News | Southwest Connector

Gary Schatzlein stands in Schatzlein’s Saddle Shop at 413 W Lake St., holding a saddle that needs to be repaired. “It has been hard to compete with online shopping,” Gary Schatzlein said. “Brands have made it harder for us to buy from them.” The horse behind him is one customers used to sit on and see if their apparel fit right. Now, the horse displays a “Do Not Touch” sign

Before Lake Street was a popular hub of Minneapolis, it was a rural area where farming was prevalent. There were rarely any streetcars or buses that rode up and down the street, but rather, horses … more

Chloe Peter | 9/21/22

A multi-modal boulevard could fill in the trench with sidewalks and seating, two-way bikeways, a linear park, transitways and stations, traffic lanes, and affordable housing. The existing street grid could be reconnected. A freight alleviation route could move trucks elsewhere.

What happens if you remove I-94?

What happens if Interstate 94 is removed between St. Paul and Minneapolis?Our Streets Minneapolis is leading the conversation to rethink I-94 and consider various options.They point out that the … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 8/31/22 | 1 comment

Cindy Sundberg (above) and husband Mark Sundberg are asking the city to release all available video footage from the night their 20-year-old son was killed by bullets from snipers with the Minneapolis Police Department. Tekle Sundberg lived in an apartment building at 904 21st Ave. South in the Seward neighborhood, and was killed July 14, 2022 while experiencing a mental health crisis. Bystander footage shows Sundberg the moment he was shot, six hours after the standoff began. His family was not allowed to go inside to talk to him although they were present and were there when he was shot by Aaron Pearson and Zachary Seraphine at 4:18 a.m. Mental health professionals were not called to the scene. (Photos by Jill Boogren)

Bystander video raises questions in Sundberg killing

A 12-minute video taken on a cell phone by a bystander shows the moment when Tekle Sundberg was fatally shot by Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) snipers while he was experiencing a mental health … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 8/31/22

Dr. Chis Mato Nunpa speaks at the Aug. 3 Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board meeting about Bde Psin/Lake Hiawatha. (Screenshot from MPRB meeting via YouTube)

Dakota elder weighs in on debate over Hiawatha Golf

“I am for clean and pure water. “I am for the fish relatives which will be harmfully affected by phosphorus and waste waters that will be deposited in the lake. “I am a pro animal … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 8/31/22

Tom Balcom stands near the residents of the house at 5017 Belmont Ave. that is on the cover of “The Doors of Tangletown” by Elizabeth A. Vandam, published in 2002. View more photos from the tour online at www.swconnector.com. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

A WALK THROUGH TANGLETOWN

Today’s Tangletown neighborhood used to be known as Washburn Park, and the high school, library and historic water tower still bear evidence of the family that transformed the space from farm … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 8/3/22 | 1 comment

Community safety commissioner being considered by city council

On July 21, 2022, Mayor Jacob Frey’s nomination of Cedric Alexander for Community Safety Commissioner was formally received by the city council, who is expected to vote on the appointment on … more

By Cam Gordon | 8/3/22

Mayzer, Mohamed, Mowafag, Azhar, and Sumeya

A more authentic drink

On a Sunday afternoon in July, the Kingfield Farmers Market bustles with people browsing the various offerings. Even as rain clouds loom overhead, one of the busiest tents belongs to Red Wolf Chai, … more

By Evan Vezmar | 8/3/22

Carol Dungan submitted a statement on behalf of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association Board, and then said she had a personal note for the MPRB board members. “I am deeply offended at the way some board members have addressed our community,” she said. “The misinformation coming from this board is unchecked and we deserve better. I would like you to consider giving us an apology for the op-ed that appeared today [in the Star Tribune].”

Is lake unsafe due to pollution from golf course?

