Tyler Kistner, a Marine veteran and congressional candidate in both 2020 and 2022, made the announcement on Wednesday, saying he recently learned that he was being activated from the Marine Reserves to deploy to the Middle East once again.

“Recently, it’s become clear that my service to this great country is needed more in other areas,” Kistner wrote in a statement. “My work at the Pentagon has demanded more of my time over the last six months than I initially anticipated.”

“Perhaps someday I will be called to serve in the halls of Congress, but now is not that time,” he continued.

Kistner was the first Republican to vie for the congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who's running for Senate, against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Democrats Matt Little, a former Lakeville mayor and state senator, and state Sen. Matt Klein remain in the race for Craig's open seat.

Deutsche Bank is suing the Foshay Tower's owner, alleging that WMN Foshay LP failed to pay off the $51 million mortgage by its maturity date last May, and that it owes more than $40 million.

The German bank filed the lawsuit last week in Hennepin County District Court, acting as a trustee acting on behalf of bondholders who invested in an affiliated commercial mortgage-backed security.

Foshay Tower, a 32-story Art Deco building, houses the W Minneapolis, plus Manny's Steakhouse, Prohibition Bar, and The Living Room.

A 20-year-old Keys Cafe location inside the hotel closed in November.

The Star Tribune reports that WMN Foshay LP has been marketing the W Minneapolis for at least six months, and has indicated that it's open to transferring ownership of the property since it hasn't yet sold.

The 229-room hotel last sold for $86 million in 2015, with previous owner Ashford Hospitality Trust also acquiring Le Meriden Chambers Minneapolis, now known as the Chambers Hotel, for a total of $101 million.

Ashford Hospitality, a Dallas-based real estate investment trust, relinquished its ownership interest in Foshay Tower in 2020 after missing loan payments.

Deutsche Bank's lawsuit seeks a court-appointed receiver to manage the property, as well as about $43 million in unpaid principal, interest and fees.

Built in 1929, Foshay Tower was the tallest building in downtown Minneapolis for decades, until the IDS Center was completed in 1972.

Parents at Hastings Middle School were informed that an adult black bear had been spotted in a tree "a few blocks away" from the campus at 1000 11th St. W. on Wednesday morning.

While the bear was being monitored by local police and Minnesota DNR officers, the school decided to stop outdoor activities "out of an abundance of caution" until further information was received from authorities.

"This means students will participate in indoor recess, and all Physical Education classes will remain inside for the time being," the memo to parents read.

Hastings Police Department issued an advisory to residents acknowledging the discovery of the bear.

"Black bears are generally docile unless provoked and will naturally move along when given time and space," it said. "The MN Department of Natural Resources is monitoring the bear."

At its Monday meeting, the Ely School Board voted unanimously to enact the change beginning in the fall. 

The reason behind the big schedule switch for students and parents is financial, with The Timberjay reporting the change will save Ely Schools about $200,000. 

The district has been grappling with a financial crisis in recent years as enrollment continues to decline, with the newspaper reporting there have already been $700,000 in cuts over the last 2 years. 

In an open letter to district families, superintendent Anne Oelke writes the 6-0 board decision comes after “months of community feedback, staff input, and careful review of survey results and financial considerations.” 

"The Board believes this change will help the district address the ongoing financial challenges related to staffing, operational costs, and budget sustainability," Oelke said. 

In the coming months, district staff will work on developing a new academic calendar, setting up new daily schedules, and look for ways to support families. 

“We are committed to keeping families and community members informed as planning continues and will share updates and opportunities for input along the way,” Oelke concluded.

This isn’t the only district in northern Minnesota to adopt a similar change. 

The St. Louis County School District and Mountain Iron-Buhl have already adopted four-day school weeks in recent years.

But it’s not a brand new one that’s being recognized as one of the nation’s best local sports bars. 

A Bar of Their Own, the Minneapolis hub for women’s sports, has been nominated as one of the best local sports bars in the country by USA Today’s 10Best readers’ choice awards, which hails it as a "groundbreaking" space in the community.

The site’s editorial staff has pared the thousands of sports bars around the country to a longlist of finalists and is leaving it up to readers to vote for the top 10 in the country. 

“A Bar of Their Own stands out as the Twin Cities’ first sports bar dedicated entirely to women’s sports, offering a full food and drink menu in a bright, inclusive space,” the voting page reads. 

“The bar proudly shows ‘ALL women’s sports, ALL the time,’ creating a community driven atmosphere that feels different from traditional sports bars. Fans love the mission, the welcoming staff, and the sense of belonging that keeps fans coming back. It’s a groundbreaking spot that celebrates women’s athletics with every game on the screen.”

Voting for the readers’ choice award will be open through noon on May 11, with the top-10 list revealed nine days later.

The fire broke out at Fresh Acres Farm just before noon on Saturday, with flames already to the ceiling by the time owner Dana Berg noticed the smoke coming from the barn, and its roof collapsing before firefighters arrived.

"While their fast response wasn't able to save the barn, they were able to stop the fire from spreading to our pole shed, which is where most of our tractors and equipment is stored," Berg and her husband, Zeke, write in a Facebook post.

Two pigs, Mac and Cheese, and 30 heritage turkey chicks were lost in the fire, along with all of the feed in the barn, but the farm's goats and burro made it out safely.

"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who showed up, reached out, and offered support," the Bergs write. "We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such a caring and wonderful community."

Despite the damage and loss of two petting zoo favorites, Fresh Acres still plans to hold its annual Fall Festival, a seasonal event featuring a corn maze, pumpkin patch, corn pit, and kid-friendly activities.

A GoFundMe is raising money to "take some of the burden off the Berg family so they can rebuild and focus on their mission of providing locally grown food and fun."

Zeke and Dana Berg say they were initially hesitant to agree to an online fundraiser since they have insurance, but eventually realized insurance will not pay for everything.

"Between needing to pay for the deductible, a variety of things that aren't covered by insurance, on top of the fact that the cost of a new barn will likely exceed the amount we receive from insurance, we agreed a GoFundMe would make sense," the couple writes in a separate Facebook post.

"If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated. You can be assured the investment will be put to good use as we rebuild a new home for our animals."

Less than six months after a rebrand, 801 on Nicollet has gone dark on the ground floor of U.S. Bancorp Center, with a sign at both entrances blaming “extenuating circumstances.”

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that 801 Restaurant Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Friday, but expects its other downtown Minneapolis restaurant, 801 Chophouse, to remain open.

Before launching 801 on Nicollet in November, the restaurant group operated a different concept in the same space, 801 Fish, which opened in late 2023 and closed in mid-2025.

McCormick & Schmick’s occupied the corner of Nicollet Mall and Ninth Street for many years until its departure during the COVID-19 pandemic, which wrecked havoc on the downtown Minneapolis ecosystem as thousands of corporate workers permanently left their offices.

Bring Me The News has reached out to 801 Restaurant Group for comment.

Colin Haley, 44, of St. Paul, was first hired in 2016 at the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, ascending to the role of senior assistant county attorney.

He prosecuted numerous high profile cases during his tenure, including conviction of Antoine Suggs, who killed four people in St. Paul before disposing of their bodies in a Wisconsin field. 

According to an obituary by the Pioneer Press, Haley suddenly became sick during a recent vacation to Mexico, bursting an esophageal artery and sustaining internal bleeding. He passed away on April 7. 

Born in New Ulm, Haley graduated from William Mitchell School of Law before joining the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday morning in St. Paul. 

“Colin took great pride in protecting his community and was honored to serve in a job that many would have found impossible,” his obituary reads. “The only thing he was prouder of was his son, Francis.”

"Collin’s passing deeply affected our office," " a Ramsey County Attorney's Office spokesperson shared with Bring Me The News.

"As an exceptional Ramsey County prosecutor since 2016, his unexpected loss was a tremendous shock to everyone who worked with him, making it all the more heartbreaking to lose a valued member of our family."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Haley’s family. 

Roni's Mac Bar will open on April 25 with a counter in the south food court in the former home of Vitali's Kitchen, between Sbarro and Popeyes. It's the company's first foray into Minnesota, led by local franchisees Sam and Tony Danna.

The burgeoning build-your-own mac chain has made its name on social media — it calls itself "the viral mac and cheese place" — building a following of more than 930,000 followers on TikTok and racking up tens of millions of views since its 2022 launch in Waco, Texas.

It now has 15 locations around the country.

"We are so excited to open up at the Mall of America because it is such a staple location in the state of Minnesota. Growing up here, we have always been very proud to have the Mall of America, and now that we can have a small piece within there brings a lot of excitement," Sam Danna says. "The hype is real about how good the food is."

