Sanford, North Memorial finalize merger — changes ahead for the Robbinsdale hospital serving Golden Valley

September 2, 2026 · 43 sources

Quick Hits

The Sanford–North Memorial merger is official. The health systems announced Tuesday that the deal is finalized — a major milestone for North Memorial, whose hospital campus just across the Golden Valley border in Robbinsdale is the closest major medical center for many residents.
Robbinsdale Area Schools — which serves parts of Golden Valley, New Hope and Crystal — has opened contract talks with Superintendent Dr. Terri Staloch even as the district remains in the red, KSTP reports.
The Blue Line Extension standoff is deepening. Hennepin County officials are publicly pressing the Met Council to "step up" and close the funding gap on the $3.5 billion, 13-mile, 13-station extension from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.
Your Twins are rolling. Minnesota blitzed Detroit 11-1 Monday and 15-2 Tuesday — a 26-3 two-night tally — including Walker Jenkins' first major league home run and three total homers from Ryan Jeffers.
Record State Fair start. 729,146 people came through the gates in the first four days, the best opening stretch on record, with single-day records set each of the first two days.

North Memorial Health's merger with South Dakota-based Sanford Health was finalized Tuesday, the systems announced. The deal means North Memorial facilities — including the Robbinsdale hospital and its network of clinics that many Golden Valley families rely on — will now operate as part of Sanford Health. (KSTP)
Superintendent contract talks are underway for Dr. Terri Staloch as Robbinsdale Schools "works through" a budget shortfall, with the district still in the red, per KSTP's Tracking Your Tax Dollars team. Families in northern Golden Valley, New Hope, Crystal and Robbinsdale will want to watch what the contract means for district leadership during a lean stretch.
A sweet piece of local history is on the market: the mid-century Robbinsdale home custom-built by famed Blue Ribbon Baker Marjorie Johnson is up for sale. (KARE11)
Neighbor-to-neighbor: a St. Louis Park resident is asking the Minneapolis subreddit for front-door and storm-door installers who'll do good work for under $2,000 — chime in if you have a trusted lead.

Hennepin County leaders took their fight with the Met Council public Tuesday over the $3.5 billion Blue Line Extension, urging the regional body to fund the budget gap for the 13-mile, 13-stop line from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park — a project many northwest-metro commuters are watching closely. (KARE11/KSTP)
A search warrant says the driver in the Brooklyn Center crash that left a 6-year-old girl dead and another victim in critical condition admitted to using cocaine days before the collision. (KSTP)
A south Minneapolis neighborhood is searching for answers after a man was found stabbed to death outside a home over the weekend. (KSTP)
After the Bar Zia shooting sentencing, Ericka Wheeler left a Hennepin County courtroom Tuesday with a raw message: "That still don't bring my son back." (KSTP)
More than 200 damaged vehicle windows in Minneapolis have raised questions about whether teens detained in connection with the vandalism will face charges under a new state law. (KSTP)
CenterPoint Energy crews repaired a natural gas line struck by a third-party contractor in north Minneapolis on Monday.
A Delta flight from MSP to Orlando turned around mid-flight Monday after a pilot experienced a "medical issue."

New data details how Ramsey County allocated $2.25 million as the Pig's Eye Park camp closure loomed — and questions are growing about the spending tied to shelter expansion before the encampment was cleared. (KSTP)
A St. Paul man has been charged with murder after an argument over moving a TV; the victim was reportedly shot in an apartment living room Saturday morning. (KARE11)
A second person is now charged in connection with the missing Suni Lee statue: the Ramsey County Attorney's Office charged Tamica Bazinet on Monday, after police located the statue inside a St. Paul home Friday morning. (KARE11)
At the fair: Danielson's & Daughters marks 70 years of onion rings — a family tradition started by William "Bill" Fliegler Danielson — while the Info Booth Ladies honor the memory of Kathy Riewe and carry on their podcast. (KARE11)
Art outing: Shoreview's Cafesjian Art Trust Museum has opened "Meet Me in the Forest," an exhibition MinnPost says captures nature in turns "lovely and terrifying."

The Twins outscored Detroit 26-3 in two nights. Tuesday's 15-2 rout featured a 10-run sixth inning with three-run homers from Royce Lewis and Ryan Jeffers; Monday's 11-1 win included two Jeffers homers, Walker Jenkins' first MLB blast, and a start from Taj Bradley (10-6) as the Tigers keep skidding. (KSTP)
Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield — a two-time Walter Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist — has re-signed for two more seasons in St. Paul, the club announced Monday. (KSTP)
The Vikings are hosting a free agent pass rusher on a visit as they tinker with the roster ahead of the Sept. 13 season opener against Green Bay; the initial 53-man roster was finalized over the weekend. (KSTP)

The Minnesota Supreme Court heard a case on whether religious institutions can discriminate against employees — centered on a school librarian fired after coming out as transgender. Justices will determine whether the firing is covered by the First Amendment. (KARE11)
A proposed increase in public school funding will be on the November ballot; a coalition of DFL and Republican lawmakers joined educators at the State Capitol Tuesday to push for it. (KSTP)
Wondering why some districts are starting school before Labor Day this year, against the usual Minnesota custom? KSTP breaks down the reasons.
Childhood vaccination rates are declining in Minnesota — the CDC says non-medical exemptions rose to 6.8% in the past school year — even as pediatricians field more questions from parents. (KARE11)
The penny may be retiring, but penny presses aren't: the Penny Press Machine Company in Little Canada is one of the few makers left and is finding new business despite the coin's end. (KARE11)