Twin Cities Daily Digest — Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Your neighborhood news for Golden Valley and the greater metro

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Golden Valley & West Metro

North Memorial Hospital needs the same help as HCMC — but will it get it? While much of the legislative spotlight has focused on HCMC's financial crisis, North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale is facing its own emergency. CEO Trevor Sawallish says the hospital lost $50 million in 2025, and he's pressing lawmakers for the same kind of state intervention being discussed for HCMC. For Golden Valley residents who rely on North Memorial as their closest hospital, this is a story worth watching closely at the Capitol. (KARE 11)

HCMC's survival threatened as staff call for state action Hennepin County Medical Center is on the brink of closure amid a dire financial outlook, prompting health care workers and union leaders to demand legislative intervention. HCMC serves as a critical safety-net hospital for the entire metro, including many west metro residents. The push for state funding is now one of the most urgent items at the legislature this session. (MinnPost)

Best old fashioned in the west metro? A St. Louis Park resident is crowdsourcing the best bourbon old fashioned spots in the west metro on Reddit. If you've got a favorite watering hole in the SLP–Golden Valley–Hopkins corridor, the thread is worth a look — and a contribution. (r/TwinCities)

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Minneapolis

Murder conviction vacated after 18 years A judge has vacated the murder conviction of Jerrell Michael Brown, who served 18 years for the 2008 killing of Darius Miller at a Minneapolis nightclub. A new evidence review led to the reversal, raising serious questions about the original prosecution. (KARE 11)

Police Chief O'Hara lacks council votes for approval Sources tell KSTP that Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara does not currently have enough city council votes to win approval. The development adds fresh uncertainty to the city's public safety leadership at a critical time. (KSTP)

$100M state grant program gets full audit after investigative reports The Minnesota Legislative Auditor has ordered a full performance audit of the $100 million Minnesota Progress grants program following a series of 5 INVESTIGATES reports by KSTP. The audit will examine how the funds were awarded and whether proper oversight was in place. (KSTP)

Woman charged in hit-and-run that killed St. Thomas student Gabryrella Marie Liebgott, 22, has been charged with Criminal Vehicular Homicide after a hit-and-run that killed a University of St. Thomas senior. She allegedly fled the scene after the collision in Minneapolis. (KSTP)

Stanley's Northeast Bar Room hit by vehicle — again A truck ran a red light Monday morning, causing a multi-vehicle crash that sent one vehicle smashing into Stanley's Northeast Bar Room. This isn't the first time the popular NE Minneapolis spot has been hit; safety improvements are now in the works. The bar says it will be temporarily closed until Monday afternoon. (KSTP | KARE 11)

Video challenges ICE narrative on north Minneapolis shooting Newly released city camera footage from a Jan. 14 shooting involving federal agents in north Minneapolis appears to contradict ICE's account of what happened. The video is drawing renewed scrutiny to the incident. (KARE 11)

Planning Commission advances overnight parking for people living in cars The Minneapolis Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend allowing overnight parking lots for people living in their vehicles. The proposal now moves forward for further city council consideration. (KSTP)

Man dies from January shooting injuries Christopher Devonté Brown of Minneapolis, who was critically injured in a shooting at 1500 Nicollet in January, has died from his injuries. He was in his 30s. (KSTP)

Hennepin County commissioner faces pushback over controversial comments A Hennepin County commissioner is facing mounting criticism over controversial comments related to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. KSTP is pressing for clarity on the remarks and their implications. (KSTP)

MSP International Film Festival returns for 45th year The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is back with its signature eclectic mix of international and independent cinema — from plucky kid adventures to love stories to troubled Scandinavian dramas. (MinnPost)

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St. Paul

Boy seriously injured in shooting; man arrested A boy was seriously injured in a shooting Monday afternoon in the 1500 block of Hoyt Avenue East in St. Paul. Officers responded around 3:30 p.m. and a man has been arrested in connection with the incident. (KSTP)

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey coming to St. Paul The circus is coming back to town — Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will perform in St. Paul this October, marking the first time in more than two decades the show has visited the Twin Cities. (KARE 11)

Medicaid coverage for substance use treatment faces uncertainty Thousands of Minnesotans rely on Medicaid to cover substance use disorder treatment, but potential federal changes could disrupt that access. One man profiled by MinnPost described cycling through 16 or 17 treatment programs, illustrating how deeply intertwined substance use care is with physical and mental health services. (MinnPost)

Heads up, St. Paul: Olameter utility workers are legit (but stay cautious) A Reddit thread is raising alarms about a young man in a yellow vest and white SUV working for "Olameter" asking to mark gas lines. While the company does perform legitimate utility work, residents are right to ask for ID and verify before granting access to their property. (r/stpaul)

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Local Sports

Wild win 4th straight, beat Kraken 5-2 Vladimir Tarasenko scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist as the Wild downed Seattle 5-2 Tuesday night. The win sets up a pivotal showdown with the Dallas Stars. (KSTP)

Timberwolves crush Pacers 124-104, closing in on top-6 seed Ayo Dosunmu led the way with 24 points, while Julius Randle and Bones Hyland each chipped in 19 as the Wolves rolled past Indiana on Tuesday. The win moves Minnesota closer to clinching a top-6 playoff seed. (KSTP)

Twins top Tigers 4-2 behind Taj Bradley Taj Bradley outdueled Detroit ace Tarik Skubal, giving up just one run on six hits with no walks and improving to 2-0 on the season. Ryan Jeffers drove in two runs to power the Twins' offense. (KSTP)

Gopher gymnastics headed to Nationals The Minnesota gymnastics team pulled off an upset over the weekend, beating out Utah and Alabama to advance to the national championships. They'll compete against the best teams in the country next week. (KARE 11)

Minnesota United update on James Rodriguez ahead of West Coast trip Head coach Cameron Knowles and defender Morris Duggan spoke with media following Tuesday's practice at the National Sports Center in Blaine, providing an update on Colombian star James Rodriguez and previewing an upcoming West Coast road swing. (KSTP)

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Weather

How extreme weather is driving up Minnesota home insurance A new Grist/MinnPost analysis examines how increasingly severe weather events are pushing up home insurance rates for Minnesota homeowners. If you've noticed your premiums climbing, you're not imagining it — and the trend is expected to continue as extreme weather becomes more common. (MinnPost)

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Minnesota Statewide

U.S. Bank partners with the NFL Minnesota-based U.S. Bank announced a multi-year partnership with the NFL to become a new official bank and wealth management sponsor. The deal expands the company's already significant presence in professional football, anchored by U.S. Bank Stadium. (KARE 11)

Republicans file ethics complaint against DFL lawmaker Minnesota GOP lawmakers have filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Alex Falconer, accusing him of being "effectively a legislator lobbyist" for his work with Save the Boundary Waters. The complaint adds to an already contentious legislative session. (KARE 11)

Ceasefire brings brief relief for Minnesota's Iranian community A two-week ceasefire announcement brought a small sense of relief to Saghi Saghazadeh and other Minnesotans with family in Iran. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran says at least 13 prisoners have been executed since March 19, and the organization is pressing to keep international attention on the situation. (KARE 11 | KARE 11)

Fear of public service threatens Minnesota democracy A MinnPost commentary piece examines how the atmosphere at the Minnesota Capitol has shifted in recent years, with growing hostility toward public servants potentially discouraging people from entering government work. The trend predates but has accelerated since the pandemic. (MinnPost)

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Have a great Wednesday, Golden Valley. Stay informed, stay involved.