@ronismacbar

🚨 DON'T ATTEMPT 🚨 #macandcheese #foodie #cheese

♬ original sound - Roni’s Mac Bar

The actual menu features a parade of cheeses, meats, toppings, and sauces that can be added to bowls of mac-and-cheese or grilled cheeses. 

When the Mall of America announced its pending arrival in August, leasing director Ashley Hofmann touted the chain's "unmatched combination of culinary creativity, consumer engagement, and digital marketing strength."

While this is the first Roni's Mac Bar in Minnesota, it's not going to be the last. Strack Construction posted to Facebook in February that it was working with Roni's on designing a space in Minneapolis' Dinkytown neighborhood.

The WWE's SummerSlam 2026 is coming to U.S. Bank Stadium, and tickets are finally going on sale. 

Organizers announced that two-day combo tickets for the Aug. 1 and 2 event will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 1. It'll be a special brawl for wrestling fans, with Summerslam split across two nights, when WrestleMania is typically the only multi-day "premium live event" from WWE.

"SummerSlam coming to U.S. Bank Stadium marks a major moment for Minneapolis and for our state as a whole," Wendy Blackshaw, president and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Entertainment, says in a statement.

"This is a truly global event, and we’re excited to welcome fans from across the country and around the world while showcasing Minnesota as a premier destination for world-class sports and entertainment."

SummerSlam is the first WWE stadium event to be held in Minneapolis, and it's the company's first pay-per-view event to come to town since 2019's TLC: Tables Ladders and Chairs.

Presales will take place in advance of the general on-sale, with Chase Freedom cardholders getting access on April 29, and a broader presale will take place on April 30. Fans can sign up for the latter here. Ticket prices have not yet been revealed.

Pilar Pedraza this week confirmed she had arrived in the Twin Cities, joining KSTP after leaving her previous role at KAKE News in Wichita, Kansas.

"I know it's taken awhile but I can finally tell you I'm now in Minneapolis, coming soon to local ABC newscasts in the Twin Cities," Pedraza announced on social media.

"The station literally, and by design, sits right on the city line between Saint Paul and Minneapolis. How cool is that?"

Pedraza has a 30-plus year career in journalism, starting as an intern at WOI TV in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1993 while she studied at Iowa State University, before going full-time upon graduation.

But most of her journalistic career has been spent in Kansas, where she has worked for KSNW, KWCH, KPTS and KAKE over her decades-long career. During this time, she has won Emmy, DuPont and Murrow awards as an anchor and reporter, specializing in education, politics and breaking news.

She will now change the scenery with a move to the Twin Cities, joining KSTP at a time of great newsroom turnover with the recent departures of reporters Alex Jokich and Brittney Ermon, and meteorologist Matt Serwe, and the arrivals of traffic reporter Amanda DeVoe, reporter Harrison Klopp, and meteorologist Molly Rosenblatt.

They're both featured in TIME magazine's annual list of the "100 Most Influential People" for 2026.

While Palmer finds herself amongst the artists, Frey falls within the group of leaders, alongside Pope Leo XIV, U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and others.

TIME cites unprecedented challenges that Frey has faced at the helm of Minneapolis, including the police killing of George Floyd and the largest federal immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history, known as Operation Metro Surge.

"From a walnut conference table in city hall, he directed the unprecedented logistical response to having 4,000 federal agents on the ground," reads a blurb on Frey, written by Time senior correspondent Julia Terruso.

"His careful demeanor gave way at times to raw frustration: 'Get the f-ck out of Minneapolis,' he told ICE in January after community member Renee Good was shot and killed.

"As the enforcement surge recedes, Frey is trying to knit together a city where businesses and daily life were hollowed out by fear. The nuts and bolts of governing are part of his pushback, he told TIME—filling potholes, keeping services running, 'showing that we can have Democratically run cities that can work.'"

Still, the Minneapolis mayor has been criticized by residents for his response to Operation Metro Surge, with some arguing that he wasn't on the ground protecting immigrant neighbors during the 12-week campaign, like a few members of Minneapolis City Council did.

Frey shared this statement with Bring Me The News:

"I’m grateful to receive this recognition from TIME, but I know this honor belongs to our entire city. It belongs to the thousands of Minneapolis residents who showed up day after day to protect and support their neighbors and defend our democracy.

"Being mayor of this city is a profound honor, and I look forward to using any influence I have to serve the city I love."

Others on this year's "Most Influential" list include Olympic hockey player Hilary Knight, actor Benicio Del Toro, author Freida McFadden, chef Mashama Bailey, musician Anderson Paak, photojournalist Lynsey Addario, comedian Nikki Glaser, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

For much of this season, sixth-year veteran Filip Gustavsson has been at least the Wild's 1A in a tandem with 23-year-old Jesper Wallstedt. Gustavsson finished sixth in Vezina Trophy voting last season and has a solid track record in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In five starts against Dallas in 2023 and six against Vegas last year, he's just 4-6 (with one early exit) but has a .917 save percentage and a 2.53 Goals Against Average.

Gustavsson started 49 of the Wild's 82 games this season (60 percent) and put up solid numbers, albeit slightly worse than his career marks coming into the year. He had a .903 save percentage and a 2.69 GAA, down from .914 and 2.56 in 2024-25. The "Gus Bus" has made 211 NHL starts and mostly proven to be a quality goaltender.

However, there are a couple reasons why he's far from a lock to get the nod on Saturday. One is the less-than-inspiring way Gustavsson closed out this regular season. The other is that Wallstedt, while far less experienced, might simply be better.

After a shutout win over Utah on March 10, Gustavsson's season numbers were a .913 SV% and 2.46 GAA. In his final nine starts of the regular season, he went 4-5 with a .853 SV% and a 3.71 GAA. He allowed four or more goals in six of those games, including five of his last six outings. In his last three starts, he allowed four goals on 24 shots in Detroit, five on 20 shots in Dallas (which is rather notable), and five on 21 shots on Monday in St. Louis, albeit behind the Wild's B team with many regulars resting.

That's not exactly a great run of form or momentum heading into the postseason.

Wallstedt, who had made just five career starts prior to this season, has had a strong year. The 2021 first-round pick got off to a ridiculously hot start, going 8-2 with four shutouts, a .944 SV%, and a 1.74 GAA in his first ten outings. Then, as could be expected for any goalie, regression arrived and he cooled off for a while. Over his next 15 games, spanning most of December through a couple post-Olympic contests in February, "Wally" was at .885 and 3.69.

The way Wallstedt finished the season is why he has a very strong case to get the nod to open the playoffs. In nine March and April starts, he allowed two or fewer goals eight times (and he allowed three goals in the other game). He's at a .930 SV% and 1.98 GAA during that span, which means he's full of confidence right now. Wallstedt just wrapped up his regular season by making 35 saves on 37 SOG in a 3-2 win over the Ducks on Tuesday night — another game in which the Wild's top skaters did not participate.

Here's what the season-long numbers look like for the two Minnesota goaltenders.

Gustavsson has the experience advantage. The 27-year-old has been in the league for a while now and knows what the playoffs are like. When he's on his game, he can be excellent.

But if current form matters — and it should — it feels like Wallstedt has to get the first opportunity in net for the Wild. He's only 23 and this will be his playoff debut, but he's been so sharp over the last six weeks. When he's on his game, he looks like a future Vezina winner, and the talent that made him a first-round pick is easy to see.

This will be a fascinating decision from John Hynes and the Wild's coaching staff. It's also a good problem to have. If one goalie falters, they can turn to the other. But in a series as tight as this one projects to be, with Dallas bringing star goalie Jake Oettinger to the table every night, the Wild can't afford to get their goalie decisions wrong.

Luke Gulbranson, who has appeared on Bravo’s "Summer House" and Netflix’s "Selling The OC," announced he is seeking the DFL nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Pete Stauber in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District. Stauber has held the seat since 2018. 

The Eveleth native, who works as a hockey coach, businessman, and actor, told the Minnesota Star Tribune he will run in the DFL primary, though his entry into the race comes after the 8th District’s DFL endorsing convention. The statewide DFL nominating convention will take place in May.

In a YouTube video launching his campaign, Gulbranson leans into his roots as a hockey player, emphasizing his support for unions and affordable healthcare while acknowledging his Tinseltown past. 

"Yeah, I’ve been on reality TV," Gulbranson said. “That’s drama for show. What’s happening in D.C. is real drama with real consequences.”

“Hockey, family, and community shaped who I am,” Gulbranson added, criticizing the current Trump administration for prioritizing war in Iran over healthcare assistance for American residents.

"I know what it’s like to worry about putting food on the table or paying the electric bill. I’ve lived the challenges so many families in this district are facing right now," he says. "I’m running for Congress to make sure no one is forgotten and to fight for an economy and healthcare system that actually works for us."

