Melody Hoffmann

@phmelody.bsky.social

2505 Followers 242 Following

Your friendly neighbor and community reporter. Currently at North News and Southwest Voices. I also cosplay as a weather reporter. CONTACT: melody.hoffmann@gmail.com and on Signal @phmelody.143 she/her, Minneapolis, Midwest

Text reads: Council Member Whiting voted no on overriding the Mayor’s veto of this nomination. The motion to override was unsuccessful, 6 ayes to 6 nays, with 1 absence. CM Whiting’s Thoughts on this Vote: CM Whiting has full faith that Jim Davnie would be an excellent member of the Ballpark Authority, and he regrets that this appointment has become contested, and frankly, political. His decision to not override this veto is almost entirely based on objections raised by groups like the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP and concerned members of the public regarding the removal of the sole member of color from this board. The Ballpark Authority is a body whose decisions touch our entire City, and while CM Whiting is sure that the current members of the Ballpark Authority bring their own lived experiences to their work which positively inform their decisions, he also believes that maintaining broad diversity at the table on a board like this is in the public interest. Maintaining diverse representation on the board is essential to prevent the exclusion of communities of color and ensures ample opportunities for economic participation, community benefits, and equitable outcomes are actively considered. CM Whiting is thankful for Jim Davnie’s many years of public service and the work he continues to do in community, and he looks forward to finding alternative opportunities where former Rep. Davnie can positively impact our City.
a screenshot of my Gmail inbox with a NEW AI Inbox I never asked for.
A bike frame with turquoise paint on top half of frame and bright pink paint on bottom half of frame. Handlebars and pedals are on, wheels and seat are taken off. Some painters tape is wrapped around parts of the bike
An illustrated map for the cat tour through the Wedge neighborhood of Minneapolis that shows the start at Mueller Park and the end at 24th and Dupont Avenue. There are silly pictures of cats throughout the map. The event starts at 6 p.m.
Three people smiling and holding Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists awards
A Minneapolis police officer packs up gear after a search ends at 35th Street and Oliver Avenue on June 15, 2026 shortly before 6 p.m.
A Stop sign that has many layers of ICE written below STOP at 43rd Street at Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis.
An elder orange male cat sitting on a desk, looking down and to the his right as he avoids eye contact with a camera.
People riding different styles of bicycles around a baseball field
A large crowd of people walk into Powderhorn Park
Partial text from a Winter Storm Warning for April 2 at midnight through noon reads: * WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations up to one inch, sleet accumulations around three quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around one quarter of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 30 mph. * WHERE...McLeod, Renville, Sibley, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Brown, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Rice, Goodhue, and Redwood Counties. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday morning commute.
A screenshot of a map showing the flight track of a State Patrol helicopter making a loop around North Minneapolis. The helicopter made a bigger circle around Minneapolis prior to this.
A person smiling and giving the peace sign in a public bathroom mirror.
Registration information for the N124SP airplane flying around North Minneapolis today, March 23.
A screenshot of a State Patrol airplane flight pattern flaying out east and then heading back to North Minneapolis on March 23.
A screenshot of a State Patrol airplane circling North Minneapolis and the freeway interchange by Loring Park on March 23, 2026.
A person at a microphone with people standing and people sitting in the audience
Crowd sitting inside former Arts and Rec space listening to speakers at Uptown United meeting.
A Bluesky post that says police are looking for an armed person Garfield Avenue between 28th and Lake Street
A screenshot of a radar tracking a Minnesota State helicopter on March 16, 2026 after 7:30 p.m.
Sled that looks like a polar bear propped up against a tree right next to a street.
Text reads from The Federalist article: "According to a new report by Open the Books, the Department of War (DOW) collectively spent $93.4 billion in “use-it-or-lose it” funds on grants and contracts in September alone. The agency’s spending blitz included purchases of high-dollar food, new furniture, and other lavish items."
A graph showing there has been 469 mentions of bus stops (school or transit) in ICE observations in Minnesota since Operation Metro Surge began
Email reads: "Your Google One Premium 2 TB plan has been updated to include the same AI benefits as the Google AI Plus plan at no additional cost. Here is a summary of the benefits added to your plan: More access to Gemini 3 Pro, our most capable model More access to Deep Research in the Gemini app Video generation with limited access to Veo 3.1 Fast in the Gemini app More access to image generation with Nano Banana Pro Additional AI credits for video generation in Flow Access Gemini directly in Google apps like Gmail"
A screenshot of a helicopter radar that shows the helicopter circling around Broadway Avenue from 23rd Avenue to the north and 14th to the South.
Minnesota State Patrol helicopter N118SP left St. Paul at 12:47 p.m.
A quote from Malcolm X that reads "if you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." next to the quote is a black-and-white photo of Malcolm X. He has his right hand gently placed on the side of his head.
People standing with protest signs at the all corners of the intersection of 66th and Penn Ave on Feb. 7.
The 4/534 stop near Bloomington, MN with no place for riders to safely get on or off.
