Golden Valley's Damascus Way Lands Nearly $200K in State Restorative Justice Grants

July 24, 2026 · 32 sources

Golden Valley & West Metro

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is awarding $2.04 million statewide to expand restorative practices, with Golden Valley-based Damascus Way securing nearly $200,000. The funding will help support vital community reentry and healing programs right here in the west metro.
Looking for weekend plans? A hot weekend is ahead for the Twin Cities metro, and residents are sharing plenty of local festivals, events, and activities to check out across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs.

City leaders are fielding tough questions about public safety following a recent string of shootings, discussing new strategies to curb violent crime. In an effort to ease police workloads, Minneapolis is also preparing to test a new civilian crash responder program funded by a $2.5 million federal grant for alternative 911 responses.
After six years of construction and a decade of planning, the massive $1 billion expansion at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is finally complete. The cutting-edge facility is set to begin taking patients next month.
Multiple major criminal charges were filed across the city today. A man was charged with murder after a drive-by shooting through a driver's side window; 29-year-old Chrisean Marcelous Criddell was charged in a fatal April north Minneapolis shooting; and 19-year-olds Dashon Lavell Amos and Markez Patton were charged for a June fatal shooting on Lyndale Avenue.
In lighter news, Kramarczuk’s Deli was featured for bringing authentic Eastern European flavors to Northeast Minneapolis over several decades, cementing itself as a true local landmark. Additionally, former Minneapolis communication chief Adam K. was charged with stealing a co-worker's debit card to buy products at a tobacco store.

St. Paul’s Como Pool reopened Wednesday following a terrifying incident where a 9-year-old girl was pulled from the water in critical condition. Pool staff responded to the medical emergency on Monday, administering life-saving efforts until emergency personnel arrived.
Families and friends are remembering the three victims tragically killed in a St. Paul apartment leasing office shooting, highlighting their kindness and devotion to family. The man charged in the killings made his first court appearance Wednesday, with his bail remaining set at $10 million.

The Minnesota Twins snapped a four-game losing streak Wednesday, with Brooks Lee hitting a three-run homer to secure a 10-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in José Ramírez’s return. They followed it up Thursday with a grueling 3-1 walk-off win in the 12th inning, thanks to two-out RBI singles from Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall to split the four-game series.
The Minnesota Lynx are heading into the WNBA All-Star break with the best record in the league after an 86-76 victory over the Seattle Storm. Napheesa Collier led the charge with 24 points and 10 rebounds in her highly anticipated season debut.
Over at the 3M Open Pro-AM, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. traded their football helmets for golf clubs. In insider news, Darren "Doogie" Wolfson's latest edition of "The Scoop" dropped notes on the Timberwolves, Twins, and Gophers men's basketball program.

As wildfire smoke begins to lift from northern Minnesota, scientists and water managers are closely monitoring what days of falling ash mean for the drinking water of Minnesotans who rely on lake sources. It's a good reminder for residents to stay aware of broader environmental shifts impacting our local water quality.

Vance Boelter was formally sentenced in federal court by Judge John Tunheim to two life sentences plus 40 years without parole for the murder of former lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. State lawmakers packed the courtroom to tell Boelter their commitment to Minnesota is bigger than the fear he caused; Boelter still faces separate state charges of premeditated murder in Hennepin County court on Aug. 3.
Select areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) are reopening Monday for day-use access as firefighters continue to battle blazes, though overnight permits remain banned. The Minnesota DNR is also actively suing the man who started the 2025 Camp House Fire, seeking approximately $4.3 million in state cost recovery.
Over on Twin Cities Live, the "TCL in Your Town" segment highlighted the River Valley Riders non-profit over in Afton. The network also kicked off their "12 Days of Grilling" feature with some spicy pork cheddar tortilla kabobs.