this hands-on experience allowed students to take part in the construction of a future home for a local family They also were able to learn about housing justice in action Students jumped into every stage of the build from putting up siding to raising wall frames Many had never set foot on a construction site before but under the guidance of Habitat site leaders they quickly found themselves immersed in a powerful day of teamwork “The Habitat for Humanity build was an educational and empowering experience,” said Laura Murr ’25 “It was energizing to hear about the sustainable features being built into the homes the mortgage programs designed to make home ownership more accessible and the housing justice advocacy that Habitat for Humanity does it was a reminder of the collaboration and consistency needed to make change and build a more sustainable and just future.” students learned how Habitat’s financial model ensures that families pay no more than 30% of their household income toward housing costs aligning with the National Housing Act of 1937’s definition of affordability This approach allows families to invest in their futures without being burdened by an unaffordable mortgage “Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was such an eye-opening experience,” said Nicole Ngeno ’27 a biology major with a sustainability minor in the College of Arts and Sciences “The amount of time and effort put into building these homes shows the dedication of the volunteers and organization Habitat covers the remaining cost through donors and other means It’s so important that these families can invest in their futures without the burden of a mortgage they can’t afford.” Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has constructed more than 1,250 homes in the metro area and is on track to build over 60 homes this year Thomas’ Shelter Crew program gives students consistent opportunities to be part of that impact volunteers can tackle the issue of housing insecurity get involved in various home-building projects across the Twin Cities metro and volunteer at one of their ReStore locations To get involved with Shelter Crew or upcoming builds students can contact sheltercrew@stthomas.edu or visit the Center for the Common Good website JOHNSTON — In a battle of the NAC’s standard bearer and the young up-and-comer Mathews continued its run through the regular season with a 4-2 victory over Maplewood on Wednesday “(Maplewood coach Jessica Urchek) has got a really really good young bunch over there,” Mathews coach Jim Nicula said “A generational pitcher that’s only going to get better but (we’re) a veteran team with eight seniors and seven juniors has feasted on opposing hitters all season Marker has struck out 119 batters through 57 innings The experienced Mathews lineup was able to get quality contact which led to runs in each of the first four innings “Nobody’s hit her like that all year long,” Nicula said “She’s used to getting a bunch of strikeouts a game Even though a bunch of those (hits) were caught we had a really good day at the plate.” Marker and the Rockets kept Mathews off the scoreboard for the final three innings on defense and pushed the Mustangs’ defense to the brink Mathews limited them to two runs during the contest however suffering their first league loss of the year games like this serve as a measuring stick The Rockets are aiming toward the future while being as successful as they can now “I came in here just wanting to play a competitive game,” Urchek said “They start eight seniors and one junior I start one senior in my offense and two seniors in my defense The seniors are invaluable leadership-wise and they’re willing to take a step back to put (the younger kids) in front.” While the Rockets are looking toward the future that doesn’t mean they’re just sitting around waiting Maplewood has been proactive this season in setting itself up for future success as a program and it all starts with facing fast pitchers “We definitely have to get used to some faster pitching tonight was a good example of that,” Urchek said “We struggled a little bit with the speed of their pitchers We’re looking to get a good seed in the tournament and hopefully make it to the district final and make it out of districts Three teams will come out (of districts in Division VII) so we’re hoping to be one of them.” Maplewood is scheduled to travel to Badger on Friday for another league battle The Mustangs have been able to platoon their pitchers more this season much to the team’s benefit Both Olivia Matheny and Ashia Pate are more than capable starters but Nicula has been able to bring out whoever didn’t start the game to finish it “The biggest thing we have this year that we (haven’t had as much in years past) is a good one-two punch (in the circle),” Nicula said “Both of them are in their own right Sometimes we struggle a little bit and bringing one in to close something out (works) like tonight Ashia was just lights out coming in and throwing strikes and taking care of what she needs … It was really nice having somebody that can come in and continue.” The Mustangs (15-3) are set to play their traditional turf tune-up game today on the road against Berea-Midpark Mathews and Maplewood are set to meet again next Friday CLEVELAND — Bo Naylor hit a three-run homer and Luis Ortiz kept Minnesota’s hitters off balance and off the .. PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen hit a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh inning just seconds before a fan fell .. | https://www.tribtoday.com | 240 Franklin Street SE by Paul Garber Two North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University landscape architecture students work on an interpretive bench to be installed at Greensboro’s Maplewood Cemetery this month Image courtesy of North Carolina A&T State University A group of North Carolina A&T State University students has created interpretive benches to commemorate those buried in unmarked graves in Greensboro’s Maplewood Cemetery corresponding to the number of graves where African Americans are known to be buried but no record exists of their names.  These are two of the eight benches created by North Carolina A&T students studying under landscape architect Steve Rasmussen Cancian.  Cancian says Maplewood Cemetery connects to many parts of the city’s history from its most discriminatory times to an era where people born into slavery became community leaders “There are at least five generations of Aggies buried there," he says So there's a lot of connections to be built.” Maplewood was established in 1918 to provide burial space for African-American families The benches will be unveiled during a ceremony next week Donate The former Macy’s store in Maplewood mall is about to get a new life The Pan Asian Center is set to open in the space next month wants to reimagine the space as an Asian cultural center “I would like to make this a destination after the Mall of America,” Xiong said The Pan Asian Center will hold its grand opening celebration on May 3rd Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 If you are having trouble finding the information you need Beginning in 2025, Maplewood Golf Course offers 17U for players 14-17. Program registration for both 13U and 17U opened in January 2025.   Registration is available at pgajrleague.com If you have any questions prior to registration, please contact Kirk Gleason at KGleason@rentonwa.gov View on Map P (425) 430-6400 some state legislators want to boost eviction protections for disabled Minnesotans his already shaky voice quivering with emotion Darrell Paulsen told a crowd of supporters at his Maplewood apartment Tuesday that he wouldn’t heed a court order to vacate his home by midnight Wednesday said they weren’t merely defying the court order “We made this a home where we can live independently and not have to be in a facility,” Paulsen said of the $85,000 in state-paid accommodations to make the unit accessible for the wheelchair-dependent couple over the past six years On April 7, Ramsey County District Judge Reynaldo Aligada ordered the couple to vacate the apartment after the property owner, Layers Investment Group of Savage, had proven the eviction was legal. Not only had Layers given the couple adequate notice for the month-to-month lease, Aligada said, but Paulsen had violated terms on the lease by smoking marijuana in the apartment. While Paulsen, who has cerebral palsy, said he’s been prescribed cannabis by his doctor, smoking is not permitted. The couple’s claims that the eviction was discriminatory — as well as retaliation for their accommodation requests — were not proven, the judge wrote in his order. The next steps — for the couple and their landlord — are unclear. As of Wednesday morning, Paulsen told the Minnesota Star Tribune, the couple were still in the apartment. He said they have no one to help them and their 13-year-old daughter move. Emmanuel Aguda is