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Axios Twin Cities
Decades-old dreams for St. Paul's West Side riverfront are slowly becoming reality
As officials cut the ribbon on 284 new apartments near St. Paul's riverfront on Tuesday, they were already looking forward to what's next for the area just across the Mississippi from downtown.Why it matters: The city's riverfront is woefully underutilized, but that might finally be changing.What they're saying: "We haven't historically wrapped ourselves culturally, socially, and economically around our identity as a river city," Mayor Melvin Carter said Tuesday during the grand opening of the Farwell-on-Water development.State of play: Investment is flowing in the area between Harriet Island and Robert Street, which some call West Side Flats.Farwell-on-Water, the new complex...
Minnesota GOP-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate didn't vote for his own 2022 campaign
As he runs for U.S. Senate, Royce White is asking Minnesota voters to do something he has repeatedly failed to do himself: cast a ballot.The big picture: White, the state Republican Party's endorsed candidate, did not vote in most recent Minnesota elections — including the 2022 primary he ran in — an Axios review of voting records found.Why it matters: White's unorthodox candidacy has been dogged by questions about his behavior and fitness for office since he secured in May the backing of GOP delegates over his August primary opponent, Navy veteran Joe Fraser.White, a professional basketball player and former...
What to know about the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis
The nation's top gymnasts — including two Minnesotans — land at Target Center Thursday to flip, twist, and spring for a spot on Team USA.Why it matters: The Olympic trials are vaulting these elite athletes and the city of Minneapolis into the national spotlight.The big picture: Officials expect the four-day event to attract big crowds — and local spending — to downtown as families and fans gather to cheer on the gymnasts.Between the lines: While the athletes take center stage at the trials, city leaders say the broader economic impact comes from the families, coaching staff, and fans who take...
Who the Timberwolves might draft
The Timberwolves have two selections in the NBA Draft that starts Wednesday night. Why it matters: With a massive payroll heading into next season, the Wolves have almost no wiggle room to sign free agents, so improving the roster will require finding cheap, young talent in the draft. State of play: Minnesota's two biggest needs are a backup point guard as insurance for 36-year-old Mike Conley Jr., as well as a wing player who can score. The Wolves hold the No. 27 and No. 37 picks, though they could trade one or both of them and move up or down. Names to watch: Mock drafts have thrown out several possible players for the Wolves at No. 27: The Athletic predicts they'll take Creighton sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman.ESPN says it'll be Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek, and USA Today projects them taking Terrence Shannon Jr., a guard from Illinois. Yahoo predicts that guard Cam Christie, who played for the Gophers last season, will be staying in Minneapolis. How to watch: The draft starts at 7pm on ABC/ESPN. Barring a trade up, the Wolves aren't likely to make a pick in the first hour. Sign up for Axios Twin Cities for free.
Breached Minnesota dam remains standing amid "historic" flooding
"Historic" flooding across the state will likely require a federal disaster declaration, Gov. Tim Walz said Monday.Threat level: Recent heavy rain, including a foot-and-a-half in southern Minnesota, has already closed roads, caused serious damage, and left some communities under feet of water.Much of southern Minnesota remains at risk of "considerable" flooding impacts over the next week.The latest: A breached dam outside Mankato that officials had warned was in "imminent failure condition" on Monday remained standing as of Tuesday morning. Officials now expect it to hold, the Star Tribune reports.Those alarms came as the state deployed 46 National Guard soldiers to...
This Minnesota man built a "fingerboard" skate park for anyone to use — for free
Minnesota's First Free Outdoor Fingerboard Skate Park is officially open in St. Louis Park.Wait, what? Visitors to the miniature "park" can ride, grind, and flip a scaled-down replica of a skateboard with their fingers — not their feet. The whole thing fits on a table about the size of a desk.What he's saying: "I do stupid stuff," said creator Jimi Nguyen, who held the official ribbon cutting in his yard on Saturday.Visit: The park is located in the front yard of 2901 Yosemite Ave. S, St. Louis Park. It's open to the public, and fingerboards are available to borrow on-site.Check out our Instagram for a look at how it works.Sign up for Axios Twin Cities for free.
