Quick Hits

• End of an Era: After over 100 years of operation in the Twin Cities, Pearson’s Candy Company is closing its St. Paul manufacturing plant later this year, resulting in the layoff of 80 employees.
• New Minneapolis Fire Chief: Dr. Reginald Freeman has been confirmed as the 19th chief of the Minneapolis Fire Department. Chief Freeman brings previous leadership experience from Oakland, California, and Hartford, Connecticut.
• Public Safety Push: Minneapolis officials are touting a steep drop in city shootings, attributing the success to a newly launched non-fatal shooting investigation unit and the city's violence interrupter program.
• St. Paul Hall Probes: New complaints have emerged in the sexual harassment investigation involving St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, with a city council member calling the lack of transparency "unacceptable." Mayor Her states she fully supports the independent investigation.
• Walk-Off Magic: Twins utility player Kody Clemens hit a walk-off grand slam to secure a dramatic victory against the Royals on Thursday, while the Minnesota Lynx secured their ninth consecutive win.

Golden Valley & West Metro

It’s a relatively quiet day on the hyperlocal front for Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, and St. Louis Park, but the broader metro is buzzing with major headlines impacting Hennepin County residents.

If you're looking for a peaceful, close-to-home weekend nature walk, KSTP is highlighting the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Minneapolis. Located near Theodore Wirth Park—right on the border of Golden Valley and Minneapolis—it holds the distinction of being the oldest public native plant garden in the United States. It remains a perfect, quiet retreat for West Metro residents looking to unplug.

Minneapolis

Public safety and city leadership take center stage in Minneapolis today. The Minneapolis City Council has officially confirmed Dr. Reginald Freeman as the 19th chief of the Minneapolis Fire Department. Meanwhile, MPD is expressing renewed confidence in its crime-fighting strategies. The department has resurrected its non-deadly shooting investigation team, responding to non-fatal shootings with the same urgency as homicides. KSTP reports that this newly launched unit, combined with the city's violence interrupter program, is driving a steep drop in overall shootings.

On the law enforcement legal beat, former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Kassius Benson has been disbarred. Benson allegedly failed to forward taxes withheld from his law firm's employees to the Internal Revenue Service. In Uptown courtrooms, a third person, DeAndre DePratto Jr., has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder in connection with a deadly June 21 shooting where more than a dozen shots were fired.

In local development, the former Minnesota Star Tribune printing facility in the North Loop is set to become a data center. Virginia-based Legacy Investing has agreed to purchase the property, building on their portfolio of other downtown data centers. Finally, Minneapolis is amplifying its "Mile of Music" initiative to support independent venues. On Aug. 19, the city will host "happy hour mini-concerts" to help surge local business recovery. If you're downtown tonight, check out "The New Prescriptions"—a band of doctors, nurses, and hospital workers from Hennepin Healthcare—playing a benefit concert at Dakota's Quinlan Room to raise money for music therapy.

St. Paul

Ramsey County residents are watching two major stories develop. The sexual harassment investigation involving St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her continues to deepen. Police Chief Axel Henry, who accused the mayor of sexual harassment, is urging his officers to stay focused amid the ongoing independent investigation. However, KSTP reports that new complaints have recently come to light, leading one council member to call the lack of transparency from the city "unacceptable." Mayor Her has publicly responded to the allegations, stating she fully supports the independent investigation process.

In the Dayton's Bluff area, St. Paul Police have identified a suspect connected to a string of tree vandalism at Lower Landing Park. The destruction caused roughly $30,000 in damage to over 20 trees in a highly vandalized stretch of the city. The identification comes about two weeks after the St. Paul Parks Conservancy offered a $5,000 reward for information on the culprit.

Local Sports

It was a thrilling Thursday night for Minnesota baseball fans. Down at Target Field, Kody Clemens—who has been rotating between second base, first base, and the outfield—hit a walk-off grand slam to crush the Kansas City Royals. "That’s stuff that you dream about," Clemens said of the historic moment. The Twins front office is also making moves ahead of the MLB trade deadline, acquiring a reliever in a trade with the New York Mets.

Over in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx are on an absolute tear. Napheesa Collier, Olivia Miles, and Courtney Williams each scored 16 points in Toronto to help the Lynx beat the Tempo 104-72, marking their ninth consecutive victory. The team's positive momentum is rippling into the community; KARE11 highlighted Lynx fans rallying around Gordie Amundson, an 84-year-old Navy veteran and hospice patient from Austin, Minnesota, who recently attended a game at Target Center with help from a friend.

For football and basketball fans, KSTP's Darren "Doogie" Wolfson dropped a fresh episode of "The Scoop," featuring new notes on the Minnesota Vikings, the Twins, and the Gophers men's basketball team.

Minnesota Statewide

Several new state laws and political developments are making headlines. Starting Aug. 1, a bipartisan effort by Minnesota lawmakers will strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence and improve the justice system's response. In government accountability news, a new Minnesota law now allows state agencies to share data on suspected fraud, including data previously protected as private. This shift comes as KSTP reports that convicted fraudsters in Minnesota often end up with no felonies on their records—a point State Attorney General Keith Ellison has frequently highlighted in news conferences and legislative hearings.

The Attorney General's Office was also involved in the dissolution of Minnesota nonprofit MNFI. The organization is dissolving under a civil settlement after the state alleged the nonprofit illegally classified workers as volunteers in violation of labor practices.

Looking ahead to the upcoming election cycle, Mike Lindell is positioning himself as a Republican candidate for governor, recently sitting down to answer five questions on five key issues. And for families looking to beat the summer heat during Shark Week, Sea Life at the Mall of America has officially brought back its interactive snorkel program.