listed as the contact for Layers Investment Group. On Monday, he refused to answer questions from the Minnesota Star Tribune about the eviction, referring a reporter to his lawyer. In a phone interview, attorney Timothy Baland said his client was justified in the eviction, noting that two of the building’s four tenants had also been evicted and a third was staying as a caretaker. “They’re not being singled out in any way here,” Baland said. “They were given notice to vacate. They didn’t get out.” He added: “We don’t go around looking for people in wheelchairs in order to evict them.” In an email, Baland added that property owners have rights to give tenants notice to vacate and to evict them when they don’t follow the lease and the law. “The property owner is the victim in this case, because he provided the requisite notice and the defendants did not vacate ... I did everything possible to NOT file an eviction against these particular defendants,” he added. “However, in the end, the defendants left the property owner with little choice but to actually file the eviction.” Villavicencio was born with a rare condition that leaves her unable to use her hands. She had a number of modifications made to the apartment so she can use her feet to cook and perform other everyday tasks. Villavicencio has been a vocal activist for disabled people to live as independently as possible. It’s unfair, she said, that her landlord, who bought the property last year, will be able to take possession of the accommodations made to the apartment by the previous owner with the government assistance she and Paulsen obtained. Fischer, the state representative, agrees, adding that he suspects Aguda is planning to convert the building into a group home for disabled people, for which they could charge more money. A message left with Baland about that wasn’t immediately returned. Fischer said he and Hoffman will work to boost eviction protections for disabled Minnesotans and keep property owners from taking ownership of units where accessibility accommodations were made. In the meantime, he said of the couple, “it doesn’t seem there are a lot of options for them right now.” James Walsh is a reporter covering social services, focusing on issues involving disability, accessibility and aging. He has had myriad assignments over nearly 35 years at the Star Tribune, including federal courts, St. Paul neighborhoods and St. Paul schools. News & Politics Minnesota’s kindergartners have been below the recommended 95% threshold for years, and more parents are getting exemptions for the MMR vaccine. Where are children most vulnerable to infectious spread? Hennepin County is highlighting salvage businesses in May to encourage residents to reuse construction materials and limit what gets sent to landfills. Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula, prompting criticism from the teachers union. Owner Matthew Chappina first made the most of his love for oysters with a specialty seafood truck He was quickly selling out wherever he went so he began looking for a space that reminded him of the restaurants he used to frequent in New York City with seven tables in the back and two long counters in the front where you can watch the chefs shuck oysters and prepare your dishes while you wait We started with a dozen oysters and went for a combination of the three varieties on offer but it’s a good one: rice pudding with wine-poached pears HOW WE REVIEW: Restaurants are chosen for review at the sole discretion of New Jersey Monthly These unstarred reviews of more casual restaurants are written after a critic visits once with a guest; the magazine pays for these meals Maplewood Avenue Bridge WILL AGAIN BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES to finish utility upgrades and to replace the roadbed and north-side sidewalks and railings Once the north side of the bridge is finished the current plan is to open one lane of the bridge for traffic heading toward downtown for the balance of the bridge work as the contractor replaces the sidewalks and railings on the south side The current schedule shows the bridge work being complete in early November Pedestrians and cyclists (walking their bikes) will have access across the bridge on whatever side is not currently under construction If you would like to receive updates on the project work Preconstruction Public Meeting was held on May 7, 2024.  For the recording of the meeting, presentation and Q&A, please visit: 5.7.2024 Maplewood Avenue Bridge Project Preconstruction Meeting - YouTube and the meeting presentation Review the full plan here This is a rehabilitation of the bridge using an adhered lining system on the arch and reconstruction of the walls as necessary.  This will allow the City to extend the lifespan of the bridge without the cost of an immediate full replacement This rehabilitation work will also include reconstructing the sidewalks and replacing the bridge’s guard rails in the spring of 2025 and resurfacing of the roadway in the late summer of 2025.  This repair work is intended to rehabilitate the bridge and make it suitable for use for at least another ten years.   it is anticipated that the bridge will reopen for the winter season and that the contractor will return in the spring of 2025 to replace the sidewalks.  Final paving will be completed in the summer/fall of 2025 Funding Source: Included in CIP FY24-29 with funding from bonds By on May 2 2025Comments Off on Maplewood fencer Charlie Lim receives Montclair Kimberley Academy’s ‘Winter Captain’s Award’ a standout junior fencer at Montclair Kimberley Academy was the recipient of the prestigious Montclair Kimberley Academy “Winter Captain’s Award,” following the past winter high school sports season “The very special award is given out each season to that male or female captain who has exhibited the qualities that our school looks for in our team captains: leadership to his or her teammates and peers,” said MKA athletic director Todd Smith “Charlie is a very worthy recipient of MKA’s Captain’s Award from the past winter season.” The highly skilled Maplewood fencer received major praise from his MKA coach for helping to pave the way to much individual and team success during the 2024-2025 scholastic winter campaign “Charlie has been a leader on our fencing team for several years he truly embraced a role that he was already playing…a mentor and teacher,” said MKA head fencing coach Derek Morf “He took the boys and girls foil squads under his wing and taught them about the weapon during practices “Charlie’s efforts at practice and meets helped both squads grow over the course of the season as well as the girls foil squad taking third place at the NJ prep tournament That would not have been possible without his leadership but that alone doesn’t tell the full story Charlie went on to earn the single most all-state points by any boys foil fencer in the state this past season while finishing with a 38-3 record in meets in the (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) state individual championships “Charlie’s leadership and experience were a huge factor in the success of the boys fencing team during the entire season and we expect even bigger things from him in his senior season next year.” Photo Courtesy of Montclair Kimberley Academy Athletics    Maplewood fencer Charlie Lim receives Montclair Kimberley Academy’s ‘Winter Captain’s Award’ added by on May 2, 2025View all posts by Steve Tober → (KTUL) — We first met Maplewood neighborhood association president Bobbi Drew back in February "It just seems like somebody didn’t plan it out too good," she said She was raising concerns about why the city was placing sidewalks so far away from the curb "That it’s taking up just a ridiculous amount of the front yard," she said And the impact of those locations on some trees "They have chopped the roots of some huge old trees in this neighborhood to put this sidewalk down," she said Since that time she's voiced those concerns to city officials and now "Why wasn’t somebody doing better planning?," she said despite receiving a letter from a public advocate in the mayor's office stating in part,"...the City of Tulsa has right of way along all city streets and this is what is utilized for road projects or installing sidewalks...Every project has been researched planned per engineering standards..." But as to what those standards actually are Why haven’t they pulled them out and showed them to me if they wanted to prove their point?," she said And Bobbi isn't the only person unhappy with the sidewalks "It sucks cause it takes so much of people’s yards I mean all the way down," said Daniel Chadderdon just down the street at his sister's house "My nieces and nephews lost half their front yard," he said News Channel 8 reached out to the city but has ye to hear back Bobbi says one reason she's been given for the sidewalk placement is ADA compliance "They kept on telling me we have to