Golden Valley & West Metro

• North Memorial Acquisition Faces Community Scrutiny: CEOs from South Dakota-based Sanford Health and Twin Cities-based North Memorial Health are actively addressing community concerns following their May announcement of a proposed merger. The acquisition directly impacts North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, a primary healthcare hub for residents in Golden Valley, Crystal, and New Hope.
• Push for Blue Line Extension Continues: Local leaders and community voices are sounding the alarm on the urgent need for the Blue Line Extension, arguing the north metro has been left waiting for reliable transit connections for over two decades. Advocates emphasize that extending the modern transit line is critical to sparking economic growth and expanding opportunity in the immediate region.

Minneapolis

• Major I-394 Traffic Shift Begins Today: Golden Valley commuters take note: new traffic changes on I-394 begin today, with E-ZPass lanes between Louisiana Avenue and downtown Minneapolis shifting to include eastbound traffic. Drivers should expect construction impacts to continue through November.
• Convictions in Downtown Bar Zia Mass Shooting: Two men, including 26-year-old Arlonzo Williams Jr., were convicted Tuesday on multiple charges for a deadly mass shooting at Bar Zia in downtown Minneapolis. The incident on Oct. 7, 2025, left one person dead and three others wounded.
• Overnight Recording Studio Shooting: Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting that injured a 17-year-old boy and three men overnight Monday. The incident occurred around 2:35 a.m. on the 1300 block of Water Street outside a local recording studio.
• Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal in Ricky Cobb II Lawsuit: A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against two Minnesota state troopers involved in the 2023 traffic stop shooting death of Ricky Cobb II on I-94. The ruling affirms the previous decision to clear troopers Ryan and...
• Red Light Crash Causes Serious Injuries: Law enforcement is investigating a violent collision that occurred Monday around 10:45 a.m. when a man allegedly ran a red light in Minneapolis. The crash resulted in the driver hitting two separate cars and suffering serious injuries.
• Security Review at Minnehaha Falls: The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is actively evaluating security measures at Minnehaha Falls. This review comes after a teenager had to be pulled from the water in critical condition over the busy holiday weekend.
• Ramsey County Sheriff Faces Backlash: A recent "Live on Patrol" broadcast featuring the Ramsey County sheriff's comments regarding Somali gangs is sparking intense pushback from the community and calls for action.
• Giordano's Expands to Mall of America: Famous Chicago deep-dish pizza chain Giordano's is bringing a second Minnesota location to the Mall of America. The chain already operates a popular local spot just south of the city in Richfield.
• Remembering Harry Singh: Family and friends are remembering Harry Singh, a pioneer who opened Minneapolis's first Caribbean restaurant. His legacy of bringing rich Caribbean flavors to the city was honored by his sister and the local culinary community this week.

St. Paul

• Conviction in 2024 Frogtown Homicide: Desmen Lee Parker has been convicted of first- and second-degree murder, as well as felony possession of a firearm, for a 2024 homicide in the Frogtown neighborhood. Parker shot and killed the victim after being hit by a car.
• Bicyclist Dies After Door-Strike Collision: A bicyclist has tragically died from his injuries more than a week after being hit by an open car door in St. Paul. The incident occurred on the afternoon of June 27 on the 1600 block of Hig...
• Fatal Fireworks Mishap at Abandoned Plant: A 23-year-old Roseville man is dead after fireworks exploded at an abandoned Twin Cities munitions plant early Sunday morning. Authorities say the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. at the former facility.
• Weekend Fireworks Postponed: Weather issues and storm damage have caused several local Fourth of July celebrations to delay their fireworks. Lakeville has rescheduled its show for July 12, and Elk River has also reported postponements.

Local Sports

• Twins Win Behind Bradley's Gem: Taj Bradley was electric on the mound Tuesday night, striking out 10 and allowing just one run over seven innings to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Kody Clemens backed him up offensively with two hits and an RBI.
• Lynx Fall Short in Record-Setting Bid: Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve will have to wait for her next chance to become the winningest coach in WNBA history after a tough 90-89 loss to the Connecticut Sun. Connecticut's Brittney Griner led all scorers with 29 points, while Kennedy Burke hit two late three-pointers to secure the win.
• Buxton to Miss All-Star Game: Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton has officially been placed on the injured list and will miss next week's MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Buxton will sit out the Midsummer Classic due to the ongoing injury.

Minnesota Statewide

• Paid Leave Program Hits Major Milestone: Minnesota's new paid family and medical leave program is seeing strong success, with nearly 75,000 Minnesotans approved for paid leave in its first six months. State officials noted Tuesday that the application volume is right in the ballpark of their initial expectations.
• Twin Cities Marathon Moves to Late October: Organizers announced that the Twin Cities Marathon will shift its 2027 race date later into October. The change comes in response to extreme heat and unfavorable running conditions that have plagued the historically early-October event in recent years.
• Body Camera Footage Released in St. Peter Shooting: The Minnesota BCA has released body camera footage from a deadly shootout involving St. Peter police. The video confirms that Officer Austin Buss was shot before law enforcement returned gunfire.
• Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer's: Organizers of the upcoming Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer's are aiming to raise $1.5 million this year. The funds will go directly toward supporting the free care and support services provided by the Alzheimer's Association.
• Local Focus on Soccer Growth Post-World Cup: Following the USMNT's exit from the World Cup, former players Tony Sanneh and Manny Lagos are emphasizing the need to keep the sport's momentum going locally. The Twin Cities soccer icons are focusing their efforts on grassroots growth and youth development in the metro.