A free watch party will be held just outside Grand Casino Arena on West 7th Street between West Kellogg Boulevard and West 5th Street from 5 p.m., with some other pre-game festivities expected to start an hour earlier.

Game 3 gets underway at 8 p.m., with the Wild facing a titanic task to rescue the series after comfortably losing the first two in Denver.

Road closures will go into effect from 12 p.m. until an hour after the end of the game, with anyone traveling to downtown St. Paul advised to be aware of the following changes:

• Westbound lanes of Shepard Road closed from Jackson St. to Eagle Parkway.
• Jackson St. closed from Kellogg Blvd. to Shepard Road for outbound downtown traffic.

"Fans are invited to gather and cheer on the Wild in a high-energy, community atmosphere just steps from the arena," the event listing says on NHL.com.

"A ticket will not be required to enter the free event, and capacity is subject to a first-come, first-served basis. All fans will be required to pass through security screening to enter."

Pregame activities include live programming from the Wild on 7th podcast, a Red Bull DJ set, and a drum line performance. There will be food and drinks available on site, with payments card-only.

"Fans attending both the game and the outdoor watch party are encouraged to account for road closures in St. Paul and the surrounding areas," St. Paul Police Department said.

"Fans are encouraged to arrive early, allow extra travel time, and consider alternate routes."

Jonathan Berg, 72, of Merrifield, Minnesota, is facing multiple charges – including first-degree premeditated attempted murder – after the shooting on the evening of Sunday, May 3, which left his grandson with birdshot wounds to his buttocks and thighs.

The criminal complaint against Berg alleges he had been arguing with his grandson on the day of the shooting about him not storing his fish house. During the argument, Berg hit the teen in the face, with the teen retaliating by hitting Berg.

Berg then allegedly told the teen that he was going to shoot his dog, at which point Berg's daughter – the victim's mother – intervened and her son left the property.

About an hour before the shooting, the victim's mother said Berg had asked her "when is your son coming home so I can shoot him."

When the teen arrived home at about 9 p.m., his mother said she heard the sound of a gunshot, heard glass breaking, and heard her son screaming. She said she saw Berg sitting on his bed "holding the gun," which was a 16-gauge shotgun and which appeared to have smoke coming from it.

The victim's mother said she screamed "why the f*** did you shoot my kid?", to which he allegedly replied something to the effect of: "Shut the f*** up or I'll shoot you too."

She took her some from the house and they drove to a nearby Dollar General in Merrifield, where she called the police.

The mother told police she and her son had moved in with her father to try and get him help with his medical conditions and limited mobility. She said Berg "drinks to excess" and had been drinking heavily in the days prior to the incident, the complaint states.

The off-price retail chain will officially open at Ridgehaven Marketplace, 13131 Ridgedale Dr., on May 21, the company announced.

The space was formerly occupied by Barnes & Noble, which closed in the location last year and relocated a short distance away to a former Staples space at WestRidge Market just off of I-394.

Marshalls is relocating from its previous location at the Bonaventure Mall, located in between Ridgehaven Marketplace and the Ridgedale Mall.

The new location will have slightly more space than Marshalls' previous Minnetonka space, at 26,210 square feet compared to 25,905 square feet, and now finds itself in a mall also occupied by other major chains including Target, Lunds & Byerlys, and Ulta Beauty.

"At Marshalls, we hustle every day to bring the good stuff to stores for consumers. With the opening of this store, we are excited to provide Minnetonka shoppers with high-quality, brand name merchandise at an amazing value," said Nancy Carpenter, President of Marshalls.

The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for its grand opening on May 21. After that its regular store hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

It's also expected to bring an additional 60 jobs to the area, a mixture of full- and part-time.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d826.1082872530029!2d-93.4475413404328!3d44.96924511084255!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x52b34b0034ec8af5%3A0x7663a6578e5396ad!2sMarshalls!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1778269801248!5m2!1sen!2sus

The Inver Grove Heights theater and executive-artistic director Jeremy Stanbary will start the 13th season on Oct. 2 with "Doctor Faustus," Christopher Marlowe's 16th-century cautionary tale about the unrestrained avarice of a magician who makes a deal with Mephistopheles.

After that, the company's Christmas-time production will feature Santa, err, Father Christmas, but not in a production that is typically seen as holiday fare.

For the first time in 11 years, Open Window will present the Joseph Robinette adaptation of C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." It will be a fitting complement to the theater's spring 2025 production of "Tolkien," which dives into the friendship between J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis. The journey to Narnia starts on Nov. 28 and runs through Jan. 3.

The new year starts with another returning production. "A Man for All Seasons" will open on Feb. 19. Open Window previously presented the Tony-winning play in 2014, when it was at its former Minneapolis home.

The season will close with William Gibson's Tony-winning "The Miracle Worker" about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. It'll run from April 30 to May 30, 2027.

Season tickets are on sale now for Open Window's 13th year. Single-show tickets will go on sale at a later date.

In the meantime, its season 12 closer, "Joan of Arc," opened on May 1 and will continue through May 31. Originally scheduled for the prior season, it was delayed a year, with Stanbary calling it the theater's "biggest and most ambitious original play" at the time.

Members of the evenly divided House voted 127-5 on Thursday in favor of establishing an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to watch over the state’s use of tax dollars and prevent fraud in its social services programs.

A companion bill sailed through the Senate on a 60-7 vote last May, then made its way to the House, where the measure was refined after months of negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

Rep. Patti Anderson (R-Dellwood) considers it "the most significant piece of anti-fraud legislation that has passed the House to date."

"Minnesotans who have been demanding action can now be assured that their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being safeguarded by an apolitical entity with the sole mandate of investigating and prosecuting fraud," Anderson said in a statement Thursday.

The Senate is expected to agree to the changes made in the House, then the bill will head to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz, who has said he will sign it.

Sen. Heather Gustafson (D-Vadnais Heights), an author of the Senate companion bill, applauded her colleagues for supporting OIG's creation, adding that the measure "passed overwhelmingly in both chambers because of the hard work and bipartisan cooperation that went into it."

“This bill is a testament to our ability as legislators to bridge partisan divides and pass good policy that will safeguard taxpayer dollars," Gustafson said in a statement.

Here's your guide to the outdoor concert series and festivals running around the state throughout the summer of 2026.

