Golden Valley & West Metro

While there are no major agenda updates from Golden Valley City Hall today, a couple of regional updates are highly relevant for west metro residents.

• Cooling off at Hennepin County beaches: As extreme heat continues to bake Golden Valley and surrounding communities, local beaches offer a perfect way to cool down. Be sure to check the county’s interactive map for water quality conditions before heading out to your favorite local swimming spots in St. Louis Park, Crystal, or Robbinsdale.
• Debating the Blue Line Extension: A recent opinion piece argues that bus rapid transit (BRT) is a more effective alternative for the north metro than the proposed Blue Line Extension light rail. Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde and Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies J. Winston have strongly advocated for the rail project, insisting it is essential to drive economic growth throughout the regional corridor.

Minneapolis

• Charges possible after fireworks aimed at Hoffman home: The Hennepin County Attorney’s office is currently considering charges against a suspect or suspects. This follows an investigation into fireworks being aimed at the home of a prominent individual identified as Hoffman.
• State claws back Promise Act grant money: State officials are actively working to recover tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds from the $100 million Promise Act program. The clawback comes after investigative reporting from 5 INVESTIGATES uncovered financial mismanagement.
• Prosecutors obtain withheld evidence in protest shooting deaths: Minnesota prosecutors announced Monday that they have finally obtained key, long-withheld evidence in the investigations of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The deaths occurred during pitched protests against federal immigration enforcement actions.

St. Paul

• St. Paul company aids wildfire fight from the sky: Momentum Aeronautics, a local company, has gained approval for a specialized seaplane scooping system designed to fight wildfires much faster. Three planes outfitted with this St. Paul-engineered technology are already in high demand to combat blazes across the country.
• Police investigate Saturday night stabbing: The St. Paul Police Department is actively investigating a stabbing that occurred on Saturday night. A man was injured in the incident, and no arrests have been made at this time.
• Search for missing 16-year-old girl: West St. Paul police are asking for the public's help in locating 16-year-old Diana Salas. She was last seen around 5 p.m. on July 11 in the 900 block of Felix Street in West St. Paul.

Local Sports

• Lynx outlast Mercury in high-scoring affair: Kayla McBride scored a season-high 37 points and rookie Olivia Miles dropped a career-high 33 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 104-100 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night. The win marks the team's third straight as All-Stars Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams continue to elevate the franchise's momentum.
• Twins head into All-Star break on a hot streak: Trevor Larnach homered and drove in two runs, while Ryan Jeffers added a crucial two-run double to secure a 4-2 Minnesota Twins win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The Twins head into the All-Star break having won eight of their last nine series.

Weather

• Heat wave in full effect with little relief ahead: A Minnesota Weather Authority Alert is underway as extreme heat takes hold across the metro. Forecasters warn that the dangerous heat wave is in full effect with very little relief in sight over the coming days, so Golden Valley residents should prioritize hydration and limit strenuous outdoor activities.

Minnesota Statewide

• Big spending floods DFL Senate primary: Millions of dollars are being spent to flood the Twin Cities airwaves ahead of the Aug. 11 primary in the pivotal U.S. Senate race. The DFL primary features a high-profile, big-spending battle between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, marking a major race between moderate and progressive wings of the party.
• Entire BWCA closing due to raging wildfires: The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) will officially close starting Tuesday due to persistent wildfires worsened by the current heat wave. The fires are raging across Northern Minnesota, causing unhealthy air quality downstate and forcing widespread evacuations outside the protected wilderness.
• Minnesota joins lawsuit to block Paramount, Warner Bros. merger: Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that Minnesota is joining 11 other states in a lawsuit to block Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. The lawsuit argues that the merger would illegally combine two of Hollywood's five major film distributors and basic cable companies, harming consumers.
• Minnesota groups react to Maine ICE shooting: Local Minnesota advocacy groups are speaking out after a motorist was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Maine. It marks the ninth time a federal agent has used deadly force amid the ongoing federal immigration crackdown.