Terrorism

North High scholar (photo by Elizabeth Flores) North High School is reborn: New principal and staff must remake the school while competing with a nearby charter school that has a similar mission. (Steve Brandt) School diversity goal widens: Two school board members agree that the district has made big strides from the days when a board member or two and the superintendent were black and only a few others in leadership as well.  But they say it's time to redefine racial and economic diversity in a district that's vastly changed since it was two-thirds white in the 1980s. (Steve Brandt) Somali terror trial: Defense grills witness: Hassan lied repeatedly during investigation before testifying against Minneapolis man, Omar attorney says. (Dan Browning and Allie Shah) Mass transit leads to a big transition: Auto repair wasn't going to fit along a light-rail line, so the owners decided to stake their future by buying real estate in the North … [Read more...] about Friday roundup: New start for North High, terror trial continues, mechanic-turned-investor

Contested school board race could sway union talks: Candidates Patty Wycoff and Josh Reimnitz, both with education experience, pursue District 4 spot with differing views on changing the role of seniority. (Steve Brandt) School district takes state to court: The dispute involves lease aid, money that the state Department of Education pays on behalf of charter schools to rent buildings. The state says it doesn't have to pay districts if they're both the authorizer and the landlord for a charter school, because of a law designed to prevent conflicts of interest. (Steve Brandt) Somali terror trial focuses on tapes: The FBI, disputing argument that suspect  Mahamud Said Omar is incompetent, says he told translator "They got me" after hearing tapes of his calls. (Dan Browning and Allie Shah) Philanthropy beat: Small loans can yield big results: This month marks the seventh anniversary of Kiva, a California-based nonprofit that allows ordinary citizens to make small … [Read more...] about Tuesday roundup: Pivotal school board race, fight over charter aid, tapes in terror trial

The Abubakar As-Siddique Islamic Center in South Minneapolis is one place the recruits met in 2007-2008. (photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii) Minneapolis janitor's trial exposes trail of terror recruiting: In an exclusive interview, an FBI agent sheds more light on the intricate plotting between figures in Somalia and Minnesota. (Allie Shah and Dan Browning) Also this week, Browning reports, a Minneapolis man considered a key terrorist recruiter was jailed Wednesday amid disclosure that another young Twin Cities man may have returned to Somalia to fight with Al-Shabab. 36-story apartment tower to rise near Loring Park: Twin Cities builders are in the midst of their best October in nearly a decade, as developers ramp up apartment construction and housing inventories fall. (Jim Buchta) Revisit the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, back in the day when it was built, thanks to the Star Tribune photo archives. Lowry Avenue Bridge to open Saturday with a flourish (Tim Harlow) … [Read more...] about Friday roundup: Glimpse of terror pipeline, apartment tower approved, waterfront’s glory days