do this and we have to do this to be ADA compliant and I wanted to address that," she said How then to explain the area where the sidewalk is right up against the curb And what about cars blocking the sidewalk in single lane driveways If ADA is so critical shouldn't the city try to prevent that from happening as well "Why don’t you give them a double car driveway and then that would solve it all," she said with a neighborhood president still waiting "I’m not ready to give up," she said SIGN UP FOR THE CHANNEL 8 NEWSLETTER More Extraordinary Images From The Collection Of The Missouri Historical Society Long time followers of this blog probably know quite a bit about Maplewood’s oldest home and the effort to save it Saving Woodside I logged more hours trying to save Woodside than I care to think about In the end it took a lot of effort by a lot of different folks Being a historian and an advocate of historic preservation I would have preferred to see more of the original fabric retained but it was not to be You can see the finished version at 2200 Bredell (63143 for those of you who live somewhere else) I knew more about Woodside than anyone else on the planet I helped other volunteers to remove tons of trash the archaic institutional radiators and numerous drywall partitions from the years the building served as a senior care facility ( I can’t imagine that) Throughout the years I was involved with that project I was fortunate to meet many members of the Rannells family whose ancestors These are some wonderful and generous folks I continue to have contact with some of them today It gave me great pleasure to find numerous photographs of Woodside and the Rannells family in the album left for us by Margaret Sappington Townsend a descendant of our other premier pioneer family These two images can be found on page 84 of (what I’m calling) Album Two in the Margaret Sappington Townsend collection at the Missouri Historical Society archives on Skinker across from Forest Park There are a lot of pages like this in the two albums I’m digesting They are lovely images but the subject and location are unidentified What I am doing is not tedious but when I find something I recognize My first thought was that the farmhouse in the rear looks awfully familiar This other image on the same page confirmed my suspicion I first saw it in this image from the mid-1890s that was collected for my first Maplewood history book in 2008 We are looking at the eastern elevation of the home That is probably the kitchen door close to the cistern pump Notice the large stack of firewood behind the house I wish we knew who the beautiful young woman was Regarding the front porch, the original pilasters were still in place when this photograph was taken in 2006.  The occasion was a visit by Esley Hamilton’s class on Historic Preservation from Wash U.  If you would like to know more about that, click on this sentence. As if that picture of Ned wasn’t enough I believe that the woman in this image was Annie Sutton Sappington You’ll learn a lot more about it from other photographs of it in these two albums I believe that this building was his office as well as their home is this image of Annie looking out the window Here we get a good look at the Dr.’s shingle The diamond-paned window will be seen in numerous other images Annie seems to be trying on a mask (costume) The window with the diamond glass grounds us is this image of an object of my affection The lady is not identified but she is most likely Ned’s wife photograph #50 is dated “1914.” So I would expect that most of the images pasted after that are probably about the same age Adjacent to the image of Woodside is this image of Elinor adjacent to the last two images is this one The location of it today would probably be somewhere in the middle of Folk Ave which was cut in behind the home when the property was subdivided I’m not sure what this equipment was I’m not sure why the photographer thought this merited a photograph I hope you are enjoying having a look at these very rare photographs You’ve been very supportive of this historical journey since it began Thank you for sharing your memories with us I had not heard the detail you provided about Jerome I have wondered why Woodside is oriented to the south when Bredell passes on the west I intend to look at some very old surveys Perhaps the answer will be found on one of those Thanks so much for your passion and dedication to the history of Maplewood This is really fascinating and enriches the historical perspective of those who moved here fairly recently and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Dining Chef Alec Schingel has officially announced the opening of his first brick-and-mortar venture, Robin Restaurant (7268 Manchester) Evolving from “The Robin Project,” a two-year series of pop-ups and private dinners in the former Benevolent King space in Maplewood The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday evenings The coursed meal experience will take an hour and a half The ConceptRobin will feature a carefully curated four-course prix fixe menu priced at $75 describes the cuisine as an exploration of Midwestern culinary history and culture sustainable ingredients from local farmers and purveyors His aim is to provide meals that feel both indulgent and approachable and feels that the number of courses and price point reflects that but adding a fourth course allows us to introduce something that may not fit into any of those categories.” Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene The addition of a fourth course allows for greater creativity beyond traditional appetizer/entrée/dessert formats The menu reflects Schingel’s European culinary influences where great food is served without the formal fine-dining label He refers to the approach as “fine comfort,” which to him redefines fine dining as the creation of indulgent-yet-approachable meals in a relaxed setting. “Personally I prefer small multi-course menus over shared plates,” he says “which can get cumbersome with all the passing and splitting.” Schingel emphasizes that Robin is not built around a chef’s personality but rather a great dining experience “I don’t see myself as building a restaurant for a great chef,” he says “My goal is to be a chef at a great restaurant I want guests to take away what they want—whether it’s geeking out on the food or vibing out on the Fleetwood Mac record that’s playing That’s why I didn’t name the restaurant after myself.” The MenuThe inaugural first course is composed of mushroom cured trout The second course includes Dorothy’s Potatoes and a cheffed-up version of “hotdish,” a single dish casserole with roots in the upper Midwest. Schingel combines puffed wild rice with local mushrooms and alliums in a mushroom cream sauce made with local cream and the texture changes as you eat it,” he says, “so the last few bites are more like a risotto.”Third courses include aged duck breast Dessert consists of two options: a caramelized rart with black walnut and persimmon a meringue ice cream cake with lemon verbena and citrus such as a small bite of the chef’s signature gooey butter cake The only other main-menu option is bread service in the form of Porridge Bread & Cultured Butter for $4 per person Schingel describes porridge bread as “celebrating everything it takes to grow whole wheat in a sustainable way which involves crop rotation for different grains—like oats and rice—then making a porridge with those and folding in Calumet flour from Janie’s Mill It makes for a great story and a delicious sweet product with a great crumb.” The bread is baked in a small loaf pan and paired with cultured butter featuring a rotating selection of finger foods “Similar to an antipasti course,” Schingel says “it can be scaled for sharing or ordered by someone at the bar as a standalone along with a glass of wine Guests can expect such options as “charcuterie and pickled items like our own giardiniera in the colder months.” Schingel adds that the menu will be based around the seasons regardless of the locality where those seasons are defined “We plan to serve coffee and drinks with lemon and lime “and as long as the ingredient can be part of a story that feels authentic—like our take on banana bread—then we’re fine with it but the goal is for the main ingredients to be Midwestern seasonal.” The restaurant will also offer an extensive beverage program including half a dozen local beers and a small curated cocktail list (some of them in batch form Wines will be available by bottle or in an elegant offering flexibility for guests who want to sample different varieties says even bottle-only selections can be poured by the carafe allowing diners to explore a broader range of wines without committing to a full bottle “We will make that happen and then offer the rest of that bottle to other diners in carafe form The end result is a small wine list with a lot of flexibility.” The 1,400-square-foot