Twin Cities Daily Digest — Thursday, March 26, 2026

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Golden Valley & West Metro

Robbinsdale History: 1918 Home Gardens Tracts Resurface Online A historical advertisement from the March 24, 1918 Minneapolis Sunday Tribune promoting "Robbinsdale Home Gardens" land tracts has been making the rounds on social media this week. The post offers a fascinating glimpse at early suburban development in what is now one of Golden Valley's closest neighbors. A fun reminder of how much the west metro has changed in just over a century.

Maple Grove House Fire — No Injuries Reported The Maple Grove Fire Department responded to a house fire Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3:22 p.m. on the 7300 block of Orchid Lane. Crews found fire on arrival and worked to contain it. No injuries were reported.

AAA Travel Spotlighted in Maple Grove AAA Travel in Maple Grove was featured on KSTP's Twin Cities Live, highlighting travel planning resources available at the local office. If you're thinking ahead to summer trips, it may be worth a visit.

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Minneapolis

No Kings Rally Saturday Could Draw 150,000 — Plan for Major Traffic Impacts St. Paul is preparing for a historic No Kings Day rally on Saturday, with organizers estimating crowds could reach 150,000. Police and organizers are focused on crowd safety and traffic management. Hundreds of volunteers will be on hand. Metro residents should expect significant road closures and transit disruptions across both cities.

Car Thefts Surge 28% in Minneapolis; Youth Involvement Alarming More than 1,400 cars have been reported stolen across Minneapolis so far this year — a nearly 28% jump over the same period in 2025. Police warn thieves are deploying new technology to defeat modern vehicle security systems. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office says 16 youth have been charged with auto theft this year, with a diversion group sounding the alarm about a 26% increase in youth involvement. Sixty-six vehicles were stolen in just the past six days alone.

Police Seek Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run That Killed St. Thomas Student Minneapolis police released a photo of the car believed to have struck and killed 22-year-old Seham Hassen, a University of St. Thomas student who was just weeks from graduation. The incident occurred Sunday morning. Her family is publicly seeking justice, and anyone with information is urged to contact MPD.

Annunciation Shooting Survivor Honored with Congressional Medal The 11-year-old boy who shielded his classmate during the Annunciation Catholic School mass shooting has been awarded a Congressional Medal. The young survivor's act of bravery during one of the most horrific events in the metro's recent history continues to inspire the community.

Blue Line Extension Would Cost $57 Million Annually to Operate A new analysis reveals the $3.2 billion Blue Line Extension — which has been debated for over a decade — would cost approximately $57 million to operate in its first year. The project, which would connect Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, remains a subject of intense controversy at Met Council and in the legislature.

MPS Considers Cutting 20% of School Counselors Minneapolis Public Schools is weighing cuts to roughly 20% of its counselor positions as the district works to close a significant budget gap. Growing community opposition is building, with parents and advocates arguing the cuts would harm students' mental health support at a critical time.

NFL Draft Could Come to Minneapolis in 2028 Mayor Jacob Frey posted a video Wednesday from outside U.S. Bank Stadium announcing the city's official bid to host the 2028 NFL Draft. Minneapolis previously hosted the Super Bowl in 2018 and has a strong track record with major sporting events.

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St. Paul

City to Pay $9.5 Million Settlement After Teen Shot at Oxford Community Center The St. Paul City Council approved a $9.5 million settlement Wednesday to the family of a teenager who was shot by a city employee at the Oxford Community Center. The vote came at the council's Wednesday afternoon meeting.

Rondo Community Land Trust Acquires Former Sears Site The Rondo Community Land Trust has purchased the former Sears property in St. Paul, with plans to transform it into a mixed-use development. The nonprofit's acquisition represents a significant step in community-led redevelopment along the historically Black Rondo corridor.

St. Paul Weighs Immigration Enforcement Reporting System The St. Paul City Council is considering a proposal to create a new mechanism for the public and city employees to report immigration enforcement activity. The move would tighten the city's existing separation ordinance amid ongoing federal immigration operations in the metro.

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Local Sports

Timberwolves Set NBA Record with 13-Point Overtime Comeback The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off the largest overtime comeback in NBA history Wednesday night, rallying from 13 points down in OT to stun the Houston Rockets. Remarkably, the Wolves were missing five of their top seven players for most of the rally. It's an instant classic for the record books.

Gable Steveson Signs with Real American Freestyle Wrestling Olympic gold medalist and former Gophers star Gable Steveson has signed with Real American Freestyle wrestling. Steveson, who won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, returns to the mat after his stint in professional wrestling.

Brett Larson Named New Gophers Men's Hockey Coach Duluth native Brett Larson has been announced as the next head coach of the University of Minnesota men's hockey program. Larson brings 16 years of collegiate coaching experience, including eight seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State, and says he's excited to be part of "something special" in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota Statewide

Highway 280 Construction Begins in April — Expect Closures Through August MnDOT announced a major construction project on Highway 280 starting in April. The highway will be fully closed through late August but is expected to reopen before the Minnesota State Fair. Metro commuters who use the 280 corridor between I-94 and Highway 36 should plan alternate routes now.

Governor Establishes Council on Operation Metro Surge Impacts Governor Walz has formally created a new Council on Recording the Truth of Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS, tasked with documenting the long-term impacts of federal immigration operations on Minnesota communities. The council will gather testimony and data from affected residents.

Bill Would Ban Private Equity from Owning Homes in Minnesota A new bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature would prohibit private equity firms from owning residential properties in the state. As housing costs continue to climb and institutional investors snap up homes, the proposal has sparked debate about affordability and market dynamics across the metro.

Omnibus Bill Constitutionality Questioned in Appeals Court A Minnesota appeals panel is entertaining the argument that the entire 2024 omnibus bill may be unconstitutional. The case has significant implications as the current legislature prepares to craft its own omnibus packages — or potentially one massive jumbo bill — this session.

Minnesota Senate Now Allows Children on Chamber Floor Following advocacy from a bipartisan group of senators with young children, the Minnesota Senate approved a new policy allowing kids on the floor of the chamber. The rule change was praised as a step toward making legislative service more accessible to parents.

Appeals Court Sides with Trump Administration on Immigrant Detention A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that the U.S. can continue to detain immigrants without bond, a victory for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda. The ruling has direct implications for detainees in Minnesota and across the country.

Government Funding Shutdown Pressure Mounts The federal funding shutdown continues to cause travel disruptions, missed paychecks, and warnings of potential airport closures — all of which could affect MSP International and federal workers across Minnesota. Congress has yet to reach a deal to end the impasse.

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Stay safe out there, Golden Valley. If you're heading to Saturday's No Kings rally, give yourself extra time and check MnDOT and Metro Transit for route updates.