The Hiawatha Golf Course Master Plan is heading to a public hearing, another meeting in a long line of contentious meetings since the course flooded in 2014 and the public learned how much pumping is … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 8/2/22

Markeanna Dionne, a former classmate of Sundberg’s at Roosevelt High School, led a chant to say his name, “Tekle” on July 16, 2022. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

Community grieves, seeks answers

Grief fell heavy as family, friends and supporters gathered on the 900 block of 21st Ave. in the Seward neighborhood on July 16, 2022, two days after Minneapolis Police officers killed Andrew Tekle … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 8/2/22

SOUTHWEST SUMMER NIGHTS

“Nothing beats a warm summer night and live music at the bandshell,” remarked local artist Robbin Burnham, also known as WACSO (Walking Around Checking Stuff Out). “It’s … more

WACSO | 7/28/22

Writers and editors celebrate the launch of “We Are Meant To Rise: Voices of Justice from Minneapolis to the World.” Left to right: Tess Montgomery, Samantha Sencer-Mura, Carolyn Holbrook, David Mura, Anika Fajardo, and Suleiman Adan. (Photo by Terry Faust)

Diversity of Twin Cities highlighted in anthology

Carolyn Holbrook loves to bring people together to discuss difficult issues. As an educator, author and advocate for the healing power of the arts, she has spent much of her life doing just that. … more

By Jan Willms | 7/28/22

Abby Simons and her American Eskimo, Bianca, enjoy neighborhood parks and trails. (Photos submitted)

Meet Star Tribune reporter Abby Simons

Harrison resident Abby Simons oversees the public safety team at the Star Tribune, and works to determine how the state’s largest daily newspaper covers police, courts and prisons. The Star … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 7/27/22

East Cedar Lake beach will remain natural. A formalized event area and a concert area with natural materials is proposed, and some new soft surface trails will be added. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

No new structures on Cedar or Lake of the Isles

There are no new permanent structures in the revised master plan for Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles.That means no picnic pavilions. No new bathroom facilities. No rental kiosks. These items were … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 7/13/22

7 Generation Games envisions an educational system where all communities have the tools and resources needed to foster strong connections to their heritage while creating new opportunities for their future. Their mission is to break down the barriers to education and life-long success that underserved students face. (Photo submitted)

GAMES BRIDGE THE GAP

The last 20 years has provided a technological revolution, but educational outcomes have remained largely unchanged. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota has some of the … more

By Chloe Peter | 7/13/22

Meena Natarajan (left) and Ingrid Rasmussen stand at the future site for the Pangea Theater on the 27th Ave. block between Lake and 31st Street. (Photo by Terry Faust)

Breathing new life into 27th and Lake

The 27th Avenue block between Lake and 31st Street bustled with community life. The block included a Latino night club, a popular Indian-Bangladeshi restaurant, and a community organization serving … more

By Iric Nathanson | 6/21/22 | 1 comment

Crisis Responders Amy Brueckner (left) and Dean Zoller pose on one of the two BCR vans. The vans do not use bright lights or sirens. Responders wear navy blue shirts or jackets with "Behavioral Crisis Response" printed on the back. Responders are not armed, and seek to calm the situation. They maintain kindness and respect. They help the person in crisis and provide resources for further support. (Photo by Terry Faust)

Alternative to police

It has been a little more than four months since Minneapolis Office of Performance and Innovation launched the Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team’s pilot project, Canopy Roots. It is the … more

By Jan Willms | 6/21/22 | 3 comments

REMEMBERING GEORGE FLOYD

People gathered May 25-28, 2022 to commemorate the 2nd angelversary of George Floyd’s death. Others lost to police violence were remembered, and their families, who continue to push for change, … more

6/16/22

IN HIS OWN WORDS: advocating for ME/CFS

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multi-system disease that causes dysfunction of neurological, immune, endocrine, and energy metabolism systems. Billy Hanlon, a … more

By Chloe Peter | 6/16/22 | 1 comment

Dreaming of journalism

Back in 2013, I was a seventh grader who took a trip to Washington, D.C. for a family wedding. In the midst of a government shutdown, we decided to go to a National Geographic Museum. It was one of … more

6/16/22

Abdulkarim Abdulle, Yassir Mohamed, Sir Curtis Kirby, and Arif Mohamed stand in their first store-front building in Uptown. (Photo by Kevin Finley)

HYPE OPENS IN UPTOWN

HYPE is a new, high-end sneaker store in Uptown at 2835 Hennepin Ave. S. It offers a mix of high-end, hard-to-find kicks such as Air Jordans, Yeezy’s and Dunks, as well as clothing from local … more

By Kevin Finley | 6/2/22