Golden Valley & West Metro

It's shaping up to be another hot summer weekend across the Twin Cities, and there is plenty to do right in our backyard! Whether you're staying close to Golden Valley or venturing over to nearby Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, or St. Louis Park, the community has put together a great roundup of local events and activities. Check out the local guides to find weekend festivals, food, and fun to keep the family entertained.

Minneapolis

Public Safety & Crime Following two mass shootings in less than 24 hours last weekend, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is actively seeking new tools and answers to help prevent future violence in the city. In an effort to ease the strain on law enforcement, the city is also preparing to test a new civilian crash responder program—funded by a $2.5 million federal grant—to handle certain non-emergency 911 calls.

Police are still asking for the public's help identifying two people connected to a serious assault that occurred last month in the Warehouse District. Violent crime prosecutions remain active across the city: Raymond Jones was just found guilty of murder after shooting a woman over $30 near West Broadway, and a man was charged for a drive-by shooting where the victim was fired at through a driver's side window. Additionally, 29-year-old Jarvay Gay was formally charged after firing a gun near Nicollet Avenue.

Just north of the city limits, a deeply troubling case emerged from Brooklyn Park, where a man currently on supervised release has been charged with breaking into multiple homes and sexually assaulting two women.

Healthcare & Policy After a long wait, the new women's clinic at the Minneapolis VA is officially set to open, bringing primary care, specialty services, and mental health care under one roof for local veterans. In public health news, the Aliveness Project announced that the CDC will cut off $450,000 in annual HIV prevention funds in Minneapolis after failing to renew a critical grant.

Boelter Case Update Vance Boelter was formally sentenced yesterday to two life sentences plus 40 years without parole by Judge John Tunheim for the killing of lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. Boelter is scheduled to appear in Hennepin County court on August 3 to face separate state charges, including premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder.

St. Paul

Standing at the corner of University Avenue and St. Albans since 1908, St. Paul Fire Station 18 remains the oldest continuously operating fire station in the city, a beautiful relic from the horse-drawn era. Over in the Thomas Dale neighborhood near Lexington and Thomas, a local couple dealing with medical issues is reaching out to the community for recommendations on affordable yard cleanup services. Further north on the Iron Range near Calumet, an enormous new iron ore facility is sparking hopes that Minnesota could soon become a major powerhouse in the emerging green steel industry.

Local Sports

Baseball & Soccer The Minnesota Twins had a rollercoaster week, securing a dramatic 3-1 walk-off win against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday thanks to 12th-inning RBI singles from Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall to split the series. Unfortunately, the bats went cold on Friday night as the Athletics shut out the Twins 2-0 at Target Field. Minnesota United also struggled in their first match back from the World Cup break, falling 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday.

Golf & Football Minnesota native Muzzy Donohue has been the talk of the 3M Open, shooting an incredible 8-under 63 on Friday after birdieing six of his first nine holes. As NFL training camps open, former Gophers stars Tyler Johnson, Deven Eastern, and Nick Kallerup are gearing up for the Cowboys and Seahawks camps. For your insider fix, Darren "Doogie" Wolfson's latest scoop drops notes on the Timberwolves, Twins, and Gophers men's basketball.

Outdoors Outdoor enthusiasts should note that select areas of the Boundary Waters are reopening this Monday for day-use access as firefighters get a handle on recent wildfires, though overnight permits are still strictly banned.

Minnesota Statewide

The Flint Hills Pine Bend Refinery in Rosemount is gearing up to produce 30 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually, a major green energy milestone that will directly fuel flights out of MSP. On a lighter note, The Big Bounce America—the world’s largest bounce house—is setting up shop in the metro for some family fun, and Twin Cities Live is celebrating the summer with their "12 Days of Grilling" series, recently featuring a mouth-watering four-cheese burger.