Quick Hits

• Leadership Change in Minneapolis: Office of Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette will step down at the end of the year, agreeing to stay on while the city conducts a search for his replacement.
• Metro Property Tax Concerns: A major redevelopment in Plymouth has raised the site's assessed value, with the mayor noting it could help slow future property tax growth for homeowners. Meanwhile, St. Paul landlords and renters are raising alarms over a potential property tax hike driven by a city budget gap.
• Twins Make Trade Deadline Move: The Minnesota Twins added pitching help just before Monday's deadline, acquiring reliever Jeff Hoffman from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for prospects.
• Primary Election Approaching: Minnesotans should prepare for the Aug. 11 primary elections. Voters can register at their polling place on Election Day if they haven't registered in advance.
• Lynx Hot Streak: The Minnesota Lynx secured their 10th-straight victory on Sunday, holding off the Indiana Fever 108-100 behind a combined 55 points from Oliva Miles and Courtney Williams.

Golden Valley & West Metro

While Golden Valley and our immediate surrounding neighborhoods like Crystal, New Hope, and St. Louis Park have a relatively quiet day on the local civic beat, regional development is making waves just down the highway. In Plymouth, a major redevelopment project has successfully raised the site’s assessed value. City leadership says this boost to the local tax base could help slow the rate of future property tax increases for homeowners—a trend residents across the west metro will surely be keeping a close eye on.

Minneapolis

Public safety is dominating headlines in Minneapolis today. Commissioner Toddrick Barnette of the Office of Community Safety announced he will step down at the end of the year, staying on temporarily to ensure a smooth transition while a search for his replacement is conducted.

Violent crime remains a focus for Minneapolis police. An overnight shooting in the North Loop early Sunday morning left a man with life-threatening injuries. In south Minneapolis, a 19-year-old Brooklyn Center man faces felony charges after allegedly wandering into a home, attacking a woman with a Taser, and attempting to rape her. In a separate incident, police tracked a reportedly stolen vehicle linked to an attempted armed carjacking, leading to the arrest of two teens while two other suspects fled the scene.

On the economic and cultural front, downtown Minneapolis saw a significant bump in business and crowds over the weekend thanks to SummerSlam, though some local bar owners noted revenues didn't quite hit their highest expectations. Looking ahead, the Minnesota Fringe Festival—one of the Midwest's largest performing arts festivals—kicks off this week at stages across the city. If you're looking for a bite after a show, Graze Food Hall by Travail is hosting an Island Hopper Luau this August to bring a tropical flair to summer dining. Finally, congratulations are in order for Riverside Farms, a family-owned operation out of Elk River celebrating 50 years of selling fresh, local produce at the Minneapolis Farmers Market.

St. Paul

East Metro residents are closely watching both City Hall and their wallets. St. Paul landlords and renters are voicing concerns over a possible hike in property taxes as the city navigates a budget gap. Just this month, a St. Paul renter successfully appealed a nearly 18% rent increase by arguing that poor apartment conditions did not justify the higher rate.

At City Hall, new details are emerging regarding a formal sexual harassment complaint against St. Paul Mayor Her. Reports indicate the complaint follows a period of internal disputes over ICE questions, the police budget, and an internal affairs investigation.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the tragic shooting death of 22-year-old Cion Jordan, who died after being shot in the stomach on July 30. His mother is pleading for answers, telling reporters that "everyone loved him."

Local Sports

The Minnesota Twins made a strategic move ahead of Monday night's trade deadline, acquiring right-handed relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for prospects. Over on the hardwood, the Minnesota Lynx are blazing a trail. Rookie sensation Oliva Miles spearheaded the offense with 28 points, while Courtney Williams added 27, combining for 55 points to secure a 108-100 victory over the Indiana Fever. The win marks the team's 10th consecutive victory.

Weather

As we move through the first full week of August, Dairy Queen is already giving us a taste of autumn. The chain has officially launched its Caramel Apple Cheesecake Blizzard and a 99-cent Double Flip deal this month. If you're not quite ready for fall, enjoy the current summer flavors—DQ says even more fall menu items will officially land on Aug. 31.

Minnesota Statewide

Tuesday, Aug. 11 is Primary Election Day across Minnesota. Voters who haven't registered yet can still do so at their polling place on Election Day. KARE 11 will be providing live coverage of the key races, which also includes elections just across the border in Wisconsin. In political news, the DFL primary race for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat is heating up, with Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan recently meeting in their first debate.

In state government oversight, an investigation reveals that while Minnesota has won $90 million in judgments against Medicaid fraudsters, only a fraction of that money has actually been paid back. In response, the legislature recently allocated $90 million to upgrade the aging technology used by counties to administer the program and track discrepancies.

For folks heading up to the cabin, be aware that a persistent drought is lowering lake levels across north-central Minnesota. Recent weeks of below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures continue to worsen conditions across a large portion of the state. Additionally, if your travels take you south toward Shakopee, use caution: a fatal three-vehicle crash closed southbound lanes on Highway 169 Monday morning after a northbound Ford Taurus crossed the center median at Fuller Street and collided with a semi and a Ford F-150.