NSS Weekly: Community Responds to Operation Metro Surge; Killing of Renee Good

Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota, produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.

Chantel SinGs (ANCHOR): I'm Chantel SinGs. This week, we continue the coverage of the escalation of Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities. The Secretary of Homeland Security says the Trump administration is sending hundreds more immigration and federal agents, even after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good during an immigration raid in south Minneapolis. City and state officials say ICE's presence in the Twin Cities has disrupted daily life and is creating an atmosphere of fear among residents in general, and are calling for ICE to leave the state. The operation has led to the detention of hundreds of immigrants and protesters, and daily public protests and conflicts.

We begin the program with reactions from community members about Operation Metro Surge, the Killing of Renee Good, and what they expect might come next. Then, we look at how hazardous road conditions are affecting drivers, along with tips on how to stay safe on winter roads. And we conclude with ways to protect yourself and your health when clearing your sidewalks and driveways.

But first, here are some of the stories that made the headlines this week.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office and the Minnesota Attorney General's Office are collecting and preserving evidence for their investigation into the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. The move follows the FBI's decision to withdraw its cooperation agreement with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The Hennepin County Attorney said she's been meeting with law enforcement and community leaders to support a thorough and transparent investigation.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty: So let me be clear here. We do have jurisdiction to make this decision, that happened in this case where her life was taken in Hennepin County. It does not matter that it was a federal law enforcement agent. Residents can submit photos or videos through an online portal on the Hennepin County Attorney's website and social media pages.

Meanwhile, the Federal Department of Justice says it will not pursue a criminal civil rights case against the ICE agent who shot Renee Good. But the FBI is still investigating the killing.

In other news, Minnesota's Attorney General is trying to get ICE and other federal agents out of our state, but has already faced his first setback. He filed a federal lawsuit to stop what he calls an unconstitutional surge of federal agents into Minnesota.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison: We allege that the obvious targeting of Minnesota for our diversity, for our democracy, and our differences of opinion with the federal government, is a violation of the Constitution and of federal law. We allege that the surge—reckless impact on our schools, on our local law enforcement—is a violation of the 10th Amendment, and the sovereign laws and powers the Constitution grants to states.

ANCHOR: State and city officials say the thousands of armed and masked federal agents are carrying out militarized raids, illegal stops, and excessive-force arrests under the banner of immigration enforcement. The lawsuit asked the court to end the operation and prevent federal agents from targeting protesters, bystanders, and people at schools, churches, and hospitals. But, a court ruled against the state's request to stop the operation immediately, instead giving the federal government more time to respond. The court may rule later this month after hearing more from both sides.

You are listening to NSS, I'm Chantel SinGs.

In today's main story, just blocks from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, a chaotic confrontation between federal agents and protesters ended with an ICE officer shooting and killing a local woman. The federal officers' use of fatal force ignited a fierce debate over the right to protest versus the tactics federal officers are using and even the justification for their presence. Up next, Katharine DeCelle looks at the deeply polarizing aftermath and why it's prompting calls for peaceful protests.

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Katharine DeCelle: In Minneapolis, just blocks away from where George Floyd was murdered in the summer of 2020, thousands of people gathered to honor the life of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agent.

Noah: Renee cared for the people in this city, and that is more than any ICE agent or any police officer could say.

Katharine DeCelle: That was Noah, an organizer with Twin Cities Coalition for Justice, one of many who spoke at several vigils honoring Renee Good. For their protection, we are using first names only for our sources in this report. While Noah praised Good for her bravery, the narrative of how and why Renee Good died depends entirely on who you ask. Video of the shooting shows her car stopped perpendicular on the street, blocking traffic near an ongoing ICE operation. Officers shouted obscenities at Good, demanding she get out of the car. And as she attempted to drive away, a federal agent shot and killed her, prompting a debate and divide in the community. Was she driving away from or directly at an officer? On social media, President Trump called Good a professional agitator, claiming she viciously ran over the agent. In a press conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went further.

Kristi Noem: She attempted to run a law enforcement officer over. This appears as an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents, an act of domestic terrorism.

Katharine DeCelle: But at the vigil, that story sounded very different

Noah: And now we're seeing lies from the federal administration calling her a domestic terrorist. She showed up to watch the terrorists.

Katharine DeCelle: Others at the vigil, like Gar a Minneapolis resident, questioned how we as a community can stop tragedies like this from happening.

Gar: There is a human. And they had a gun and they decided to pull the trigger. And why did they decide to do that? Nobody wants to pull the trigger on someone. Even these ICE agents are human, and they have this thing that they're trying to do. And how can we be there, to be like you just don't do that?

