Kyle Stokes

@kystokes.bsky.social

3042 Followers 295 Following

Now: @Axios.com Twin Cities reporter | Then: MinnPost; NPR stations in LA (@laist.com), Seattle, Indiana | Alum: Mizzou Journalism

Stop Cop City banner
Johnny Gaudreau’s kids
WARN MAIN STREET SPORTS GROUP The State Rapid Response Team (SRRT) received a Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. ("WARN") email from Main Street Sports Group, LLC (the “Company”) informing us of the closure and permanent layoff of approximately 20 employees from their facility located at: 800 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402 Per the WARN, the entire facility will close and all employees including those in remote positions will be impacted. The resulting action will occur during the 14- day period beginning on April 14, 2026. Employees are not represented by ta union and therefore do not have bumping rights.
Gov. Tim Walz at a podium in an ornamented room
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Today, Mayor Jacob Frey released the following statement after speaking with President Donald Trump over the phone: “I spoke with President Trump this afternoon and appreciated the conversation. I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main ask is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end. The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue. Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go. Minneapolis will continue to cooperate with state and federal law enforcement on real criminal investigations — but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law. Violent criminals should be held accountable based on the crimes they commit, not based on where they are from. I will continue working with all levels of government to keep our communities safe, keep crime down, and put Minneapolis residents first. I plan to meet with Border Czar Tom Homan tomorrow to further discuss next steps.”
A large convention hall where Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her are onstage
A Facebook mobile notification that reads “Birthday is almost over. Jesus C’s birthday is today. You can still send a wish before the day wraps up.”
The critical areas of the amended agreement are: • An amended source and duration for an emergency housing voucher program. With the agreement of Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, the City will appropriate $1M per year for the next three years for an emergency housing vouchers pilot program. This compromise will ensure we are able to operate the voucher pilot without laying off hard working City employees and prevent a permanent $1 million cut to the Minneapolis Police Department. • Clarification on establishment of a non-fatal shooting task force. There is a shared commitment to establish a non-fatal shooting task force. The amended language, as well the attached memo from the City Attorney, clarifies that Council’s only role is to appropriate funds. The Administration has the sole authority to establish a new Police Department task force, and will do so in a way that will not strain already very limited staffing resources. An implementation plan for this task force will be presented early next year, including required funding. Any remaining, unneeded funds will then be released. • An amendment on the earmark for civilian investigators. Removing the requirement that the funds must be used for civilian investigators will make it easier for the Police Department to investigate all crimes effectively. This is not a perfect budget. In particular, I disagree with the more than $10 million in increased spending and the sizable impact that it will have on property taxes in future years. I also have concerns about how this budget may impact our ability to fully implement the reforms required under the Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree. However, I am committed to enacting this amendment budget agreement because it preserves core City services, avoids layoffs, limits new ongoing spending, and largely reflects the shared responsibility we have to govern responsibly. My administration will continue to work collaboratively with the Council for …
Minneapolis City Council AgendaAdjourned MeetingDecember 16, 2025 - 5:00 pm250 S. 4th St., Minneapolis, MN 55415Room 350, Public Service Center Members: Council Members Elliott Payne (President), Aisha Chughtai (Vice-President), Robin Wonsley, Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw, Jeremiah Ellison, Jamal Osman, Katie Cashman, Andrea Jenkins, Jason Chavez, Emily Koski, Aurin Chowdhury, and Linea Palmisano (Majority vote of all members, 7; 2/3 vote of all members, 9; quorum 7) Clerk: Ken Dahler, (612) 673-2216 Call to Order Roll Call. Adoption of the agenda. Unfinished Business 1. 2026 City Budget (2025-00901) Considering amendments to the 2026 City Budget.
COMMUNITY STREETS RESOLUTION DECEMBER 2, 2025 The City of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Perry Floyd Jr. on May 25th, 2025 at 38th Street East and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis, MN. A global uprising began, leaving the community in survival mode. Where was the accountability? Where were our resources to heal? • The residents, businesses and organizations who live and work in Central, Bancroft, Bryant and Powderhor Park neighborhoods have united to participate in the "Community Visioning Council" (CVC) to determine the future design of George Floyd Square at 38th and Chicago • That the Pedestrian Plaza Resolution authored by city council in December of 2024 provided critical time for the community to engage in a year long conversation on the viability of a pedestrian plaza in George Floyd Square • That the 38th + Chi Business coalition authored a letter on July 24, 2025 expressing opposition to a pedestrian plaza and called for a community-informed design * That the residents and businesses surrounding the intersection of 38th and Chicago, collectively known as "George Floyd Square" developed the Community Streets Plan during monthly meetings at the Community Visioning Council → That the Community Visioning Council nominated the Community Streets Plan for a vote, and was passed unanimously on October 18th, 2025 WHEREAS; • The Community Streets Plan stands in alignment with > 38th and Chicago Business District Support Plan • 24 Demands for Justice > 38th Street Thrive Strategic Development Plan • HERC Closure • Neighborhoods 2030 BE IT RESOLVED; The Community Streets Plan represents a comprehensive vision for George Floyd Square that is a community-informed design which includes space for a permanent memorial to George Floyd: Additional traffic calming measures as illustrated on the images provided by JIMA Studios, an architecture company contracted to assist this process: • Low curb surrounding and protecting the memorial to George Perry…