Some Minnesota lawmakers did bridge the political divide this year, report finds
There were some bright spots for bipartisanship in the fractious final year of the current legislative session, but there's lots of room for improvement, per a new report.The big picture: A perfect storm of deepening national political divides, an election year, one-party control, and tensions over a scandal that imperiled Senate Democrats' majority didn't bode well for working across the aisle — especially in the raucous final hours of lawmaking.Yes, but: The second-annual "State of Bipartisanship" report, released Thursday by the nonpartisan local nonprofit Majority in the Middle, did find examples of collaboration between Democrats and Republicans.All but two of...
Trump campaign to open 8 Minnesota field offices: report
The Trump campaign plans to open eight field offices across Minnesota, per a memo obtained by CBS News. Why it matters: The former president's campaign is again aiming to flip Minnesota red for the first time in decades. Yes, but: His campaign hasn't had a significant on-the-ground presence here yet this cycle. State of play: Several recent polls have shown a close rematch here, though the latest KSTP survey showed President Biden's advantage widening. The latest: The campaign is in the process of securing leases for the "Trump Force 47" offices, CBS reports.It's made some hires and is working on...
Why this St. Paul restaurant sources its ingredients from Minnesota farms
Several mornings a week, Myriel co-owner and chef Karyn Tomlinson drives more than an hour from the Twin Cities to Cokato to hand-select farm-fresh ingredients for the next few menus.Her "shopping" list on a recent sunny Wednesday was fairly typical for this time of year: 40 pounds of asparagus picked that morning, some freshly foraged mushrooms and two whole, slaughtered pigs.But first, she stopped at an old dairy farm along Highway 12 to fill the bed of her business partner's pickup truck with lumber stored in the barn.Driving the news: The wood will become the shelves of a new pantry...
Twin Cities Gen Zers feel bleak about homeownership
Steep housing costs are putting Gen Z's homeownership dreams on hold.The big picture: Gen Zers, roughly those aged 12-27, feel deeply pessimistic about the world around them, Axios' Erica Pandey reports.For this story, we're focusing on the adult cohort.What they're saying: "There's nothing left to put away for a down payment" after shelling out for rent and other bills, and saving for retirement, says Jaylen Santos, 23, who lives in Minneapolis' Prospect Park."I'm counting on the hope that I'll have a partner in a few years who is also willing and able to put money toward a home," Lowry Hill...
The rain has revived Minnesota's mosquito populations
Soggy spring weather has been an unexpected boost for the Twin Cities' mosquito populations.State of play: The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) had been predicting a slow start to the season, but a rainy spring has negated the effects of a historically dry winter on Minnesota's unofficial state bird.Why it matters: Aside from driving a big market for anti-itch cream, Tiki torches, and citronella candles, mosquitoes carry diseases like West Nile.What they're saying: Mosquito eggs hatch in water, so precipitation is crucial for their populations, MMCD public affairs director Alex Carlson told Axios.The first broods generally hatch after early snowmelt...
First Look: Inside Ava, North Loop's two-story lounge and "modern discotheque"
When Ava debuts in the North Loop on Wednesday, the two-story bar, lounge, and eatery will have no shortage of disco balls.Zoom in: The former Stilheart Distillery space on Third Avenue has been transformed into a swanky ground-floor lounge with an exclusive "modern discotheque" dance floor in the basement. Owner Ben Taheri, who previously ran the now-shuttered North Loop spots The Tangiers and Hennepin Steam Room, told Axios he aims to offer a sophisticated yet energetic venue for those looking for a middle ground between the neighborhood's quiet speakeasies and the bars with younger demographics. What to expect: Small bites...
Twin Cities weekend guide: Jazz festival, Back to the '50s, "Sonic" rave
Break out the lassos and cowboy boots: Minnesota's oldest rodeo is back.What's happening: The Buffalo PRCA Championship Rodeo, around an hour northwest of the Twin Cities, returns for its 70th year starting Thursday with three evenings of family-friendly cowboy and cowgirl entertainment.Zoom in: The show kicks off with a grand entry led by flag girls and rodeo queens before barrel racers, bucking horses and bulls, steer wrestlers and more take to the arena.Gates open at 5pm and performances start at 7pm Thursday–Saturday. Open rain or shine. General admission tickets are $25 for ages 13 and up, $20 ages 12 and...
