Good morning, Golden Valley! While it’s a relatively quiet day in our immediate neighborhoods, a sweltering heatwave and a turbulent weekend across the broader Minneapolis-St. Paul metro are dominating today's headlines. Here's what you need to know to start your week.

Weather

The Minnesota Weather Authority has issued an alert for high heat and humidity today. Temperatures will climb into the low 90s, with oppressive heat index values reaching between 95 and 100 degrees across the Twin Cities. Residents should limit strenuous outdoor activities and stay hydrated until things cool off this evening.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis police are investigating a violent weekend that saw three separate shootings. Early Sunday morning, nine people were injured by gunfire outside the Reign Event Center in Uptown, followed by a second mass shooting on the 1800 block of Nicollet Avenue in the Stevens Square neighborhood that left five adults injured. A third non-fatal shooting was also confirmed by a city council member on Monday.

In the wake of the violence, community groups and local leaders are vowing to keep making progress, offering support and raising concerns about public safety.

In other crime news, a second member of the "Lows" gang—a group known to operate in north Minneapolis—has pleaded guilty to RICO charges.

Looking ahead to local arts and culture, the 35th annual Powderhorn Art Fair is set to return to Minneapolis on August 1-2. The event will feature over 200 artists, a multicultural food market, and various community partnerships. Additionally, the Minnesota Fringe Festival kicks off on August 6, featuring comic actor Lauren Anderson reviving her hit one-woman show, "Jewelry Power Elite."

St. Paul

The St. Paul Police Department is actively investigating a fatal triple homicide in the Highland Park neighborhood. The incident prompted a heavy, heavily armed police presence with K-9 units yesterday near the JCC area.

On a human-interest note, a recent report highlights the struggles of single mothers in Minneapolis who lost months of income hiding from ICE, leaving them unable to afford renewing their DACA immigration papers.

Local Sports

The Minnesota Twins had a tough outing on Sunday, falling 10-1 to the Chicago Cubs at Target Field after Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga threw seven shutout innings. However, the Twins received some good roster news: All-Star Byron Buxton has been officially activated from the 10-day Injured List after recovering from a right hamstring strain.

Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve continues her record-setting odyssey with the team, proving her passion and intensity are as effective as ever.

In Olympic news, gymnastics champion Suni Lee has returned home to Minnesota to train for the 2028 Olympics. She is reuniting with her longtime coaches at the Midwest Gymnastics Center to prepare for her third Games.

Minnesota Statewide

The Twin Cities is under another Air Quality Alert today due to lingering wildfire smoke, which is expected to remain in the area until Tuesday. This smoke is a result of a severe fire season up north, where crews have detected three new wildfires in northern Minnesota; the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness remains closed as over 63,000 acres have burned in the state, with another 8,400 acres crossing into Canada.

In statewide traffic news, MnDOT has announced that speed cameras will soon be installed at two road construction sites in the Twin Cities metro to target and catch speeding drivers in work zones.

Finally, a lucky Minnesota lottery player made state history over the weekend by hitting a record $34.12 million Lotto America jackpot in Saturday's drawing (worth around $15 million as a cash option).