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| |  | At least 5,000 people have been deported out of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport since November, according to a citizen count. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) |
| Citizen Counts 5,000th Detainee Flown out of MSP | | On Tuesday, Burnsville resident Nick Benson watched and recorded from the top floor of an MSP Airport parking garage as 14 chained men and two chained women boarded an Eastern Airlines flight bound first for Alexandria, Louisiana, then El Paso, Texas. This marked the day the Minnesota man’s count breached 5,000 total deportees. Through his independent database, Benson has recorded some of the most accurate and timely deportation information since November of last year, according to a report by the Minnesota Reformer. [Minnesota Reformer] | - The numbers: Benson uses open source information to track flights, then heads to the top of an airport garage to record and count how many people are taken onto the plane. He then updates his database. Benson estimates that his margin of error was fewer than one person per flight after he checked his numbers against data obtained from Homeland Security by the Deportation Data Project. [Deportation Data Project]
- What’s missing: Benson’s count doesn’t include children, like Liam Ramos, those who’ve self-deported, or people who were deported before November. [Nick Benson on Bluesky]
- Won’t stop: Benson says he won’t stop monitoring flights until the state Legislature passes a bill to mandate that the boarding process for immigration flights is livestreamed and publicly available, a measure already implemented at Seattle’s Boeing Field. Rep. Kaela Berg, DFL-Burnsville, introduced a bill this year that would do this, but it didn’t advance. [Propublica / Minnesota Legislature]
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| | | Based on the beloved film, the story that awakened a generation is back in a new stage production! Dirty Dancing: The Musical is the feel-good escape you’ve been craving, alive with electrifying choreography, iconic scenes, the timeless songs you cherish, and the irresistible energy of the summer that changed everything. Get ready to have the time of your life at Dirty Dancing: The Musical - onstage at the Ordway now through September 6! |
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| What the Cities Are Talking About |
| Final days in Pig’s Eye: The now-empty St. Paul encampment off of Fish Hatchery Road once held around 140 people (according to city estimates) or more than 200 (according to advocates). This month, Racket spent around 14 hours interviewing a dozen residents as well as several volunteers and advocates at Pig’s Eye and another nearby encampment to better understand the impact of these moves. [Racket] | | Will Target condemn federal surveillance? On Tuesday, community leaders called on Target and other local corporations to condemn alleged federal surveillance of residents during Operation Metro Surge. Organized by Unidos MN, representatives from labor, faith, education and other groups called on the retailer to sign the “Business for Democracy Pledge.” [Bring Me The News] |  | Minnesota leaders are calling on Target to condemn federal surveillance of the state (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) |
| What are ‘Freyplexes’? The passage of the Minneapolis 2040 Plan in 2018 made Minneapolis the first city in the country to end single-family zoning. But Mayor Jacob Frey wants to expand on multi-unit living with the 2050 plan by allowing for more fourplexes in the city. Some residents decried fourplexes as “Freyplexes” in 2018, fearing the plan could lead to bulldozed neighborhoods. [MinnPost] | | Green zone boundaries redrawn: A decade ago, Minneapolis established designated environmental green zones (areas that receive additional environmental benefits to combat historic pollution in diverse, working-class neighborhoods). Now the boundaries are being redrawn using new data and the city is looking for community input. [Sahan Journal] | | School shopping: It was a joy filling in last week to write about back-to-school shopping for the Keep it Local newsletter. I highlighted Golden Age Design, a local gem that carries my literal dream lunchbox. BUT, I really have to also shout out ArtStart & ArtScraps ReUse Center for bringing out the kid in me. Whether you’re looking for supplies for your kid or your own wacky adult crafting dream, this is such a cool, sustainable and affordable place to check out. [City Cast Twin Cities] |
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| | Thursday, August 20 | | | Friday, August 21 | | | |
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| | | Looking for a meaningful way to give back this September? Join Xcel Energy's Day of Service, September 10-12, and support local nonprofits making a difference across Minnesota. Volunteer opportunities include food packing, environmental stewardship, community gardening, and projects that support local families. With events available during both the work week and weekend, it's easy to find a project that fits your schedule. Registration is now open for more than 40 volunteer opportunities, but spots are limited | | Learn more & register today. |
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One last thing! I know my cats make my life infinitely better. If you’re looking for a furry friend to brighten your home too, The Bond Between is highlighting two little buddies looking for a new home – Alfred the dog and Luna the cat. I can’t stop looking at their pictures. | | | Meet Alfred: This adorable 2-year-old Black Lab mix is full of love, tail wags, and sweet southern charm. He’s great with kids and other dogs and ready to play to his heart's content in a big backyard or at the park. A bonus: Alfred’s adoption fee comes with a $450.00 sponsorship credit applied directly during the contract process. | | Meet Luna: This sweet furball has a big personality in a small package. She’s a chatty, confident lady with big opinions (especially if breakfast is running late). She warms up well to other cats and dogs and is quick to curl up in her human’s lap. The Wilbur Fund is covering $50.00 of her adoption fee. | | Thanks for the read! |
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