We're Number One!

Actually, they're #1, across that too-narrow river:

An FBI report to be released Monday will say that violent crime reports in Minneapolis increased more last year than any other Midwest city and that the jump is among the tops in the United States. The crimes of homicide, rape, aggravated assault and robbery increased by 35 percent from 2004, compared to an average 5 percent increase for cities of similar size to Minneapolis across the nation, according to FBI crime statistics given to interim Police Chief Tim Dolan on Friday. Violent crime rose an average of 2 percent nationwide.

And according to Minneapolis police data, there were 2,524 reported violent crimes through June 5, up 35 percent from 1,874 at the same time last year. And serious crime, which includes violent crimes plus burglaries, theft and arson, is up 19 percent.

The increase in Minneapolis' violent crime reports is alarming but not surprising, Mayor R.T. Rybak said. He said the city has responded to the crime upturn through new initiatives that aim to crack down on gang activity, reform juvenile offenders and turn at-risk youth away from unlawful lifestyles. Rybak also said he's tried to get more state and federal resources to put more police on the street.

There's your Minneapolis in a nutshell: They're perpetually one more after-school program away from Utopia.