Hewing Hotel Rooftop Concert Series

When: Select dates from May 17 to Oct. 4 at The Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis

Who is playing: Nur-D, Kiss the Tiger, Dessa, Tina Schlieske, Rogue Valley, Martin Zellar, Jeremy Messersmith, Davina and the Vagabonds, The Dan Israel Band, Al Church, SWAG, Going to the Sun, The Scarlet Goodbye, Leslie Vincent and Sarah Morris, ABBAsolutely Fab

What you need to know: The shows take place on the hotel’s rooftop, and each show is ticketed separately. Click here for more

Minneapolis Music in the Park

When: Select dates from May 21–Sept. 7 at various Minneapolis parks

Who is playing: Favourite Girl, Meatraffle Ska, Dan Israel, Dred I Dread, USPOP, FINICK, Prairie Fire Choir, J-Mo on the Beat and the J-Lighters, Kung-Fu Hippies, Ait Ait, Andra Suchy, Lazy Scorsese, Ditch Pigeon, the Belfast Cowboys, Minneapolis Pops, and many more

What you need to know: The series of free concerts in Minneapolis parks includes almost daily concerts. Click here for more

The Ledge Amphitheater

When: Select dates beginning May 22 at The Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park

Who is playing: Brantley Gilbert, Little River Band, Lee Brice, Wynonna Judd, Melissa Etheridge, Trace Adkins, TobyMac, Black Label Society, Jim Gaffigan, Lindsey Stirling, 38 Special, John Mulaney, Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms

What you need to know: The amphitheater in Waite Park has shows throughout the summer, each ticketed individually. Click here for more

The Great Lawn Concert Series

When: Select dates from May 29–Sept. 18 at Allianz Field Festival Grounds in St. Paul

Who is playing: Brit Floyd, Blank Space, Mr. Brightside, Bohemian Queen, AM Gold Yacht Rock, SuperSonic

What you need to know: It's a new series held outside Allianz Field, exclusively featuring cover bands. Click here for more

Lowertown Sounds

When: Most Thursdays from June 4–July 30 at Mears Park in St. Paul

Who is playing: Dr. Mambo's Combo, Poliça, The New Standards, Flamin' Oh's, Ashley DuBose, the Scarlet Goodbye, Salsa del Soul, Pert Near Sandstone

What you need to know: The (almost) weekly concerts are free to attend and all start at 6 p.m. Each show has an opener in addition to the groups listed above. You’ll also find local beers and wines as well as food trucks lined up around the park. Click here for more

Force Fields

When: June 5–6 in Cadott, Wis.

Who is playing: Zeds Dead, Tape B, San Holo, Ganja White Night, LSDream, Clozee, Boogie T, Ahee, Deathpact, Space Wizard, Raecola, and more

What you need to know: It's the EDM festival's second year. Camping is available. Click here for more

Grand Old Day

When: June 7 on Grand Avenue in St. Paul

Who is playing: Gully Boys, the Plastic Constellations, Molly Maher, Katey Bellville & Sons, Bettina Villamil with Lenz and Frenz, Thomas Sticha, Bunny Blood, Obi Original and the Black Atlantics, Lasalle, Love Band, International Reggae Allstars, Cellar Dwellers

What you need to know: The one-day street festival is free to attend, but there are VIP passes with a better view and access to a bar. Click here for more

Groovin' in the Garden

When: Wednesdays from June 10–July 29 at the Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul

Who is playing: Innocent Reggae Band, Miss Georgia Peach, Jellyjacket, Betty Won't, Salsa del Soul, J-Mo on the Beat & the J-Lighters, Red Eye Ruby, School of Rock

What you need to know: The annual free concert series has activities for kids and food trucks each week. Click here for more

Kick'N Up Kountry

When: June 10–13 in Karlstad

Who is playing: Jake Owen, Aaron Lewis, Jackyl, Mitchell Tenpenny, Drew Baldridge, Neal McCoy, Booz N Tuna, Brianna Helbling, Pibon, and more

What you need to know: The country music festival offers camping options as well as fest passes. Click here for more

The Sunset Series

When: Most Thursdays from June 11–Aug. 20 at Downtown Park in Hopkins

Who is playing: Salsa del Soul, Tae & the Neighborly, The Strolling Clones, Hot Club Mania, International Raggae Allstars, The Montvales, Obi Original and the Black Atlantics, and more

What you need to know: The annual series offers free shows in Hopkins at 7 p.m. most Thursdays throughout the summer. Click here for more

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

When: June 19–20 at various locations around St. Paul

Who is playing: Yellowjackets, Sullivan Fortner Trio, Yogev Shetrit Trio, JazzMN Orchestra with Michael Mayo, The Selby Avenue Brass Band with Thomasina Petrus, Lucia Sarmiento, Zacc Harris Group, and many more

What you need to know: The sprawling jazz festival takes place all around town, with the main stage set up at Mears Park in St. Paul. Shows in the festival are free to attend, with a few exceptions. Click here for more

Winstock Country Music Festival

When: June 19–20 in Winstead

Who is playing: Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Muscadine Bloodline, Mitchell Tenpenny, Carly Pearce, Sara Evans, Rafe Carlson, Shane Martin, Maygen & the Birdwatcher, Zach Thomas, Whiskey River, Mason Dixon Line

What you need to know: Day and weekend passes, as well as campgrounds are on sale for the fest filled with big-name country acts. Click here for more

Pryes Block Party

When: June 19–20 at Pryes Brewing in Minneapolis

Who is playing: Soul Asylum, Gear Daddies, Agnes Uncaged, Laamar, Maygen & the Birdwatcher, Jillian Ray, JoJo Green, Mikel Wright & the Wrongs

What you need to know: The block party will take place in a new side lot at the Minneapolis brewery. Meanwhile, the taproom and patio will be open to the public. Click here for more

Summer Jam Music Festival

When: June 19–20 at the Eau Claire Event District in Eau Claire

Who is playing: Third Eye Blind, The Wallflowers, Styx, Bret Michaels, Blue Oyster Cult, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, Violenta, Starship (feat. Mickey Thomas), Six Figure Sunrise

What you need to know: The second year of the new Summer Jam festival is filled with '90s and '80s radio rock fixtures. Click here for more

Surly Brewing Festival Field

When: Various dates starting June 20 at Surly Brewing in Minneapolis

Who is playing: Amyl and the Sniffers, Young the Giant, Big Thief, Alabama Shakes

What you need to know:The concerts at Surly Brewing Festival Field, just four are on the calendar for the summer so far, are all individually ticketed. Parking can get a little messy, so it’s usually worth getting out there early or taking public transportation.Click here for more

Mystic Lake Amphitheater

When: Select dates starting June 20 at Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee

Who is playing: Guns N' Roses, mgk, The Guess Who, Bob Dylan, Hilary Duff, Kesha, Willie Nelson, Lil Wayne, Pitbull, John Mellencamp, Creed, Dave Matthews Band, Dirty Heads and 311, Jack Johnson, 5 Seconds of Summer, Kesha, Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte, Black Crowes, Chris Stapleton, and more

What you need to know: While Mystic Lake is in the name, this is Live Nation's splashy new venue in Shakopee. It's a 19,000-capacity outdoor venue and features some of the biggest tours that are coming through Minnesota this summer. Click here for more

Stone Arch Bridge Festival

When: June 20–21 along West River Parkway in Minneapolis

Who is playing: The lineup has not yet been announced.

What you need to know: Details about this year's festival haven't yet been shared. Click here for more

Blue Ox Festival

When: June 25-27 at The Pines in Eau Claire, Wis.