Check out the new North Loop tower that overlooks Target Field
The first residents have moved into Minneapolis' newest 34-story apartment tower, and some of them can watch Twins games from their balconies.Why it matters: The developers of North Loop Green placed a massive bet on the future of Minneapolis, and it appears to be paying off.Catch up fast: The two-building project includes 450 apartments, 350,000 square feet of office space, and 17,000 square feet of restaurants.Follow the money: The development team, Houston-based Hines and Chicago-based Marquee Development, broke ground on the project in the fall of 2021 with financing from the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust.They did so despite concerns about...
Legendary Twin Cities attorney Joe Friedberg dies
Joe Friedberg — a legendary, prolific, and quotable member of the bar — has died after a battle with cancer, according to multiple reports.The big picture: He was a veteran of more than 300 felony jury trials since 1966, and Twin Cities reporters and radio hosts often turned to him for his take on legal matters.Catch up quick: Friedberg represented U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman during the 2009 election recount that Sen. Al Franken eventually won.After hating his first job out of law school, the New York native moved to Minnesota in 1964 to sell encyclopedias. However, he kept taking criminal cases...
Twin Cities drenched in heavy rain, and it's not over yet
The downpours of the past month were initially a godsend for drought-stricken Minnesota, but now they're raising fears of a flood.By the numbers: Much of the Twin Cities region received 8 to 10 inches of rain over the past 45 days, even before Monday's soaking, National Weather Service meteorologist Brent Hewett told Axios.Depending on Monday's totals, the Twin Cities may have already surpassed what the region sees normally in the entire month of June: 4.58 inches.Why it matters: River levels are rising and there's a growing likelihood of flooding, which can damage infrastructure and on occasion be deadly.What we're watching:...
What's closed in Minnesota on Juneteenth
Minnesota will mark Black Americans' emancipation from slavery by observing the Juneteenth holiday on Wednesday, June 19.Zoom in: The newest state holiday may affect hours for some businesses and services. Here's some of what will be open and closed:🏛️ Federal, state, and local government offices will be closed, including Driver & Vehicle Services bureaus and libraries in all metro counties.🧑⚖️ Minnesota courts also won't be open.🏦 Banks may open, but most observe Federal Reserve holidays. Wells Fargo, Bremer, Huntington, BMO, and U.S. Bank branches will be closed.✉️ Mail will not be delivered and post offices will be closed, but FedEx and UPS stores and delivery services will operate as usual.🚌 Metro Transit will run regular service.🗑️ Garbage collection will continue as usual in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but it might be worth double-checking your haulers' holiday schedule.🅿️ Parking meters will not be enforced in either Minneapolis or St. Paul.We at Axios will also be off on Juneteenth, but sign up for our free daily newsletter to receive Wednesday's special edition about the holiday and its history.Sign up for Axios Twin Cities for free.
Minnesota has one of the highest melanoma rates in the country
Data: cancer.gov. Map: Axios VisualsDoctors are diagnosing more Minnesotans with melanoma than the national average.Why it matters: Although melanoma accounts for only about 1% of skin cancers, it's responsible for the large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).Zoom in: Minnesota's rate of new cases — approximately 36 per 100,000 people each year — is the third highest in the nation, per the CDC.That's well above the national average of 22.5.The big picture: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S.New cases of melanoma rose 2% to 3% annually between 2015 and...
Axios readers picked their favorite small town festivals in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Next weekend, "Wizard of Oz" fans from around the world will descend upon Grand Rapids for the northern Minnesota town's annual Judy Garland Festival that celebrates the birthplace of the iconic actress.The big picture: It's just one of many annual gatherings around Minnesota and Wisconsin with street parades, concerts and, of course, pie-eating contests. We asked Axios Twin Cities readers for some of their picks. 🛶 Loons & Lakes Festival, June 20-22 in Crosslake. This inaugural event "celebrates quiet recreation (paddleboarding, canoeing, etc.) and offers eco-education experiences," notes reader Katy S. There's also an art market.🎶 Joetown Rocks, July 3-4,...
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