Katharine DeCelle: ICE agents are creating a lot of fear for many Minnesotans. Mira is a community organizer with MIRAC, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, a volunteer organization that is fighting to end immigration raids.

Mira: People have been very afraid to even leave their houses at all, or to take their kids to school. Or children are afraid that when they get home from school, their parents are going to be gone.

Katharine DeCelle: Mira hopes the death of Renee Good empowers community members to stand up to ICE

Mira: Instead of letting the incident scare people into submission or staying home and not taking action. I'm hoping people see how necessary it is for all of us to be in this truth, to show that the power of the people is stronger than the people in power.

Katharine DeCelle: And this is where the division lies. While Mira and Gar see a community protecting others and defending itself, other Minnesotans like David argue that interfering with federal agents creates a dangerous and unpredictable environment.

David: I'm all for protests. I think this country is built on it. But the minute that you interfere with a police action, the protester is elevating the situation past where it needs to be. It escalates the problem to a safety issue.

Katharine DeCelle: For years, the conversation about fear and lethal force from law enforcement has centered rightfully on the dangers facing black and brown neighbors, but as David suggests, Renee Good may have been relying on a protection that is no longer there.

David: She thought they're just going to allow me to drive away because I'm a white woman. That's how I feel that her thought process was and the minute that her vehicle got too close, unfortunately, all bets were off at that point. Because he has a family too, just like she did.

Katharine DeCelle: After learning about the death of Renee Good, Dan, a retiree who has been trained to be a legal observer, went to the scene of the shooting to document what ICE agents were doing. He ended up caught in a cloud of tear gas, a shock for a man who peacefully protested the Vietnam War.

Dan: I was shouting, “Get out of Minnesota. Get out of Minneapolis.” Some people were throwing snowballs, and we were cautioning them, “Don't, please, don't just we're here to witness what's going on. We're not here to provoke.” And then the tear gas got to me. Tear gas was everywhere. I just couldn't see and fell over.

Katharine DeCelle: Despite this incident, Dan still plans to attend protests and be a legal observer, and asks others to do so. Governor Walz is also encouraging Minnesotans to exercise their right to protest, but to remain peaceful. Walz and others say federal agents are using strong intimidation tactics hoping to spark violence to justify sending even more agents.

Governor Tim Walz: And so to Minnesotans, don't take the bait. Do not allow them to lie about the security and the decency of this state. Let's make sure we protect our neighbors. I encourage you to use your First Amendment rights in—all of your constitutional rights. But do so in a peaceful manner.

Katharine DeCelle: Although Minnesotans may not agree on how or whom to protest, most Minnesotans agree that we are divided and that it's time to come together. Gar says—

Gar: I truly believe that we're at an opportunity as humanity, basically, moved to the next level, realizing that we're just humans here. David asks—

David: Can we please just go back to common sense and stop the dangerous rhetoric from everybody, from the president to the mayor to the governor to just everybody. Take a deep breath, start talking to one another.

Katharine DeCelle: And Dan says—

Dan: Several of my friends and acquaintances have said, “Dan, you're so brave.” And other ones say, “Dan, how dumb. Why did you go?” And they're both right, but even if you're not personally affected, we all are together when we all really act together.

Katharine DeCelle: For North Star Stories, I'm Katharine DeCelle.

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ANCHOR: Welcome back to North Star Stories. I'm Chantel SinGs. And I'm joined by former Chief of Minneapolis Police Department Medaria Arrodondo who served from 2017 to 2022. He's the first black Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, and was Chief of Police during the high-profile murder of George Floyd, as we all know. Chief Arrodondo, welcome to North Star Stories. How are you?

Chief Medaria Arrodondo: Thank you, Ms. Chantel. It's always a pleasure to see you, to be in space with you.

ANCHOR: Thank you. So just a few questions for you. We know that it's a very tough time here in Minnesota. From a policing perspective, what should officers be trained to do when protesters are loud, they're recording them or questioning their actions?

Chief Medaria Arrodondo: There was a lot that came out after Mr. Floyd was murdered, and certainly Minneapolis Police went into having a revamp of a lot of their trainings and protocols specifically related to how to engage with community members during protests. And one of those things, and it's going to be principal and paramount even to this day, is de-escalation. The other thing that police officers are doing is we have it in our policy reminding police officers that people do have a First Amendment right to use their cell phones, to use cameras to video and record those engagements.

ANCHOR: How do you balance though officers safety with First Amendment rights in that moment?

