Quick Hits

• Golden Valley's Animal Humane Society broke ground on a major clinic expansion — officials say the new facility will double the capacity of their current clinic. (KARE 11)
• A 63-year-old man is in custody on a kidnapping charge after allegedly trying to abduct his ex from a Golden Valley hospital parking lot Monday. (KSTP)
• Highway 280 is on track to reopen Friday, MnDOT says, after a $34 million overhaul — clearing a major detour just in time for State Fair traffic. (KSTP)
• Robbinsdale school board members are sparring over the superintendent's contract as the district puts a $413 million building bond referendum on this fall's ballot. (KARE 11)
• The BCA is asking residents to be on the lookout for Keircylyna Pelkey, a 16-year-old from Prior Lake who hasn't been seen since July. (KSTP)

Golden Valley & West Metro

• The Animal Humane Society officially broke ground on a new 13,000-square-foot clinic in Golden Valley; AHS officials say it will double the capacity of their current clinic. (KARE 11)
• Todd Alan Smith, 63, is in custody facing one count of kidnapping after he allegedly attempted to abduct his ex from a Golden Valley hospital's parking lot on Monday, according to charges. (KSTP)
• In Robbinsdale, school board members clashed over whether to extend Superintendent's contract — turmoil that comes as the district places a $413 million, three-part building bond referendum before voters this fall. (KARE 11)

Minneapolis

• After months of detours, Highway 280 is set to reopen Friday following its $34 million overhaul — welcome timing with State Fair crowds arriving next week. (KSTP)
• Ricardo Andres Bassat has been charged with third-degree burglary in connection with the Minneapolis art heist after 14 of the missing paintings were recovered from his St. Paul storage unit, per court documents. (KARE 11)
• New details in the Medicaid/sex trafficking investigation: prosecutors describe a "commercial sex and Medicaid-funded enterprise" that billed $4.65 million over three years, per Ramsey County court records. KSTP separately reports one man charged in the more-than-$1-million fraud case previously received Minnesota's "Outstanding Refugee Award."
• A City Council committee approved an ordinance requiring businesses with dress codes to post them near entrances, citing discrimination concerns; the full council still must vote. (KARE 11/KSTP)
• Reign Event Center's liquor license renewal advanced out of committee after last month's mass shooting prompted the council to hold it for further review. (KSTP)
• Derek Chauvin has asked the state to throw out his murder convictions and release him, according to court documents. (KSTP)
• Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing Texas Gov. Abbott over extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro, who faces four counts of assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime stemming from a Jan. 14 incident in Minneapolis. (KARE 11)
• The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board reaffirmed its push Wednesday night for a 5.86% levy increase as it considers a $160 million budget. (KSTP)
• Minneapolis-based Target posted its second straight quarter of comparable sales gains, crediting a merchandising overhaul under its new CEO — plus a $994 million tariff refund. (AP/KSTP)
• In the North Loop, the neighborhood association has posted a Q&A with the potential developer of a proposed data center. (North Loop Neighborhood Association)

St. Paul

• Six alleged gang members agreed Wednesday to a proposed order barring them from the Minnesota State Fair as part of Ramsey County's gang injunction case; the men deny the gang ties and admit no liability. (KSTP/KARE 11)
• The FRM Run Club, which hosts weekly community runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, held a back-to-school giveaway for families. (KARE 11)
• A St. Paul organization is offering American Indian youth a healing space built on community and culture, in a story from ThreeSixty Journalism's Multimedia Storytelling Institute. (KARE 11)

Local Sports

• The intensity rose at TCO Performance Center as the Vikings held their first joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens after nearly three weeks of training camp against the same teammates. (KSTP)
• Minnesota United fell 2-1 to Atlanta United on Wednesday night, undone by Tristan Muyumba's goal — his third straight game with a score. Atlanta (5-12-3) has now won back-to-back games after a seven-match winless run. (KSTP)
• At Target Field, concessions operator Delaware North presented what it calls a final offer to the concessions union, raising wages to $20 an hour — but the union says it's unhappy with the proposal. (KSTP)

Weather

• KSTP's Ken Barlow is tracking a few showers across north-central Minnesota this morning, with the metro's best chance of showers and a few thunderstorms coming late today and this evening. Keep an umbrella handy for evening plans. (KSTP)

Minnesota Statewide

• As part of its straw-purchase lawsuit settlement with Fleet Farm, AG Ellison released hundreds of internal company documents; the settlement also included a $1 million penalty and required changes at Minnesota stores. (KARE 11)
• Mike Lindell says he'll privately fund a statewide recount of the Minnesota GOP governor primary, though he provided no evidence that alleged irregularities affected the certified results. (KARE 11)
• Elon Musk's xAI faced off against Minnesota in federal court over the state's new AI nudication law. (KARE 11)
• Minnesota is investing $41 million in teacher pipeline grants to bolster the state's teacher ranks, while schools grapple with writing classroom rules for AI. (KSTP)
• Medica, Fairview and The Good Acre have teamed up to expand access to healthy food, growing Fairview's "Food is Medicine" program. (KARE 11)
• Gov. Walz authorized disaster assistance for Becker, Crow Wing, Fillmore, Houston, Mower and Winona counties damaged by severe storms earlier this year. (KSTP)