Bring Me The News has reached out to Stauber’s campaign for comment on Gulbranson’s announcement.

Gulbranson joins several Democratic challengers for the House seat, including Dr. Wendell Smith and immigration attorney Trina Swanson.

The purple-tinted supergroup is among the performers announced for Prince Celebration 2026, which will take place from June 3–7.

The lineup also includes Chaka Khan, Morris Day, and Miguel, as well as Bootsy Collins and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, who are listed as "special guests."

Details on exactly how the performances lay out won't be announced until May, but The Revolution's Bobby Z and Lisa Coleman will be joining an ensemble of NPG players, including Morris Hayes, Tony M, Levi Seacer Jr., Sonny T, Cora Coleman, and others, for one of the live music events.

Other artists partaking in the "10th Anniversary Celebration of Life" include Tevin Campbell, Bilal, Kat Graham, and Sounds of Blackness. Additionally, Jon Bream of the Star Tribune reports that Kris Kollins and Rachel Webb, stars of the "Purple Rain" musical, will perform as well.

The five-day festival will largely take place at Paisley Park and in downtown Minneapolis, with a focus on celebrating Prince records with round-number anniversaries, including "Parade," "Emancipation," "Chaos and Disorder," "The Rainbow Children," and "3121."

In addition to live music, the fest will feature a gospel brunch, boat cruise, panels, a new artist showcase, and screening of "Under the Cherry Moon."

There will also be a block party and sing-along near the Prince mural in downtown Minneapolis. It's expected to be the only free event during the proceedings, the details of which will be unveiled on April 16.

Tickets are on sale now, with general admission priced at $900 and VIP tickets at $1,400, which is roughly a $100 increase at both tiers.

Amanda Lyn Merriman, 50, is accused of driving drunk in the wrong lanes, causing a head-on collision that killed a man on Highway 212 Saturday evening.

Criminal charges detail that the Minnesota State Patrol was alerted of the wrong- way driver just before 8 p.m. Saturday, and shortly after, they were alerted of the crash between a pickup truck and a Volkswagen Passat. 

The Volkswagen driver, 69-year-old Bohdan Antoniuk, of Hopkins, died at the scene. 

Troopers spoke with Merriman following the crash, and allegedly smelled alcohol on her breath. At the scene, she admitted to having two vodka cranberry drinks before driving. Merriman was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries, where a blood test was conducted. 

Investigators also found marijuana and a glass pipe in her car. 

At the hospital, Merriman was interviewed by investigators, and told them she was driving home to Victoria from a River Falls, Wisconsin establishment.

She allegedly said she did not know she was driving the wrong way on the highway, and said she preferred not to answer when asked if she was drinking before the crash. 

Merriman has several prior DWI convictions dating back to 2005, and was on probation for possession of methamphetamine at the time of the crash. Her license was also revoked. 

Merriman’s first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Hennepin County. 

The Brooklyn Park Police Department says the incident was reported at 3:05 a.m., when a driver crashed into a bedroom of a congregate care facility on the 7600 block of Regent Avenue North.

"There was an active gas leak, and all occupants were evacuated," Brooklyn Park PD.

The incident sparked a response from the Brooklyn Park Fire Department and Centerpoint Energy, which shut off the gas to the building.

The driver and one resident were treated for "minor" injuries, with the driver also arrested.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

A special election was held Tuesday for voters to consider three referendum questions proposed by Wayzata Public Schools to renew its capital project levy. All of them were approved by voters, with results ranging from about 60% to 80% in favor.

Wayzata Public Schools says the funding will allow it to "stay ahead of growing enrollment with new schools, updated learning spaces, and essential technology."

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A majority of voters supported the renewal of a $6.5 million per year technology levy, $465 million in bond funding for new and improved learning spaces, and $31 million in bond funding for a new eight-lane swimming pool at Wayzata High School.

Wayzata Public Schools plans to add a new elementary school and a new middle school in Medina, put an addition on Wayzata High School, and make other improvements to existing buildings throughout the district.

“We are incredibly grateful to our community for their support of our more than 13,000 students through these yes votes,” Superintendent Chace Anderson said in a statement. “These voter-approved funds are investments in our community’s future and will support our commitment to excellence for each and every student.” 

Detailed election results can be found on the district's website.

Minneapolis Police Department says the assault was reported on April 5 at the Atrium Apartments at 314 Hennepin Avenue, with officers arriving to find the victim – a man in his 70s – unconscious near the elevators on the 15th floor.

He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, and police were notified on Tuesday that he has since died.

It emerged that the man had been struck by a fellow resident "following a brief verbal altercation." The resident, 61-year-old man Michael Walker, was arrested at the time and charged with first-degree assault.

He is now expected to be charged with murder.

The complaint against Walker alleges that he had been arguing with the victim, who was holding a laundry basket, on the 15th floor. Walker attempted to walk around the victim to get into the elevator when the victim "nudged [Walker] with his laundry basket," the complaint states.

Walker allegedly "punched victim on the. left side of [his] face with a closed fist." The victim fell to the ground immediately, with Walker taking the elevator to the first floor lobby.

A security guard at the building told police they were aware that Walker and the victim had an "ongoing feud." Walker allegedly exited the elevator said he "knocked that motherf***** out" as he exited the elevator.

When questioned by police, Walker said the victim did not let him into the elevator, and he grew frustrated and punched him. Walker continued to say that he used to be friends with the victim, but that "their relationship soured," per the complaint.

Every year, the mid-April deadline prompts restaurants to offer some deals, which theoretically alleviates tax woes. Whether or not that's true, a little discount on your lunch isn't a bad thing.

So, here are some spots around Minnesota where you can get a deal, whether it's in recognition of the tax man's birthday or just because the restaurant always has that deal on Wednesdays.

Tax Day food deals at local restaurants

La Doña Cervecería
The deal: Take a dollar off beer in the taproom or to-go orders.
When: Every Wednesday

Litt Pinball Bar
The deal: Any hot dog, smashburger, or sandwich plus chips and a soda will only run you $10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
When: Monday–Friday

Los Ocampo
The deal: Get the Los Ocampo Burrito with chips and guac for $13.
When: Every Wednesday

Red Cow
The deal: A half sandwich and half salad, soup, or side costs $15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
When: Tuesday–Friday

Red Luna Taco Factory
The deal: The chimichanga or smothered burrito is just $10.50.
When: Every Wednesday

Stanley's Northeast Bar Room
The deal: In addition to lots of drink specials, an order of boneless wings will run you $10. Also, starting at 8 p.m., you can get a half-order of those wings, a burger, or chicken tenders for $7.
When: April 15

Taqueria Bravo
The deal: The annual Tax Day event in Sauk Centre, hosted by Winters Meier & Larson, will have the Taqueria Bravo food truck on site. The accounting company is covering $5 of every combo ordered.
When: April 15

Up Down
The deal: The food isn't discounted, but the Minneapolis arcade and bar has $3 domestic tallboys all night.
When: Every Wednesday

Tax Day food deals at chains

Dickey's Barbecue Pit
The deal: Take $10 off an online order for at least $50 with the code "WRITEOFF."
When: April 14–15

Jersey Mike's Subs
The deal: It's not specifically tied to Tax Day, but its Boardwalk Bundle deal gets you a #2 sandwich, chips, and a 22-ounce fountain drink for $10.99.
When: Ongoing

Kona Ice
The deal: Its Chill Out Day promotion lands you a free Kona Ice. Pretty straightforward.
When: April 15

Krispy Kreme
The deal: While Minnesota may only have one location, the deal still exists. Get a dozen Original Glazed donuts for free when you buy a dozen.
When: April 15

Olive Garden
The deal: The "buy one take one" deal gets you a free take-home dish when you order one at regular price. (Those start at $15.)
When: Ongoing

Paris Baguette
The deal: Get a free pastry with the purchase of any beverage through its rewards app.
When: April 15

Pizza Hut
The deal: Get a three-topping pizza starting at $10.
When: April 15

Popeyes
The deal: Take 25% off a Tax Day 3-piece Tenders Combo when you order online or through the app. That includes three tenders, a side, a biscuit, and a drink.
When: April 15

Portillo's
The deal: Make a $5 purchase, and you get a $1 slice of cake. The catch is that you have to be a perks member, but it's free to sign up.
When: Through April 15

Qdoba
The deal: Like with your taxes, this one takes a little planning. Through April 15, you can sign up for a reward at TaxDayGuacRelief.com. It'll give you a $5 discount on any full-size entrée from April 20–26.
When: Sign up by April 15

Smoothie King
The deal: Get $3 off an order when you join its Healthy Rewards program by downloading the benevolant smoothie ruler's app.
When: April 15

White Castle
The deal: Use the code "WC15OFF" to get 15% off an order.
When: Through April 16

Know of other Tax Day deals? Send 'em on over with a link to business@bringmethenews.com.

