Golden Valley & West Metro

New I-394 Traffic Changes Begin as E-ZPass Lanes Shift If your commute takes you through Golden Valley, be aware that new traffic changes on I-394 went into effect July 8. The E-ZPass lanes between Louisiana Avenue and downtown Minneapolis are shifting to include eastbound traffic, with construction impacts expected to continue through November.

Hospital CEOs Address Community Concerns Over North Memorial Acquisition Hospital leadership is working to address community concerns following the May announcement of a proposed acquisition of Robbinsdale's North Memorial Health by South Dakota-based Sanford Health. Local residents and leaders are closely watching the merger, seeking assurances about the future of healthcare access in the west metro.

Teen Arrested in Fatal Brooklyn Park Shooting A teenager has been arrested following a fatal shooting at Hartkopf Park in Brooklyn Park. Police responded to the scene at roughly 10:45 p.m. on Sunday, where they found a 16-year-old boy who has since been identified by authorities.

The Push for Blue Line Extension Continues Community advocates are renewing the call for the Blue Line Extension, arguing that the north metro critically needs the economic growth and reliable transit connection the project would provide. For over two decades, residents have engaged in route meetings and awaited infrastructure that connects their neighborhoods to the broader Twin Cities.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Drone First Responder Program Faces Pushback Amid Successful Rescue Minneapolis leaders are currently weighing a new "Drones as First Responders" pilot program that would deploy police drones to 911 calls, though the proposal is facing significant community pushback. However, proponents are pointing to newly released video of a dramatic rescue of a missing veteran, with officials noting, "He wouldn't be here without the drones."

Two Injured in Vacant House Fire Two Minneapolis firefighters sustained injuries while battling a blaze at a vacant home on Wednesday night. Crews responded to the 2600 block of Fourth Street Southeast around 7:30 p.m. to knock down the heavy flames.

North Minneapolis Shooting Investigation Police are actively investigating a shooting in north Minneapolis that left a victim with life-threatening injuries. Officers discovered the wounded individual inside a local home on Wednesday afternoon and are currently piecing together the events that led to the shooting.

Two Men Convicted in Deadly Bar Zia Mass Shooting Two men, including 26-year-old Arlonzo Williams Jr., have been convicted 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, prompting swift action from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.

Feeding Our Future Defendant Sentenced Mustafa Jama, a Rochester man involved in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison. Jama pleaded guilty to funneling misappropriated Federal Child Nutrition Program funds into a shell company and was ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution.

Additional Minneapolis News:

• A legal battle over Minnesota Medicaid payment suspensions between a Minneapolis home care company and the state is officially moving to federal court.
• Friends and family are remembering Harry Singh, a beloved restaurateur credited with opening Minneapolis's first Caribbean restaurant.
• Giordano’s famous Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is opening its second Minnesota location at the Mall of America, joining its existing spot in Richfield.

St. Paul

St. Paul to Clear Encampments Beginning in August The city of St. Paul has announced plans to close multiple homeless encampments starting next month due to escalating health and safety concerns. The first closures will begin on Aug. 5, targeting the encampment currently situated at Pig’s Eye Park.

Ramsey County Sheriff Defends Somali Gang Warnings Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher is standing firm on his recent public warnings regarding Somali gang violence. Despite pushback and remaining questions about the context of the threat, Fletcher is defending his department's proactive stance and calling for further community awareness.

Man Convicted in 2024 Frogtown Homicide Desmen Lee Parker has been convicted of first- and second-degree murder for a fatal 2024 shooting in the Frogtown neighborhood. The conviction stems from an incident where Parker shot and killed a man after being struck by the victim's vehicle.

Local Sports

Red-Hot Twins Walk Off Guardians The Minnesota Twins are on fire, extending their win streak to four games and securing their seventh series win in their last eight. outfielder Alan Roden delivered a dramatic walk-off hit on a 3-2 count to secure a 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field on Wednesday night. The momentum follows Tuesday's 3-1 win, where pitcher Taj Bradley struck out 10 in seven strong innings.

Byron Buxton to Miss All-Star Game Minnesota Twins star outfielder Byron Buxton will travel to Philadelphia for MLB All-Star Week, but he will not be able to suit up for the Midsummer Classic. Buxton was officially placed on the injured list, ruling him out of Tuesday's exhibition game.

Cheryl Reeve Breaks WNBA Coaching Wins Record Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is now the winningest coach in WNBA regular-season history, securing her 380th career victory on Wednesday night. Kayla McBride led the team with 23 points as the Lynx defeated the Connecticut Sun 86-80 to cement Reeve's historic milestone.

Hopkins Star Ahmed Nur's Recruitment Blows Up Former Hopkins Royals forward Ahmed Nur is seeing his college recruitment explode after winning MVP at the recent NBPA Top 100 Camp. The 6-foot-10 Class of 2027 standout helped lead Hopkins to the section championship game last season and is quickly becoming one of the most highly sought-after prospects in the region.

Minnesota Statewide

Flash Flooding Closes I-90 in Southern Minnesota Heavy rainfall triggered severe flash flooding across southern Minnesota on Wednesday evening, prompting the closure of major roadways. The flooding forced the Austin Police Department and MnDOT to shut down a stretch of Interstate 90 in Austin as water overtook the pavement.

Minnesota Paid Leave Payouts Outpace Contributions Minnesota’s Paid Leave program has paid out nearly double what workers and employers have contributed to the system so far. The discrepancy is raising questions about long-term viability as some applicants continue to report delays in receiving their benefits.

Housing Stabilization Services Fraud Plea Deal One of the eight individuals federally charged in a widespread Minnesota Housing Stabilization Services fraud case has accepted a plea deal. The charges stem from a sweeping September indictment accusing the providers of conspiring to defraud the Medicaid program.

Secretary of State Speaks on Election Integrity Partnership During a recent visit to a local election site, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon noted that the partnership with the Trump administration on election integrity has "all but vanished." However, Simon assured residents that Minnesota election infrastructure remains fully prepared for the crucial August primary and November general election.

Minnesota Boy Returns from World Cup Make-A-Wish Trip Logan McGee, a young Minnesota boy, recently returned from an unforgettable Make-A-Wish trip to experience the FIFA World Cup. Logan had the trip of a lifetime taking in the action and cheering on Team USA on the global stage.