space accommodates 36 guests with nine tables and a small open kitchen for an immersive culinary experience retaining the original mirrored wall while updating the banquettes with fresh upholstery A hutch near the entrance houses artifacts and a working record player Seating includes a prime four-person table in one front bay and a flex space with a low table and soft seating in the other which serves as an extension of the bar.   featuring thin-top wooden tables and comfortable railback chairs was designed to evoke a classic Midwestern aesthetic that fits the cuisine (“My mother would call them American hand-me-down but they’re new,” Schingel says of the chairs.) Robin can accommodate parties of up to eight we have to ensure a balanced experience for all guests,” says Schingel Schingel’s culinary journey spans renowned establishments He worked at Belgium’s In de Wulf and New York’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns where he worked alongside Michael and Tara Gallina before joining them in opening Vicia as chef de cuisine he became executive chef at Winslow’s Table before launching The Robin Project which ultimately led to the creation of Robin Restaurant “I got the job through a late-night fanboy email,” he recalls “Chef Kobe Desramaults was the most talented chef I’ve ever seen Most chefs have a formulaic pattern to their dishes and items served simply in a most austere way that stopped diners in their tracks Robin Restaurant (7268 Manchester) is open Tuesday through Saturday evenings from 5 to 10 p.m. Book a reservation here Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — A man faces charges in connection with last summer's mass shooting at Maplewood Park that killed two people and injured five others during a Sunday cookout at the park July 28 began when four or five people who were younger than the majority of the crowd showed up with "bad intent," according to police Police said 40-50 shots were fired from at least nine guns Police said Niger Johnson, now 21, fired a gun during the incident — though he's not accused of shooting any of the victims "I woke up this morning and I got the call and I was like Words cannot explain how I feel today." Authorities had been looking for Johnson for nearly six months when they found him Friday at a home on Arnett Boulevard and took him into custody heartbreaking when nobody has been captured I know I can't bring my daughter back Johnson is charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon He was taken to the Monroe County Jail and is slated to be arraigned Saturday "We need to make sure that they know that there will be no safe place for them to try to hide," said Rochester mayor Malik Evans "They need to be brought to the light they need to be able to be brought to justice." Police said Johnson was arrested in 2022 and 2023 for possessing an illegal handgun "While we are happy to have this one individual in custody we still need to continue to keep our feet on the gas until all of the individuals responsible for the heinous act that took place on July 28 are brought to justice," Evans said Most if not all 16 people who had guns at the scene that Sunday have been identified "We need to make sure that they know that there will be no safe place for them to try to hide," Evans said "They need to be brought to the light — but more importantly Anyone with information is asked to call the Rochester Police Department Major Crimes Unit at 428-7157 or email MajorCrimes@CityofRochester.gov A large police presence was seen in Maplewood Wednesday night near McMenemy Street and Lurie Avenue East According to a press release from Maplewood Police officers were called to a residence for a report of a physical domestic incident between a boyfriend and girlfriend around 8:05 p.m Officers arrived at the house and began speaking with one of the people inside officers heard what sounded like two gunshots coming from the basement Police evacuated the residence and learned the suspect had access to a handgun inside the house Officers said they were unable to contact the suspect inside the basement and called Ramsey County SWAT to assist authorities discovered the suspect in the basement had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound The identity of the suspect will not be released until their family has been notified Rochester police have arrested one person in connection to the Maplewood Park mass shooting that left two dead and five injured by gunfire last summer RPD Chief David Smith said a team of federal and local police found 21-year-old Niger Johnson hiding in his grandmother's home on Arnett Boulevard Friday morning. Investigators have been looking for Johnson since September after police identified him as one of nine people who shot a combined 50 bullets into a crowd of hundreds gathered for a barbecue July 28 Frank Umbrino clarified Friday that police do not believe Johnson's bullets struck any of the victims that day based off his position in the park during the shooting But police said they have enough evidence to prove Johnson was one of several individuals shooting indiscriminately into the crowd He is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon More: Six months after bullets tore through a picnic at Maplewood Park, why don't we know more? "The reckless endangerment is for firing a gun in a park where there were hundreds of people," Umbrino said "Complete and total disregard for everybody that was there and not caring about anybody but yourself." Johnson was taken to Monroe County Jail and will be arraigned Saturday Police said he was previously arrested in 2022 and 2023 for the illegal possession of a handgun but was not under any sort of monitoring or probation at the time of the shooting The arrest comes more than six months after the shooting that claimed the lives of two women, Phylicia Council and Tyasia Manning Hundreds of people were gathered at Maplewood Park to enjoy a hot summer day with a barbecue and music From last week: Six months after bullets tore through a picnic at Maplewood Park, why don't we know more? "Suddenly joy turned to terror when multiple people arrived with guns and began shooting," Smith said emphasizing that investigators continue to work the case (We) will never stop working to identify and apprehend the people responsible for this tragedy We as a department and as a community owe it to both the Council and the Manning families." Police have identified 16 individuals seen on video armed with handguns that day They say the spray of gunfire included about 50 bullets from nine different handguns Umbrino said police believe four or five individuals "showed up with bad intent (and) started this whole thing." "I don't think anybody else that was in the park I don't think that anybody else was necessarily there to start trouble," he said The detective did not clarify whether police believe Johnson was part of that smaller group and said they are not ready to name additional suspects He said investigators must overcome a high burden of proof before they can move forward with additional arrests Mayor Malik Evans said others who took part in the shooting should not feel safe in hiding and applauded community members who reached out with tips that made Johnson's arrest possible "A day that was supposed to be a day of celebration should not have been turned into a day of horror and unnecessary destruction," Evans said "People brought their beefs and their issues and affected people who had nothing to do with whatever issues they had going on That's something that we cannot tolerate in this community and I hope that this arrest today sends the message that we will continue to hunt down and pursue justice for individuals that perpetuate straight up carnage in our community." Anyone with information about the Maplewood Park shooting can call RPD at (585) 428-7157 or CrimeStoppers at (585) 423-9300 dozens of bullets tore through a picnic at Maplewood Park on a sweltering Sunday afternoon Those who had gathered there to enjoy the summer sun barely had time to react Six months later, the July mass shooting remains unsolved Maplewood Park: Manhunt for mass shooting 'cowards' underway in Rochester Rochester police have not provided public updates on the investigation since September, when they named a suspect wanted in connection to the shooting Investigators are still looking for that person and working other leads on the case Family members of the two women killed said they are frustrated by the pace of the investigation and feel forgotten about “I’m angry,” said Tyasia Manning’s mother LaQuita Roundheart “I don’t have no faith in our justice system and that’s just how I feel.” Police investigators in September announced the first breakthrough in the Maplewood Park case: They had evidence to prove 20-year-old Niger Johnson was one of several individuals shooting into the melee that day Johnson is not accused of injuring or killing anyone