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Kyle Stokes

@kystokes.bsky.social

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

197 Posts3042 Follower295 Folgt
Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · yesterday

Scoop: In a private call with top officials, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her lashed at requests to delay a homeless encampment sweep. She attributed her anger to “fuckery” being said about her in public, 3 officials told @axios.com . One state rep logged off in frustration. www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Scoop: St. Paul's homelessness meeting with top officials went off the rails

Mayor Kaohly Her's controversial shift in homelessness policy comes as she faces a separate investigation.

axios.com

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Legally, MPD reform plan doesn't *require* building the all-new training facility on the City Council's agenda this week But practically, experts say the city is "pretty boxed in." It highlights a real debate about the costs and methods for police reform >> www.axios.com/2026/03/24/m...

Minneapolis training facility is a key test for police reform settlement

It could be the city's most painful lesson yet in what its police reform plan will cost.

axios.com

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Breathtaking sums of donated money may be helping hold back a wave of eviction filings in the Twin Cities after the ICE enforcement surge A survey of 124 of those groups offers a sense of just how much mutual aid money was distributed… and it’s a LOT >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Donor cash helped Minnesota immigrants pay rent — now it's slowing

Advocates warn eviction risks could rise if state or local governments don't come through with aid.

axios.com

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 6mo ago

FanDuel Sports Net's parent company just gave notice it's laying off 20 Minneapolis-based employees FDSN broadcasts the Wild, Wolves and Lynx. It's been reported it might shut down if its parent company can't complete a sale. Layoffs are effective April 14 — the end of the NHL/NBA regular season

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.
Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Speaking now: @governorwalz.mn.gov is "cautiously optimistic" about news of federal drawdown in MN. BUT "they left us with deep damage, generational trauma … and many unanswered questions: Where are our children?" Where do the investigations into Good and Pretti shootings stand?

Gov. Tim Walz at a podium in an ornamented room
Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I'm a journalist. Here's the story based on a ridealong I did >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c... My rapid response ridealong host and I talked through concerns beforehand. I agreed that certain details about communication wouldn't be included, nor would identities of other RR volunteers w/o consent.

How Minnesota's rapid responders track ICE agents in real time

Observer group activities have become a central point of tension between the Trump administration and the state's elected leaders.

axios.com

Will Stancil@whstancil.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I would really appreciate if journalists who have done ridealongs would speak up about how important they are to helping Minneapolis. As I’ve said many times, opsec fears are the greatest threat to the networks we’ve built. But the reason we’re out here is to show the world what’s happening.

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 6mo ago

At 3:45, the ICE watch network spotted ICE agents as they entered the neighborhood By 4, they knew their final destination By 4:15, 40+ people were in the streets What I saw on a ridealong with Minnesota "rapid responders" that have been tracking ICE's every move: www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

How Minnesota's rapid responders track ICE agents in real time

Observer group activities have become a central point of tension between the Trump administration and the state's elected leaders.

axios.com

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 6mo ago

BREAKING: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issues a statement saying he spoke with Trump today "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, 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.”
Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Mayor Jacob Frey said Secretary Noem's suggestion that he set up "safe zones" for protests is unconstitutional: "The entire country is a safe zone" for free speech Also, he quipped: "Could you imagine *ME* telling *Minneapolis activists,* 'Hey guys. Just protest in this single park. Nowhere else.'"

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 7mo ago

"There’s an old Jewish phrase which goes… [a few lines of Hebrew*]… which is generally translates to, 'There’s nothing that brings two mayors together like a bullshit federal investigation." —Mpls Mayor Jacob Frey, on stage with St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her this morning

A large convention hall where Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her are onstage
Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 7mo ago

"There’s an old Jewish phrase which goes… [a few lines of Hebrew*]… which is generally translates to, 'There’s nothing that brings two mayors together like a bullshit federal investigation." —Mpls Mayor Jacob Frey, on stage with St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her this morning

A large convention hall where Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her are onstage
Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Axios has video from the scene where federal agents fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis this AM. According to footage obtained by Axios' Nick Hatler, an SUV attempts to drive past several ICE vehicles — and the SUV does appear to strike an agent >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

What we know about the ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis

Federal officials are engaged in what they call "the largest immigration enforcement operation ever" in the state.

axios.com

Kyle Stokes@kystokes.bsky.social · 8mo ago

JUST IN: After weeks of talks, Minneapolis' mayor & City Council leadership have reached an agreement on the $2 billion city budget Mayor Frey and council budget chair @aishaforward10.com jointly announced a deal that resolves the big sticking points — especially earmarks to MPD spending

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 …