Golden Valley Daily Digest — Tuesday, April 28, 2026

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Golden Valley & West Metro

No Golden Valley-specific stories today, but neighbors in Brooklyn Park are dealing with two major incidents. A small plane crashed over the weekend, killing North Dakota state Rep. Liz Conmy (D-Fargo) and pilot Joe Cass. Friends and neighbors are sharing memories of the couple, whose photographs reflect what loved ones called two lives joined as one. Separately, Brooklyn Park police are searching for an armed suspect who fired multiple shots during a family dispute — residents in the area should remain alert and contact police with any information.

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Minneapolis

Downtown transformer explosion: An underground transformer likely exploded near 9th Street North and Hennepin Avenue on Monday afternoon, sending a large plume of smoke into the air and knocking out power to some nearby buildings. Minneapolis Fire Department crews responded to the scene; no injuries were reported.

South Minneapolis vandalism spree: More than 30 car windows were smashed overnight in south Minneapolis, with 14 vehicles damaged on a single block of 24th Avenue South. No arrests have been made, and police are investigating.

Uptown ambassador program launches: The Uptown neighborhood is rolling out a new "ambassador" program to promote safety and improve the area's vibe. Ambassadors Willie White and Luis Villanueva are already walking beats out of the Lake Street Safety Center, greeting business owners and visitors.

Flight diverted: A Minneapolis-to-Orlando flight was diverted to Milwaukee after a "smoky odor" was detected onboard. The plane landed safely with no injuries reported.

White House correspondents' dinner shooting: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer were among the guests at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner when a gunman armed with guns and knives charged toward the ballroom. Shots were fired but President Trump was unharmed.

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St. Paul

Benefit concert for ICE-affected families: A benefit concert in St. Paul will feature top bluegrass and country bands, with all proceeds going to two community organizations supporting families affected by federal immigration operations.

ICE Surge costs emerging: The financial toll of Operation Metro Surge is coming into focus. The St. Paul Police Department alone logged over 1,007 overtime hours — costing more than $99,000 — just responding to the Alex Pretti shooting on Jan. 24. Meanwhile, a $100 million "economic recovery" bill cleared the Senate Finance Committee despite concerns about fraud safeguards.

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Local Sports

Twins 11, Mariners 4: Kody Clemens powered Monday night's win with a homer and five RBIs, while Byron Buxton also went deep. Rookie Connor Prielipp earned his first big-league victory during the 7-game homestand opener at Target Field. The Twins had been swept by Tampa Bay over the weekend (Rays 4, Twins 2 on Sunday).

Wild heading to Dallas for Game 5: The first-round playoff series is tied 2-2, and the Wild could get Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin back in the lineup for Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 in Dallas. Coach John Hynes held practice Monday at TRIA Rink, and Matt Boldy has been a standout performer all series, including the overtime winner in Game 4.

Timberwolves fall in Denver: Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double as the Nuggets avoided elimination with a 125-113 win over Minnesota. The series continues with the Wolves still holding the advantage.

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Weather

⚠️ Severe storm risk today: A low-pressure system moving from Nebraska toward the Twin Cities is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms throughout the day, with strong to severe storms possible this afternoon. Nearly 50 million people across the Great Plains and Midwest are in the risk zone. Golden Valley residents should keep an eye on alerts — a warm front will push north and stall near the metro, keeping unsettled conditions through the evening.

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Minnesota Statewide

Capitol security overhaul passes Senate: Following last summer's deadly attacks on two politicians and the White House correspondents' dinner shooting, the Minnesota Senate passed a package of safety and security bills 45-19 on Monday. The legislation enhances protections at the Capitol, in courtrooms, and for individual lawmakers. Sen. Bobby Joe Champion's colleague Sen. Hoffman has also proposed a dedicated unit to protect legislators from political violence.

$1.28 million wage theft case resolved: The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry announced the conclusion of a wage theft investigation involving 26 local carpenters who worked on 19 construction projects between 2019 and 2022.

Somali Day at the Capitol: Community leaders and lawmakers gathered at the State Capitol for Somali Day, vowing resilience and working to reshape narratives about the Somali American community amid what they describe as rising negative rhetoric.

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Stay safe out there today, Golden Valley — keep an umbrella handy and an eye on the sky. Go Wild! 🏒