faces charges of reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon From September: Police ID one shooter in tragic Maplewood Park attack scene, say 9 weapons fired Frank Umbrino said the size of the shooting ― with at least 16 individuals spotted with handguns and bullets fired from nine weapons ― makes the investigation more challenging than most “We have to be able to prove that this gun struck this victim,” he said “We have to be able to prove who had that gun in their possession at that time and was firing it.” That was the last community update on the investigation And it was around the last time families of the victims said they heard from police It’s left them feeling lonely and discouraged as the days tick closer to one year past started to wonder if she was to blame for the lack of communication on her daughter’s case Should she be calling police every week to keep the pressure on “It’s frustrating not to know anything and then these people are still walking around,” she said I think it’s up to me to be more on the police said he tried that approach ― calling police half a dozen times in the first few weeks after the shooting to offer possible leads he was hearing from friends in Rochester He doesn’t know if that information went anywhere and they said they didn’t want to be calling because they didn’t really have nothing,” Council said you know it’d be good just to have an update or something “Six months is a long time to run,” he added Bello said detectives on the case were in regular contact with Council and Roundheart but both said they hadn’t heard from police in months until last week Roundheart said an RPD investigator texted her after police were able to reconstruct Tyasia’s cellphone It was a blessing to have those memories back but the investigator offered no other update on the case and she’s tired of asking The shooting unearthed decades-old trauma from the killing of Roundheart’s mother when she was a young girl “They never found the person that killed my mom,” she said “They’re never going to find the person that killed my daughter friends and family of Tyasia filled council chambers at city hall during a speak-to-council meeting holding pictures and posters with her name “I wanted them to tell me something,” she said I just wanted them to hear and acknowledge that we want justice for Ty.” What information can police share during an investigation?This tension around information sharing during homicide investigations is not uncommon, said Mark Reed, an associate professor at Georgia State University who studies how families experience the criminal justice process After reading up on the Maplewood Park shooting, Reed said he wasn't surprised we don't know more about this case. It's one of the more complex scenes he's seen in two decades of criminology work Law enforcement officials purposefully keep details under wraps to protect the evidence and the integrity of their investigation while working toward a successful conviction family members are hurting and have their own perception of what evidence is good enough and how quickly police should find a resolution The top priority for both parties is justice But police and loved ones experience the path toward that goal differently In focus groups gathered as part of his research Reed said many families of homicide victims felt excluded from the investigatory process Some said they would have felt better about delays in their investigation if police had called regularly “A lot of times what happens is these families think they’re being forgotten,” Reed said “That’s the worst thing: Not only did they go through this tragic event but now they feel that a system that is supposed to be protecting the community is also failing.” Prosecutors have attempted to address this feeling of exclusion by offering victim’s advocates during the trial phase of the criminal justice process The advocates help prepare families for trial guiding them through evidence or what to expect in the courtroom What about an official police liaison?Reed said there is still work to be done to achieve this type of procedural justice during the investigation phase ― perhaps by designating a similar police liaison to maintain contact with families and help explain the complexities of investigations without revealing crucial details that would hurt the case Bello said this is done at RPD: Detectives try to keep families updated at times even sharing information that is not public to help them see how the case is moving along But the line between providing meaningful updates and jeopardizing an investigation is thin “We understand it’s a very difficult situation,” Bello said “People seek answers and closure immediately and unfortunately that’s not always possible our focus is on establishing not just probable cause but proof beyond a reasonable doubt to get a conviction for that person,” he added “Our priority is getting closure for the families of the victims It’s holding people accountable for their actions We understand that sometimes there’s a strong public need or a strong public want for information on an investigation Getting a conviction is always going to be the priority.” Marshals Office to find Johnson and investigate other leads He said RPD is not ready to name additional suspects Here is what we know about the Maplewood Park mass shooting from information previously shared by police: It’s unclear who and how many people may have come to the park that day with malicious intent and who out of the 16 armed individuals may have pulled out their gun as a means of protection Anyone with information about the shooting can call RPD’s Major Crimes Unit at (585) 428-9910 or CrimeStoppers at (585) 423-9300 A cash reward is still available for information leading to Johnson’s arrest Maplewood officials say a juvenile is in custody following a multi-hour standoff on Friday morning police were called to the 1700 block of Beebe Road around 8:45 a.m for a report of a boy who had a stolen gun and had locked himself in an apartment and wouldn’t leave for either his family or for officers A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photographer could see multiple squad vehicles and officers at the blocked off intersection of Larpenteur Avenue and Beebe Road around 10:15 a.m Photos taken at the scene showed officers looking into the windows of at least two buildings in the area The boy came out of the apartment around 11:20 a.m. and police say they found a loaded gun while doing a search The boy is currently being held for ineligible firearm possession at the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center No other details about the incident have been provided at this time A school employee in Maplewood is facing 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) According to the Maplewood Police Department 30-year-old William Michael Haslach was charged Tuesday with ten counts of possession of pornographic work involving minors under the age of 14 was a recess and traffic monitor at Cowern Elementary The district said in a statement that Haslach is currently on administrative leave and would not be allowed to be on school property or have contact with any students police were alerted to Haslach’s alleged online activities by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension which told police multiple videos containing CSAM had been sent to an email and IP address connected to Haslach who reportedly admitted to police that he was sexually attracted to minors Haslach said he would meet with other people on a variety of apps Haslach has denied ever having sexual contact with a child The court document detailed ten videos reportedly found in Haslach’s possession but police said they had found 800 files of CSAM and they were continuing to perform forensic examinations police said they were working to determine if any students were involved and asked parents who believe their child is a victim to contact the Predatory Crimes Section of the BCA at 651-793-2465 A statement from School District 622, where Haslach worked, provided a statement which reads in part: “This individual is currently on administrative leave from the school district and will not be on school property or have any contact with students Throughout his employment with the School District the district did not receive any complaints or allegations regarding Mr The district takes the safety and security of our students extremely seriously We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation and will continue to do so as the process unfolds We understand the gravity of these charges and remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time.” Haslach’s first court appearance was Wednesday morning This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A major retailer is expected to soon close one of its stores in the Twin Cities metro An employee at the Macy’s customer service desk in Maplewood told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the store is expected to close its doors for good at the end of the month there are no signs up saying the anchor store which can be found on the upper and lower levels of the mall 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to Macy’s on Wednesday and received the following statement from a member of the company’s communications team: “Our Bold New Chapter strategy is designed to create a more modern Macy’s and revitalize the Macy’s brand to enhance the customer experience we intend to close approximately 150 Macy’s stores while further investing in our 350 go-forward fleet We expect to close roughly 65 locations this year A final decision on specific locations has yet to be made We look forward to continuing to serve our customers in the community.” No word on if any other Minnesota locations will be impacted including furniture and furniture clearance stores Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Mo.