Who is playing: Charley Crockett, Marcus King Band, The Dead South, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Pert Near Sandstone, I'm With Her, Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, Sierra Hull, Valerie June, Shadowgrass, and more

What you need to know: he fest also features activities like yoga, art displays, music workshops, outdoor activities around Eau Claire, and more. Click here for more

Rockin' the Island

When: June 26-27 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch

Who is playing: Stone Temple Pilots, Buckcherry, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Hoobastank, Hinder, Crossfade, Black Stone Cherry, Royale Lynn

What you need to know: This is the inaugural installment of a new summer festival at the casino. Click here for more

Breakaway Music Festival

When: June 26-27 at Allianz Field Festival Grounds in St. Paul

Who is playing: Gryffin, Knock2, Levity, Subtronics, Zedd, Alleycvt, Roddy Lima, Malaa (Alter Ego), Wuki, and more

What you need to know: The EDM festival, which hosts events around the country, is back in the parking lot outside Allianz Field for a third year with a mix of big names in EDM and local artists. Click here for more

Hoofbeat Country Fest

When: June 25–27 in Cadott, Wis.

Who is playing: Jason Aldean, Bailey Zimmerman, Kane Brown, Tucker Wetmore, Aaron Tippin, Ashley Cooke, Tigirlily Gold, Nate Smith, Terri Clark, Chase Matthews, Russell Dickerson, Phil Vassar, Dasha, and more

What you need to know: It's the fest's second year under the Hoofbeat name. The long-running Country Fest rebranded last year. Click here for more

Taste of Minnesota

When: July 3–4 in downtown Minneapolis

Who is playing: Polica, Dillinger Four, Brother Ali, Ant, Bad Bad Hats, Dessa, Nur-D, Gully Boys, DJ Sophia Eris

What you need to know: The Taste is still happening in Downtown Minneapolis with loads of vendors, food, and places to grab a refreshment. Click here for more

Treasure Island Amphitheater

When: Select dates from July 3–Sept. 5 at Treasure Island Amphitheater in Welch

Who is playing: Joe Bonamassa and Gov't Mule, Shinedown, Snoop Dogg

What you need to know: In addition to the Rockin' the Island festival, the casino hosts a few individual concerts throughout the summer. Click here for more

Lutsong Music Festival

When: July 9–12 in Lutsen

Who is playing: Polica, Humbird, Stonebridge Singers, Weary Ramblers, David Huckfelt's Mystery Lights, Dan Rodriguez, LaPlant Road, Clayton Ryan Trio, Luke Callen, Laura Hugo, and more

What you need to know: The fifth installment of Lutsong takes place overlooking Lake Superior. It includes a vendor village and plenty of food and drinks. As a bonus, kids under 12 get in for free. Click here for more

Minnesota Country Club

When: July 10–11 at Harriet Island in St. Paul

Who is playing: Treaty Oak Revival, Charley Crockett, Stephen Wilson Jr, The Red Clay Strays, Jessie Murph, Trampled By Turtles, Jesse Welles, Paul Cauthen, Chance Peña, Charles Wesley Godwin, Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, and more

What you need to know: This is the inaugural Country Club fest, an offshoot of Minnesota Yacht Club. It'll function in pretty much the same way as its predecessor, except that there will be a focus on Americana, county, and folk musc. Click here for more

Riversong Music Festival

When: July 10–11 in Hutchinson

Who is playing: Fabulous Armadillos, Tina & the B-Sides, Johnny Clueless, St. George's Folly, Chicago Farmer & the Field Notes, Foxgloves, Josh Cleveland, Piano in Every Home, Boss Mama and the Jebberhooch

What you need to know: RiverSong's 18th installment continues its tradition of focusing on Minnesota-connected performers. It also offers food and drinks, camping, and more. Click here for more

Lakefront Music Festival

When: July 10–11 at Lakefront Park in Prior Lake

Who is playing: Billy Idol, Keith Urban, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Jefferson Starship, Jackson Dean, Karley Scott Collins

What you need to know: The Lakefront Music Fest is split into a classic rock day and a country music day, with Billy idol headlining the former and Keith Urban at the top of the bill for the latter. Click here for more

The Big Show

When: July 11, Aug. 1, and Aug. 22 at Indeed Brewing in Minneapolis

Who is playing: Jeff Rosenstock, Adrian Younge, Your Smith, Good Luck, Anita Velveeta, Lupin, Aby Wolf and Kavyesh Kaviraj with Laurels String Quartet

What you need to know: This new concert series from Indeed Brewing will take place in the large lot across from the taproom. Each of the three concerts will be ticketed separately. Click here for more

Riverside Music Series

When: Sundays from July 12–Aug. 9 at Mayo Park in Rochester

Who is playing: Lineup not yet announced

What you need to know: The free concert series has been running for more than three decades and brings in a combination of nationally-known artists and local musicians. Click here for more

Country Jam USA

When: July 16–18 at Eau Claire Event Disrict in Eau Claire, Wis.

Who is playing: Koe Wetzel, Travis Tritt, Riley Green, Justin Moore, Diamond Rio, Jordan Davis, Gary Allen, Corey Kent, Braxton Keith, Tyler Braden, LOCASH, Kolby Cooper, and more

What you need to know: The long-running fest offers camping across its three days of country music. Click here for more

Rock Fest

When: July 16–18 in Cadott, Wis.

Who is playing: Limp Bizkit, Gojira, The Offspring, I Prevail, Machine Head, Insane Clown Posse, Candlebox, Halestorm, Hatebreed, Lacuna Coil, Body County, The Pretty Reckless, Story of the Year, and more

What you need to know: Rock Fest is a sweeping event with more than 80 bands over its three-day run. It’s got some long days, and a lot of people will be camping out. There's also a pre-fest bonus bash on July 15 with Candlebox, Buckcherrt, Dying Wish, and others. Click here for more

Minnesota Yacht Club

When: July 17-19 at Harriet Island in St. Paul

Who is playing: The Strokes, The Lumineers, The Black Keys, Matchbox Twenty, Lord Huron, Geese, Cage the Elephant, Atmosphere, Mt. Joy, The Fray, Dashboard Confessional, The All-American Rejects, Lucy Dacus, Matt and Kim, Passion Pit, Shakey Graves, and more

What you need to know: For a second year, Yacht Club will last three days. Click here for more

Eaux Claires

When: July 24–25 at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wis.