MPR News reports that some former employees and workers' rights advocates believe the layoffs, which impacted 16 hosts and servers, were a retaliatory move by DDP Restaurant Group in response to workers seeking safety plans and other supports during Operation Metro Surge.

DDP Restaurant Group says the change had been discussed for years as a way to mitigate the impact of slow days and respond to rising operating costs.

The Walker Art Center is not involved in managing Cardamom, which opened in 2021.

“After careful consideration, we believe this new format will create a stronger, more sustainable and viable path forward for Cardamom while allowing us to better align staffing with the needs of the business and create more reliable, stable hours for employees who remain with Cardamom,” DDP Restaurant Group told MPR News.

Del Prado told the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in a text: "This was a business decision, not influenced by conversations with the team in January."

DDP Restaurant Group faced criticism last year for shutting down all four Café Cerés locations shortly after beginning contract negotiations with workers who'd voted to unionize.

DDP Restaurant Group did not respond to Bring Me The News' inquiry about the service model change.

Ashleigh Whitton, 45, of Eden Prairie, was competing Sunday morning in the 40-kilometer bike ride portion of the BillBone Olympic Triathlon in West Palm Beach, Fla., when she collided with the passenger side of a vehicle that drove onto a partially closed street, the local ABC affiliate reported.

Whitton was airlifted with life-threatening injuries to a nearby hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to stabilize her spinal cord and was placed in a medically induced coma to reduce brain swelling and bleeding, according to an online fundraiser.

"Doctors have described her injury as one of the most severe spinal cord injuries possible," the GoFundMe reads. "At this time, she is paralyzed from the neck down."

More than $36,000 has been raised to help cover medical bills, long-term care and other unexpected expenses, as Whitton will likely remain in the hospital for weeks, followed by extensive rehabilitation.

"Ashleigh is not just a patient—she is an extraordinary woman who has impacted so many lives," the GoFundMe reads. "She is one of the strongest, most vibrant, and selfless people you will ever meet.

"If you know Ashleigh, you know she’s a beast. Stronger than most, tougher than anyone I know, and not someone who backs down from a fight."

The fried chicken chain will open in Edina on Friday, April 17. The new coop will be set up in the former home of Wendy's at the Yorktown Mall.

Earlier this year, the chain announced plans to open at least six new locations in Minnesota this year, including outposts in Rogers, Oak Park Heights, Eden Prairie, Mankato, and St. Cloud.  

The company made its Minnesota debut in 2023 and has expanded quickly, with locations already established in Apple Valley, Coon Rapids, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Rochester, and St. Paul.

Starting on Friday, the Edina location at 3301 Hazelton Rd. will be open 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Author George Motz, the New York City-based chef behind a popular SoHo burger joint (also named Hamburger America), is back with the fourth edition of his beloved burger guide.

"Hamburger America: A State-By-State Guide to 200 Great Burger Joints", published Tuesday, explores the history behind the nation's greatest burger joints and examines regional differences in both burger toppings and preparation methods.

Motz, who had a long career as a filmmaker, published his first guide in 2008 after a film he made by the same name sparked an appetite for stories about hamburgers.

His guide focuses on long-running established where great burgers have stood the test of time.

"This book is an awesome guide to finding old school burger joints, just like us, that have been doing burgers the right way for decades," Gordy's Hi-Hat in Cloquet, one of the featured restaurants, shared on Facebook. "George definitely knows his stuff."

Minnesota's featured burgers

A feature of the century-old Band Box Diner in Minneapolis nods to the restaurant's classic cheeseburger and the "Lunch Box Burger", which garnered acclaim from Motz from the "haystack" of thin, fried potatoes served on top.

Another longtime establishment spotlighted is The Nook in St. Paul, where the guide advises: "You really should try Mickey's original burger, though it is hard to not fall back on the temptation of the explosive Juicy Nookie."

Simplicity shines at many of the restaurants chosen for the guide, including at the Convention Grill in Edina. The burger counter serves classic burgers, all hand-pattied daily and cooked on the flattop in plain view of customers.

The iconic Gordy's Hi-Hatin Cloquet is also featured. The most popular burger at the drive-in off Interstate-35 is the double cheeseburger.

Next, the guide takes readers to the Fargo area to enjoy a meal at the Hi-Ho Tavern in Dilworth. The small town spot had a burger on the menu on opening day in 1947 and added lettuce and tomato 30 years later.

The Hi-Ho Special, which consists of a cheeseburger, all-you-can-eat fries and a bottomless beverage, is recommended. "Add a beer for $2.00 and pay only $11.50 for everything. Amazing," Motz writes.

Another historic establishment on the guide is the King's Place Bar and Grill in Miesville. The building dates back to 1874 and the restaurant is just 18 seats short of being able to hold the town's entire population.

With over 100 burgers on the menu, the simple "King" was the standout for Motz. But a wacky creation with jalapeño, peanut butter, sweet chili sauce, pineapple and pepperjack cheese also earned a mention as its a fan-favorite.

Lions Tap in Eden Prairie, which the guide describes as reminiscent of a north woods supper club, garnered praise for its secret seasoning that makes the classic burgers stand out.

And, of course, Motz took a trip to Matt's Bar in Minneapolis to dive into the history of the Jucy Lucy. "Matt's is bare-bones dining at its very best," he writes.

Lastly, the guide strays from burgers to highlight something in the burger family, a loose-meat sandwich, at the Tendermaid in Austin.

Motz encourages readers to give loose-meat sandwiches a try when given the opportunity, writing: "The only thing different about the simple combination of pickles, American cheese, and soft white bun is the crumbly steamed beef in place of a burger patty."

Each of the nine Minnesota restaurant features in the guide introduce readers to the people and recipes behind these long-running establishments, and also show photos from both the past and present.

The guide is a perfect roadtrip companion, or great gift for any foodie or history buff.

You can buy a copy of "Hamburger America: A State-By-State Guide to 200 Great Burger Joints" here.

St. Paul Parks and Recreation alleges that Josh Liljenquist frequently visits Pig's Eye Park to "harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults" without their permission, according to an April 6 letter from Andy Rodriguez, the department's director.

Liljenquist tells Bring Me The News that he was surprised by the ban and has not "been presented with any specific incident or firsthand complaint that supports the claims being made."

Liljenquist says he always gets permission from the people featured in his videos before sharing them with his 10.8 million TikTok followers and 6.4 million Instagram followers.

"A large part of what I do also happens off camera," he says. "I regularly help people with food, clothing, identification, and access to treatment when they are ready."

This isn't the first time that Liljenquist has been accused of exploiting homeless people for social media views, including by volunteers who do similar work without filming it, with some arguing that it's especially problematic when influencers turn a profit with their "kindness content."

"My goal has never been to create content at someone’s expense," Liljenquist says. "It has always been to help people feel seen, heard, and supported.

"I understand that people may have different perspectives on how this type of work should be done, and I am always open to learning and improving. At the same time, I believe it is important that serious claims are based on clear, firsthand information and not assumptions."

In his latest video, Liljenquist poses as a homeless man outside of a church, with cameras that appear to be hidden filming an interaction between Liljenquist and a stranger who finds and clothes him.

@joshlilj

Blessing a Stranger for Keeping Me Warm!🥹❤️

♬ original sound - Joshlilj

Liljenquist is banned from all St. Paul Parks and Rec properties until early October.

If he doesn't honor the six-month ban, Liljenquist could be charged with a misdemeanor related to intentionally disrupting the peace, orderly operation of the park and other guests' use of the facilities, according to Rodriguez's letter.

Liljenquist says he's requested a formal hearing to appeal the decision.

Chris Brown and Usher are embarking on a 33-date co-headlining tour that will start in Denver on June 26 and make its second stop at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on June 30. 

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"The R&B Tour" — aka "The Raymond and Brown Tour" — brings together a pair of singers with a mountain of hits, as well as a few controversies.

Following a variety of presales, tickets for "The Raymond & Brown Tour" will go on sale to the public at noon on Monday, April 27.

Ticket prices have not yet been revealed, but the artists plan to donate $1 from every ticket sold to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

Battle has agreed to a training camp contract that will give her a chance to make the team before the regular season begins on May 10, the Gophers announced Tuesday.

Up for grabs is one of 12 roster spots, though she could also land one of two additional spots that are reserved for developmental players.