—A resident of Maplewood took to social media this week posting that she believes she’s been stalked by an individual for over a year The woman made two reports to the Maplewood Police Department (MPD) according to MPD’s public information officer Dustin Hoskins Surveillance from a Ring door camera caught an image of the suspect for the first time This individual used what appears to be a hammer or similar object to bash the camera “They have been able to unlock my front door twice,” said the female resident “This is the second doorbell camera that has been destroyed My car has been keyed and vandalized multiple times They’ve knocked on my doors and windows in the middle of the night MPD is requesting help in identifying the suspect last seen in the 7200 block of Anna Avenue “We are seeking the public’s help in identifying that individual,” said Hoskins “(Anyone or anything) that might have saw someone with that type of pattern hoodie on—if they noticed a car or anything.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jasmin Softic at 314-646-3632 or by email at jsoftic@maplewoodmo.gov Those desiring to remain anonymous may divulge information on the anonymous tip line at 314-781-3733 An investor has paid nearly $4.3 million for two neighboring properties in Maplewood adding more than 12,000 square feet of retail space in a deal arranged by Marcus & Millichap the freestanding buildings at 1812 and 1802 Springfield Ave are fully leased to Dollar General and Sherwin-Williams The former is recently renovated and has a new 10-year lease with two five-year renewal options and scheduled rent increases while Sherwin-Williams has occupied the latter property since 1986 and recently completed façade improvements David Cafiero and Dean Matuszewicz marketed the 12,415-square-foot portfolio on the seller’s behalf and procured the buyer They noted that the properties benefit from a dense urban infill location surrounded by single- and multifamily housing as well as national retailers such as Advance Auto Parts “Credit-tenant net leases in northern New Jersey always generate tremendous demand from the investment community,” said Alan Cafiero a senior managing director for investments with the New Jersey-based team this property was located along one of the main retail corridors in Maplewood with excellent visibility.” has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Restaurant chain Bojangles has opened along a major commercial corridor in Piscataway as part of a previously announced deal brokered by The Goldstein Group All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy Mikie Sherrill supporters pulled votes for new mayor when she declined to endorse N.J Allegations of heavy-handed tactics in an insider election to pick next year’s mayor of Maplewood is now an issue in the Democratic gubernatorial primary after the township committee dumped Deborah Engel as punishment for not endorsing Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) The move came as a surprise to political observers who have watched Maplewood a Democratic stronghold with a recent history of opposing old-style political hackery in a community with high voter turnout and a pattern of making collaborative decisions “If New Jersey is going to change for the better then this sort of politics needs to change but it again speaks volumes about the political machine in New Jersey and how it operates,” said Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Senate primary earlier this year between Murphy (and) Kim.” Former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller sharply criticized the Maplewood group for retaliating against Engel, a first-term township committeewoman who had the votes lined up to become mayor only to have them taken away when she wouldn’t sign on to a letter of local elected officials supporting Sherrill “These heavy-handed attempts to leverage privilege and power over people who want to run for office need to stop,” said Spiller Sherrill said she “was disappointed to read this news” but stopped short of telling her four supporters on the township committee to restore their support of Engel “Deb is a wonderful public servant for the people of Maplewood I believe deeply in the democratic process,” Sherril stated this did not come from our campaign and has no place here I’m going to keep working every day to earn support from New Jerseyans.” The other four members of next year’s governing body have endorsed Sherrill A tweet from the Maplewood Democratic Committee confirmed that Sherrill or her campaign was not involved in the decision to flip their support of Engel to Adams distanced the local party organization from the decision of the five Democratic township committee members “The Maplewood Democratic Committee had no role in it and this is not in any way contrary to our pro-democracy reforms of the last few years,” she said who has made his opposition to party bosses a cornerstone of his gubernatorial campaign suggested that the Maplewood issue reflects poorly on Sherrill I’ve been saying the same thing: the political bosses with big personal money tied to this system will coalesce around the candidate they know they can control and who best represents the status quo,” said Fulop  “Then they will squeeze anyone that doesn’t fall in line.” Engel told the New Jersey Globe that she “felt pressured that I had to endorse a certain candidate”  and said she wanted to hear more about how Sherrill would govern before she agreed to an endorsement “I’m for competitive primaries,” Engel said A 37-year-old man has been charged with leading police on a pursuit and a domestic assault incident that he had been wanted in connection with faces one count of fleeing a peace officer resulting in someone’s death and one count of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the pursuit and crash He also faces counts of threats of violence and domestic assault by strangulation in connection with the domestic incident As previously reported Roseville police responded to a report of a domestic assault on Friday evening had shoved her against a wall and threatened to light her on fire Roseville police saw Price’s vehicle headed east on County Road BW near Dale Street Court documents state that officers tried to pull the vehicle over Price later crashed into another vehicle in Maplewood Both vehicles sustained heavy damage in the crash Court documents state the other driver was trapped inside the vehicle and told first responders that he couldn’t breathe Price was also brought to the hospital for a broken leg deputies didn’t conduct any field sobriety tests since he needed medical attention Video from a car that was behind the victim’s vehicle showed Price speeding before the crash Price reportedly said he was being charged with something he didn’t do in regards to the domestic incident “I shouldn’t have ran or anything but that’s what I do — fight or flight.” He also asked if the other driver was okay Price told investigators that his ex had moved out He claimed the woman came back to talk and accused him of cheating He said he left and went to the bar because he was stressed out but claimed he didn’t drink anything He denied assaulting his ex and said she lied about the assault because she was mad about the breakup Price later said he regretted fleeing police and that he hoped the occupants of the other vehicle were okay Court documents state he admitted going 80-90 mph on Edgerton He added that he didn’t remember seeing the victim’s car Price also told police that he wanted to try to run from the crash When he was told the other driver had died Price reportedly became emotional and asked if he would be released within 48 hours to spend Christmas with his kids Authorities took a blood sample from Price Court officials added that he has failed to appear in court and has repeatedly violated the terms of his conditional release on these cases He keeps getting released due to his claims that he is getting