Golden Valley Names Matt Clark as New Police Chief After Six-Month Search
Twin Cities Daily Digest — Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Your neighborhood news for Golden Valley and the metro
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Golden Valley & West Metro
Golden Valley selects Matt Clark as permanent police chief. After a six-month search, the city has tapped interim chief Matt Clark to lead the Golden Valley Police Department full-time. The department has been without an official chief since October, and Clark's appointment brings stability back to GVPD leadership. Residents can expect a formal introduction from city leadership in the coming days.
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Minneapolis
Search continues for missing 14-year-old girl. Authorities are asking for the public's help locating a 14-year-old last seen leaving her grandmother's home in Minneapolis on April 5. Anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately.
Fire at Hennepin County jail injures one. A fire broke out in a clothes dryer inside the kitchen and laundry area of the Hennepin County public safety facility in Minneapolis. One person sustained minor injuries, and everyone in the affected areas was evacuated safely.
Fatal hit-and-run on Chicago Avenue. A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run around 11:40 a.m. Saturday at the 1800 block of Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis. Authorities are investigating and have not yet announced an arrest.
Northbound Highway 280 closure begins. Commuters and businesses are bracing for the closure of northbound Highway 280, which started Monday morning for a major reconstruction project. Drivers should plan alternate routes — expect significant delays through the construction zone connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Medicaid billing investigation reveals troubling patterns. A KSTP investigation found dozens of people own and operate multiple companies billing Minnesota Medicaid, raising fraud concerns. One company, WellHub Inc., advertised medical recovery services for people experiencing homelessness, claiming to have served more than 1,200 patients.
George Floyd Square open house meetings scheduled. The City of Minneapolis is hosting public open house meetings on the future of the 38th & Chicago Avenue area. Residents can weigh in on plans for the intersection and surrounding neighborhood.
At Issue roundup: This week's political discussion covered DFL and GOP lawmakers trading ethics complaints, a proposed sales tax to save HCMC, and privacy concerns over AI surveillance in schools.
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St. Paul
Ramsey County investigates ICE arrest as possible kidnapping. The Ramsey County Attorney and Sheriff's offices are investigating federal immigration officers for possible kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment after an American citizen was detained and led outside wearing only underwear. Officials say they are requesting case information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Man dies in North St. Paul house fire. A man was killed in a fire Monday morning in North St. Paul, south of downtown. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Emergency at St. Paul Downtown Airport. Officials responded to an emergency at Holman Field after FlightAware data showed the last plane of the day took off at 2 a.m., circled, and landed back at the St. Paul airport. Details on the nature of the emergency have not been fully released.
Street sweeping operations underway. The City of St. Paul has begun its annual street sweeping schedule. Residents should check posted signs and the city's website for neighborhood-specific dates to avoid being ticketed or towed.
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Local Sports
Lynx draft Olivia Miles with No. 2 overall pick. The Minnesota Lynx selected TCU guard Olivia Miles with the second pick in Monday night's WNBA Draft, adding one of the nation's top guards to a roster that also welcomes back re-signed All-Stars Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. Head coach Cheryl Reeve's squad looks loaded heading into the season.
Twins crush Red Sox 13-6. Victor Caratini and Ryan Jeffers each homered and drove in three runs Monday as Minnesota knocked out Boston starter Garrett Crochet in the second inning. The Twins belted four home runs total in the blowout win, following up Sunday's 8-2 victory over Toronto where Tristan Gray launched a three-run shot off Max Scherzer.
Wild fall to Blues 6-3. The St. Louis Blues overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Minnesota 6-3 Monday night, with Theo Lindstein scoring on a backhand in the second period. A tough loss as the Wild's season winds down.
Timberwolves head to playoffs, open against Nuggets Saturday. The Wolves closed the regular season with a 132-126 win over New Orleans on Sunday, resting most starters for the postseason. As the 6-seed, Minnesota opens its first-round series against the 3-seed Denver Nuggets on Saturday — the Wolves' fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
KG returns to Target Center. Fans celebrated Kevin Garnett's first appearance at Target Center since 2018 during Sunday's regular-season finale. The franchise icon received a massive ovation from the crowd.
Minnesota United top San Diego 2-1. Kyle Duncan and Kelvin Yeboah each scored Saturday night, with 23-year-old midfielder Owen Gene notching his first two career assists in the Loons' home victory.
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Weather
⚠️ Severe storms hit southern Minnesota — metro clearing out. Monday brought the season's first serious severe weather threat, with baseball-sized hail, strong winds, and three confirmed tornadoes reported across southern Minnesota. Seventy reports of large hail were logged statewide. The storms are moving out overnight, and Tuesday should be a much calmer, milder day across the metro. Golden Valley and the northwest suburbs can expect quiet conditions today.
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Minnesota Statewide
$20 billion in Medicaid spending flagged for fraud risk. Minnesota has spent $20 billion on Medicaid programs considered high-risk for fraud since 2018, with costs in 14 scrutinized programs jumping from $2.06 billion in 2021 to $4.32 billion in 2025. Several bipartisan fraud bills are advancing at the Capitol in the final weeks of session, with a May 18 deadline looming.
HOA reform bill advances in the House. A bill in the Minnesota House aims to curtail the power of homeowners associations statewide, requiring greater accountability on dues increases and spending. Advocates say the reforms are overdue as residents struggle with rising costs and opaque HOA governance.
Tax proposals face long odds in divided legislature. Governor Walz's tax proposals head to the Senate Taxes Committee on Tuesday, but prospects for passage are slim given the tied House. Major tax changes are unlikely to clear both chambers this session.
Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Day marked at Capitol. Families and advocates gathered at the State Capitol to call for accountability and highlight disparities in unsolved cases involving Black women and girls in Minnesota.
Pentagon spending boost benefits Minnesota defense firms. Even before the Iran conflict, Minnesota's defense industry was seeing gains from the Trump administration's increased military spending, with companies on track to secure additional Pentagon contracts.
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Stay safe out there, Golden Valley. Quieter skies today after last night's storms. ☀️