Author: Brad Canham

Photo of Brad Canham

Prior to moving to Eden Prairie in 2000, Brad served as an newspaper editor and hard news reporter. In Eden Prairie he worked as an executive in high-tech firms, including ADC Telecommunications and Allot Communications. More recently he has worked in high-tech firms in Minnesota and in Silicon Valley while residing in Eden Prairie. Brad graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA, and has a Master of Business Communications degree from the University of St. Thomas (UST). Brad is currently researching high-tech entrepreneurial leadership for a doctorate from the UST-School of Education. “Brad the Dad” has three children, one grown, two in Eden Prairie schools, and especially enjoys exploring Eden Prairie’s trials and lakes with his wife Sandi.

Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) reached out to a wide array of Eden Prairie residents for reactions to the guilty verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s killing of George Floyd. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a jury at 4:06 pm April 20 at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. Below are some of the comments EPLN received Tuesday evening: Community members react Bayle Gelle is an Eden Prairie resident and the father of Dolal Idid. Dolal Idid was shot and killed earlier this year by the Minneapolis police. …

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Citing the potential for “civil unrest” associated with a verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin trial and Brooklyn Center shooting of Duante Wright Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an emergency order on April 19. The order includes seven metro counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. The Governor’s emergency order notes the role of “Operation Safety Net (OSN), a joint planning and response effort between the State of Minnesota and many local jurisdictions to coordinate and send resources” in which the Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) actively participates. The City Council of…

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A peaceful protest of approximately 60 people was held Friday, April 16 at the corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Singletree Lane in Eden Prairie. The rally was brought together by OneMinnesota. The OneMinnesota Facebook page which was created in June, 2020 self-describes the group as “A group of BIPOC, Mixed racial and Allies who stand together to challenge the system through education, action, and unity bridging,” focused on addressing systemic racism. (Note: BIPOC is an acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.) The protesters held signs at each of the four corners of the intersection. Vanessa Nordstrom, an…

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On April 13, Joyce Lorenz the communication manager at the City of Eden Prairie forwarded written answers by Eden Prairie Police Chief Greg Weber to questions about the role of the Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) at the April 12 protests in Brooklyn Center over the killing of Daunte Wright. Q. Who pays for EPPD participation in joint police actions in areas outside Eden Prairie? A. Hennepin County agencies all participate in a Mutual Aid Agreement and each agency pays their own costs. This type of mutual aid and interdepartmental cooperation happens routinely in response to calls, investigations and sharing…

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The area around the Brooklyn Center Police Department was the epicenter of evening protests on Monday, April 12, over the killing of Daunte Wright and the Eden Prairie police department was there. According to the Twitter account (@UR_Ninja) of news organization, Unicorn Riot, an Eden Prairie police SUV “just rolled up to join the police line suddenly” around 9:47 pm Monday evening. According to the city of Eden Prairie communications manager, Joyce Lorenz, “The EPPD responded to a call for assistance last night, along with many other state, county and municipal public safety agencies.” As of 10:15 am, Tuesday, April 13,…

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Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) released the following statement: “Yesterday, our community suffered another horrific tragedy when Daunte Wright was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic and bench warrant stop in Brooklyn Center, just next door to the district I represent in Congress. At a press conference today, the Brooklyn Center Police Chief asserted that his officer had confused her gun for her Taser, and fired the fatal shot by mistake – which appears to be corroborated by body cam footage. I’m as horrified as I am incredulous that such a mistake is even possible, and this news comes as little comfort…

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On April 12, 2 pm during a public safety news conference Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a county level curfew including Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dakota counties. The curfew was prompted by the killing of Daunte Wright by Brooklyn Center police on April 11. According to the state run Twitter account, Minnesota Operational Safety Net (OSN), the temporary curfew is scheduled from 7 p.m. through 6 a.m. Tuesday. The Minnesota OSN is a consortium of nine public safety entities in the metro Minnesota area delivering safety updates involving the Derek Chauvin trial. Travel Restrictions During the curfew, no one may travel…

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At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27, the city of Eden Prairie is joining hundreds of millions of people around the globe to participate in Earth Hour, the world’s largest public action to stand in solidarity for the protection of the planet. The grassroots Earth Hour organization is debuting a short video highlighting the planet Earth on March 27 here. It also provides digital assets to share via social media here. As a symbol of Eden Prairie’s commitment to the environment, the clocks on Eden Prairie’s iconic water tower will go dark for Earth Hour 2021. The City’s participation in this global event…

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Thea Hamre, a graduate of Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. The undergraduate student is a junior at St. Kate’s majoring in social work and is the child of Cynthia and Jack Hamre of Eden Prairie, MN. The St. Catherine University dean’s list recognizes students who achieve a semester grade point average of 3.667 or higher. About St. Catherine University A dynamic university located in St. Paul, Minnesota, St. Catherine University prepares students to make a difference in…

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