Chief Medaria Arrodondo: Policies are very clear. People will have the right to protest. People will have the right to use their voice. We know that sometimes these demonstrations, people are coming there from all different spaces. People may be there in a very calm way. People may be very angry. Officers can expect to hear some of that anger, but it's so key and important that officers stay calm, that they use their de-escalation techniques. Most importantly, Ms. Chantel, that they stay professional. But we know sometimes just having that uniform can be a focus of what that anger is all about. I think it's critically important, certainly for Minneapolis, that supervisors are there at the scene if they start to see tensions creating, or if they start to perhaps see an officer go below that professionalism, to get them off of that line. The key, though, is to make sure that the officers themselves do not become a focal point of any sort of anger or frustration for those demonstrating.

ANCHOR: For sure. You mentioned tension. And what does best practice look like for crowd management and use of force? And where do you think agencies most often fall short?

Chief Medaria Arrodondo: Part of it is to make sure that officers, first and foremost, have an idea of what the situation is, where they're at. You know, sometimes demonstrations look a little bit differently. You know, if it's outside of a building, whether it's folks in their, it's static, or whether those are folks, hundreds or thousands of folks marching through, let's say, for example, Lake Street. All of that's going to be very dependent upon how police manage that. But one of the things that I always have found useful was, and I talk about this a lot, you know, building relationships in the quiet moments, getting to know local leaders, getting to know local activists before those situations occur. So that when there are these large convenings, you have someone that you can communicate with trying to keep that dialog open. I think is very important for police leaders who are going to be out there when these demonstrations occur.

ANCHOR: If you were still chief, what would you say to the public right now that's just absolutely outraged by the actions of federal agents?

Chief Medaria Arrodondo: The first thing I would say, Ms. Chantel, is that I know that our city is hurting. There is a lot of pain still left. While it has been five and a half years since Mr. Floyd was murdered, for many it seems like yesterday. Certainly, the tragic death of Ms. Good seems like it has ripped off a band aid from old wounds. So that's real. So the first thing is just acknowledging that it is real. The other thing I would also say, in that pain, in that grief, for many, in that trauma, I would also say, I want to make sure that I'm doing all that I can not to make it worse in that sense. You know, I lived through as well as you did many of your listeners, we saw the pain after May 25 2020. We saw what it looked like to try to, you know, rebuild our city, to rebuild hope. And so in some ways it seems very similar to that, but I will continue to have hope. The other thing I would say this, and I said this about Mr. Floyd back then and I think it's true for Ms. Good here, at the end of the day, they both deserve justice. They both deserve due process. They both deserve a fair and impartial investigation.

ANCHOR: Chief Arredondo, always a pleasure to have you. Thank you for joining us. We appreciate it.

Chief Medaria Arrodondo: Thank you so much, Ms. Chantel, and for your listeners, thank you.

ANCHOR: After the break, as more winter weather is on the forecast, we take a look at how to stay safe on the state roads. This is North Star Stories, voices from where we live. Produced by A AMPERS, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. We'll be right back.

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Tune in to hear Minnesota's statewide newscast.

North Star Stories, Voices from Where We Live. Each week, we bring you stories and perspectives from across the state's diverse communities. North Star Stories amplifies voices too often missing from our state's news: Black, Indigenous and communities of color, people living with disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA, Two-Spirit residents and those in Greater Minnesota. Find North Star Stories, Voices from Where We Live in your station schedule at ampers.org and wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities.

ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories. I'm Chantel SinGs.

A non-partisan audit has uncovered even more concerns about the misuse of state funds. The Office of the Legislative Auditor, or OLA, has released a new report that found widespread failures in how the Department of Human Services' Behavioral Health Administration manages grant programs for mental health and substance use disorder services. The report says the agency failed to follow most state requirements, lacked basic financial controls, and even created and backdated documents after the audit began. One of the auditors expressed shock presenting the report to the state Legislature.

[Audio from the hearing: "Frankly, in the 27-plus years I've been with OLA, I have never seen this before. I will say we have had suspicions periodically, but we have never been able to prove it, to document it, and we did in this case, and it's very troubling."]

Between 2022 and 2024, the administration distributed more than $425 million to 830 grantees. But auditors found missing progress reports, incomplete financial records, and missing documentation for many required site visits.

Minnesota is about to lose its last hometown airline. Allegiant and Sun Country Airlines have announced a merger agreement that will combine the two carriers. Under the deal, Allegiant will acquire Sun Country in a cash and stock transaction valued at about one and a half billion dollars. Sun Country Airlines was founded in 1982 by a small group of former Braniff International Airways pilots and flight attendants. The airline employs about 3,000 workers, primarily based in the Twin Cities. Executives from both airlines say the merger will expand service to more vacation destinations in the U.S. and abroad while keeping a focus on affordable travel.