treatment If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse several resources are available to offer help More than 12 million people just in the U.S are affected by domestic violence every year according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those Other organizations that can help include: Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE The market-driven winter hours will be Monday as well as Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner (subject to change “when either the weather or the demand changes,” Altnether says) who created the pizza menu at both concepts offers a smaller-size pie here—14 inches instead of Pizza Champ’s 18—but keeps the signature fermented sourdough recipe A key difference is that the dough now incorporates a special yeast strain that owner/brewer Cory King originally captured more than a decade ago on his family’s farm the same strain used in Side Project’s popular barrel-aged Saison du Fermier The menu includes classic pizzas such as sausage along with new creations such as the BBQ Pork and a cerasus cherry (sour cherry) vinaigrette Planned menu additions in the future include wings and hoagies such as a meatball sub and a classic Italian sandwich Altnether designed the menu to reflect a true New York City neighborhood pizzeria and sandwiches like Grandma used to make,” he says Who doesn’t love opening the fridge and seeing what can be put onto a pizza That’s how new menu staples are born.” A standout feature of the concept is its extensive drink selection whom Altnether credits for creating “a next level drink menu for a pizza joint.” Alongside Side Project’s dozen draft beers and six large-format bottles as well as an assortment of ciders and ready-to-drink cocktails Some of the featured options include High Noon Pineapple and the Bizzarro x PS40 Strawberry & Yuzu Spritz Also available are four house-made cocktails: the Hot Toddy and the Peppermint Mocha (made with espresso vodka Nonalcoholic offerings include a selection of N/A beers Guests can also choose from a selection of 15 to-go beers and will soon be introduced to Pizza Lager a Texas-inspired corn lager brewed exclusively for Side Project Pizza “We’re offering top-tier beverages to pair with all the incredible pizzas we’re making,” Altnether says In January 2022, Pizza Champ moved into an 800-square-foot standalone space, which it eventually shared with Shared (later named Side Project Patio), a satellite location of Cory and Karen King’s Side Project Brewing, located just across the street. Pizza Champ was a hybrid “restaurant-meets-brewery” concept that blurred the lines between dine-in and to-go service, where the patio served as the primary dining area—open-air during mild months, enclosed with heating in winter. “Unless temperatures drop below zero, it stays cozy out there,” Altnether says. Guests can order at their tables via QR codes or opt for takeout through the pickup window. That setup remains mostly unchanged, except for a few thoughtful updates, such as the addition of classic red-checkered tablecloths. “It brings in that Italian neighborhood feel,” Altnether says, noting that affordability remains a priority. “We want Side Project to stay accessible for families.” A major improvement is streamlining the ordering process. Previously, guests had to place food and beverage orders separately, which was a common frustration. “That was probably our biggest complaint,” Altnether says. “People found it confusing to order food from one business and drinks from another. Now, everything is on one system, making the experience much smoother and way more enjoyable.” Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here DINING NEWSLETTERS Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene. Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want. Paul with a population of roughly 40,000 people But when journalist Lee Hawkins and his family moved there from the city 50 years ago there were only 25,000 people living in Maplewood Hawkins and his family moved into what he called an enclave — about 20 square acres of land with a heavier concentration of Black families was not particularly welcoming; he recalls being called the N-word at school and hearing it shouted out of cars as he rode his bike his family and members of his community could carve out a life All of them are like aunts and uncles to me “It just felt like they were having a lot of fun The first Black families to move to Maplewood only arrived about 30 years prior Those who lived in the neighborhood earlier experienced cross burnings and found dead cats on doorsteps nearly every step forward was met with resistance And that opened the door to opportunity for generations to come Listen to Part 1 of Unlocking the Gates here So how did Maplewood become a place where Black families could build lives It was not without overcoming serious structural racism some of the most devastating housing discrimination — including the use of racial covenants to lock anyone who wasn’t white out of entire neighborhoods Constitution — took hold in Minnesota in the early 20th century And the fight for restorative justice continues today James and Frances Hughes were essentially the founders of Black Maplewood It traces back to a transaction that unlocked the gates of the Minnesota suburb for dozens of Black families who were seeking better housing and schools and safer neighborhoods “My grandpa was able to find someone that actually sold the land to him out there Carolyn Hughes-Smith in front of her home in Portland Oregon.Ayşe GürsözBut that first step proved difficult As Frances Hughes explained in a 1970s interview that Marketplace got archival access to with help from the Alicia Patterson Foundation: There was a tremendous shortage of housing and a great deal of new development was going on to try to fix that,” she said Negroes couldn’t even buy a lot in these developments They didn’t need deed restrictions to turn us away But there was at least one person willing to break with that trend A white farmer named Frank Taurek and his wife owned the land that the Hughes had set their sights on They sold the Hughes 10 acres of land for $8,000 Paul real estate company tried to hijack the deal by offering $1,000 more just to keep a Black family from buying the property “The farmer could have very easily accepted the $1,000 and told us ‘no,’ and there would have been nothing we could have done,” Frances Hughes said From there, the Hughes started expanding housing access to Black families. Ann-Marie Rogers, another of Hawkins’ neighbors, said this coincided with the construction of Interstate 94, which cut through Rondo, a predominantly Black neighborhood of St. Paul Hughes had the surveyors come out and divided up into individual living blocks,” Rogers said in an interview with Hawkins “Housing for Blacks was extremely limited after the freeway went through and took so many homes,” Frances Hughes said in that 1970s interview “We wanted to sell to Blacks only because they had so few opportunities.” and then the Hughes selling to these Black families — it created a domino effect by which families like the Hawkins’ could begin building wealth Map by Alyson Clary and Elisabeth Gawthrop | APM Research Lab Racial covenant data from Mapping Prejudice.unknownThis legacy was relatively unknown to descendants of the Taureks until recently it was quite shocking … like that somehow I could be part of this amazing story of making a difference,” she said that there’s generational wealth that’s now passed down that just didn’t really exist.” “What makes me happy is our family was a big part of opening up places to live in the white community,” Hughes-Smith said were not responses to isolated instances of exclusion The obstacles that Black families face in real estate were part of a national framework of racial discrimination Listen to Part 2 of Unlocking the Gates here The earliest known racial covenant in Minnesota comes in 1910 The first racial covenant in a Minnesota deed, for a property on 35th Avenue South in Minneapolis.Penny PetersenThis is about 10 years before covenants really take hold, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia they could be found in both property deeds across Minnesota The largest developer in Minneapolis at the time was responsible for many of the covenants in city property then Thorpe was also behind what Petersen called the “first fully covenanted addition,” or subdivision Racial covenants also came from the highest ranks of Minnesota government. For example, just before becoming lieutenant governor, state legislator Thomas Frankson developed a subdivision in the Como Park neighborhood of St Covenants, along with other forms of housing discrimination, left their mark. There’s research that shows increased present-day home values correlate with whether property deeds contained enforceable covenants A new analysis by the APM Research Lab shows 77% of white families in Minnesota own homes while about 32% of Black families own homes This is the legacy of those obstacles that families moving to Maplewood in the middle of the 20th century had to overcome to build homes and lives Listen to Part 3 of Unlocking the Gates here Margaret Thorpe Richards is a Minnesota real estate agent She’s also the granddaughter of Samuel Thorpe “I really didn’t know about these covenants until it was 2019 when I was actually on the board of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors,” Thorpe Richards said in an interview with Hawkins but I would like to show up in a way that says I think this was wrong and I’d like to help make it right.” “That’s an incredible spread in the housing disparity gap that we have,” Jackie Berry, who’s on the board of directors at Minneapolis Area Realtors, said in an interview. “If we’re talking about Minnesota, in comparison to other states, we are one of the worst with that housing disparity gap.”  