Who is playing: Aimee Mann, Bon Dylan (Bon Iver playing Bob Dylan), Hotline TNT, Dijon, Lil Yachty, Bizhiki, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Kevin Morby, Monica Martin, The Union feat. Phil Cook, Daniel Caesar, Gash, Gully Boys, Julianna Baarwick & Mary Lattimore, Larry Goldings Trio, and more

What you need to know: The festival is returning after an eight-year hiatus, and it also offers camping. Click here for more

The Great Beyond

When: July 24–26 at Minnesota River Valley Sanctuary in Franklin

Who is playing: Akua, Altinbas, Analog Soul, Anthony Child/C. Lavender, Centrific, Claudio PRC, Craig Gonzalez, Delano Smith, Derek Plaslaiko, Dustin Zahn, DVS1, Joshua Calleja, Kangding Ray (live), Marijuana Deathsquads, Matrixxman, and more

What you need to know: The EDM festival is a well-kept secret, drawing people from around the country for its thoughtful curation and deep roster of talent. Click here for more

Hilde Amplified

When: July 31–Aug. 1 at Hilde Performance Center in Plymouth

Who is playing: Third Eye Blind, Brett Young, Ashley McBryde, Rodney Atkins, lovelytheband, Matt Stell

What you need to know: It's a newly-launched two-day concert event, featuring a day of country music and a day of rock music. Click here for more

Nershfest

When: Aug. 1 at 56 Brewing in Minneapolis

Who is playing: Reptar, Mae Simpson, The People Brothers Band, General B & the Wiz, China Rider, hosted by Nur-D

What you need to know: The annual (and affordable) one-day outdoor fest returns the northeast Minneapolis brewery. Click here for more

We Fest

When: Aug. 5–8 in Detroit Lakes

Who is playing: Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, Flatland Cavalry, Jamey Johnson, Nate Smith, Max McNown, Randy Houset, and more

What you need to know: The big country fest already has many levels of its tickets sold out, including its three-day general admission tier 3. Tier 1 and 2 are listed as "low inventory." Click here for more

Target Field

When: Aug. 5, 23, and 24 at Target Field in Minneapolis

Who is playing: My Chemical Romance with Sleater-Kinney, Tim McGraw with The Chicks and Lady A, Noah Kahan with Gigi Perez

What you need to know: Target Field took a summer off, but is hosting big concerts in downtown Minneapolis again this summer. Click here for more

Twin Cities Irish Fest

When: Aug. 7–9 at Harriet Island in St. Paul

Who is playing: Gaelic Storm, Chasing Abbey, Biird, Seo Linn, The High Kings, Tophouse, Howley, and more

What you need to know: Fromerly known as the Irish Fair of Minnesota, the fest has a new name. Click here for more

Bayfront Blues Festival

When: Aug. 14–16 in Duluth

Who is playing: Southern Hospitality, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, Mark Hummel, Mud Morganfield, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band, Katie Henry, Piper & the Hard Times, and more

What you need to know: Kids 12 and under get in free, and there will be plenty of food and drink options. Click here for more

Campout in the Pines with String Cheese Incident

When: Aug. 14–15 at The Pines in Eau Claire, Wis.

Who is playing: The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, Lettuce, Eggy & Dogs in a Pile

What you need to know: The jam band's campout, obviosuly, features camping. Click here for more

Minnesota State Fair

When: Aug. 27–Sept. 7 at Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights

Who is playing: Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Sierra Ferrell, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Tommy James & the Shondells, AJR, Brad Paisley, Hardy, TLC and Salt-N-Pepa

What you need to know: It’s the State Fair. You probably know it all, but tickets to the Grandstand shows do not include admission to the fair or that bucket of cookies you’re inevitably going to buy. Moreover, in addition to the grandstand shows, there will be plenty of other live music around the state fair. Click here for more

Boats and Bluegrass

When: Sept. 24–26 in Winona

Who is playing: Not yet announed

What you need to know: This is another hidden gem festival, which fills up quickly. Details will be announced at a later date. Click here for more

The City of Plymouth is launching Hilde Amplified at the outdoor stage, which can accommodate thousands of attendees. The two-day festival will take place on July 31 and Aug 1, with lineups split down genre lines. The first night will feature country artists, while the second will lean toward rock.

The Friday roster will feature country chart-topper Brett Young and Grammy-nominee Ashley McBryde, as well as Rodney Atkins and Matt Stell. The next night will have '90s hitmaker Third Eye Blind ("Semi-Charged Life" in the headlining slot with lovelytheband opening. More bands will be added to the Saturday bill at a later date.

"The Hilde Performance Center is one of the Twin Cities’ premier outdoor venues, with exceptional acoustics, expansive lawn seating, and a welcoming atmosphere," says Jennifer Tomlinson, the city's director of Parks and Recreation. "Hilde Amplified brings nationally recognized artists to Plymouth and creates a fun, high-energy experience for the community."

For now, the festival is the only date on the Hilde calendar featuring national touring acts at the too-infrequently utilized concert space. Though, the annual Music in Plymouth concert series has not yet been detailed.

In years past, the Hilde hosted concerts with Cheap Trick, Lucinda Williams, Indigo Girls, Cold War Kids, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Franti, Gary Clark Jr., Kelsea Ballerini, the Minnesota Orchestra, and Michael Franti. 

Tickets for Hilde Amplified are on sale now. Weekend passes start at $144.15, while single-day tickets start at $84.65.

Its annual Movies in the Parks series will return on July 9, with seven family-friendly films dropping into a different park almost weekly through Aug. 28.

Each event is free to attend, pet-friendly (except where noted), and most nights will feature a local food truck on site for attendees to grab a meal.

Unlike last year, the series won't have any R-rated fare only geared toward adults. The bulk are PG or G, with just two PG-13 features on the list.

The lineup includes "Sing," "Coco," "School of Rock," and "Wicked," with movies beginning around dusk and captioned in English, per the Parks and Recreation site.

Here's the lineup for St. Paul's Movies in the Parks series for 2026:

• July 9: "Sing" (2016) at Sibley Manor Apts. (No food truck)
• July 17: "Coco" (2017) at Midway Peace Park (food truck not listed)
• July 24: "High School Musical" (2006) at Como Park Midway Pavilion (Sizzling Wagon food truck)
• July 31: "School of Rock" (2003) at Edgcumbe (Pharaoh's Gyros food truck)
• Aug. 14: "Mamma Mia!" (2008) at Hampden Park (Que Tal Street Eats food truck)
• Aug. 21: "Encanto" (2021) at El Rio (Cheeky Chicks food truck)
• Aug. 28: "Wicked" (2024) at Phalen Beach House (Yum yum Truck food truck)

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) made the ruling Thursday following an investigation that determined Xcel passed along the costs of more expensive replacement power to customers after the company's own employees cut through buried electric cables at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant near Red Wing, shutting it down for more than three months.

“Xcel passing on its costly mistake to consumers who were in no way at fault was unacceptable,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement.

"My office stands up for ratepayers who can’t afford their own lobbyists, so we pushed back and argued consumers should get a full refund. At a time when the cost of too many items we can’t do without is already way too high, I’m gratified the PUC sided with us and Xcel customers will see the relief they deserve."

According to a news release from the AG's Office, a Minnesota Department of Commerce analyst flagged a "discrepancy buried in compliance paperwork," which led to the PUC finding about a year after the outage that "Xcel acted imprudently by lacking appropriate safeguards and not providing reasonable oversight of its workers."

Then the PUC ordered additional proceedings to determine a refund amount by calculating how much Xcel charged customers for replacement power that the company purchased from the regional grid to make up for lost power during the outage.

