Golden Valley & West Metro

Happy first weekend of Pride Month! Whether you're staying close to home in Golden Valley or heading out to enjoy the weekend in neighboring communities like Robbinsdale or St. Louis Park, there is plenty to celebrate. Locals are sharing their top picks for the weekend, so check the community threads to find festivals, events, and ways to support the LGBTQ+ community in the west metro.

Minneapolis

The City of Minneapolis will pay $1.4 million for an outside consultant to provide "coaching" aimed at improving relations between the mayor and the city council. Over in Northeast, the St. John Paul II Catholic School campus is preparing for a bittersweet move as it merges with Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Columbia Heights next year. North High School is celebrating a significant rise in its graduation rate this year amidst ongoing community challenges.

In public safety, the federal government has refused to release evidence sought by the Hennepin County Attorney regarding the metro surge probe involving ICE agents. Meanwhile, Zyere Porter has pleaded guilty to his role in the deadly Boom Island Park mass shooting last June and will be sentenced to 30 years in prison. Finally, Vail Communities announced a $900,000 lifeline of state and private funding to keep its Twin Cities mental health clubhouses open.

St. Paul

St. Paul police have made an arrest in the April 30 homicide of a 27-year-old man on the city's East Side, taking 26-year-old Michael Cordell Garland into custody. In a separate case, 24-year-old Omar Andres Ramos Castro has been arrested and charged after a man's body was found near railroad tracks on Case Avenue; Castro claims he was acting in self-defense. In happier news, Phoebe Bridgers will bring "The Lost Tour" to the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul on September 17.

Local Sports

The Minnesota Twins split their recent series with the Kansas City Royals. Brooks Lee hit a home run to spark a 5-3 win on Friday, though the Twins fell 8-6 on Thursday after Josh Rojas hit a go-ahead two-run single in his Royals debut. Before Friday's game, the Twins held a special pregame ceremony to celebrate the students of Minneapolis' Annunciation Catholic School.

Minnesota United left back Anthony Markanich has been named to the 2026 MLS All-Star roster after starting 14 of the team's 15 matches this season. Over at the U, the Gophers basketball team begins summer workouts on Monday with new guard Winters Grady, a transfer from national champion Michigan. Wayzata High School continues its local dynasty, winning its fourth consecutive Class AA boys state tennis championship with a singles title repeat from player Swenson.

Weather

Grab your umbrella if you're heading out this evening! A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the metro area tonight. After a very warm and humid Friday, forecasters are closely watching the potential for strong storms to roll through the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Statewide

An FCC review of federal tech funding could result in a loss of millions of dollars for Minnesota schools, threatening programs that provide tablets and other devices to students. In education news, Minnesota has mandated mental health education for all students in public and charter schools starting in the 2026-27 school year. Up north, the Birch Bay wildfire burning eight miles northwest of Ely is now 43% contained and evacuations have been lifted. In political news, Kendall Qualls remains confident in his race after winning a hard-fought endorsement over Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Mike Lindell at last week’s state convention.