Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/janis-lane-ewart/)
In an open letter to the community, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges acknowledged that some of the city’s police officers have abused their power, and she promised to repair the department’s reputation as a cornerstone of her administration.
The Minneapolis City Council may see some significant changes in the coming election, as incumbents have been challenged strongly by newcomers. In the city’s 9th ward, neighborhood activist and Minneapolis Public Schools communications staffer Alondra Cano is running against five other candidates. She recently sat down with KFAI’s Janis Lane-Ewart, who asked about the most important issues facing the city. Cano put educational disparities at the top of her list. [Audio below] Continue Reading
Dennis Spears is a well-known performer on the Minnesota music scene. In the fall, Dennis will be recognized for his achievements when he is inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Dennis is famous for his smooth and soulful covers of some of Nat King Cole’s biggest hits. On July 26th and 27th, he’ll sing some of those songs and will be accompanied by The Wolverines at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Dennis Spears recently spoke with Janis Lane-Ewart on The Morning Blend about his upcoming show, his Induction into the hall of fame and what Nat King Cole’s music means to him. [Audio below]
Eariler In June, Northern Spark provided a collection of all-night arts events in the Lowertown section of St. Paul, and this weekend Minneapolis will answer with its own late-night arts extravaganza – a free festival called Secret City.Musicians, actors, dancers, bicyclists, ping pong players and more will congregate starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, lighting up the Midtown Greenway and sections of downtown and the Loring Park area, including the Minneapolis Convention Center.The programming for the Convention Center Plaza includes a new sculpture that draws on tweets to reflect the city’s mood. The programming in the plaza is curated by artist Leah Nelson, an award-winning dancer, actor and choreographer. She talked with Janis Lane-Ewart on the Morning Blend, who started the interview asking about one of the features of Secret City, a bicycle ballet. [Audio below] Continue Reading