Xcel argued that it should be credited for various “benefits and offsets” that would've reduced the refund by more than $26 million, according to the AG's Office, but the PUC ultimately decided to Xcel should pay $40.6 million, plus interest.

Xcel said in a statement that it respects the PUC's decision and understands its impact on the Minneapolis-based utility's customers.

"Following the incident, we conducted a thorough review and made changes to how excavation work is planned, reviewed and overseen at the plant to reduce the risk of similar events in the future," Xcel said in the statement provided to Bring Me The News. "These changes include strengthened controls, clearer accountability and enhanced oversight of work performed on site.

"While the plant was offline following the incident, we also completed additional maintenance to support safe and reliable operations going forward."

Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island Nuclear Plant provides power to more than 1 million customers throughout the Upper Midwest.

They’re forecasting 12 to 16 days of wildfire smoke impacts in Minnesota. That’s on par with our more active recent years, unfortunately.

The forecast also calls for four to six days where ozone levels reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. That’s slightly above Minnesota’s historical average. Ozone is great many miles above us, where the chemical reaction caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays protects us from receiving high amounts of radiation at the surface. When ozone occurs in the layer we breathe in, that’s a problem. Ozone occurs at the surface when sunlight and heat react with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from pollution (cars, industry, etc.).

On hot, humid days when we have inversions (warmer air, relatively speaking, aloft) these pollutants build and remain trapped near the surface where we breathe. Urban areas, where the highest density of cars exists, are most impacted, or anywhere downwind of those locations.

Let’s take a closer look at the wildfire impacts. Those are directly related to hot, dry conditions. We’ve already discussed how drought levels within the lower 48 U.S. states are at the highest level in nearly four years, with 61% of the country in drought.

Vast areas of the West are in drought, so once wildfire season commences, any fire to the west could produce smoke headed in our direction. The drought outlook for this month keeps drought persisting and even expanding.

It’s very hard to overcome drought conditions once we head into summer with the intense sun and warmer temperatures.

Of course, many of our smoky days come from Canada. Once again, large patches of Canada are abnormally dry or in drought. Winter is still departing in those areas, but once summer warmth reaches them, fires will become likely again.

There appear to be similar levels of drought this year compared to last year in Canada, just in somewhat different areas. Here’s a comparison of last spring’s drought conditions to this year’s.

The European model forecasts warmer-than-normal temperatures throughout the West and even into Minnesota for the summer months, which is hard to argue with.

Just climatologically, 77% of our summers in the Twin Cities since 2000 have been warmer than normal. It takes unusually wet, cloudy conditions to create cooler conditions now since Canada is typically very warm due to rapid changes in the Arctic.

We have a rapidly developing El Niño, and by most accounts a strong one is coming. Analyzing those episodes, we can try to decipher summer precipitation patterns.

The picture is pretty mixed with weak to moderate El Niños, and in strong El Niños, we tend to dry out in Minnesota, BUT there are only three modern years to look at. That’s too small a sample to make conclusive predictions.

Regardless of any forecast, we likely need to get used to increased wildfire smoke pollution most summers now as a result of our rapidly changing climate, especially to our north.

In its announcement on Friday, the two organizations said the merger would result in a $600 million investment into North Memorial's two Twin Cities hospitals: North Memorial Health – Robbinsdale Hospital, a safety-net Level 1 trauma center; and Maple Grove Hospital, which is one of the state's leading maternity care facilities.

North Memorial also has 22 clinics under its banner, most of them situated in the north and northwest Twin Cities metro.

Sioux Falls-based Sanford already has an extensive network of rural clinics and hospitals across the Dakotas and the western third of Minnesota – with 94 facilities in Minnesota alone – and has made previous attempts to break into the Twin Cities market via two separate proposals to merge with Fairview Health Services.

With Sanford's latest merger attempt, the two organizations say they intend to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to "strengthen" North Memorial Hospital and "sustaining" its mission as a "critical safety-net provider of Level 1 trauma and emergency services." It also intends to "double the size" of the Maple Grove Hospital "to meet growing community needs."

"Today marks an important step forward as we build on and expand the care we provide across Minnesota – creating more choice for patients and connecting them to a broader network of providers, services and specialized expertise," said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health.

"By coming together as one nonprofit health care organization, with shared Midwest values and a deep commitment to the communities we serve, we will deliver more coordinated, regionally connected care – ensuring patients can access the right services, in the right place, at the right time."

It's the second major hospital merger proposal affecting the Twin Cities this year at a time hospital systems are struggling for sustainability amid a rise in uninsured patients and uncompensated care, as well as major pending cuts to Medicaid passed in President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," which go into effect next year.

Earlier this year it was announced that Minneapolis-based Allina Health is the subject of a proposed takeover bid by California-based Sutter Health.

The Sanford and North Memorial merger would require state and federal approval.

"When we first met Sanford Health, it was clear we share the same values – rooted in our communities, putting patients first and being straightforward about the realities health care faces,” said Trevor Sawallish, CEO of North Memorial Health.

"We’ve been open about the financial and regulatory pressures and the rising costs that make it harder to protect access to care on our own. Through a deliberate national search, Sanford stood out as a partner who understands our true value and shares our belief that better – not just bigger – is what matters. This partnership is about staying strong for the long term – so our patients can keep getting the care they need close to home and our teams have the support they deserve.”

The proposal brought a swift comment from SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, the union that represents more than 1,000 workers at North Memorial.

"Hearing news of yet another proposed healthcare merger in Minnesota is worrisome for SEIU members both as staff and patients," it says.

"At a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing for Minnesota families and frontline healthcare workers are getting squeezed by short staffing levels, this latest attempt at consolidation brings many concerns."

Just before noon on April 25, the Beechcraft F33A airplane came down and caught fire in Southbrook Park shortly after it took off from a runway at Crystal Airport, killing both occupants.

The plane was piloted by Joe Cass, a retired Mayo Clinic surgeon, and also carried his partner, North Dakota state Rep. Liz Conmy.

A day earlier, the pair had flown from Park Rapids Municipal Airport, roughly 165 miles northwest, to Crystal Airport and were flying back at the time of the crash, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report released Thursday.

Moments after takeoff, Cass radioed air traffic control, saying "abort, abort." Air traffic control told him that he was clear to land on any runway.

"Airport video surveillance captured the airplane turn left before it descended behind trees," the report reads. "Shortly after, a large plume of black smoke appeared from behind the tree line."

A witness who was on the north side of the airport told investigators that he saw the airplane when it was about 150 feet in the air and thought it was unusual that its landing gear was still down. He saw the airplane make a left turn, and thought it was returning to the airport, but then it started to lose altitude as he lost sight of the airplane, right before it crashed.

Investigators confirmed that the landing gear was down upon impact.

Another witness said the airplane's takeoff did not seem abnormal, but he thought it looked low and did not appear to be climbing.

