,” she admitted. “We want to recruit Chicago as best as we can, then the state of Illinois. We like to keep home-grown tal ent home.”

Williams is the second of five Black female head coaches that Minnesota will face this season. “I’ve been in

BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS

FOR

Notice of Hearing by Publication (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 8)

To Respondent named above:

PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT @BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM

An order has been issued directing you to appear at the Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center 25 W 7th St, St. Paul MN 55102 on December 27, 2022 at 8:15 AM and explain why the relief sought in the Petition for the Order for Protection should not be granted.

EMPLOYMENT DISPLAY

SIZE: 2 COL X 4 INCHES RATE $42.08 PER COL. INCH SUB TOTAL: $337.00

You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any order issued from the court from the Ramsey County Court Administrator’s Office.

If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be granted as a default matter. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for viola tion of the Court’s Order.

+2 WEEKS ONLINE @$300 TOTAL: $637.00

Court Administrator Ramsey County District Court Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder December 8, 2022

Please proof, respond with email confirmation to ads@spokesman-recorder.com.

To Respondent: YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Harassment Restraining Order has been issued on August 10, 2022.

A hearing has not been scheduled. You may request a hearing on this matter by filing a Request for Hearing HAR301 with the Court within twenty (20) days of the date this Notice is published. You may get a copy of the HRO from the court administrator’s office at the following address: Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center 25 W. 7th Street Room B122 Saint Paul, MN 55102

Failure to appear at a scheduled hearing or to get a copy of the Harassment Re straining Order will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s order.

W.

Juvenile and Family Court Administrator

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder December 8, 2022

From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder

Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com

State of Minnesota District Court County Judicial District: 4th Court File Number: 27-DA-FA-22-6309 Hennepin Case Type: Domestic Abuse

PHONE: 612-827-4021

For more exposure: We are also inviting our clients to advertise on our website for 2 weeks for a flat net fee of $300 per position with purchase of print ad.

In the Matter of: Anne Kumakech, on behalf of minor child Petitioner

Notice of Hearing by Publication vs. (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 8)

Isaac Kumakech Respondent

FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT @ BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM

The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.

To Respondent named above:

EMPLOYMENT DISPLAY

SIZE: 2 COL 4.5 INCHES RATE $42.08 PER COL. INCH SUB TOTAL: $379.00

An order has been issued directing you to appear at a hearing on December 19, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. for an Order for Protection Hearing and explain why the relief sought in the Petition for the Order for Protection should not be granted. You must contact the Hennepin County Court Administrator’s Office at 612-348-8756 for hearing location details.

You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any order issued from the court from the Hennepin County Family Court at 110 South Fourth Street, Mpls., MN 55401.

+2 WEEKS ONLINE @$300 TOTAL: $679.00

If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be granted as a default matter. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s Order.

November 29, 2022 /S/ Jessica Rahier Date Court Administrator / Deputy Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder December 8, 2022

Please proof, respond with email confirmation to ads@spokesman-recorder.com.

Please Note: New email address for all future ads is ads@spokesman-recorder.com

looking forward to their games with the Gophers at The Barn: “It’ll be fun,” said Butts.

Stringer

and get our African Ameri can women into coaching.”

For more exposure: We are also inviting our clients to advertise on our website for 2 weeks for a flat net fee of $300 per position with purchase of print ad.

Bulldogs shorthanded Tim Eatman has been in this game for a long time, so the first-year South Caro lina State head women’s basketball coach hasn’t yet pressed the panic button. The Bulldogs have gotten off to a rough start this season but Eatman, who talked to us after his team’s loss at St. Thomas, stressed that they were shorthanded. SCST only had eight players at the November 12 road contest, three players out with inju ries and two others awaiting NCAA clearance.

Contunued from page 10

The MSR handles billing digitally. This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.

“I tell people by January we will be a good basketball team,” he predicted. “We just got to keep going with what we have and keep fighting at practice every day. We still haven’t been able to put in our entire playbook.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

coaching for 20-some years,” she pointed out.

“You got to be good role models. We are trying to show that there is a spot in this sport [for Blacks to coach] on the bench. I’m will ing to take this program to a level it hasn’t had.”

CSU men’s coach

The Chicago State men’s basketball team is scheduled to play Minnesota on Dec. 22. The Chicago-based HBCU is the

she passionately talks about to the Black female coaches around the country is en couraging us in supporting each other. She talks about starting out in coaching [when] she didn’t have a net work, didn’t have a support system. She was by herself.

“That’s one of the things that I will carry with me is making sure that I reach out and connect to our sister hood so that we can support each other and be success ful and keep this thing going

SpOrtwaShing

Contunued from page 10

were reports of temporary cit ies created just for the home less and other undesirables to keep them out of sight.