Likely roster locks on the Lynx:

• Napheesa Collier, F
• Dorka Juhasz, F
• Courtney Williams, G
• Kayla McBride, G
• Natasha Howard, F
• Nia Coffey, F
• Olivia Miles, G

That means these players are fighting for five roster spots, plus two developmental slots:

• Lani White, G
• Emma Cechova, F
• Antonia Delaere, F
• Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, F
• Aubrey Griffin, G-F
• Eliska Hamzova, G
• Reigan Richardson, G
• Jaylyn Sherrod, G
• Amaya Battle, G

Battle, a 5-foot-11 guard who went to Hopkins High School, helped the Gophers receive a No. 4 seed and reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Their tourney run came to an end in the Sweet 16 against national champion UCLA.

She was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team, as voted on by the coaches. The media and coaches voted her onto the All-Big Ten Third Team. She finished her Gophers career with 1,533 points, 776 rebounds, and 599 assists. She ranks 11th all-time in Gophers scoring, 10th in rebounds, and second in assists (one place ahead of Lindsay Whalen).

The Lynx are scheduled to open training camp on April 19.

Hamburg-based F.C. St. Pauli announced Monday that Wes Burdine was named the first-ever recipient of the award honoring "individuals and initiatives that actively stand for solidarity, participation, and respectful coexistence."

The club says Burdine's bar, right around the corner from Allianz Field, "is more than a meeting place for soccer fans ... it is an inclusive space for the queer community and a place of lived solidarity."

Black Hart was also applauded for raising money for immigrant neighbors during Operation Metro Surge.

Burdine says it means a lot to him and the bar to receive the peace prize.

"Our job is to create communities and bring people together. The Black Hart exists because we wanted a queer soccer space – a place where people from all walks of life can come together, celebrate, and build community," he says in a statement.

"Over the past months, we’ve seen our neighborhoods under pressure, with immigrant neighbors afraid to leave their homes. We believe soccer is one way to express our emotions – and to turn that passion into care for our communities.”

The FC St. Pauli Peace Prize also comes with a donation to an initiative of the recipient's choosing, with Burdine selecting the Hamline Midway Diaper, Formula, Hygiene & Medical Supply Hub Fund.

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FC St. Pauli, which is known for its strong support of progressive and anti-fascist causes, says its award is "a clear counterpoint to developments in international soccer," particularly FIFA's decision to give a peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, whom the club criticized for "authoritarian tendencies and targeted restrictions on rights and freedoms."

"FC St. Pauli takes a different approach: the focus is not on powerful figures, but on people who take responsibility in everyday life and actively strengthen democratic participation," the club says.

Aaron Schlossin, 37, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and first-degree murder while committing criminal sexual conduct, which follows the death of Diana Kaiser, 67, on the 4500 block of Colorado Street Southeast last April.

Schlossin was also charged last year with second-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree burglary after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at her Burnsville home the day after Kaiser was killed.

Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said of the new indictment: "To commit matricide is completely unfathomable, and to do so with such cruelty is heinous. The facts of this case were presented to the grand jury, which determined these charges were appropriate."

Kaiser was found with horrific fatal injuries at the home she shared with Schlossin on April 27 last year by Prior Lake police officers responding to a welfare check request from a neighbor.

The neighbor had told police they last saw Kaiser with her son, Schlossin. The neighbor said they saw Schlossin exit the home on Thursday, April 24, and do a "whippit" — otherwise known as inhaling nitrous oxide — after which he asked the neighbor for a cigarette.

An autopsy determined Kaiser died from "complex homicidal violence," with multiple blunt force injuries to the face, causing facial fractures, as well as multiple cut and stab wounds.

A day after Kaiser was killed, a criminal complaint alleged that Schlossin opened a sliding door to a home in Burnsville, pinned a woman against a refrigerator, and groped her.

The victim hit Schlossin with a bag of frozen meat and punched him in the face, forcing him to flee the home.

"Any murder is difficult for surviving family members, but to have a sibling accused of killing your mother is on another level," said Prior Lake Police Chief Liam Duggan.

"Our hearts go out to all who are affected by Ms. Kaiser’s senseless murder, particularly her surviving family."

As Edina’s Ben Dexheimer told @JoeSmithNHL, if #mnwild reached out, it’d be “amazing to play for them.”

Hearing Wild close to signing the Wisconsin captain to a 1-year deal starting next year (ATO this weekend in Iowa). Stramel’s ex-roomie. https://t.co/hJHTesNh9k

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 14, 2026

Hailing from Edina, Minnesota, Dexheimer went undrafted in the 2022 NHL Draft before beginning his college career with the Badgers in 2022-23. The 5-foot-10 defenseman showed improvement every season throughout his four-year career, and he now has an opportunity to prove himself at the professional level.

Dexheimer compiled 13 goals, 71 assists and 84 points in 149 games with the Badgers. He'll begin his professional career with the Iowa Wild in the AHL on a PTO before his official entry-level contract starts next season. He will turn 24 years old this summer.

Before the September gig arrived, his popularity had grown so much that the show was moved to the Palace Theatre, more than three times the size.

Now, the Grammy-nominated bedroom pop songwriter has charted his first arena tour, which will bring him to the Target Center on Nov. 1.

While he's got just one full-length studio album to his name, he released a new single, "Homewrecker," earlier this year.

For the fall tour, Sombr will be joined by The Last Dinner Party (themselves headlining the Palace Theatre this summer) and Hannah Jadagu.

Tickets for Sombr at the Target Center will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 17.

Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates wants to transform a section of the historic three-building complex near City Hall into 232 apartments, while maintaining some of the property's existing office, retail and event spaces.

Caitlin Anderson of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal was first to report the news.

Chris Sherman, president of Sherman Associates, told the publication in a statement that the $120 million project is "designed to stabilize the tax base, increase daily activity, and position a historic building for long‑term viability."

Sherman Associates is seeking a $2.7 million grant from the Metropolitan Council for asbestos and lead paint abatement, per Axios, citing a Minneapolis City Council committee agenda that shows 186 of the apartment building's units will be affordable.

It's widely assumed that the project also will take advantage of historic tax credits to fund the office-to-residential conversion.

Sherman Associates has developed numerous properties in downtown Minneapolis, including the Vicinity Apartments and the O2 Luxury Tower, and recently expanded to downtown St. Paul, where it converted the Landmark Tower into 187 apartments.

“Downtown Minneapolis is evolving, and the redevelopment of the Grain Exchange building models how successful downtowns are adapting to today’s market realities,” Sherman said.

The Inver Grove Heights Police Department said officers responded to the incident around 10 p.m. on Dawn Way, between 61st and 63rd streets, and found the driver appeared to have "intentionally dumped the debris in the roadway."

Police shared two photos of a white dump truck and are asking nearby residents to review their surveillance cameras and contact police with any information regarding the incident.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

The trio will headline the fair's big stage on Wednesday, Sept. 2, joined by Quinn XCII and Avery Chochrane. 

The group's last full-length record, "The Maybe Men," was released in 2023, peaking at 28th on the Billboard 200. That followed "OK Orchestra," which was their second straight album to crack the top 10 on the charts, earning them a Billboard Music Awards nomination for top rock album.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 17. Reserved seating tickets cost $49.50–$92.75, and party deck tickets range from $93.50–$105.75.

With the announcement, the Minnesota State Fair, which runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7, has announced all but four of its Grandstand dates, with TLC, Brad Paisley, Sierra Ferrell, Bonnie Raitt, and Rod Stewart among the booked headliners.

Kpop Nara’s planned opening Friday arrives on the heels of Twice’s world tour stop at the Grand Casino Arena, which marked the biggest K-pop concert in the Twin Cities to date. 

The store chain, founded in Michigan in 2022, operates roughly a dozen locations nationwide and regularly collaborates with artists and labels on in-store events, pop-ups and exclusive merchandise. 

In a statement, Chivas Alejo, the mall’s director of leasing special projects, said Kpop Nara’s arrival reflects the mall’s “continued focus on offering culturally relevant, experiential brands” that solidify MOA as a hub for global trends. 

When the K-pop-style girl group KATSEYE launched its first-ever North American tour last fall, Kpop Nara hosted a coinciding album and photocard pop-up event in five U.S. cities. 

Fans of all ages flocked to the pop-up held in the mall’s rotunda, and a viral moment was made when the KATSEYE members made a surprise appearance. 

“The success of the KATSEYE event showed us just how passionate and engaged the K-pop community is, and we’re proud to be the epicenter where fans can continue connecting with the music and culture they love,” Alejo said. 

Other retailers, such as Target and Barnes & Noble, are also harnessing the devotion of K-pop fans by selling exclusive versions of albums and offering fans in-store experiences. 

