Quick Hits

• West Metro Schools: Support is growing to increase property taxes in the Robbinsdale School District to address aging buildings and draw new families to the area.
• Minneapolis Budget: Mayor Jacob Frey is preparing a budget that will force tough decisions, including city layoffs, service cuts, and property tax increases to offset a looming budget shortfall.
• St. Paul Encampment: City agencies have officially cleared the large homeless encampment at Pig's Eye Park, though many residents are simply relocating to a nearby camp despite available shelter beds.
• Public Safety & Law: A new Minnesota law aims to strictly enforce firearm surrenders in domestic violence cases, while Hennepin County's sheriff faces threats of federal charges over denying immigration agents access to inmates.
• Sports: The Minnesota Twins dropped back-to-back games against the Kansas City Royals, falling 2-1 on Wednesday and 8-2 on Tuesday at Target Field.

Golden Valley & West Metro

Residents in the Robbinsdale School District—which serves parts of Golden Valley, Crystal, New Hope, and Robbinsdale—are seeing growing momentum behind a proposal to increase property taxes. The levy bump is aimed at funding much-needed upgrades to aging school buildings and creating facilities that will entice new families to move to the west metro.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is bracing for a tight budget season. Mayor Jacob Frey is expected to unveil his budget next week, but sources familiar with the plan say it will include property tax increases, service reductions, and city layoffs to close a significant budget shortfall.

In public safety and legal news, federal officials are threatening criminal charges against the Hennepin County Sheriff over a policy that denies immigration agents access to inmates subject to deportation. Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board has issued a hazardous warning for all three beaches at Cedar Lake due to blue-green algae—the highest risk warning level.

Over on the city's industrial north side, an 18-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries after falling 20 stories at the decommissioned Checkerboard Grain Elevator. Police say the teen was trespassing to film a social media video, an incident that has revived ongoing concerns about the dangerous "urban exploring" trend in Minneapolis.

In other metro crime news, a 19-year-old Brooklyn Center man has been charged with breaking into a south Minneapolis home and attempting a sexual assault, and Markus Antwon Jennings, 24, was sentenced to nearly 35 years in prison for his role in the 2024 Dale Street Station murder in St. Paul.

On the economic front, Minneapolis-based health insurer UCare is laying off 102 employees this fall after state Medicaid contracts shifted to Medica.

St. Paul

A major police operation successfully cleared the sprawling homeless encampment at Pig's Eye Park this week. However, outreach workers report that many displaced residents are simply moving to a nearby camp, even as local shelters work to keep beds open.

St. Paul police are also actively searching for Anthony Brosi, an endangered 34-year-old man who was last seen Monday in the area of Shepard Road between Randolph Avenue and Eagle Parkway. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.

Tragically, a 26-year-old woman was killed just after midnight on Thursday morning after being struck by an SUV while in the center lane of I-94 in St. Paul. The Minnesota State Patrol is currently investigating the incident.

Local Sports

It was a rough couple of nights for the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Newly acquired pitcher Dean Kremer had a strong debut on Wednesday, but the Kansas City Royals pulled ahead in the seventh inning for a 2-1 victory. The Royals similarly dominated on Tuesday, with Bobby Witt Jr. returning from a back injury to lead Kansas City to an 8-2 win.

The Minnesota Lynx were back on the practice court Wednesday, with Head Coach Cheryl Reeve, guard Kayla McBride, and new forward Chloe Bibby addressing the media as they prepare for their upcoming stretch of games.

At the University of Minnesota, a public celebration of life is scheduled for legendary Gophers Baseball Coach John Anderson at the Maturi Pavilion.

Finally, local soccer fans have a massive event to look forward to this fall: The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team will host Canada at Allianz Field in St. Paul this October, renewing a rivalry that dates back to 1925.

Minnesota Statewide

With the state primary election just days away, gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates met at Farmfest on Wednesday for their final public forums, debating key agricultural and rural issues.

Out west in Appleton (pop. 1,400), a private prison company's contract with ICE to house detainees is signaling an influx of jobs, though it also brings a sense of uncertainty to the small community. The immigration debate continues to be a flashpoint across the state, as evidenced by the federal pressure on the Hennepin County Sheriff.

In an effort to curb gun violence, Minnesota has launched a new statewide system designed to strictly enforce firearm surrenders for individuals legally prohibited from possessing them, particularly in domestic violence cases.

Law enforcement is also dealing with a wave of vandalism, as multiple Minnesota cities are reporting physical damage to their Flock license plate reader cameras amidst ongoing debates over the surveillance technology.

Authorities are also asking for the public's help locating Grant Jackson, a Lino Lakes man who went missing after visiting Duluth on Tuesday afternoon.