An examination of the airplane determined that all of its fuel lines were damaged, but the fuel selector was on the right tank, and oil was leaking from the engine as it was being transported after the crash.

Two of the propeller's three blades were bent or twisted.

An investigation by the NTSB is ongoing.

On Thursday, Eric Dione Birth, 32, was sentenced to 90 months in prison in Winona County Court, after he previously pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving three victims, all of whom were students at the high school.

Birth served as a coach on the Winona Senior High School track team beginning in the spring of 2016. He later became a licensed teacher and began teaching physical education during the 2021-2022 school year.

In his plea, Birth admitted to sexually assaulting the three students in 2016, 2017 and 2022. The students, who were between ages 16 and 18 at the time of the assaults, were all on Birth’s track team. 

"Eric Birth abused his authority as a teacher and coach to harm multiple young people, and today he was held accountable for his heinous crimes," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted the case, said in a statement. 

"I hope this can provide a modicum of solace to Birth’s victims, though I know justice can be cold comfort in cases as appalling as this. I’m praying for the well-being of the young people Birth abused, and I will continue to do everything I can to hold those who harm children accountable."

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

• WARMER today! 70 degree afternoon temps.
• A clipper/cool front touches off showers early Saturday
• Slight dip in temperatures for the weekend
• Warming trend overall continues next week with 80s by end of next week possible
• Spotty shower chances Tuesday and Thursday, overall getting dry…

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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.

Veteran meteorologist Jensen said goodbye to KARE 11, with her last weekday appearance coming last Thursday, May 1, and her last Saturday show two days later.

On Thursday, KARE 11 posted a video confirming that Sarigianopoulos will join the Saturday team, co-hosting with current anchor Chris Hrapsky.

"After 10 years, I'm back. I'm going to give you two days to figure out how to spell my last name," Sarigianopoulos quipped.

Sarigianopoulos is one of the longest serving personalities at the Twin Cities NBC affiliate, joining the station in 2005 after stints working in Wisconsin and Iowa.

She was among the many KARE 11 staffers who paid tribute to the outgoing Jensen, who left at the weekend for retirement after more than 30 years at the station.

During her final appearance Saturday, Jensen revealed she will be writing a regular "In Touch with Kowalski’s" column for the Twin Cities grocery chain'sAt Home Magazine. Her first column covered suggestions for snacks to bring on summer boat days. 

On Thursday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified Ethan Roy Basche as the man shot and killed by a Virginia police officer during the May 1 incident. 

The officer who shot Basche has been identified as Lt. Henry Trunk. Trunk has been placed on critical incident leave following the shooting. 

According to the BCA, Virginia police officers were called to the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South at around 8:20 a.m. after reports of a man wearing a ski mask and "waving a handgun" around on the sidewalk.

At the scene, Trunk exited his squad car and shouted commands for Basche to put his hands in the air. Basche then walked toward Trunk and "appeared to raise what was believed to be a firearm," according to the BCA. Trunk then fired his gun, striking Basche.

Basche was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

BCA personnel later recovered a ski mask, spent casings and a torch lighter that was "consistent with the appearance of a firearm" from the scene. 

The BCA says body cameras captured portions of the incident. The bureau will investigate the shooting and present its finding to the St. Louis County Attorney’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.

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"What's new?" asked morning show host Chris Hawkey.

"Oh, you know. Not a lot," Parrish said. "I just had to go take care of my head a little bit."

Parrish, 49, revealed that he was in Malibu, California, receiving care for traumatic brain injuries and pain management in the wake of his 12-year career in the National Hockey League, where the Bloomington native played two seasons for the Wild, along with stints with the Panthers, Islanders, Kings, Stars, Lightning, and Sabres.

"I had a little bit of a rough year/second half of last year, and I wasn't in the best place mentally. Had to go get some work done," Parrish explained, making sure to point out that his sobriety from alcohol addiction is intact as he nears his sixth anniversary.

"I had some trauma. I took a lot of head hits. Anybody who watched me play knows I took way too many head shots. Got in front of the net with Scott Stevens way too many times. I had some trauma that I had to deal with," Parrish said.

"It got to me. It got to a point last year, actually, I shouldn't say last year, the beginning of this year, where my wife and I realized that something had to be done about it. So I went out to California to a traumatic brain injury specialist and a pain recovery program because I'm in a lot of pain as well, and things were great. I spent about two and a half months out there getting better, mentally and physically stronger, and I feel awesome."

Six years ago, Parrish told part of his story to the Functional Neurology Center in Minnetonka, saying the head injuries he sustained while playing hockey spilled over into his day-to-day life, including "neck issues, sleep issues, emotion issues, all kinds of fun issues that my wife and kids had to deal with."

He said he suffered from sleep deprivation and headaches for years, and he also previously told Minnesota Hockey Magazine that he couldn't avoid phantom noises.

"There were times where I would actually hear noises, like the TV being on or the radio downstairs and I would go to shut it off and there was no sound happening," Parrish said. "My eyeballs were going bonkers. They were shaking, twitching and I was exhausted.

Parrish, who starred in college at St. Cloud State, wound up winning Friday's edition of the Power Trip's Initials Game.

"It was well worth it," Parrish said of his mental health progress. "Sometimes it's okay to not be okay."

The new mandate impacts employees who currently work in the office three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday, and must now come in on Monday as well. Fully remote employees are exempt.

Best Buy is in the midst of a leadership transition, with CEO Corie Barry officially passing the torch to incoming CEO Jason Bonfig this fall, as the electronics retailer continues navigating stagnant sales while capitalizing on AI.

“We have started to create meaningful momentum this year,” reads a letter sent to Best Buy employees Thursday. “This next chapter is about being bolder, taking bigger swings and moving more urgently than we have before to continue driving growth in this fast-paced retail environment.”

Other local companies have gradually adjusted their expectations for in-person work since the COVID-19 pandemic induced the widespread remote work trend.

Ameriprise in downtown Minneapolis and Medtronic in Fridley already require their corporate employees to be in the office four days a week.

Target still offers more flexibility than most other corporations, but the Minneapolis-based retailer recently told about 150 remote merchandising employees that they must relocate to the Twin Cities or forfeit their jobs and take a severance package.

The Bemidji Police Department says the shooting happened in an apartment building on the 2500 block of Itasca Loop Northwest around 4:40 p.m., with officers and Beltrami County deputies arriving to find three adults with gunshot wounds.

The three were taken to a Sanford Bemidji Medical Center for treatment of critical injuries, with the hospital placed on lockdown as a precaution as police searched for the 16-year-old suspect.

At 6:40 p.m., the suspect surrendered at a police station without incident. No further details have been provided at this time about the suspect and their relationship to the victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at www.CrimeStoppersMn.org, by calling 1-800-222-TIPS.

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

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Last month, the judge ordered the U.S. Department of Justice and Homeland Security to produce photos, videos and audio recordings taken by federal agents, including body-worn camera footage, and a plethora of other unredacted evidence related to Good's Jan. 7 killing by Ross in south Minneapolis.