Barnes & Noble last month held a pop-up event celebrating BTS at 15 stores nationwide, including at Mall of America. 

While Kpop Nara mainly sells K-pop albums, which are sold in multiple versions and feature collectible photocards, the shelves are also stocked (and importantly for K-pop fans, restocked) with harder-to-come-by merchandise. 

Those products run the gamut from keychains, plushies, clothing, light sticks and more. 

Inside the mall, Kpop Nara joins Chinese brands Pop Mart and Miniso on the growing list of retailers showcasing global trends emerging from Asia. 

This year, the South Korean cultural wave will carry at least two K-beauty stores to the mall.

A 7,000-square-foot skincare and cosmetics store, Kiokii and…, is taking over a spot outside Nordstrom and K-beauty shop House of Seoul is moving in next door to Kpop Nara, located on the second floor near Legoland. 

Kpop Nara’s soft opening Friday coincides with a three-day album release event celebrating the boy group Tomorrow X Together. 

An official grand opening is expected the following weekend.

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Most of Minnesota is in the clear on Tuesday, except the far southeastern parts of the state. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is forecasting damaging storms in Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois, with a sliver of southeast Minnesota potentially getting in on the initial storm development.

If the HRRR model is accurate, storms will erupt around 4-5 p.m. in Iowa and Wisconsin, thus sparing far southeastern Minnesota.

The RRFS model also spares Minnesota from the worst of Tuesday's storms.

More storms could fire in Iowa and southern Wisconsin on Wednesday before a nice day settles things down on Thursday. But the break will be short-lived as Friday could result in severe thunderstorms from the Midwest to the southern Plains.

"Forecast soundings indicated impressive wind profiles supporting supercells. Initial supercell storms capable of all hazards (including very large hail and strong tornadoes) are expected," the SPC said of Friday. "During the evening, convection may grow upscale into a squall line as storms near the Mississippi River, with an accompanying increase in damaging wind potential."

The Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service says the cold front will be "rather potent," and "will likely lead to another round of thunderstorms Friday afternoon." They're calling the setup another "impressive early season environment," which could produce a squall line and an associated damaging wind threat in Minnesota.

The European model's lighting density simulation on Friday shows lines of storms within the SPC's risk zone, which further supports the notion that storms will fire in Minnesota.

The National Severe Storms Laboratory's machine-learning model paints a picture for high-end severe weather all the way from roughly the Twin Cities to Oklahoma City.

Colorado State's machine-learning model also suggests high-end severe parameters, with the current bullseye, which is subject to change, stretching from Kansas to southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin.

Once the storms roll through on Friday, colder air will usher in for a chilly weekend with high temps in the 40s and 50s.

Amanda DeVoe was recently confirmed as the latest hire by the KSTP newsroom, leaving her role at WJXT in Jacksonville to become a traffic anchor and reporter at the Twin Cities ABC affiliate.

"Can’t wait to continue my journalism journey in the 16th largest media market in the country," she said on Facebook.

"Looking forward to sharing the stories and resilience of the Twin Cities."

DeVoe spent four years in Jacksonville, prior to which she was the traffic reporter at WKRG in Mobile, Alabama, and at iHeartMedia in Chicago.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in communications from the University of North Carolina, before completing her master's degree in journalism at Chicago's DePaul University.

"Amanda has spent her career making a meaningful impact in the communities she’s served, and she’s eager to bring that same passion and energy to the Twin Cities. We can’t wait for viewers to meet her," said KSTP news director Mike Garber on LinkedIn.

It comes after weeks of turnover at KSTP, which has seen meteorologist Matt Serwe and reporters Alex Jokich and Brittney Ermon leave the station, with reporter Harrison Klopp and meteorologist Molly Rosenblatt joining.

The North St. Paul Fire Department said it responded to the incident on the 2600 block of 2nd Avenue East around 10:12 a.m. and found heavy smoke and active fire inside the single-family home.

A man was found inside the home, extricated by firefighters and taken by an advanced life support ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"The North St. Paul Fire Department and the City of North St. Paul extend their condolences to the family and all those affected by this incident," the fire department shared.

Authorities have not indicated what caused the fire. An investigation will be conducted by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

UConn's Azzi Fudd, as expected, went to Dallas with the first pick. That left three elite prospects for Minnesota to choose from: UCLA center Lauren Betts, Spanish forward Awa Fam, and TCU point guard Olivia Miles. A case could have easily been made for any of the three to be the pick.

On the surface, the Lynx's more glaring need was a post player. They just lost Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard in free agency after seeing Maria Kliundikova go in the expansion draft. Fam has all kinds of long-term upside but is more of a developmental project at 19 years old, which may not have fit the timeline for a Lynx team in win-now mode with Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride.

For those two reasons, drafting Betts would've made sense. That's what most Lynx fans seemed to be hoping for. Betts is a dominant center at 6'7" who was the best player on a UCLA team that just won the national championship and then had six players drafted in the first 18 picks on Monday.

But the Lynx didn't take her. Instead, they went with Miles. And while any of the three possible selections would've been sensible, taking Miles was the right decision.

In the wake of the pick, some fans have expressed disappointment with passing on Betts by citing the Lynx's current frontcourt situation, but the severity of the team's need in that area has been overstated. They just signed veteran forward and former WNBA defensive player of the year Natasha Howard. At 34, Howard is five years older than Smith, but she still played at a high level for Indiana last season. The Lynx are also getting back 26-year-old Dorka Juhasz, who started 34 games in her first two seasons before sitting out the 2025 campaign. The cupboard is not bare.

Even after bringing back All-Star Courtney Williams on a two-year deal, the Lynx had a need at point guard. Williams has played that position for Minnesota and done well, but at her core, she isn't a true PG. She's a shot-first combo guard who can initiate offense and make plays or play off the ball and attack.

Miles is a true point guard — and potentially a special one. She scored nearly 20 points per game last year for TCU and improved immensely as a long-range shooter over the course of a college career spent mostly at Notre Dame, but her passing ability and feel for the game are her superpowers. She's always in command when she has the ball in her hands. She knows how to manipulate defenses and set up avenues to find her teammates. Whether she's at a standstill or driving in either direction, she's capable of making every pass on the floor.

Longtime Lynx fans will remember how effective Hall of Famer Lindsay Whalen was at point guard in Reeve's offense during the dynasty days of the 2010s. It's a system where spacing and structure and ball movement are critical. And in Reeve's own words, Miles is the first true point guard they've had since Whalen — who is now an assistant coach for the Lynx — retired seven years ago.

"If Courtney Williams is watching, I don't mean to suggest that she's not a great point guard," Reeve said. "But this is the first real point guard we've had since Lindsay Whalen."

Olivia Miles had 37 PnRs + Iso's against Washington.

18 potential assists in one game w/ only a 8% TOVr out of ball screens. I don’t think we’ve ever seen this type of on-ball usage in WBB history. All-time passing performance pic.twitter.com/dcohx4JqZv

— Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) March 23, 2026

Miles' 906 career assists are the 16th-most in NCAA women's basketball history. She averaged 6.5 dimes per game for her career and recorded 12 triple-doubles, including six this past season at TCU. She dictates tempo and breaks down defenses and creates easy shots for the other four players on the floor with her. Watching Miles set up Collier and McBride and all of the Lynx's other talented pieces has a chance to be very fun.

"I think I have the highest IQ as a guard and my feel for the game is unmatched," Miles told ESPN's Holly Rowe after being drafted.

“Just having a point guard, having somebody that can generate easy baskets, on time, on target, rim pressure, play in pick and roll, there’s a lot of things," Reeve said of Miles. "The first message I got, within about a minute after making our selection, was from McBride, who is like 'I’m going to have the ball in my hands. I’m going to be wide open.' She's just really gifted."

From Kayla McBride’s Instagram story: “My feet are already set for ya.” pic.twitter.com/ed09uACf7O

— Cassidy Hettesheimer (@cassidyhett) April 14, 2026

Miles isn't just a passer, either. Great point guards have to be able to score to keep defenses honest, and she can do that. Miles recorded over 2,000 points in her college career. She wasn't much of a long-range shooter early in her Notre Dame days, but she shot 40 percent from deep in the 2024-25 season and was at a respectable 35 percent last year. That included a 40-point, 10-three explosion against Baylor.

OLIVIA MILES PUT ON A SHOOTING CLINIC IN WACO 🔥

She is the first D-I player in the last 25 years to make 10 threes on the road against a ranked opponent. pic.twitter.com/6vITgCZejt

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 13, 2026

Miles is also a strong rebounder for her position and a capable defender who averaged 1.7 steals per game in college. She'll have some size disadvantages on defense in the WNBA, but she'll compete on that end of the floor and should be able to hold her own.

