Free Republic

The Twin Cities have long been considered one of the best places in the country to live when it comes to health, happiness and job opportunities, but the disparities for racial minorities are striking. A new report looks at yet another area where the experiences of whites and non-whites generally diverge: commute times. The 12-page study finds that black and Asian transit users in the Twin Cities spend 138 and 146 more hours each year, respectively, getting to and from work than white drivers do. For Latinos, the "transit time penalty" increased to 173 hours -- the equivalent of losing...

As a state investigator escorted several small children out of a child care center in Minneapolis Wednesday, federal investigators were inside searching files and computers. An FBI spokesman would not comment on the extent of the investigation but confirmed a search warrant was executed at the Salama Child Care Center, 1411 Nicollet Ave. S. Investigators with the Minnesota Department of Human Services were also seen entering and exiting the building but directed all questions to the FBI. Parents trying to drop off their children for daycare were turned away at the door. Investigators were later seen carrying files and computers...

A stolen Bible with two $1,000 savings bonds issued to a 90-year-old Carver County man who was murdered led police to arrest two suspects in his death. Earl Olander was found beaten and robbed inside his home on the 16000 block of Homestead Road back on April 11. Police say his hands and ankles were bound with duct tape and that he was found lying face-down on the floor of his living room. According to the criminal complaint, Olander had multiple injuries to his head, face and body. Police also say his entire home was ransacked, with drawers pulled out...

Back in December the St. Cloud Islamic community was all in a rage over several incidents of vandalism that had occurred at a local mosque. The local ‘interfaith’ community rallied and the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American Relations (CAIR) arrived on the scene and even called in the feds in hopes of proving that a “hate crime” had occurred. Here is CAIR’s commentary—making sure that everyone is notified that Muslims are victims of hate crimes in America! Lori Saroya ‘Our biggest concern is that it will escalate.’ Lori Saroya, [former] executive director of CAIR-MN, said the biggest concern...

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Earl Olander. The 90-year-old was found dead, bound and beaten inside his home on April 11. Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson said Tuesday that deputies received a tip that property stolen from Olander's residence had been recovered. Recovery of the stolen property led to the arrest of two adult males

Twenty-seven senators want President Obama to block federal agencies and contractors from asking job applicants about prior criminal convictions. The senators, including 26 Democrats and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), want Obama to take executive action to "ban the box," referring to a question on job applications that asks if an applicant has any convictions. "We ask you to require federal contractors and agencies to refrain from asking job applicants about prior convictions until later in the hiring process," they said in a letter to Obama on Monday. "This policy would eliminate unnecessary barriers to employment for all job...

The Metropolitan Council continues to struggle with a marketing problem that just won't go away. The projected cost of extending light rail from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie has ballooned to $2 billion, which would make it the largest public infrastructure project in state history. That certainly would be a lot of bridges repaired and lanes of freeway added. Mark Fuhrmann, the project director for Metro Transit, said the other day that delaying the project could jeopardize federal funding. In other words, if we don't act now, we could lose the government's contribution needed to build the line. The government's share?...

An off-duty Elk River police officer and his son were shot dead Saturday night in St. Michael, Minn., and another of the officer's sons was arrested after he called 911 saying he wanted to turn himself in, authorities say. Police say that at 7:06 p.m. Saturday, a man called 911 from a house in the 4500 block of Mayfield Avenue saying he had been shot. According to radio traffic posted on the MN Police Clips, a male caller told a 911 dispatcher that his brother shot him in the chest. "Sounds like the phone dropped," the dispatcher said. "I can...

The Clinton Foundation has come under scrutiny over the past few months with the scandal concerning Hillary Clinton's personal email server being used for State Department business. This week, Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann said the Clinton Foundation was nothing more than an international money laundering ring. In speaking with Newsmax TV, Bachmann said, "This is the most transparent family in the United States, right? The woman who won't hand over her server, who wasn't supposed to do her government work on that server in the first place, who violated department rules… who, in all likelihood, probably violated US federal rules,...

There is a good reason liberal lawmakers and governors across the country are eager to pass laws allowing felons to vote. A recent study conducted by the Academy of Political and Social Sciences indicates that seven out of 10 convicts register as Democrats.The DFL-controlled Senate in Minnesota is leading the way with its recent passage of a bill allowing felons to vote while still on parole or probation. Proponents of changing the law are focused almost entirely on what they view as good for the felon rather than being concerned with the rights of law-abiding citizens. Proponents claim that allowing...

A fugitive Minnesota terror suspect was back on Twitter Tuesday, spreading false information about a Texas attack to ISIS sympathizers. WCCO reported Monday how the Minnesotan known as Mujahid Miski encouraged one of two gunmen involved in an attempted attack on a Texas event. Elton Simpson was one of two gunmen who tried to storm into a cartoon contest Sunday night in Garland, Texas — where images of the Prophet Muhammed were drawn. Simpson and the other gunman were shot and killed immediately. Two different anti-terror groups say Mujahid Miski is one of the best-known online promoters for ISIS. He...

