Golden Valley Daily Digest — Saturday, March 28, 2026

Your neighborhood news from Golden Valley and the Twin Cities metro

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Golden Valley & West Metro

Minnesota lawmakers debate READ Act changes as literacy concerns persist State legislators are weighing revisions to the READ Act, Minnesota's landmark literacy law, as concerns continue about reading proficiency across the state. The story, produced through MinnPost's ThreeSixty Journalism Capitol Reporting Workshop, highlights the ongoing legislative tension over how best to support early readers. This is one to watch for Golden Valley-Robbinsdale School District families as any changes to literacy mandates will directly affect local classrooms.

Hennepin County commissioner: 'I'm not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety' Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene is drawing sharp criticism after publicly questioning the mandated role of the sheriff's office, which went $11 million over budget. Greene's comments have sparked pushback from law enforcement supporters across the county, including in west metro communities that rely on sheriff's deputies for patrol coverage. This budget fight could have real implications for public safety resources in Golden Valley and surrounding suburbs.

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Minneapolis

Blue Line light rail shut down for hours after stolen vehicle rolls onto tracks The Blue Line was out of service for multiple hours after a vehicle — reported stolen by Minneapolis Police — ended up on the tracks. Riders faced significant delays; Metro Transit provided bus bridges during the shutdown.

String of south Minneapolis shootings spark fears of spring violence uptick Three shootings in just days in south Minneapolis, including one fatal, have community members on edge heading into warmer weather. Residents are voicing concern about a seasonal pattern of rising gun violence.

1 man killed, 2 injured in triple shooting One man is dead and two others were injured in a shooting in Minneapolis. Police have not yet announced whether a suspect is in custody.

Minneapolis hits pause on proposed community safety center The city has paused plans for a community safety center required under the DOJ consent decree issued after George Floyd's murder in 2020. Details on the timeline and reasons for the delay are still emerging.

Hennepin County program targets teen auto theft As car thefts rise again in Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office is pushing police departments to resume referring juvenile offenders to an intervention program aimed at stopping teens from stealing cars.

City Council votes on rental assistance draw reaction from renters and landlords The Minneapolis City Council's recent votes on rental assistance programs are getting mixed reviews. Near Dinkytown, renters and landlords offered contrasting takes on whether the programs go far enough.

Lawmakers consider surveillance pricing ban at grocery stores Frustrated shoppers may get relief — state lawmakers are looking at banning so-called "surveillance pricing," where grocery stores use customer data to adjust prices. The proposal comes as food costs remain a top concern for Twin Cities families.

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St. Paul

'No Kings' rally expected to draw up to 150,000 to Capitol on Saturday If you're heading anywhere near downtown St. Paul today, plan ahead. Streets around the Capitol building will be closed most of the day for the "No Kings" rally, with additional road closures as marchers converge on the Capitol. Organizers and St. Paul police are preparing for as many as 150,000 attendees.

GOP Rep. Elliott Engen arrested on suspicion of DWI State Rep. Elliott Engen, a Republican candidate for state auditor, was booked into the Ramsey County Jail early Friday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated — just hours after speaking on the House floor.

License tab fee relief bill stalls before legislative break A bill to lower Minnesota's license plate tab fees did not advance before lawmakers left St. Paul for their weeklong holiday break Friday. The fate of the measure remains uncertain in the Senate.

1 dead in St. Paul Park crash One person was killed Friday afternoon in a crash on Highway 61 between 70th Street and 80th Street in St. Paul Park. Minnesota State Patrol is investigating.

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Local Sports

Wild 3, Panthers 2 — Eriksson Ek wins it with 4.4 seconds left Joel Eriksson Ek buried the game-winner with just 4.4 seconds remaining to lift the Minnesota Wild past the defending champion Florida Panthers 3-2 Thursday night. Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman also scored for the Wild in the dramatic finish.

Gophers women fall to No. 1 UCLA 80-56 in Sweet 16 Fourth-seeded Minnesota's NCAA Tournament run ended Friday night as top-seeded UCLA pulled away for an 80-56 win. Kiki Rice led the Bruins with 21 points and Lauren Betts added 16, ending the Gophers' bid to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2004.

Timberwolves to face Detroit Saturday without Edwards and McDaniels The Wolves will be shorthanded Saturday against the Pistons, with Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels both out. Head coach Chris Finch addressed the lineup at Friday's practice at Mayo Clinic Square.

Boys state basketball: Top-seeded Goodhue survives Albany in Class 1A semis No. 1 seed Goodhue held off No. 5 Albany in the first Class AA semifinal at the state tournament, overcoming a challenge after building an 11-point lead.

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Minnesota Statewide

Mark Cuban pays for Minnesota infant's medical flight after insurance denial Billionaire Mark Cuban stepped in to cover the cost of a medical flight for a Minnesota infant after the family's insurance denied coverage. A video of the denial call, posted by the baby's mother, went viral with millions of views — catching Cuban's attention just in time.

First chick spotted in Minnesota EagleCam nest The Minnesota DNR confirmed at least one eaglet has hatched in the popular EagleCam nest after viewers spotted the chick's head poking up around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Time to tune in if you haven't already.

Downtown St. Paul office towers see double-digit value drops again The seven largest taxable office buildings in downtown St. Paul took another significant hit in assessed value this year, raising fresh concerns about the city's tax base and financial outlook as remote work continues to reshape demand for office space.

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Have a great Saturday, Golden Valley. If you're heading to the Capitol rally, give yourself extra time and check road closures before you go.