Golden Valley & West Metro

Golden Valley residents have recently noticed an increase in airplane noise, sparking conversations on local forums about whether flight paths have shifted. While planes flying overhead are a familiar sound for those living in the city, locals are reporting that the noise seems more frequent and disruptive than usual over the past few days.

Just down the road in St. Louis Park, residents are raising concerns about poor air quality, with PurpleAir monitors showing surprisingly high, unhealthy readings in the 700s for specific neighborhoods. Meanwhile, communities across the Twin Cities metro are kicking off June by celebrating Pride Month, with the main Twin Cities Pride festival set to draw massive crowds to Loring Park and downtown Minneapolis on the weekend of June 28-29.

Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Police Department has launched "Operation Safe Summer" for the fifth consecutive year to increase safety ahead of major downtown gatherings like the Aquatennial and Twin Cities Pride. City officials are also navigating complex transit questions, as Council Member Robin Wonsley and other leaders demand state oversight before Waymo is allowed to operate its self-driving cars commercially on Minneapolis streets.

In public safety technology news, the Minneapolis City Council remains sharply divided over whether to renew the city's expensive contract with ShotSpotter, the controversial gunfire detection system. On the environmental front, Hennepin County is continuing its "One, Two, Tree" initiative to help residents plant trees, pushing toward an ambitious goal of 1 million new trees by 2030.

St. Paul

A concerning school bus crash into a Hamline University building in St. Paul has prompted an investigation into the transit company's safety record. State Patrol records reveal that the specific company involved has regularly failed inspections, with several buses pulled from service over serious violations in recent years.

The St. Paul City Attorney's office announced this week that no charges will be filed against protesters and journalists arrested during a January ICE demonstration at a local church. Among those cleared were local journalists covering the event, including Georgia Fort. Additionally, University of Minnesota researchers are actively testing new solutions to fight the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that has dramatically altered the canopy of several St. Paul neighborhoods.

Local Sports

The Minnesota Twins were shut out at home on Wednesday, falling 8-0 to the Chicago White Sox to avoid a three-game series sweep. Chicago pitcher Erick Fedde had a stellar outing, throwing five scoreless innings for his first win in ten months, while Twins rookie Sam Antonacci struggled to get anything going offensively.

In roster moves, the Twins traded right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night for cash considerations. Woods Richardson was recently designated for assignment by the Twins to clear roster space after a string of inconsistent appearances out of the bullpen.

Weather

The Twin Cities metro is settling into a classic early June weather pattern, offering pleasant conditions for residents heading out to local events. Expect mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies today with mild temperatures, though you may want to keep a light jacket handy for cooler evening breezes near the lakes.

Minnesota Statewide

The race for Minnesota's Senate seat is heating up, with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan criticizing an AI-generated attack ad funded by the North Star Dawn PAC. The growing use of artificial intelligence in political ads is raising alarms just as state lawmakers are already rethinking the election process following chaotic DFL and GOP conventions last month.

In response to those tumultuous conventions, there are renewed bipartisan calls at the State Capitol to completely overhaul how Minnesota chooses its political candidates. Furthermore, a statewide review is currently underway to address a severe volunteer shortage impacting rural fire departments, and a Farmington man, Mehdi Badaoui, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Dakota County court for the stabbing of his wife.