Next, with winter in full force, driving has become trickier than ever. The freezing and thawing has created especially icy streets in some parts of the state, other areas have dealt with heavy snow. Reporter Jamad Jama talks with drivers and officials about how to stay safe on the roads this winter.

[Nat sound: traffic noise, footsteps crunching in icy snow.]

Jamad Jama: From the Twin Cities to Greater Minnesota, drivers are once again figuring out how to handle winter roads safely.

Michael Lee: Winter kind of came early this year, and we've already had a significant amount of snow compared to the previous years, but it seems like every year we need to kind of relearn how to drive in the wintertime.

Jamad Jama: That's Lieutenant Michael Lee with the Minnesota State Patrol. When it comes to navigating the roads, his advice comes down to planning ahead.

Michael Lee: Some of the basic reminders that we tell people is just to be prepared. If you know a storm is coming or the roads are going to be potentially bad, we're asking people just delay your travel plans. Just wait a little bit until the road conditions get better.

Jamad Jama: And if you find yourself on the roads when conditions are tough, here's what he suggests.

Michael Lee: If you're out on the roads, people should be really cautious. Slow down, make sure you can keep control your vehicle at all times. Wear your seat belt. Keep your headlights on.

Jamad Jama: Winter roads can be really tricky, especially when it comes to speed and busy roads.

Michael Lee: Of course, each crash and incident is different, but generally, people are just driving too fast for conditions. A lot of it, too, is just the unknown. What's going on in the road and the traffic around you that they might not be able to react to it quickly? Very easy way to combat it is by slowing down.

Jamad Jama: Outside the Twin Cities in more rural areas, winter driving can look different compared to the metro.

Michael Lee: Greater Minnesota has generally less traffic traveling those roadways. So with that, there might be less road maintenance vehicles there, like D.O.T. or county workers plowing and salting. So Northwest Minnesota, there were significant amount of winds, so it's white out conditions. There's just a lot more of that in Greater Minnesota.

Jamad Jama: And for those who drive every day, winter requires a different kind of focus.

Veronia Nieto: My name is Veronica Nieto. I currently drive for Metro Micro. We are a third-party to Metropolitan Council. So my service is front door service to pick up and drop off the Metro Micro busses. They seat up to, with myself included, nine passengers, and it fits two regular size wheelchairs.

Jamad Jama: Veronica's responsible for getting people where they need to go safely, no matter the weather or the time of day.

Veronica Nieto: Metro Micro is actually a public service that anyone can use. We cater to all kinds of people, kids that are going to school, the elderly. With winter, I can only imagine what I'm going to run into.

Jamad Jama: Winter doesn't just change the roads, it changes the way she goes about her day.

Veronica Nieto: I work Monday through Friday. Currently, because of the snowfall, we have to take our time getting there. So mentally, I prepare myself as I'm going to work, expect the unexpected, be on guard.

Jamad Jama: And when you're driving people who are counting on you, that means paying attention to every move on the road.

Veronica Nieto: With the conditions, and you know, with the fog that we've had lately, your reaction and ability to stop is it's shortened by a lot.

Jamad Jama: And from Veronica's experience, there's a couple things every driver should keep in mind, especially during winter.

Veronica Nieto: Give yourself enough room. I think that's the major one. Is think everyone on the road can really appreciate giving yourself that extra room just because of the unforeseen. Rushing will get you nowhere.

Veronica Nieto: But regardless of where you are in the state, the American Automobile Association, also known as AAA, is one of the statewide agencies helping people get back on the roads. Brynna Knapp leads Public Affairs for AAA in the state of Minnesota.

Brynna Knapp: If you do find yourself on the side of the road or needing assistance in a more rural area, we have a large network of partners that can get to you from your area. And they're local to the place that you'll be calling from. We do community events. We do, you know, media, informational outreach to folks and really just promoting traffic safety throughout the state.

Jamad Jama: And the demands of the job shift with the seasons.

Brynna Knapp: We certainly see a pickup in our roadside assistance, especially in the winter here in Minnesota. We do, you know, battery changes. We help people who are stuck on the side of the road.

Jamad Jama: And certain winter conditions, like slick roads or even black ice, lead to an uptick in calls for AAA.