An Islamist radical recruited to Somalia from Minneapolis inspired the would-be “Texas Terror” killers, who were gunned down in Garland, Texas Sunday night by a sharp-shooting law enforcement officer before they could carry out their mass-murder plot at an art exhibit sponsored by First Amendment heroine Pamela Geller. It’s just the latest example of how and why Minneapolis—and specifically the congressional district of Muslim Democrat Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) —has become ground zero for the threat to the United States from Islamist terror groups such as ISIS and Al-Shabaab. ... The terrorist threat emanates from the Minneapolis neighborhood known as...

Potatoes aren’t the only thing growing in Idaho, as its Muslim population continues to rise following the Obama administration’s program calling for thousands of Islamic refugees to relocate to cities across the Gem State.Fearing the outcome of Idaho becoming the next major haven and breeding ground for home-grown terrorists — similar to Minnesota (see OneNewsNow story “Obama orders America to ‘welcome’ millions of illegals, migrants”), criticism has fallen on Democratic Boise Mayor David H. Bieter, who is welcoming them all with open arms — despite the known security risks. “Diversity isn't a buzz word,” Bieter declared. “It's our birthright.”

The threat of foreign fighter recruitment is greater today than it has ever been. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is proving lethally effective in drawing extremists from around the world to their ranks, and in the United States, ISIL is targeting the Somali-American community in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. There are more than 40,000 Somali-Americans and immigrants in Minnesota. This growing immigrant community is facing substantial challenges, including weak family structures, lack of education, racism and violent crime. In this mix of chronic community challenges, young people can be unsure of their personal identity, leaving them vulnerable...

As recently as 2010, the estimated cost for the Southwest Light Rail Transit line was estimated to be $1.2 billion, or about the cost of a new football stadium. Then the cost jumped to $1.7 billion because somebody spun the magic wheel. Now the cost is projected to be $2 billion. OK, $1.994 billion, but if they find an endangered earthworm or an especially exotic cattail, all bets are off and the project will shoot over $2 billion in a European minute, for the Metropolitan Council loves to keep playing Europe. The train stops are called Royalston, West Lake, Blake...

Muslim agitation, attrition, the litigation jihad accompanies all counter terror programs in these United States. We are constantly being told, scolded, admonished and clubbed with the now well worn meme that “only a tiny minority” “a radical few” Muslims engage in jihad. And yet we never see Muslim organizations supporting, encouraging cooperation and applauding any counter terror efforts.Why is that? Based on everything we are constantly being told about moderate Muslims – this is an impossibility. And yet this impossibility is our constant companion.Is it any wonder there is a stream of young Muslims from these communities and mosques flocking...

Nearly 50 mosques, Muslim organizations and student groups have signed a statement that highlights concerns with a federal pilot program to combat radicalization and terror recruitment in Minnesota. “While we support the right of all Americans to live in democratic communities free of violence, we cannot in good conscience condone or help refine programs that are fundamentally discriminatory and are likely to further subject our community members to additional civil rights abuses,” said the statement released by the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The statement lists 44 Muslim organizations as undersigned supporters, as well as the National...

On Facebook, Twin Cities organizers called on people who stand for social, economic and racial justice to peacefully rally with them. “It’s imperative to understand when we lose a life to police, it affects all of us,” organizer Mica Grimm said. “Police are out to protect every single citizen, not just certain ones.” This isn’t the first time this group has rallied together. “Black Lives Matter” is the same organization that demonstrated inside Mall of America on Dec. 20, 2014 to protest the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York. The protesters briefly shut down...

In this from 1998, Vern Gagne is shown in his Edina home with his championship belt, circa 1960. Gagne, who died Monday, April 27, 2015, fostered the business of entertainment wrestling in Minnesota through his American Wrestling Association. (File photo) Minnesota pro wrestling legend Verne Gagne has died, the WWE announced Monday night. He was 89. Gagne, of Robbinsdale, was a University of Minnesota wrestler and competed in the 1948 Olympics before turning to pro wrestling in 1950. He joined the America Wrestling Association in 1960 and eventually became sole owner of the Minneapolis-based association. "Sad to hear my longtime...

WADENA, Minn. -- A Wadena-Deer Creek social studies teacher and coach is charged with molesting a student at his Henning home last week after paying her to clean cabins. Brian Kenneth Maki, 58, of Henning, was charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct -- position of authority -- on Tuesday and remained in jail. According to a complaint filed by the Otter Tail County attorney, a student said Maki was her teacher and "role model" and she arranged to meet him after he offered her a job cleaning cabins. She met the defendant last Thursday and he gave her gas money...