The evidence was requested by the defense team of Roberto Carlos Muñoz-Guatemala, an undocumented immigrant who was found guilty of assaulting Ross by dragging the agent about 100 yards with his vehicle in Bloomington last June, which could ultimately be used to request a new trial.

An attorney for Muñoz-Guatemala confirmed this week that the federal agencies handed over evidence on a digital drive, though he hasn't personally reviewed it and remains skeptical that it contains everything that was ordered.

Plus, "there is no guarantee" that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will be able to access the evidence for its own review, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.

"But by producing the evidence for the separate case, the federal government has shown that it is choosing to hide it from state investigators and prosecutors in an attempt to obstruct the state investigation," Moriarty said Thursday.

The state of Minnesota is suing the federal government over its refusal to share evidence in Good's killing, as well as the killing of Alex Pretti and the non-fatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, all by federal agents in January during Operation Metro Surge.

“None of us can really speak to the motives there, but it is unprecedented that agents shoot and kill people in a community and that there isn’t a thorough and transparent investigation,” Moriarty said when announcing the lawsuit in March.

Homeland Security has stood by its positioning of what happened during Good's fatal shooting, claiming that Ross “acted according to his training and in a manner that ensured his own safety and that of his fellow officers and bystanders," while refusing to identify him.

Ross was reportedly moved to another state days after killing Good and allowed to continue working as an ICE agent.

Eleven of the 13 city council members wrote a letter to the Minneapolis Charter Commission ahead of its next meeting, asking commissioners to separate the item from a wider package of amendments to the city charter, saying it's "striking at the very core of a system of shared powers."

Mayor Jacob Frey supports the change that would allow him to unilaterally appoint certain department heads that currently require the council's approval, though the decision on whether the change is enacted would ultimately be up to voters through a ballot question.

"The council’s role in confirming mayoral appointments is fundamental to maintaining balance and accountability between legislative and executive branches," the letter reads. "Any modification to this authority carries significant implications for governance, policy alignment, and accountability."

Departments that would be impacted by the proposal include Public Works, Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), Regulatory Services, Emergency Management, Civil Rights and Health, according to MinnPost.

Some council members who traditionally side with Frey, like Michael Rainville and LaTrisha Vetaw, signed onto the letter condemning the change to the appointment process. The only council members who did not sign the letter Ward 7 and Ward 13 council members Elizabeth Shaffer and Linea Palmisano, also key Frey allies.

Enacting such a change would consolidate even more power in the mayor's office, building on the major shift of power that followed Minneapolis voting for a "strong mayor" form of governance in 2021, giving Frey responsibility for the vast majority of city operations.

"We are committed to participating in considering a future proposal on the appointment provision in partnership with the Charter Commission, the Mayor’s Office, and the public to ensure any future proposal reflects a well-informed and broadly considered approach," the letter continues.

The Charter Commission voted 8-7 on Wednesday to return the ballot measure to a working group.

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The council's request comes as its progressive majority is at odds with Frey over the reappointment of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette.

The council narrowly denied Barnette's confirmation on a 7-6 vote in April, prompting Frey to issue a veto, which the council failed to overturn. Now his nomination is stuck in limbo, though he's legally able to stay in the role until Aug. 3, MPR News reported.

Frey has also nominated Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara to another four-year term.

Council President Elliott Payne referred the reappointment Thursday to the Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee. It's expected to go before the full council in June.

Both O’Hara and Barnette have faced criticism for their handling of the shooting of Davis Moturi by a neighbor whom he’d reported to police, and the deaths of Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels, both victims of domestic violence who had reported abuse to police.

A recent audit revealed that MPD had delayed response times in the Moturi and Lussier cases “due to staffing shortages, heavy call loads, and shift‑change gaps.”

O’Hara has also been criticized over MPD’s response to Operation Metro Surge, with a number of community groups and residents saying officers should have done more to intervene following numerous examples of excessive force by ICE and Border Patrol agents during the months-long immigration operation.

The four charges filed Wednesday against Leslie James Grinsteinner, 49, are all misdemeanors.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began investigating Grinsteinner in December.

Grinsteinner allegedly posted photos on social media of his recent hunting trophies, but records revealed that he did not have valid hunting licenses and did not register any harvests.

Officers obtained a search warrant for Grinsteinner's house, and after learning that it involved an illegally killed bobcat and deer, he allegedly told officers, “I can tell you exactly what's going on.”

According to a criminal complaint, Grinsteinner said he shot the bobcat in his yard because it was eating his cats, and said the deer in question was frozen and hadn't been butchered yet.

Grinsteinner said he couldn't remember if he shot any deer the previous year, but officers later found several whole, rotten deer from 2024 in a garage on his property.

In a subsequent interview, Grinsteinner said he was unaware of the regulations regarding hunting bobcats, and that he didn't know what to do since it was causing damage, per the complaint.

“It is what it is, dude, I'm in possession of an illegal bobcat shot,” he reportedly told investigators.

 Grinsteinner was charged via summons and is not currently in custody.

According to the Minnesota DNR, residents may hunt bobcat if they have a license, and the harvested animals must be registered at a DNR station.

Robert Dunham, 51, of Rochester, is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and possessing digital pornography.

In February, Rochester police executed a search warrant at Dunham’s home and seized multiple electronic devices, which contained evidence of a sexual assault and other crimes, including photos and videos of a girl with braces, according to a criminal complaint.

Police interviewed the victim, who said she met Dunham when she was 15 on a dating app, then began a sexual relationship with him in exchange for money, the complaint says.

She allegedly told law enforcement that she did not initially disclose her age to Dunham, but when she did, he told her that he was okay with it and that he had sex with other girls.

Dunham is also facing false imprisonment and criminal sexual conduct charges in a separate case, where he is accused of sexually assaulting two victims and recording the acts on cameras throughout his home. In one video, the victim appears to be unconscious, prosecutors say.

Dunham is the owner of All-Star Basements, a Rochester-based business that has provided basement waterproofing and foundation repair since 2011.

A biography listed on the company’s website says Dunham is a graduate of Lourdes High School, and has coached boys and girls youth and high school basketball for more than two decades.

Bring Me The News has reached out to an attorney representing Dunham, but did not immediately hear back.

Bauer Brothers has long been one of the Twin Cities' most loved spots for offbeat salvaged items and antique architectural goods, from claw-foot bathtubs to stained glass windows, doors with character, vintage signs, and chandeliers.

The business made the announcement on Wednesday in a brief social media post.

"For years, Bauer Brothers has been more than a place... it's been an experience," the post reads. "As we close this chapter, every piece inside carries a story... and now it's ready to become part of yours."

As part of the closure, Bauer Brothers will clear out its remaining inventory via an online auction that begins on May 22 and runs through June 3.

CEO Scott Bauer tells the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal that there's no succession plan and that the business, situated in a 93,000-square-foot north Minneapolis warehouse, can't operate at scale any longer. 

"Let's be honest," Bauer told the publication, "the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota are not business friendly."