Ultimately, all of the Lynx's three options were good ones. Fam has a chance to be the best player in this draft a decade from now, but she's still raw. Betts should be an All-Star center in the league. The bet the Lynx are making is that Miles' skill set is rarer and more valuable. Reeve used the word "generational" to describe her passing ability.

With Whalen, Reeve has seen what greatness at the point guard position looks like. If Miles can follow in those footsteps, we may look back on this draft as a huge night in Lynx history.

The all-day restaurant and bar in Lowry Hill announced on its social media pages Monday that April 26 will be its last day in business, saying "multiple compounding issues over several years" have made the restaurant unsustainable.

Among those was the 18-month reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue between Uptown and Lowry Hill, which had an impact on a number of businesses before the road reopened this past October.

The Lowry is part of the Blue Plate Restaurant Co., whose other Twin Cities restaurants include Longfellow Grill and The Freehouse in Minneapolis, the Groveland Tap and the Highland Grill in St. Paul, and the 3 Squares restaurant in Maple Grove.

"From changing consumer behaviors to city specific mandates, as well as prolonged and disruptive Hennepin Avenue construction, business cannot recover," The Blue Plate Restaurant Co. posted.

"The nearly 50 employees will be given opportunities at other Blue Plate locations and our final date of service is April 26."

The $36 million project to revamp Hennepin Avenue widened sidewalks, upgraded bus shelters, added protected bike lanes, and added stops for the new Metro E Line rapid transit service.

The Lowry's closure comes at a challenging time for Minnesota's hospitality industry, with the Star Tribune reporting this week that more than half of restaurants, hotels, and other tourism businesses in the state reported declining profits or foot traffic in 2025, with the industry still not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

In the Twin Cities, restaurants faced an added obstacle over the winter as the Trump administration's immigration crackdown took a huge financial toll on the metro area, as more residents stayed home to avoid roaming ICE agents.

Information was still coming in as of Monday evening, but footage shared by multiple storm chasers shows a major twister near Truman and Amboy in Blue Earth County.

Residents in the area received emergency alerts on their cellphones, urging them to take shelter in basements or the lowest floors of their buildings.

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DIRECT #TORNADO INTErCEPT inside the #tornado southern Minnesota near Truman. Strong tornado.

Full-blown tornado intercept mode continues#tornado #Dominator #stormchasing

WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/hgvgM0dMbL pic.twitter.com/TywAMpQzew

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) April 14, 2026

Again! Southern MN pic.twitter.com/qVazDGzq3O

— Ben Williams (@ben_williams_wx) April 13, 2026

Dramatic footage was later shared of a tornado in Hartland, about 50-60 miles east of Truman. It's not clear if it's the same tornado or separate.

War tornado on the ground what is Hartland Minnesota now! #mnwx pic.twitter.com/5rjvyr8hOe

— Tanner Charles 🌪 (@TannerChasing) April 14, 2026

There were reports of strong winds, heavy hailstorms, and torrential rain across much of south-central and southeastern Minnesota.

There have been images shared showing tennis ball-sized hailstones in St. Peter, Nicollet County, while Bring Me The News' Joe Nelson found huge hailstones in the Dennison area.

In southeastern Minnesota, a flash flooding warning was issued in the Red Wing area, with the National Weather Service saying that rain was falling at rates of 1-2 inches per hour.

As of 5 p.m., 1-3 inches had already fallen across the area, with a further 1-2 inches still expected afterwards.

Miles ➡️ Minnesota ‼️

The Minnesota Lynx select Olivia Miles with the second pick 👏 pic.twitter.com/F3i7DPVz70

— espnW (@espnW) April 13, 2026

The Dallas Wings selected UConn sharpshooter Azzi Fudd with the first pick, giving Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx a choice between three other prospects in what was seen as a clear top four coming into this draft. They could've taken towering UCLA center Lauren Betts or swung for upside with Spanish 19-year-old forward Awa Fam Thiam, but they settled on Miles as the best option to help them compete for WNBA titles moving forward.

Miles, 23, is a three-time All-American who is the clear-cut best passer and pure point guard in this draft class. She spent parts of five seasons at Notre Dame before finishing her illustrious college career at TCU. Miles' 906 career assists rank 16th in NCAA women's basketball history. She has an incredible feel for creating the space to find her teammates from all areas of the floor.

A five-star recruit out of Blairstown, NJ in the 2021 recruiting class, Miles enrolled early at Notre Dame and played in six games in her debut season. A year later, she started all 33 games for the Irish and averaged 13.7 points and an ACC-best 7.4 assists per game. Miles was an All-American for the first time in the 2022-23 season, her third at ND.

Miles missed the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury, then bounced back with another All-American season as a senior at Notre Dame the following year. With one year of eligibility left, Miles transferred to TCU and averaged a career-high 19.6 points per game, as well as 6.6 assists.

Across 139 college games, Miles averaged 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest. She had 12 career triple-doubles as a 5'10" guard. Miles shot 47 percent from the floor, 33 percent from three, and 77 percent from the free throw line in her career. With that said, it's worth noting that she was 52 for 211 from three (24.6 percent) in her first three seasons and made 146 of 388 (37.6 percent) over the last two years. She also improved as a free throw shooter, shooting 84 percent in her final season.

With the Lynx, Miles may not start right away. Minnesota just re-signed All-Star point guard Courtney Williams on a two-year deal. But the Lynx did lose backup PG and sixth player Natisha Hiedeman in free agency, creating a vacancy that Miles can step into. It's also possible the Lynx go smaller and start both Williams and Miles in the backcourt, especially with Napheesa Collier set to miss time to start this season.

The Lynx led the WNBA with a 34-10 record in 2025. They received the pick that became No. 2 overall from the Chicago Sky during last year's draft. The Sky received last year's No. 11 pick, which they used on guard Hailey Van Lith. That trade proved to be a shrewd one from Minnesota.

Lynx add Utah guard with 45th pick

Minnesota's only other selection of the night was the final pick of the draft at No. 45 overall in the third round. With that pick, the Lynx selected Utah sharpshooter Lani White.

White, a California native, spent her first two college seasons at Utah, transferred to Virginia Tech for her junior year, and then returned for her senior year with the Utes. She averaged a career-high 15.9 points last season, hitting over 40 percent of her threes on 5.6 attempts per game. Long-range shooting is the trait that will give White a chance to carve out a WNBA career.

The Stearns County Sheriff Office said 56-year-old Tina Timmers, of St. Augusta, was one of four passengers riding in a Ford Expedition driven by a 16-year-old St. Augusta boy.

The Ford was westbound on County Road 44 when the driver proceeded past a stop sign and entered the intersection with County Road 7, colliding with a Dodge Ram truck that had been traveling northbound on County Road 7.

The sheriff's office said deputies were called to the scene around 7:20 p.m. on reports of multiple injuries and one person possibly ejected after the Ford Expedition rolled due to the impact.

According to the agency, Tina Timmers was pronounced dead at the scene.

"All other parties were treated on scene for a variety of injuries and transported to the St. Cloud Hospital," the Sheriff's Office said, stating the crash remains under investigation with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol.

The Dodge Ram was driven by a 42-year-old Maple Lake woman and had two passengers from Maple Lake, ages 15 and 47.

The other passengers in the Ford were a 79-year-old St. Cloud man and two St. Augusta men, ages 49 and 19.

Golden Valley officials announced Monday that Matt Clark is permanently stepping into the role, with his appointment effective immediately.

“After a thorough hiring process, we are excited to welcome Chief Clark permanently,” Mayor Roslyn Harmon said. "He came to Golden Valley at a pivotal moment, and what stood out immediately was how quickly he built trust with our officers, our residents, and City leadership. We look forward to his leadership in moving the department forward.” 

Clark served as Golden Valley's interim police chief for six months. He joined the department in October amid the departure of his predecessor, Virgil Green, who resigned following allegations of intimidation and threats against two sergeants, and breach of data privacy related to the release of body-worn camera footage to KSTP-TV. 

Earlier this year, two finalists were in the running for the job, but Golden Valley officials ultimately decided that neither of them were the right fit, opting to instead go with Clark.

"I am honored to continue serving the community in this role,” Clark said. “The GVPD is a great team, and we have a bright future ahead for this department."

Since becoming a police officer in 1991, Clark has worked for the cities of Madelia, Lake Crystal and Minneapolis. He most recently served as chief of police for the University of Minnesota Police Department.

“Chief Clark brings decades of experience at some of the largest departments in the state, and he’s put that expertise to work in Golden Valley from day one," City Manager Noah Schuchman said. "Our organization is better for having him at the helm."

