Golden Valley & West Metro

• Weekend Roundup: Pride month continues this weekend with a variety of events across the Twin Cities metro! If you're staying close to home in Golden Valley or heading out to neighboring communities like Robbinsdale or St. Louis Park, there are plenty of festivals, watch parties, and community gatherings to check out over the next few days.

Minneapolis

• Boelter Case Updates: The Hennepin County Attorney is moving forward with state charges against Vance Boelter for the assassination of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. The charges include two counts of premeditated murder, while a federal plea deal was accepted to ensure Boelter will never be free again, avoiding a death penalty trial.
• George Floyd Square: The Minneapolis City Council has officially voted to deny a recommendation that would have allowed Minnesota Agape to redevelop a portion of George Floyd Square.
• Autonomous Vehicles: City council members introduced new plans Thursday to regulate self-driving cars ahead of Waymo's upcoming launch in the Twin Cities.
• Metro Transit Safety: Metro Transit police are increasing their presence across the system this summer to address a recent surge in calls for service as ridership continues to grow.
• Deadly Crash Sentencing: Rolando Miranda Martinez, 59, was sentenced after admitting to fleeing the scene of a deadly crash. Martinez confessed to striking a woman near Cliff Road and Nichols Road around 2 a.m. on March 7 after leaving a Minneapolis bar.
• Deadly Shooting Investigation: Minneapolis Police are investigating a deadly shooting that occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday on the 1900 block of Chicago Avenue South.
• Metro Surge Impact: New data shows the Metro Surge cost Minneapolis nearly $700 million in lost wages, heavily impacting the Central and Whittier neighborhoods.
• Nonprofit Repair Shop Strain: The Lift Garage in Minneapolis is experiencing "off the charts" demand as low-income Minnesotans struggle with rising vehicle repair costs due to persistent inflation.
• World Cup Watch Parties: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off Thursday, and local bars, breweries, and public spaces across the city are hosting watch parties throughout the tournament.

St. Paul

• Deputy Crash Investigation: No felony charges are expected for the deputy involved in the deadly crash that killed a St. Paul father, though a city attorney is considering less severe charges as further investigations continue.
• Shooting Sentence: Kireice Plez-Sanchez Williams has been sentenced to 28 years (346 months) in prison for a deadly 2025 shooting in St. Paul.
• Medicaid Provider Appeals: The Department of Human Services (DHS) is reinstating billing for some disenrolled Medicaid providers while thousands of others await the ongoing appeals process.
• Wandering Leaf Brewing: If the early summer heat has you looking for a cold one, Wandering Leaf Brewing Company in St. Paul remains a fantastic local spot to cool down.
• Art Start: Looking for creative activities for the kids? Art Start in St. Paul offers the perfect summer programming to get children creating and exploring the arts.

Local Sports

• Twins Blanked: The Minnesota Twins suffered a rough 11-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, with Detroit hitting six home runs, including one from Spencer Torkelson.
• Target Field Strike: Over 500 concession workers at Target Field have announced a strike for June 22 during the Twins-Dodgers game, demanding better wages and health insurance.
• Gophers Extensions: The University of Minnesota has secured some athletic department stability, signing Athletics Director Mark Coyle and women's basketball coach Dawn Plitzuweit to contract extensions running through June 2032.
• Vikings Host Champs: The Minnesota Vikings recently hosted the Rosemount High School girls flag football state championship team, where the players got to meet head coach Kevin O'Connell and star receiver Justin Jefferson.

Weather

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Northern Minnesota until 8:00 PM CDT. While the immediate Golden Valley metro should stay relatively clear, be sure to keep an eye on the sky if you're traveling north this evening.

Minnesota Statewide

• BWCA Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions have officially been lifted for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness following the successful containment of three northern Minnesota wildfires.
• Bridge Light Shutoff: Lights on three key Mississippi River bridges in southeast Minnesota are being temporarily darkened to prevent swarming bugs from causing dangerous driving conditions.
• Remote Trail Rescue: Two men described the dramatic rescue of a 68-year-old Alexandria woman, Kathryn Woessner, who was found trapped in mud along a remote Minnesota trail after being missing for three days.