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Axios Twin Cities
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 ThursdayโSaturday. 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 โ a legendary, prolific, and quotable member of the barย โ 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...
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:๐๏ธ Federal, state, and local government offices will be closed, including Driver & Vehicle Services bureaus and libraries in all metro counties.๐งโโ๏ธ Minnesota courts also won't be open.๐ฆ Banks may open, but most observe Federal Reserve holidays. Wells Fargo, Bremer, Huntington, BMO, and U.S. Bank branches will be closed.โ๏ธ Mail will not be delivered and post offices will be closed, but FedEx and UPS stores and delivery services will operate as usual.๐ Metro Transit will run regular service.๐๏ธ Garbage collection will continue as usual in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but it might be worth double-checking your haulers' holiday schedule.๐ ฟ๏ธ 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 โ approximately 36 per 100,000 people each year โ 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.โNew 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. ๐ถ 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.๐ถ Joetown Rocks, July 3-4,...
Why this huge northern pike will not set a Minnesota fishing record
Check out this lunker that angler Jacob Skarloken caught on a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area last month.Why it matters: At more than 47 inches, the fish would've "shattered" the state's length record for a northern pike, Skarloken told Axios.Yes, but: His party of five didn't take photos of their measurements, so the DNR can't recognize the record, as Outdoor Life first reported.What they're saying: "The record was the furthest thing from our mind," said Skarloken, an avid outdoorsman who owns a tile business in the Brainerd Lakes area.Now, "I want that fish just to get the recognition...
MN Department of Education "created opportunities" for Feeding Our Future fraud, per audit
"Inadequate" oversight of Feeding Our Future and a lack of action by the Minnesota Department of Education "created opportunities for fraud," a legislative audit released Thursday concludes.Why it matters: The report details the Walz administration's failure to stop what federal prosecutors have called the biggest pandemic fraud case in the nation.They also come days after another Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) report dinged two other agencies for mismanagement of another pandemic-era aid program.Catch up fast: The U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis has charged 70 people affiliated with the St. Anthony-based nonprofit in what they've called a "brazen" scheme to...
Minnesotans to watch in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
Lakeville native Regan Smith is looking to lock in a ticket to Paris โ and potentially another record โ at the upcoming U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. The big picture: The three-time Olympic medalist is among the more than 1,000 swimmers heading to Indianapolis this weekend to compete for a spot on Team USA ahead of the Summer Games. Catch up fast: Smith, who learned to swim at a local Foss outpost and trained at Apple Valley's Riptide Swim Club, has been racking up medals and smashing records since leaving Stanford University to turn pro in 2022.How it works: Swimmers...
Minnesotans to watch in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
Lakeville native Regan Smith is looking to lock in a ticket to Paris โ and potentially another record โ at the upcoming U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. The big picture: The three-time Olympic medalist is among the more than 1,000 swimmers heading to Indianapolis this weekend to compete for a spot on Team USA ahead of the Summer Games. Catch up fast: Smith, who learned to swim at a local Foss outpost and trained at Apple Valley's Riptide Swim Club, has been racking up medals and smashing records since leaving Stanford University to turn pro in 2022.How it works: Swimmers...
Linden Hills mansion with 49-foot waterslide lists for $1.995 million
Calling all Minnesotans dreaming of summer pool parties โ this Linden Hills home with a massive waterslide is now on the market.By the numbers: Located at 4106 Vincent Ave S in Minneapolis, it's listed for $1,995,000.Why we love it: With an in-ground 46-by-20-foot heated pool, 49-foot water slide, saltwater hot tub, and plenty of room on the wraparound patio for relaxing by the water, this backyard was made for entertaining all summer long.Plus: While the home is more than 110 years old, the interior has been meticulously restored and updated with new electrical, mechanicals, plumbing, and more.Layout: The 5,037-square-foot home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a three-car detached garage.Interior features: Natural light, treetop views, sunroom, wood-burning fireplaces, infinity soaking tub, walk-in closets, and finished basement with walk-out access to the backyard.Exterior features: New landscaping, pool, patio, hot tub, water features, waterslide.Take a look around... All photos by Loop Photography and Spacecrafting, courtesy of Lindsey Ronning with Keller Williams Integrity Realty.Sign up for Axios Twin Cities for free.