“We have our own issues in our country,” reiterated Beissel. “We effectively had a Muslim travel ban. We talk

An all-Black coaching staff Washington, who was named Stringer’s successor last May, said of having an all-Black coaching staff, “I look at what Nikki McCrayPenson has done in the game of women’s basketball. What Tasha Pointer has done in the game of women’s basketball, and the same thing with John Hampton. I don’t know if I would have gotten a bet ter coaching staff together.”

Nikki McCray-Penson has 18 years of college coaching experience, including being

about human rights issues for migrants in Qatar, and lots of people are in cages at the U.S. Mexico border.

“We’re not trying to excuse what’s happening in Qatar,” Beissel continued, “but I’m going to be curious to see if the same idea of using the World Cup [which will be hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 2026] and

a head coach at Mississippi State and Old Dominion. Pointer has similar coaching experience, including eight seasons at Rutgers (200715). Hampton is the former head coach at Clarkson Uni versity and spent the last seven seasons at St. Joseph’s, the last three as assistant head coach.

“For me” said Washington, “it was about getting great coaches. The fact that they can be representatives is an added bonus.”

only school this season where both its basketball teams will play in Williams Arena and both head coaches are Black.

We talked to CSU Men’s Coach Gerald Gillion after his Cougars played at St. Thomas Nov. 11. In his second year, Gillion previously was an as sistant at Samford for a sea son, then at Tennessee Tech (2017-19). He also was a pro gram director at a top-ranked AAU team (2019-20).

Gillion began his coaching

career in high school (2008-13) and entered college coaching at Florida International (201314) as director of basketball operations, then as special as sistant to the head coach at South Florida (2014-17).

“We got to be able to put things together for 40 min utes, start to finish,” stressed Gillion after the loss to the host team. He pointed out that his squad is young—sev en sophomores, six freshmen, three juniors and a senior on

linking it to or explaining it though sportwashing leads to critiques about our own society in a way that we can expose and highlight some of these inequalities and human rights issues and make the United States a better place.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

this year’s roster.

“We want to make sure that people understand that we’re looking forward to winning on and off the court,” noted Gillion. “We want to develop young men to be able to be successful both on and off the court. We’re gonna con tinue to strive to do that ev ery single day.”

Donald

Harper

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

A grand time for a grand dame

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

iscataway, N.J. — It was an emotional day for all on Sunday, December 4 as Hall of Fame head coach C. Vivian Stringer was enshrined on the court at Rutgers Univer sity during a dedication cere mony. The Scarlet Knights play ers, all of whom Stringer had recruited, wanted to play hard for their now-retired coach in their 2022-23 Big Ten season opener hosting Ohio State.

The 2,600-plus fans in atten dance all came to wish the grand dame of women’s basketball coaches well as she moves into the retirement phase of her leg endary life and career. Stringer joined the late Pat Summit and Kay Yow as former women’s coaches now with their school basketball court named for them. “I walked into the arena and saw my signature on the court,” admitted Stringer to the crowd. “I was stunned. I can’t believe it. I want to thank my many great fans. Thank you so much,” she re peated when we personally con

gratulated her after her remarks. The MSR also talked to sev eral others who were in atten dance Sunday: Shane Gerald of Paterson, N.J. runs a local girls AAU bas ketball program. Among the over 500 mostly Black girls

who have participated over the years are WNBA veterans Essence Carson and Atonia Bates, both of whom played for Stringer at Rutgers. “She’s a mother for dozens of players that came through her pro gram,” said Gerald.

MN hosts Chicago State’s women and men hoopsters

ndrea Williams has coached at all three NCAA Division levels over her nearly 30-year ca reer. Her latest stop is Chicago State, who hired her in July to coach the Cougars women’s basketball team.

“We are going to compete,” predicted Williams in an MSR interview before CSU embarks on a two-game Twin Cities swing next week, beginning at Williams Arena against the host Gophers Dec. 12, then moving to St. Paul to play at University of St. Thomas Dec. 14. “We are going to do our best and show up in that en vironment.”

Williams began her coach ing career at Edinboro Univer sity of Pennsylvania (1995-97), then as head coach at Division II Waynesburg (Pa.) University

(1997-99). She also held as sistant coaching positions at Oakland University (2016-19) and Purdue Fort Wayne (201516), South Florida (2008-10), Jacksonville University (200408), the U.S. Naval Academy (2002-04), and the University of Tampa (1999-2002).

Her HC experience came at Fort Valley State for three years (2019-21) and six sea sons at U.S. Air Force Academy

(2010-15). Williams might be the first Black woman to coach at two of the country’s military training colleges.