A bus stop bench with a red backpack on it and icy snow packed up to the front of the bench
Aircraft category: military or government. Aircraft type: Bell 407 Registration: N118SP
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facebook post that reads "4,000 criminal illegal alien murderers, rapists, gang members and more taken OFF Minnesota's streets to protect American families."
Relative text reads: Your Medica health insurance policy has ended as of August 31, 2025. As stated in your policy your premiums must be prepaid to keep your coverage active. You had a three month grace period to pay your premiums. Because we did not receive your premiums on time, your coverage has now ended. As a result you are responsible for paying all claims and expenses that occurred after August 31, 2025. Your next opportunity for buying health insurance through ensure is during open enrollment which starts November 1, 2026 your coverage would start in 2027.
A cigarette lighter charger with three outlets for different chargers. A person is holding it with their hand against their leg inside, near a table.
A large banner covers the top of a building at the intersection of Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street.
An illustrated skunk in a forest, somewhat colored in. Skunk is outlined in dot-to-dots.
An illustrated deer in a forested area colored in with colored pencils. The deer is outlined with dot-to-dots.
A flyer advertising a bike ride on Jan. 31 at 1:30 pm. Meet up at Milwaukee City Hall. Flyer says "RIDE TOGETHER STAND TOGETHER"
A large crowd gathers around a trapeze and circus stage during the 2024 Riverwest 24.
A person stand on top of a barricade made from dumpsters and fencing at Nicollet Avenue and 25th Street.
Text reads: A lot of non-Minnesotans are asking how they can help people in the Twin Cities. Here's a very easy way that will cost you absolutely nothing. Do not vent in the replies to videos or other posts from Minnesotans. We're all on edge, and your rageposting and doomposting isn't what we need right now.
Text reads: The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is aware of conditions on park paths, due to recent rain and snowfall and freeze-thaw temperature cycles. With warmer temperatures today and tomorrow, MPRB crews are working to clear paths and apply sand where necessary. Note: Sand is used on paths inside parks, in part because of salt's effect on water quality.
A drawing of a cat knocking over a glass that says ICE
Around 200 officers with MPD, Minnesota State Patrol and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) assisted throughout the night.
A dinosaur crushing a car on Portland Avenue. THIS IMAGE IS NOT AI. Taken by reporter Melody Hoffmann on Wed. Jan. 7. This statue has been on Portland Avenue for many, many years.
Text reads: Media Briefing: Minneapolis Mayor Frey, Chief O’Hara to provide update on overnight protests, plans for weekend WHAT: Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara will provide a brief update on overnight protests and plans for the weekend. WHEN: 10:30 a.m. TODAY, Jan. 10
A flyer advertising South News On Air, a one hour news show on KRSM, Fridays from 2-3 pm. You can call in during the radio program at 612-699-3222. You can call and pitch story ideas anytime at 612-208-3808
Text reads: City of Minneapolis Removes Barriers on Portland Avenue Jan. 9, 2026 (Minneapolis) – Keeping streets clear is a critical part of the City’s responsibility to protect lives, property, and first responders during emergencies. Blocking streets is a serious concern for fire and emergency medical response because it can delay response times and restrict access for emergency vehicles. To ensure emergency access, the City is removing the barriers currently blocking streets in the area of Wednesday’s shooting at East 34th Street and Portland Avenue. “Safety has to come first—every second matters when lives are on the line,” said Interim Chief Melanie Rucker, Minneapolis Fire Department. “Just up the street from this location, our crews were actively fighting a three-alarm fire on Monday night. When streets are blocked, it slows our response, limits access to critical resources and puts both residents and emergency responders at risk.”
Jacob Frey being sworn in with his family by his side at Pantages Theatre with elected City officials sitting behind him.
Tribal Secretary of the Red Lake Nation Sam Strong speaks as local elected officials sit behind him.
Side of business with a One On One sign in the window
A QR code to text me on Signal. My username is @phmelody.143
Screenshot of obituart reads in part: Jill Lisbeth Kibort of Chicago worked as a fashion model, holding swanky parties and mingling with social lights, but it was her work in the unglamorous surroundings of an HIV ward that better described her life. Ms. Kibort, 50, died of complications due to cancer on Friday, Feb. 6 in Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago. She was remembered for her devotion to the patients at the Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, where she volunteered since 1994, said John Wallace, her companion of 28 years."She would take these people in her arms or caress them or hold their hands," Wallace said. "She'd walk in on Easter, giggling and bringing them Easter baskets. Those little things means so much when you're alone." Ms. Kibory was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Rockford, attending Guilford High School.
Text reads: "if the plaintiffs can marshal the evidence contained in those pages to convince the jury that the PFAS industry knew it's chemicals or widespread among the general public and suspected they were harmful to humans, the jurors may find the companies that produce these products liable for damages. Stuart's argument, which will be echoed by the 4000+ plaintiffs waiting for their day in court, hinges on a few crucial moments in the late 1970s."
Radar at 1 p.m. on Nov. 25 showing a big storm system approaching Minneapolis
A larger orange shovel attached to two small wheels and a large metal pushing apparatus.
Bus ad reads: Stop for pedestrians at every corner. Yep...every single one.