Peggy Flanagan is Minnesota’s current lieutenant governor — that’s the same office that Frankson held more than a century ago. Flanagan, the highest-ranking Native American female politician is calling for an apology from the state of Minnesota for its role in housing discrimination — and for action “I think that an apology is powerful,” she said “But in the same way that I think things like land acknowledgements are powerful if you don’t have policies and investments to back them up “I think when we increase home ownership rates within our communities it’s a benefit to the state as a whole,” Flangan said Sign up for the Marketplace newsletter to get the day’s biggest business stories straight to your inbox every weekday evening The Maplewood Fire Chief says no one was injured during a fire that spread from one home to another early Tuesday morning located on the 1900 block of Desoto Street According to Maplewood Fire Chief Michael Mondor the first crews to arrive at the scene saw flames coming from the roof of one home with the fire also damaging a neighboring home Although firefighters were able to eventually extinguish the flames the home the fire originated at ended up being uninhabitable A Maplewood man pleaded guilty on Thursday to the murders of two women he had been romantically involved with who later disappeared Joseph Steven Jorgenson, 41, was charged last year in connection with the death of 34-year-old Manijeh “Mani” Starren Per a plea agreement submitted to the court on Thursday he is expected to be sentenced to 40 years for the murder At Thursday’s plea hearing, Jorgenson was also charged with and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Fanta Xayavong. As part of the plea agreement he is expected to be sentenced to 40 years for this murder as well The two sentences will be served concurrently Jorgensen admitted to both murders and described how he carried them out Jorgenson said he and Starren got into an argument and he told court officials that he got upset and started hitting her Jorgenson said he then choked her until she died and admitted he was trying to kill her Jorgenson said he then dismembered Starren’s body with a razor blade and brought her to his Maplewood apartment before moving her to a storage unit in Woodbury While Thursday marked his first appearance in connection with Xayavong’s death he entered a guilty plea in her murder as well Jorgenson told court officials he and Xayavong were living together in a townhome in Shoreview in 2021 so he checked her vitals and realized she was deceased “I felt bad about [the murder] immediately afterward but it was my intent at the time to kill her,” he told the judge Thursday Jorgenson then dismembered Xayavong’s body and moved it to a storage unit in Coon Rapids There were aggravating factors considered in both cases including that Jorgenson was in a romantic relationship with both victims both murders happened in the victims’ homes As part of the plea deal, the state agreed to dismiss a third case in which he was charged with arson, threats of violence and disarming an officer when law enforcement executed a search warrant at his apartment in connection to Starren’s disappearance Jorgenson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb The social services organization Violence Free Minnesota provided the following statement: “Violence Free Minnesota hopes that the perpetrator’s admission of guilt provides some measure or semblance of comfort for Fanta and Manijeh’s loved ones Some of the details that were shared in the perpetrator’s statements These details illustrate the risk that domestic violence victim/survivors can experience in abusive relationships We had previously recognized Manijeh’s death in our 2023 Homicide Report and found that she met all five of our documented risk factors for intimate partner homicide: strangulation and the abuser’s threats to kill the victim “It is critical that all sectors of our communities work together to address and prevent domestic violence from schools to healthcare to faith communities and that victim/survivors and their loved ones are aware of the community-based advocacy services available to them We are fortunate in Minnesota to have a 24/7 free and confidential Day One hotline that is available to victim/survivors and those who care about them This hotline can assist with safety planning and resources at 1.866.223.1111 Relationship abuse is a public health issue and a social issue and we should never see a situation where two victims are killed by the same person; nor should we continue to see any domestic violence homicides at all “We want people who see this story to remember not only the unacceptable nature of these deaths but to also remember the victims of homicide for who they were in life Manijeh was described as someone who loved hunting Fanta was described as someone with a beautiful soul who gave selflessly to others and had a beautiful smile Are thoughts are with their loved ones today and in the coming weeks as the trial and sentencing conclude.” will be honored by the town’s Rotary Club at its upcoming masquerade ball on April 4 The Citizenship Award recognizes his 26 years on the Maplewood Township Committee a role in which he left a lasting impact on the community DeLuca’s journey in public service began long before his time in Maplewood he went on to study social studies at Montclair State University where he was twice elected class president and served as a student government representative he joined Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and worked with the Ironbound Community Corporation in Newark leading the organization for 15 years and championing social services His dedication to activism extended statewide when he co-founded New Jersey Citizen Action in 1982 an organization he has been involved with for over four decades he joined the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation where he spent 25 years helping to fund grassroots initiatives focused on racial justice DeLuca’s involvement in Maplewood deepened when he and his wife He started by joining the local recycling committee and became the first president of the Hilton Neighborhood Association in 1995 His leadership expanded through work with the Springfield Avenue Partnership where he played a role in revitalizing the district serving as a liaison to the Maplewood Library His contributions have been widely recognized including his induction into the New Jersey League of Municipalities Mayors Hall of Fame and the Elected Officials Hall of Fame Sustainable Jersey honored him with its Environmental Leadership Award DeLuca is a fan of the New York Mets and Giants He enjoys summers at the Jersey Shore and takes annual trips to Hawaii In addition to celebrating DeLuca’s contributions the evening will highlight the generosity of Fred and Susan Profeta longtime residents known for their philanthropic efforts The couple recently donated $250,000 to The Maplewood Foundation bringing their total contributions to over $1 million has been actively involved in local causes including efforts to block an 800-foot dam in the South Mountain Reservation and initiatives supporting racial equity he has also contributed to the renovation of community spaces which the Profetas helped establish in 2023 with an initial $500,000 donation has already awarded $120,000 in grants to 16 organizations from climate programs and public education to youth recreation and emergency relief received $5,000 to expand its middle school ultimate frisbee program With other donors contributing an additional $800,000 the foundation has grown to nearly $2 million with plans to increase its grants in the coming years on April 4 at the Maplewood Country Club on 28 Baker Street Those interested in attending can contact Claudine Baptiste at 973-234-7104 or Pamela Taylor at 917-531-7983 for more details Be the first to know about our newest content SNJ Today gives you the latest news in Cumberland County