Golden Valley Daily Digest — Thursday, April 2, 2026

Golden Valley & West Metro

Road rage attack leads to two arrests in downtown Robbinsdale. Patience Jentzen, 31, and Clarence Lyons, 37, have been arrested and face assault charges after allegedly attacking a man with a golf club and stealing his car keys in downtown Robbinsdale. The violent confrontation was reportedly fueled by road rage. Residents in the area should be aware that the investigation is ongoing.

Dungeons & Dragons & Doughnuts returns to St. Louis Park on April 11. Angel Food Bakery in St. Louis Park hosts its monthly D&D night, where your ticket gets you a doughnut, a set of dice, and two hours of tabletop adventure. It's a fun, casual way to meet neighbors — no experience necessary.

Beloved DJ Mark Wheat is back — and teaching yoga in St. Louis Park. The familiar voice of longtime Minnesota Public Radio host Mark Wheat has resurfaced at Yoga Center Retreat in St. Louis Park, where he's been leading sessions. MinnPost profiles his return to the local scene after stepping away from the airwaves.

Weekly protests continue across Minnesota. An updated list of recurring weekly protests around the state is circulating, with multiple events in the metro area. Organizers encourage residents to find one that fits their schedule.

Minneapolis

Infant found safe after car stolen from north Minneapolis day care. A 3-month-old baby was missing for more than an hour Tuesday night after a thief stole a vehicle from a day care parking lot in north Minneapolis. Officers located the child before an Amber Alert could be issued, but the suspect escaped and remains at large.

Minneapolis moves forward on 1st Avenue redesign. The city is planning changes to sidewalks and lanes on 1st Avenue from 8th Street to Washington Avenue. The project aims to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow through the heart of downtown.

Downtown commercial property values have dropped 28% over the past decade. New research highlights a long-term decline in downtown Minneapolis commercial property values, raising concerns that the shrinking tax base could shift more of the burden onto residential homeowners across the city.

George Floyd Square reconstruction moves ahead. The city is proceeding with plans to reconstruct 38th Street from Park Avenue to 10th Avenue and Chicago Avenue from 27th Street to 39th Street, formalizing changes at the historic intersection.

Motor vehicle thefts up nearly 28% in Minneapolis. Police are sounding the alarm about a sharp increase in car thefts this year and are urging residents to lock vehicles and never leave them running unattended.

Kado no Mise chef earns James Beard nomination. Shigeyuki Furukawa, chef and co-proprietor of Minneapolis sushi restaurant Kado no Mise, is the sole Minnesota semifinalist for the 2026 James Beard Awards — a major honor for the acclaimed concept.

Key city leaders make their case to keep their jobs. Several top Minneapolis officials are pitching their records and plans to hold costs down as they seek reappointment. All have been involved in significant cost-saving or reform efforts during their tenures.

St. Paul

Toddler in critical condition after falling from window. A 2-year-old child fell from a second-floor window on the 900 block of Euclid Street in St. Paul around 6:34 p.m. Tuesday and is in critical condition. Police say the incident appears to be accidental.

Saints home opener tonight at CHS Field. Baseball season is officially here — the St. Paul Saints kick off their home schedule tonight. Head down to CHS Field in Lowertown if you're looking to catch some early-season ball.

Gas prices topping $4 a gallon and squeezing household budgets. With fuel costs climbing past $4 nationally, AAA reports that higher prices at the pump are starting to ripple into other daily expenses for Twin Cities families.

Local Sports

Wild coach Hynes talks defensive combinations ahead of stretch run. Head coach John Hynes addressed the media after Tuesday's practice at TRIA Rink in downtown St. Paul, discussing lineup adjustments and scheduling as the Wild push toward the playoffs.

St. Thomas engineering students team up with the Wild to redesign shin guards. The inaugural Minnesota Wild Hockey Lab Competition paired university students with the NHL club to solve a real-world equipment challenge — a unique bridge between academics and pro sports.

Gopher gymnastics heads to NCAA Regional Semifinals. The University of Minnesota gymnastics team is preparing for this weekend's regional meet at Oregon State. Head coach Jenny Hansen and Big Ten Freshman of the Year are among those leading the charge.

Weather

⚠️ FORECAST FIRST ALERT: Wintry mix and icy roads through noon today. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through midday Thursday for icing across much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Expect a messy mix of sleet and freezing rain this morning with slick roads — give yourself extra time for the commute. Conditions should improve by the afternoon, but use caution on bridges and overpasses especially.

Minnesota Statewide

Minnesota presses ahead on hemp licenses despite looming federal ban. The state has opened a new licensing window for low-potency hemp products, even as a recently passed congressional measure threatens to make hemp effectively illegal nationwide. Businesses and consumers face an uncertain regulatory landscape.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is launching a month-long campaign to address distracted driving, citing more than 33,000 related crashes statewide between 2020 and 2026 — 162 of them fatal. Put the phone down, neighbors.

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Stay safe on the roads today, Golden Valley. That wintry mix should clear out by lunchtime — spring will get here eventually.