Golden Valley & West Metro

Golden Valley's own Damascus Way is landing nearly $200,000 as part of a $2.04 million state investment in restorative practices. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families announced the funding to help expand restorative justice programs across the state. It's a notable boost for the facility located right here off Highway 55, aimed at supporting community healing and reentry.

Minneapolis

Vance Boelter is expected to receive over two life sentences in federal court this morning for the murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the shootings of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, and the attempted shooting of their daughter. Meanwhile, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced that no felony charges will be filed against the suspects who aimed fireworks at the Hoffman family's Champlin home over the Fourth of July weekend.

Public safety remains a top concern for city leaders after a string of recent shootings. Surveillance video from Sunday’s mass shooting in Uptown—where nine people were injured outside Reign Nightclub—captured around 20 gunshots, prompting council members to debate new crime deterrents, though a proposed "Drones as First Responders" pilot program is facing heavy pushback.

On the development front, the massive $1 billion expansion at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is finally complete after six years of construction and will start taking patients next month. In Northeast, Beloved craft brewer Bauhaus Brew Labs is set to reopen under new local ownership from A.B.V. Technology, less than a month after abruptly ending operations.

St. Paul

Como Pool reopened Wednesday following a temporary closure prompted by a harrowing incident on Monday. A 9-year-old girl was pulled from the water in critical condition; pool staff had administered life-saving efforts until emergency personnel arrived.

Families are sharing fond memories of the three victims killed in a recent St. Paul apartment leasing office shooting, remembering them for their kindness, friendship, and devotion to family. The man charged in the killings made his first court appearance Wednesday, with his bail remaining set at $10 million.

Local Sports

The Twins snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night, beating the Cleveland Guardians 10-6. Brooks Lee led the charge with a three-run homer and 4 RBIs, though the Guardians had taken Tuesday's game 5-2 off small-ball sacrifice flies.

Napheesa Collier made her highly anticipated season debut in Seattle, dropping 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lynx past the Storm 86-76. The win sends Minnesota into the WNBA All-Star break with the best record in the league.

Over on the pitch, Minnesota United fell 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night, with Sporting's Dejan Joveljić and Manu García finding the net. Over in Blaine, the 3M Open Pro-Am kicked off with Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. trading footballs for golf clubs, while 25-year-old Minnesota native Muzzy Donohoe prepares for his highly anticipated PGA Tour debut.

Weather

Enjoy the comfortable air while it lasts, because Minnesota’s Weather Authority has issued alerts for this weekend as high heat and humidity build back into the metro. We're also keeping an eye on an unusual environmental concern: scientists and water managers are closely studying how several days of falling wildfire ash from northern Minnesota might impact the drinking water of residents who draw from local lakes.

Minnesota Statewide

Muhammad Abdulqadir Omar of Roseville has pleaded guilty in a $3 million federal Medicaid fraud case. His arrest was notably dramatic, as he previously jumped from a fourth-story balcony in an attempt to flee police.

Nearly two years after a fatal crash in Hennepin County, 34-year-old Jordan Thomas Land has been officially charged. A thorough investigation reportedly showed he had been actively using his phone on social media both before and during the collision.

Finally, a new KSTP/SurveyUSA poll reveals that while the vast majority of Minnesotans trust our local election security, there is also broad, bipartisan support for the Trump-backed SAVE Act.