A ceremonial swearing-in for Clark will be held later this year.

Sea Salt Eatery, the Minneapolis park's seasonal restaurant, will officially open at 11 a.m. Friday, April 17 – just one week later than last year's opening.

Po'boys, tacos, fried-fish baskets, crab cakes, beer-battered fries and other seaside fare will be back on the menu at the popular summer spot.

Also returning this year is the $85 oil pan, which comes with 12 oysters, 18 shrimp, 8 ounces of pickled herring and either a pitcher of beer or bottle of wine.

Sea Salt Eatery typically remains open until early October.

The District 196 school board is expected to consider proposals Monday to adjust start times at East Lake Elementary, Woodland Elementary, Valley Middle School of STEM, the School of Environmental Studies, and the Area Learning Center.

More than 22,000 students within the district rely on daily transportation to school, but some of them have had their routes canceled or delayed since September due to the bus driver shortage.

The district says it has already increased wages, hired more bus drivers, and reduced cancellations, so additional changes are needed to ensure the transportation system's long-term stability and reliability.

One proposal would move up the start time for East Lake Elementary in Lakeville and Woodland Elementary in Eagan from 9:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Another would push back the start time for Valley Middle School of STEM in Apple Valley from 7:55 a.m. to 8:20 a.m., aligning it with the district's other middle schools, while condensing transportation to some magnet schools into two geographic zones.

Start times would only change by about 15 minutes for the School of Environmental Studies, a magnet high school for juniors and seniors in Apple Valley, and the Area Learning Center (ALC), an alternative high school in Eagan.

Proposals will be discussed during a school board meeting on Monday at 6 p.m., which will be livestreamed on District 196's YouTube channel.

Parents and guardians can submit questions

Here are the latest updates from the storm:

6:50 p.m. Tornado warning near Waseca

BMTN's Joe Nelson is near Waseca, where a tornado warning is in effect and the sky is looking VERY threatening.

6:30 p.m. Confirmed tornado in Blue Earth County

6:20 p.m. Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings in southern Minnesota

A series of severe thunderstorm warning have been issued in southern Minnesota as a line of storms makes its way across the state, stretching along a curve from Windom to Wabasha.

5:15 p.m. Flash flood warning in Red Wing area

Flash Flood Warning including Red Wing MN, Cannon Falls MN and Goodhue MN until 11:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/Jrgkqqw8hu

— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) April 13, 2026

5 p.m. Heavy hail in southeastern Minnesota

Bring Me The News' Joe Nelson is on the ground east of Dennison, where he has been through a torrential hailstorm, with some hailstones 2 inches in diameter.

4:10 p.m. Tornado warning in Rice County

A tornado warning has been issued in an area of Rice County that includes the city of Nerstrand, where there are reports of hail up to 3 inches in diameter and "growing concern for a tornado."

An emergency alert issued in the area warns of "destructive" three-inch hail, advising people take shelter in a "sturdy building."

April 13, 4pm Update: Our one storm in Rice County continues to strengthen with very large hail (up to 3") reported and growing concern for a tornado. #mnwx pic.twitter.com/wRIDeP7hrk

— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) April 13, 2026

3:30 p.m.: Tornado watch issued

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch in Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Olmstead, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona counties until 10 p.m. CT.

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A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin until 10 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/A6ZvNYlQFX

— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) April 13, 2026

"Severe wind/hail and at least a few tornadoes are possible. A couple of strong tornadoes may occur," said NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, shortly before issuing the watch. "Should a more dominant, discrete supercell sustain along the warm front, strong tornadoes will become possible."

The HRRR model continues to show explosive storm develop along a warm frontal boundary across southern Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin this afternoon and evening, with storms eventually clustering together and tracking to the east.

The RRFS model is a little bit further north with its simulation, though, like the HRRR model, it has explosive storm develop along the warm front.

The first 2-3 hours, or when the storms are isolated from others, is when they'll be the most dangerous. The strongest cells will be capable of dropping very large hail, including isolated instances of hailstones up to the size of baseballs.

Storms that track along or south of the warm front will have the best chance to produce tornadoes, including significant tornadoes that could become violent.

The updraft helicity tracks, shown in the graphic below (per the HRRR model), indicate where some of the strongest storms could track. All in all, it's likely going to be somewhere between the Twin Cities and the Minnesota-Iowa border.

Below is a look at the RRFS model's updraft helicity tracks forecast. Again, it's a little bit further north than the HRRR model.

Here is what's in Sven's video forecast today:

• Enhanced severe risk (threat level 3 of 5) for southeast Minnesota this afternoon/evening
• Strongest storms look to develop just south/southeast of Twin Cities but if storms develop later we may see them farther north
• Nearly stationary warm front boundary south is slow moving north with higher dew points and lots of shear near it
• Also threat of very large (2”-4”) hail with super cell storms that develop

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BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can't always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is "firmly on track toward an unlivable world," and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here.

During a Monday news conference, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said agents could face charges of kidnapping, illegal detainment and false imprisonment in the Jan. 18 arrest of ChongLy "Scott" Thao, a U.S. citizen.

It's one of two active investigations of alleged "felonious conduct" by federal agents that are underway in Ramsey County. Three others are in the preliminary stage.

Agents are accused of storming into Thao's home with guns drawn but without a warrant, leading him outside in just his boxers, a blanket and a pair of Crocs, then questioning him in a vehicle for over an hour.

A relative issued a statement after the raid, claiming that agents "broke down the door, trashed the place," put Thao in handcuffs and "did not allow him to put on proper clothing," and "put a gun to his daughter-in-law’s head."

Homeland Security claimed at the time that it was looking for two convicted sex offenders from Laos who live at the home, but the family said Thao, his son, daughter-in-law and grandson are the only people who live there, and none of them were the intended targets.

"We believe that there was no legitimate legal reason for the federal agents to enter that home," Choi said Monday. "It was not supported by probable cause and (was) in violation of our United States Constitution."

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office has formally demanded evidence related to Thao's arrest from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which employs federal agents, and it could join an existing lawsuit seeking other evidence that's being withheld by the federal government.

"We are going to be a dogged in our pursuit of the truth," Choi said.

@bringmn

Footage submitted to Bring Me The News shows an elderly Hmong man with U.S. citizenship being escorted out by ICE agents wearing only underwear, a blanket and Crocs on a frigid Sunday morning on St. Paul's East Side. A fundraiser for the man says he was arrested in front of his 5-year-old grandson and questioned for an hour inside a federal vehicle before being returned to his home. #fyp #Minnesota #MN #News #MinnesotaNews #MNNews #TwinCities

♬ original sound - BringMeTheNews - BringMeTheNews

More than 3,000 federal immigration agents were deployed across Minnesota as part of Homeland Security’s Operation Metro Surge between December and February.

An estimated 3,700 residents were detained, dozens were injured, and two were killed, resulting in countless lawsuits against the Trump administration, including those related to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the non-fatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, all by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.

A recent report by the Deportation Data Project found that fewer than one-quarter of the Minnesotans who were arrested had a criminal conviction on their record, despite federal officials repeatedly claiming that Operation Metro Surge was targeting the “worst of the worst.”

With the Wild locked into a first-round series against the division rival Dallas Stars, head coach John Hynes announced Monday that a number of key players will be held out for at least the first of the final two games of the regular season this week.

Minnesota plays at St. Louis on Monday night, and then wraps up the regular season schedule with a home game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The status of key players on Tuesday is unknown, but Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Marcus Foligno, Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek , Brock Faber, and Mats Zuccarello will be held out of the lineup on Monday night.

So, who plays against the Ducks? One new player on the ice could be Viking Gustavsson Nyberg, who signed with the Wild last week. According to Wild insider Michael Russo, he's waiting on paperwork.

"If it comes in this afternoon, he’s debuting. If it comes in tomorrow, he’s debuting vs. Anaheim," Russo said.

For now, the projected lines against the Blues are:

• L1: Yakov Trenin, Danila Yurov, Vladimir Tarasenko
• L2: Marcus Johansson, Hunter Haight, Bobby Brink
• L3: Nico Sturm, Michael McCarron, Nick Foligno
• L4: Robby Fabbri, Ben Jones, Nicolas Aube-Kubel
• D1: Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon
• D2: Jake Middleton, Jeff Petry
• D3: Daemon Hunt, Matt Kiersted
• G1: Filip Gustavsson
• G2: Jesper Wallstedt

"I'm just going to take it day-by-day now," head coach John Hynes said when asked if he'll rest big-name players again Tuesday night.

The NHL playoffs begin Saturday, though the official start of the Wild-Stars series hasn't been announced. We do know that Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 will be in Dallas, while Games 3, 4, and 6 will be in Minnesota.