“Basketball has taken me many places,” said the Indiana native. Williams graduated from Vincennes University (as sociate degree) and Edinboro University (B.S. degree in phys ical education). Her first postcollege job was in teaching, but

Valerie Walker was a member of Stringer’s 1982 Cheyney State NCAA runnersup team, which is still the first and only HBCU to play for an NCAA women’s basketball championship. “It was a plea sure,” she said of those times.

years.

Black coaches happy to be where they are

20)

Butts was an assistant coach (2003-08) and once was Arizona’s first Black head women’s coach (2008-16).

The two women were once

Sportwashing promotes a good image, conceals the bad

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

he 2022 World Cup is well underway. But the human rights violations in Qatar, the host country—in cluding the deaths of migrant workers, LGBTQ+ discrimina tion, and other controversial issues—are being talked about nearly as much as are the games.

John Oliver on his HBO show talked at length about the migrant workers’ condi tions in Qatar. There’s also a multi-part documentary on Netflix on FIFA, soccer’s gov erning body, and how it came to be that a Middle Eastern na tion with no soccer pedigree or infrastructure got awarded the worldwide tournament.

Miami University Sport Leadership and Management Assistant Professor Adam Beissel has been looking at how nations use sport to di vert attention away from real issues and problems. He calls

it “sportwashing.”

“What I do is try and unpack the game behind the game,” explained Beissel. “I would start with any discussion of sportwashing…a worldwide

view that we could call the geopolitical economy of sport. The geopolitical economy of sport is really a way to think through all of the connections between geography, politics,

economics as it relates to pro duction, trade, government and international relations.”

Sportwashing, continued the professor, is “a phenom enon whereby political leaders use sport to appear important or legitimate on the world stage, while often stoking na tionalism and deflecting at tention from chronic social

cades later when it hosted the Games, and other nations simi larly have used the World Cup.

“Oftentimes these games getting placed in different lo cations,” continued Beissel, “is really all about the people in positions of power trying to protect their power and ap peal to as many constituents as possible.”

Although many see sport washing as something foreign, we asked if it could happen in the United States or other socalled democratic nations.

We vividly remember when the downtown homeless shel ters here were moved for the convenience of the Super Bowl on claims of security concerns. Abandoned buildings located near one of the city’s major freeways were covered up during the Detroit Super Bowl so they wouldn’t be seen by visitors. And during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games there

problems and human rights issues…the same issues that have affected international sport mega events for almost a century.”

A classic example Beis sel used was the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games where Adolf Hitler used them to whitewash what was really going on Ger many at the time leading up to World War II. Russia did it de

“I think we should be equally upset…about the human rights abuses and inequalities that are happening in Western de mocracies, including our own country,” responded Beissel. There are “no bigger, more corporate, commercially satu rated events on the interna tional sport calendar than the U.S. Super Bowl, and that’s be cause it reflects the corporate capitalist economic structures of the United States.”

“I really enjoyed playing for her at Cheyney. When I saw her before the game, I thanked her for helping me not just to be an athlete but preparing me in my life. I love her to death.”

Delaware State Deputy AD Kyle Adams, who is strongly pushing for a documentary done on Stringer and the Cheyney team, also coached women’s basketball for 10

“I’m humbled and hon ored to be here,” he said. “Those women who played at Cheyney mean the world to me. Coach Stringer has had such an

impact

on me as a

coach

and what I wanted to be for young people.”

Rutgers Coach

Coquese

Washington

told the MSR, “I think one of the things that

Coquese Washington Kyle Adams

C. Vivian Stringer (center front in red) surrounded by family and friends

All photos by Charles Hallman

■ See Stringer on page 9

“One of the things that I will carry with me is making sure that I reach out and connect to our sisterhood.”

“It’s a big challenge turning it in the right direction.”

Andrea Williams Courtesy of Chicago State Gerald Gillion Photo by Charles Hallman

he Gophers women’s basketball team this season will play six games where their opponents are coached by Black women. Coming into the Dec. 7 home

contest against visiting Ken tucky, Minnesota is 0-1 in such contests. Virginia (coached by

Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, last week’s ESPN Coach of the Week) defeated the Gophers 73-70 Nov. 26.

Kyra Elzy leads Kentucky. She became the Wildcats head

coach in December 2020 after a 6-0 start as interim coach, and was associate HC (2015-

in her second stint at the school, having held a similar position in two previous sea sons (2010-12).

Niya Butts is Kentucky’s associate head coach. She is also in her second stint in the program since she returned in 2016.

“My life has taken me on this absolutely incredible journey.”

Kyra Elzy

Courtesy of Twitter

Niya Butts Courtesy of UK Athletics

Tim Eatman

Photo by Charles Hallman

Mitchell P. McDonald’s

Prep Scene will return next week.

Adam Beissel

Courtesy of Miami University

“We have our own issues in our country.”