Quick Hits

• Hennepin County's small business grant program remains shut down after a wave of apparent fake applicants — and the sheriff's office says it still doesn't have the records needed to open an investigation, months after the county reported the suspected fraud pattern. Only 82 of 300 applications could be confirmed as eligible and nonfraudulent, and the county has launched a review of its fraud safeguards.
• Rain is rewriting the weekend. A widespread 1 to 2 inches has already fallen, KSTP's Minnesota's Weather Authority remains in ALERT mode, and a flood watch covers parts of southern Minnesota from 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday afternoon. Friday night football postponements included Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield.
• Early voting is now open across Minnesota. Voting options remain unchanged despite recent uncertainty about mail-in ballot rules, according to KARE 11.
• ICE agent Christian Castro made his first court appearance Friday, charged with four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime in the January shooting of a man in north Minneapolis. He faces state and federal charges.
• The Twins snapped back Friday night: rookie Connor Prielipp allowed two hits over a season-high seven innings and fellow rookie Walker Jenkins homered in a 3-0 win over the Angels in Anaheim.

Golden Valley & West Metro

A quiet news day in Golden Valley itself — here's what's happening just beyond the city's borders.

• Academy of Holy Angels honored Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald Jr. Friday night with a field dedication. Fitzgerald, who starred at the Richfield school before his NFL career, was "overwhelmed with emotion" upon returning, KSTP reports. The stormy weather touched the campus too — Friday's rain forced changes to football plans there.
• Moviegoers near Golden Valley will soon have a bigger-screen option: Mann Theatres is adding an IMAX screen at the Plymouth Grand 15, a $2 million upgrade the company calls the biggest investment in its 91-year history.
• SouthWest Transit celebrated a Minnesota State Fair ridership record, providing 120,158 rides to the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

Minneapolis

• The Hennepin County grant saga is at a standstill on the enforcement side: the sheriff's office says fraudulent applications still have not been turned over, leaving the suspected fake-applicant scheme — first reported months ago — without a formal investigation, per KSTP and KARE 11. The county halted the program and is reviewing its fraud safeguards; of 300 applications reviewed, just 82 could be verified as eligible and nonfraudulent.
• Castro's prosecution is being watched closely by immigrant-rights organizers, who told KARE 11 "this should be the first of many" as the ICE agent faces state and federal charges.
• The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has spent $513,000 on security, public records show, amid rising online threats and attacks on officials.
• A piece of Minneapolis history is coming back: Willard Elementary, closed since 2005, is on track to reopen. The Link nonprofit is expected to close on the old Willard and Gordon school properties by the end of the year.
• Blaine police are asking for the public's help finding 20-year-old D'Marco Ricardo Shane Buckney Jr., suspected of shooting another man Saturday in a gun range parking lot.

St. Paul

• Tsegaab Binessu, 30, pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting that killed three people at an apartment complex.
• A 23-year-old man with a history of burglarizing homes and stealing cars was charged Friday with several burglary-related counts after a series of break-ins and auto thefts around St. Paul.
• The investigation into St. Paul's mayor is complete, sources tell KARE 11; it stemmed from allegations that the mayor made inappropriate comments toward St. Paul police officers.
• A candidate for North St. Paul mayor has an active arrest warrant after prosecutors allege he violated a domestic abuse order for protection, according to Ramsey County District Court filings.
• A new federal lawsuit filed in Minnesota targets 3M and other companies over PFAS in firefighters' protective gear, adding pressure as dozens of fire departments weigh safer gear.

Local Sports

• Twins: After Thursday's heartbreaker — Mike Trout's tying RBI single and Wade Meckler's winning single in the 10th handed Minnesota a 5-4 loss, despite a late Jenkins home run — the Twins bounced back Friday behind Prielipp's two-hit gem and Jenkins' homer for the 3-0 win over the Angels.
• Vikings: Week 2 brings the Bears and another chapter of the Ben Johnson–Brian Flores chess match. KSTP notes it's "a stressful week" for Chicago coach Johnson, whose effect on Minnesota's defensive coordinator — and vice versa — cuts both ways.
• Wild: Training camp is open, and the biggest storyline is Quinn Hughes, who addressed his contract situation after what he called an especially eventful season. Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber also met with reporters.
• Lynx: The slumping Lynx fell 93-81 to the New York Liberty in Minneapolis on Friday night. Breanna Stewart led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds; Jonquel Jones added 18 and 10.
• Looking ahead: The Unrivaled women's 3-on-3 basketball league will play two games at Target Center on Jan. 24 as part of its third season, the league announced Thursday.

Weather

If your Saturday plans look soggy, blame Friday. KSTP meteorologists say heavy rain will gradually wind down overnight, though additional downpours were developing — especially south of the Twin Cities. A widespread 1 to 2 inches has already fallen across the state, and a flood watch remains in effect for parts of southern Minnesota from 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday afternoon. Expect lingering wet conditions early in the weekend before the rain tapers; worth double-checking any outdoor plans before heading out.

Minnesota Statewide

• At the pump: Minnesota gas has hit $4.47 as the Iran war drives oil-price fears. A new U.S. military estimate puts the war's cost to taxpayers at $43.6 billion.
• Election watch: With less than seven weeks until Election Day, a new KSTP/SurveyUSA poll finds Minnesotans have clear priorities for the next governor, senator and attorney general — including fighting fraud and easier access to healthcare.
• National note: Remains found in the Grand Canyon this week were identified as the last person missing after the late-August flash flooding there, the hiker's wife said, bringing the death toll to 3.
• Community corner: Twin Cities Light The Night takes place this weekend, and the Shine Bright for Kids fundraiser is collecting money for children in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Program at Children's Minnesota.