Brass band playing “love train” in a rec center gym
A football stadium with Minnesota written in the endzones and snowfall
A chloropleth map of Minneapolis election results
Suppose the following two voters: 1) Jazz, 2) Frey 1) Jazz, 2) Davis, 3) Frey Both will flow to Frey, since all candidates except Frey and Fateh were eliminated simultaneously. So the votes that flowed to Frey did not necessarily rank Frey second.
A Sankey diagram flow chart of Minneapolis' mayoral results showing Jacob Frey winning with significant portions of votes flowign from Dewayne Davis and Jazz Hampton to Frey
Signs at the Omar Fateh election night party
Exterior of a polling place with people walking in and out
A chart displaying data about open enrollment moves by race, showing 19% of white parents moves were integrative, and 36% of white parents moves were segregative
A map showing boundaries of Twin Cities school districts with the Minneapolis school district highlighted. The map shows that 6,116 students left Minneapolis for other districts, and the shading shows where they mostly left for: largely Robbinsdale, Edina, Hopkins and Columbia Heights, but many other districts as well.
A map of Twin Cities metro school districts highligthing: Orono, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Edina, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Columbia Heights, St. Anthony-New Brighton, Spring Lake Park, Centennial, Mahtomedia and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan
A map showing boundaries of Twin Cities school districts with the Minnetonka school district highlighted. The map shows that 4,419 students from other districts enrolled in Minnetonka, and the shading shows where they mostly came from: largely Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Eastern Carver County.
A city council meeting
An ESPN transition showing the skyline of Minneapolis with narration calling it “St. Paul.”
A map of the Twin Cities metro area showing the cities that are forecasted to increase by at least 10,000 new residents by 2050: Rogers, Blaine, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnetonka, Woodbury, Eden Prairie, Edina, Victoria, Shakopee, Bloomington, Eagan, Cottage Grove, Burnsville, Rosemount, Lakeville
Minneapolis declares Snow Emergency Minneapolis officials have declared a Snow Emergency beginning today, Dec. 19. Snow Emergency parking rules 9 p.m. today, Dec. 19 to 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20 (Day 1) Do not park on EITHER side of a Snow Emergency route until 8 a.m., or the street is fully plowed. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 (Day 2) Do not park on the EVEN numbered side of a non-Snow Emergency route until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed, or on EITHER side of a parkway until 8 p.m., or the parkway is fully plowed. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 (Day 3) Do not park on the ODD numbered side of a non-Snow Emergency route until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed.
A press conference under a strange statue
A man in a suit with dark skin stands in a wood paneled hallway and delivers a speech
The finalists for the SPPS superintendent position are: Dr. Brenda Cassellius, CEO of Fresh Energy, St. Paul, MN Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Superintendent of Hopkins Public Schools, Hopkins, MN Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent of Edina Public Schools, Edina, MN
a raised fist sculpture at George Floyd Square
A woman with light skin in a jacket testifies at a city council meeting
A long line of public testimony-givers at a city council meeting
A Christmas tree which epitomizes the modern spirit
Spokesperson: "We welcome Senator Fateh to the mayoral race and look forward to presenting voters with a clear choice between two contrasting visions for the future of Minneapolis. Mayor Frey's responsible leadership has helped the city recover while making critical progress toward rebuilding the police department, leading the nation in affordable housing, and supporting workers and local businesses. Senator Fateh, a Democratic Socialists of America member who supports removing the police department from the city charter, would jeopardize that progress by rubber-stamping the most extreme voices on the City Council."
Omar Fateh, a man with dark skin in a blue suit with a red checkerboard-patterned tie, stands at a microphone stand flanked by supporters holding signs saying "Omar Fateh for Minneapolis Mayor"
excerpt of news story "The other side: Unions and worker rights groups argue the board would give employers and employees a venue for hammering out detailed policy compromises in specific industries."
Friction point: The mayor broke with the council authors over concerns that the board's makeup and voting rules would leave its pro-business representatives overmatched by pro-labor voices. Industry advocates fear the board would lead to the city imposing unaffordable new regulations.
An overhead graphic of a street grid showing George Floyd Square at 38th & Chicago in Minneapolis. The map depicts city officials' preferred plans for the intersection
TTHD with cheese added to top
A tater tot hot dish with an outline of the state of Minnesota