Golden Valley Daily Digest — Sunday, March 22, 2026

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Golden Valley & West Metro

Looking for a grad party venue? A Twin Cities resident is searching for a space that can hold about 60 people with a kitchen and island setup — if you know of a community center or rental hall in the Golden Valley or west metro area, the conversation is happening over on the r/TwinCities subreddit. A good reminder that graduation season is right around the corner.

Plymouth eyes half-cent sales tax for $135M athletic facility upgrade. Just up the road, the City of Plymouth is considering a half-cent local sales tax to fund a massive $135 million upgrade to its athletic facilities. Residents and neighboring communities like Golden Valley will want to watch this one — it could reshape recreational options across the west metro.

Moving to Minneapolis from Dallas. A new transplant is heading to the metro from Dallas this June for work and looking for neighborhood advice. If you've got tips on the west metro — Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, or Robbinsdale — now's the time to be a welcoming neighbor.

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Minneapolis

Four teenagers shot outside Lake Street Popeye's. Four boys — one 16-year-old and three 17-year-olds — suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds late Friday night after being shot while leaving a business along Lake Street West around 11:56 p.m. The suspect remains at large, and community anti-violence activists are mobilizing in response.

Derrick Thompson sentenced on federal gun and drug charges. Thompson, previously sentenced to more than 58 years in prison on 15 counts of criminal vehicular homicide for a crash that killed five women, has now been sentenced on additional federal firearms and drug charges stemming from the same incident.

Annunciation shooting survivor to receive national honor. A boy who shielded his classmate during the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School will be honored next week in Washington, D.C., for demonstrating extraordinary bravery. The recognition highlights the ongoing recovery of the school community.

Minnesota lawmakers push to restrict minors' access to AI companions. Following suicides of teenagers in Colorado, Florida, and California linked to prolonged conversations with AI chatbots, state legislators are advancing a bill to end minors' access to AI companion apps. The proposal is gaining bipartisan traction at the Capitol.

Twin Cities Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr with relief. As Ramadan ends, Muslim families packed Holy Land Grocery and Deli in Minneapolis stocking up on halal meats, dates, and pastries. Community members expressed some relief from the anxiety surrounding recent ICE enforcement talk.

Upcoming events at Malcolm Yards and Goldy's Run. The Market at Malcolm Yards is ramping up spring programming, and the 16th annual Goldy's Run is set for April 12 with 10-mile, 10K, 5K, and kids' race options. Registration is open now.

Trees cleared along the river north of Broadway. Minneapolis residents are raising questions about why nearly all the trees along the Mississippi riverbank north of Broadway have been removed — and they're not happy about it.

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St. Paul

All four U of M choirs performing together for the first time ever. In a historic first, all four University of Minnesota choral ensembles will share the stage for a free concert in St. Paul this Sunday. Don't miss it.

Man arrested in fatal February hit-and-run. A suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the death of Lisa Giguere, 58, who was struck by a vehicle while crossing Pennsylvania Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16.

Red Lake Nation opens cannabis dispensary in West St. Paul. Building on their role as the first to launch recreational cannabis sales in Minnesota back in 2023, the Red Lake Nation has opened a new dispensary in West St. Paul.

Man charged in deadly domestic shooting. Creshawn Depre Pryor, 22, faces second-degree murder and attempted murder charges after allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend and killing another man in her St. Paul home.

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Local Sports

Wild edge Stars 2-1 in OT — playoff preview? Vladimir Tarasenko scored 3:06 into overtime as the Wild beat Dallas 2-1 Saturday night in what could be a first-round playoff preview. Filip Gustavsson was strong in net, and Bobby Brink had the other goal. The Wild were without stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek due to injuries.

Gophers' McEnelly wins NCAA wrestling title. University of Minnesota redshirt sophomore Max McEnelly defeated top-ranked Rocco Welsh of Penn State 4-3 to claim the 184-pound national championship Saturday night. A huge moment for the Gophers wrestling program.

Gophers women survive March Madness scare. Minnesota held off No. 13 seed Green Bay 75-58 in the NCAA Tournament first round behind 21 points from Amaya Battle and a dominant 30-point fourth quarter. They move on.

Timberwolves fall to Trail Blazers 108-104. Jerami Grant hit a dagger 3-pointer with 22.2 seconds left as Portland escaped with the win Friday night. A tough loss for the Wolves.

Blackhawks snap seven-year losing streak vs. Wild. Connor Bedard scored and Alex Vlasic made a game-saving stop at the buzzer as Chicago beat Minnesota 2-1 earlier in the week, ending a drought dating back seven years.

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Weather

Record-smashing 78°F on Saturday — then reality hits Sunday. The Twin Cities soared to 78 degrees on Saturday, obliterating the previous March 21 record of 76°F set all the way back in 1938. Several other Minnesota cities also set new records. But don't get too comfortable — meteorologist Matt Serwe says temperatures crash back to reality on Sunday. Enjoy the memory.

Gardeners: hold off on those seedlings. Despite the warm snap, local gardeners are debating whether it's truly safe to start seedlings indoors. The consensus: go ahead with a grow light setup inside, but don't rush anything outdoors just yet.

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Minnesota Statewide

Five killed in head-on crash in southwest Minnesota. An SUV collided with a transit van on Highway 71 in Cottonwood County on Friday, killing five people. Authorities are investigating the cause.

Trump threatens to deploy ICE officers to airports. President Trump said Saturday he will order federal immigration officers to assist with airport security starting Monday unless Democrats agree to a funding bill to end the government shutdown. Minnesota travelers should be aware of potential changes at MSP.

Bernie Sanders coming to St. Paul's No Kings rally March 28. The "No Kings" rally in Saint Paul next Saturday is expected to draw historic turnout, with Senator Bernie Sanders confirming his attendance alongside other notable figures. The event kicks off in the afternoon.

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Stay safe out there, Golden Valley. Enjoy what's left of the warmth — and go Gophers. 🌤️