Twin Cities Daily Digest — Thursday, March 12, 2026

Your daily roundup for Golden Valley and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro

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Golden Valley & West Metro

Apartment Fire Aftermath on Broadway Ave in Robbinsdale Residents of The Point Apartments on Broadway Ave in Robbinsdale are still dealing with the fallout from a building fire that broke out on November 30, 2025, forcing tenants from their homes due to extensive damage. Displaced residents have shared their struggles with recovery and finding new housing in the months since the blaze. If you live nearby or know anyone affected, the r/TwinCities community thread has details on how former tenants are coping. (Reddit)

Suburban Bus Service Could Be Cut Under House Bill A bill moving through the Minnesota House could jeopardize suburban bus routes that have served Twin Cities suburbs — including communities in the west metro — for nearly 40 years. Lawmakers debated commuter bus funding alongside a separate self-driving car bill at the Capitol this week. Riders who depend on suburban transit connections to get to work or appointments should watch this one closely. (KSTP)

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Minneapolis

Mayor Frey Vetoes Eviction Pause, Proposes $1M in Rental Aid Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed a City Council ordinance that would have temporarily extended the eviction notice period from 30 days to 60 days for tenants facing removal. On the same day, Frey announced a proposed $1 million investment in emergency rental assistance funds as an alternative approach to keeping residents housed. The Council could attempt a veto override, but the dueling moves highlight a sharp divide at City Hall over how to handle the city's housing crisis. (KARE 11 | MinnPost)

MISSING: Plymouth Police Seeking 24-Year-Old Plymouth Police are asking the public for help locating a missing 24-year-old. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Plymouth Police Department through Hennepin County dispatch at 952-258-5321. (KARE 11)

Minneapolis Car Thefts Spike While St. Paul's Decline Auto thefts in Minneapolis have increased in the first two months of 2026, bucking the trend in St. Paul, where stolen vehicle numbers continue to fall. The diverging statistics raise questions about what's driving the difference between the two cities' approaches to the ongoing problem. (KSTP)

State Troopers Circling NE Minneapolis Residents of Northeast Minneapolis reported a noticeable State Trooper presence circling the neighborhood Wednesday. No official explanation has been provided yet. (Reddit)

Frozen Lakes Report: Ice Generally Unsafe The March 11 frozen lakes report warns that ice conditions across metro lakes are generally unsafe, with significant melting underway. Many lakes are inaccessible from their main ice sheets, and north-side access is compromised on all surveyed lakes. Time to hang up the auger for the season, folks. (Reddit)

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St. Paul

Mixed-Status Family Faces Uncertainty After ICE Raid A St. Paul family's life was turned upside down when federal agents broke through the door of their home, detaining a father and sister. The mixed-immigration-status family now faces deep uncertainty about their future as the case draws attention to the human impact of stepped-up federal enforcement operations in Minnesota. (KARE 11)

Home Health Care Agency Owner Charged in $600K Medicaid Fraud Gertrude Kemunto Mongare, 34, the owner of a St. Paul home health care agency, has been charged with six counts related to allegedly defrauding Medicaid out of more than $600,000. Investigators say the scheme involved billing for services that were never provided. (KSTP)

Pedestrian Critically Injured in St. Paul Crash A woman is in critical condition after being struck by a car Wednesday at the intersection of White Bear Avenue North and Maryland Avenue in St. Paul. Officers responded to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. (KSTP)

Questions Raised About Ride-Along Policies After Fatal Ramsey County Crash A civilian was inside a Ramsey County sheriff's squad SUV during a deadly crash, raising pointed questions about the county's ride-along policies and oversight. 5 Eyewitness News confirmed the young man's presence in the vehicle at the time of the incident. (KSTP)

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Local Sports

Timberwolves Routed by Clippers 153-128 It was a rough night for the Wolves. Kawhi Leonard torched Minnesota for 45 points as the Los Angeles Clippers rolled to a 153-128 victory Wednesday night — the 153 points allowed are a franchise-record for the Timberwolves. The Clippers have now won three straight and six of their last seven, climbing above .500. (KSTP)

Vikings Free Agency Tracker NFL free agency is underway and the Vikings are active. KSTP is maintaining a running tracker of all Minnesota's moves — check in regularly as the roster takes shape heading into the 2026 season. (KSTP)

Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience at Target Field Minnesota Monthly's annual Food & Wine Experience is coming to Target Field, giving attendees a chance to sample wines and dishes from Twin Cities restaurants. A great excuse to get inside the ballpark before the Twins' season starts. (KARE 11)

Springsteen for Patti Smith, Anyone? One dedicated music fan is looking to trade a Bruce Springsteen ticket (Target Center, March 31) for a Patti Smith ticket at the Parkway Theater on March 14. If that sounds like your kind of deal, check the r/TwinCities thread. (Reddit)

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Minnesota Statewide

Lyft Settles with Minnesota Over Denied Rides for Service Animal Users Minnesota announced a settlement with Lyft over complaints that the rideshare company denied rides to passengers with service animals. "Minnesotans must be treated with dignity and afforded full access under the law," said Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. (KARE 11)

Diesel Prices Driving Real Pain at the Pump While gas prices are elevated across Minnesota, diesel is the real story — up $1 per gallon in the state and even more nationally. The increased cost of diesel ripples through the entire economy, hitting consumers through higher prices on shipped goods. (KARE 11)

Inflation Steady as Lawmakers Push Dueling Affordability Plans Inflation is holding steady, and both House Republicans and DFLers at the Capitol have held press conferences this week to pitch their competing plans to lower costs for Minnesotans. Expect affordability to be a defining theme of this legislative session. (KARE 11)

U.S. Attorney's Office Drops Four Drug Cases in Minnesota Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have dismissed four drug cases, a development uncovered by KARE 11 after reporting that the U.S. Attorney's Office also asked a judge to delay a high-profile fraud trial. The dismissals raise questions about shifting federal enforcement priorities in the state. (KARE 11)

Capitol Confrontation Highlights Minnesota's Fraud Impasse A tense exchange at the State Capitol this week underscored the ongoing partisan divide over how Minnesota should address fraud — a theme that has dominated legislative debate this session. (MinnPost)

Water Infrastructure Dominates Bonding Bill Conversations Growing communities like Big Lake in Sherburne County — which ballooned from 2,200 residents in 1980 to 11,700 by 2020 — are driving heavy demand for water infrastructure funding in the state bonding bill. Water projects are emerging as a dominant theme as lawmakers decide where to direct capital investment dollars. (MinnPost)

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That snowblower comment on Reddit hits different today. Stay warm out there, Golden Valley.