Brynna Knapp: You know, if we experience a winter weather event that leads to black ice or icy road conditions, we'll certainly see an uptick in calls for our tow drivers. If you do find yourself on the side of the road, we really do recommend that you stay in the car. Stay calm. If you have AAA, give them a call, or give any first responder a call.

Jamad Jama: And remembering to take your time can make all the difference when it comes to staying safe.

Brynna Knapp: I know a lot of us are super busy. And it can be easy to jump in the car, and especially if it's a normal destination, for you to just drive on autopilot. But I really encourage you in any sort of winter conditions to take everything slowly and add a little extra care and add a little extra space between you and the person in front of you, and you're going to be golden.

Jamad Jama: Staying safe while driving in winter isn't just about snow or ice. It comes down to paying attention, being prepared and looking out for other drivers. Whether you're in the Cities or Greater Minnesota, you can check out the latest road conditions on 511MN.org. For North Star Stories, I'm Jamad Jama.

ANCHOR: In our final story today: Snow shoveling. It's so common that many don't realize just how dangerous it can be.
Jose Ozoria talks with medical professionals about steps you can take to stay safe.

Public Service Announcement: It's your responsibility to clear sidewalks in front of your home or business.

Jose Ozoria: So we've all heard these announcements, sure, it's the law, but it's also the right thing to do for your neighborhood. But shoveling snow is not as straightforward as it might seem.

Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler: It's actually the so-called Perfect Storm, unfortunately for the heart.

Jose Ozoria: Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler is a preventative cardiologist. She describes the intense strain on the body that comes with shoveling snow.

Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler: When we lift snow, it puts an extra amount of effort on the heart. It makes our heart rate increase. It makes our blood pressure increase.

Jose Ozoria: But it's not just the workout that's causing the stress on your body.

Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler: The cold weather causes our arteries to constrict and get much smaller.

Jose Ozoria: Turning a routine chore into a potentially fatal experience, if you're at risk or If specific precautions are not followed.

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[Sound: 911 AUDIO: "Emergency, what's the location?"]

Jose Ozoria: Roddy Hood is the operations and marketing manager for Snow Scholars, a snow shoveling service that hires college students in Minneapolis, St Paul and other locations throughout the country.

Roddy Hood: Health is wealth, and if you need to spend a little bit extra money on a service, and if that's going to keep you, you know, safe and healthy, by all means, do so.

Jose Ozoria: Roddy Hood views the work that Snow Scholars provides as a public service for the community.

Roddy Hood: That's why we service so many, you know, elders within the community is because they can't do it themselves. Because they'll fall, they'll end up hurting themselves, or the snow is so heavy.

Jose Ozoria: Yet even fit college students need to be very cautious when they're out there working in the elements.

Roddy Hood: Even, you know, for young people like us, it's demanding. It's physical. It's labor, just making sure you know yourself when you're doing that for anywhere between six hours and above. It's a lot.

Jose Ozoria: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine published a research study showing that shoveling snow sends, on average, over 11,000 adults to the emergency room each year. Dr. Baechler points out that even otherwise in shape people need to listen to their body.

Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler: You don't get on the treadmill and go to an all-out sprint on a big incline. Right? You want to start things slowly, see how you feel and progress as you feel comfortable. It's an exercise.

Jose Ozoria: She also points out some of the warning signs you should pay close attention to if you find yourself out there doing heavy shoveling.

Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler: Difficulty, breathing, shortness of breath, a racing heart rate, chest pressure or chest discomfort, all of those types of things can be concerns from the heart.

Jose Ozoria: But if you have to be out there and you are at risk, Dr Beckler says there is an approach.

Dr. Courtney Jordan Baechler: If possible, asking somebody else, a neighbor, a friend, to help you out is a great way to go. But if you absolutely have to do it, doing small amounts of snow and pushing it rather than lifting it, is really important.

Jose Ozoria: Roddy Hood says there's advice he gives to Minnesotans he consults with.

Roddy Hood: Being smart. You know, especially when you come from or grown up in a state like Minnesota, we've been around the snow for forever. Being mindful of your own environment, knowing the conditions, making sure that you've taken the correct preparation.

Jose Ozoria: The American Heart Association lists some helpful tips to protect yourself while shoveling. Dress for the weather. Stay hydrated. Warm up before shoveling. Do not over-exert yourself. Listen to your body and watch out for warning signs. For North Star Stories, I'm Jose Ozoria.

ANCHOR: This is all the time we have for today's program. If you missed any part of today's newscast, you can find this and past episodes at AMPERS.org, or listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening, and we'll be back next week with more stories and voices from the North Star State.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.