Twin Cities Father's Day weekend guide: Juneteenth festivities, Midsommar, giant pencil sharpening
Juneteenth isn't until Wednesday, but local organizations are getting an early start to honor the holiday celebrating Black emancipation from enslavement.Two free events to check out: Northside's Juneteenth Family Festival runs Friday through Sunday throughout North Minneapolis. Activities include a Black business marketplace, community movie screening, ice cream social, free food and pool party.The West Broadway Juneteenth block party, hosted by Juneteenth Minnesota, kicks off Sunday with a parade and features plenty of family fun like face painting, carnival games, a bounce house and more.In other entertainment news...๐ถ Kingfield Porchfest, an evening of free music exclusively performed on front porches,...
Downtown St. Paul's office market situation is more dire situation than previously known
When downtown St. Paul's largest landlord put its entire portfolio up for sale last month, it revealed that the city's already delicate office market is in an even more dire condition than many realized.Why it matters: The situation might soon get worse, because the neighborhood's biggest user of office space, the state of Minnesota, has a plan to move many of its 6,000+ workers out.This would mean fewer people eating, drinking, and hanging out downtown, but the loss of a major tenant can also shrink a building's value and ultimately shift more property tax burden onto homeowners.The intrigue: Madison Equities...
City council member urged Ann Kim to recognize union at her Uptown restaurant
Minneapolis City Council member Katie Cashman privately encouraged chef Ann Kim to voluntarily recognize an employee union at her Uptown restaurant, according to a voicemail Axios has obtained.Why it matters: Cashman made this call in a delicate moment for the council's left-wing majority, which is attempting to notch a big win for the labor community while also building trust with local business owners โ including Kim, one of Uptown's most prominent boosters.The big picture: Cashman is co-author of a proposal to create a labor standards board, which proponents hope could become a powerful vehicle to drive new labor-friendly policies through...
Minnesota frontline worker checks went to applicants who may not have been eligible : Audit
A legislative audit released Tuesday found that two Minnesota state agencies failed to follow vetting requirements when issuing checks for the state's pandemic frontline worker bonus program. As a result, $487 payments were sent to applicants who shouldn't have qualified or whose eligibility couldn't be independently determined. Why it matters: The findings raise questions about whether taxpayer dollars meant for pandemic heroes were misspent. Plus: Because the $500 million that lawmakers set aside for the program was set to be split evenly among qualified Minnesotans, issuing payments to ineligible applicants reduced the total check size for the workers they were...
125 years ago St. Paul implemented bike speed limits
One hundred and 25 years ago today, the St. Paul Police Department, fed up with all the recklessness, slapped new speed limits on ... bicycles. Flashback: Bicycles were the primary mode of transportation in the late 1800s. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, their advocates had pushed for paving city streets, which were used by horses and carts (you're welcome, motorheads). By the numbers: The SPPD set the new speed limits at 6 mph on sidewalks and 8 mph on streets, which is about the pace of a brisk jog or run. The department also created a 12-officer bike patrol to catch the speed demons, per the MHS. Why it matters: History is repeating itself as the rise in heavier and faster e-bikes has reignited the debate about how fast is too fast on park trails. State of play: St. Paul's trails now have no speed limit, while Minneapolis' trails have a 10 mph cap, although that limit is not enforced and seldom obeyed. Sign up for Axios Twin Cities for free.
Minnesota's school counselor shortage is one of the worst in the nation
Data: American School Counselor Association. Map: Tory Lysik/Axios VisualsMinnesota has one of the worst school counselor-to-student ratios in the country, according to data from the American School Counselor Association.The big picture: Minnesota had one counselor for every 544 students during the 2022-2023 K-12 school year. That's more than double the association's recommended ratio of 250:1.Only two states โ Arizona and Michigan โ had higher ratios last year.Why it matters: These certified educators help students with everything from mental health support to applying for college.They can be the first to know if a child is facing abuse, struggling with hunger,...
Christina Nguyen win Best Midwest Chef at James Beard Awards
Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai and Hola Arepa took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest.Why it matters: The Twin Cities chef had previously been nominated for the award four times, but had never taken home the prize until now. She beat out four others, including Ann Ahmed of Khรขluna and Gai Noi.What she's saying: "When we started our restaurants, the most a Southeast Asian restaurant could ever hope for was best cheap eats," Nguyen said in her awards speech. "I feel like we've come a long way. This is an honor."Context: Nguyen, who is self-taught, started her restaurant career in 2011 when she and her husband Birk Grudem opened the Hola Arepa food truck. The two opened the brick-and-mortar location in 2014 and added Southeast Asian restaurant Hai Hai to their portfolio in 2018. Zoom out: Elsewhere at the awards, upscale Northeast Minneapolis Mexican restaurant Oro by Nixta lost out on the Best New Restaurant award to Dakar NOLA of New Orleans.This is a developing story. Check back for more updates. Sign up for Axios Twin Cities for free.
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