On Thursday, the Bloomington Police Department unveiled its Executive Protection Unit, a specialized team dedicated to “ensuring the safety and security of public officials and others during high-profile events and daily operations,” according to a news release.

Officers in the unit underwent advanced training, in partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, taking courses in areas like threat assessment and protective intelligence.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said during a Thursday press conference that the politically motivated assassinations of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk were the impetus in the unit's creation.

The announcement also comes less than two weeks after President Donald Trump was targeted in an apparent assassination attempt during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Hodges cited the “evolving threat environment" as another key reason in launching the unit, the first of its kind in the state.

"These threats have to be taken seriously," he said. "Being in government, people decide to serve. (They shouldn't) have to deal with this type of treatment."

Hodges also added that he has been the subject of death threats while serving as police chief.

The unit will cover any elected official within the city of Bloomington, including judges, City Council members, legislators, or visiting dignitaries, if a threat against them is determined to be credible.

The ninth annual two-day affair will take place on June 19 and 20 outside the brewery's Minneapolis taproom, with Soul Asylum headlining on Friday night. The Zamboni-loving Gear Daddies will be the main attraction the following night.

Agnes Uncaged and Laamar will open on Friday. Saturday's opening slots feature Maygen & the Birdwatcher, Jillian Ray, JoJo Green, and Mikel Wright & the Wrongs.

The concert will take place at what the brewery is calling the Pryes Side Lot, a new outdoor event space next to the taproom.

"This is the biggest Block Party we’ve ever put on," says Pryes co-founder Mike Corneille. "To bring artists like Soul Asylum and Gear Daddies to our stage is something we’re incredibly proud of — and just as important to us is making sure the event still feels open, welcoming, and rooted in community."

Tickets for the Pryes Block Party will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8.

However, with the introduction of the Pryes Side Lot, the taproom and patio will be open to the public throughout the weekend.

Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin, Colorado's Cale Makar, and Columbus' Zach Werenski were named finalists. Makar has previously won the award twice, in 2021-22 and 2024-25, and has finished in the top three every year except for his rookie season. Weresnki was runner-up last season, while Dahlin has never been in the top five in the Norris vote.

Hughes won the award with Vancouver in 2023-24 and finished third in voting last season. How he was left off the list this season after registering 76 points (7 goals, 69 assists) may initially appear to be a massive snub, but the numbers say otherwise.

In fact, Edmonton's Evan Bouchard has a stronger argument for being snubbed.

Hughes has the edge over Dahlin in points, but he was outdone in that category, as was everybody else in this conversation, by Bouchard. The Edmonton star led all defensemen with 95 points (21 goals, 74 assists).

Points

• Evan Bouchard - 95 (21 goals, 74 assists)
• Zach Werenski - 81 (22 goals, 59 assists)
• Cale Makar - 79 (20 goals, 59 assists)
• Quinn Hughes - 76 (7 goals, 69 assists)
• Rasmus Dahlin - 72 (19 goals, 55 assists)

Defensively, the analytics continue to paint the picture that, individually, Hughes was just a slight step below the finalists this season. In terms of On Ice Goals Against per 60, Hughes was last among the five players, at 3.4 per 60 minutes. He was also last in Expected Goals Against (xGA) and High Danger Chances Allowed, two key statistics that judge a player's ability to limit opposition chances.

On Ice Goals Allowed per 60

• Cale Makar - 2.4
• Rasmus Dahlin - 2.8
• Evan Bouchard - 3.1
• Zach Werenski - 3.1
• Quinn Hughes - 3.4

xGA

• Cale Makar - 58.2
• Rasmus Dahlin - 62.4
• Evan Bouchard - 65.7
• Zach Werenski - 70.7
• Quinn Hughes 73.7

High Danger Chances Allowed

• Rasmus Dahlin - 257
• Evan Bouchard - 264
• Cale Makar - 266
• Zach Werenski - 272
• Quinn Hughes - 344

Overall, Hughes had a very good season. Upon joining the Wild in December, he helped turn Minnesota from a pretty good playoff team into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He has continued that strong play in the postseason, where he's tied with Kirill Kaprizov for the team lead in points (11).

Hughes and Minnesota trail Colorado two games to none in the conference semifinals, with Game 3 at Grand Casino Arena on Saturday night.

Officers were called to the area of Triangle Park, located at 415 South 10th Street in downtown Minneapolis, just before 10 a.m. Thursday. When they arrived, they found a dead man near an outdoor bench, with what appeared to be multiple stab wounds.

The park was cordoned off with police tape for much of the morning, as detectives worked to process the scene and collect evidence.

The man's identity has not yet been released.

Anyone with information on what occurred is asked to contact Minneapolis Police via email at policetips@minneapolismn.gov or via phone at 612-673-5845. 

Established in 1975, Triangle Park sits near I-35W between Fourth and Fifth avenues and 10th and 11th streets. It features a small dog park, pollinator garden, and seating area.

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

Unfortunately, head coach John Hynes didn't have an update on either player when he met with the media on Thursday, only revealing that neither Brodin nor Eriksson Ek has skated since suffering their respective injuries in Games 5 and 6 against Dallas.

Without them, the Wild's issues on special teams have been exacerbated. Without Eriksson Ek on the No. 1 power play unit, Minnesota has gone 0-for-5 on the power play through two games against Colorado. Eriksson Ek scored both of Minnesota's power play goals in Game 1 against Dallas, but the Wild have gone 2-for-26 on power plays since then.

The injuries are even more devastating to Minnesota's penalty kill, which was shredded by Dallas, even with Eriksson Ek and Brodin. Both are part of the Wild's top penalty kill unit, so playing nearly four full games without them has led to the Stars and Avalanche scoring on five of the last 13 power plays.

If neither player is skating by now, the odds of them playing in Game 3 on Saturday night in St. Paul appear low. In fact, the way Wild insider Michael Russo put described earlier this week, Brodin's season could be over.

"They both have significant injuries. I don't think we're seeing Brodin again for a while," Russo told KFAN's Dan Barreiro on Monday. "Eriksson Ek is something that is also a significant injury that maybe he is able to play on. I know they're really hopeful that he'll be able to play in Game 3, so we'll see. He's obviously not going to be 100%. But both of them have significant injuries."

Eriksson Ek was injured in Game 6 against Dallas. The injury occurred when he went feet-first into the sidewall, and his right ankle appeared to bend awkwardly.

Yeesh. Scary fall for Joel Eriksson Ek. Going down the tunnel now. pic.twitter.com/lJMwIJFhpX

— Robert Tiffin (@RobertTiffin) May 1, 2026

Brodin has a lower-body injury, and although specifics haven't been disclosed, there's speculation that he suffered a broken foot when he blocked a shot in Game 5 against Dallas.

Facing the high-powered Avs, the Wild cannot go down three games to none. Saturday's Game 3 is virtually a must-win, and one could argue that Game 4 on Monday is also a must-win, even if the Wild wins on Saturday.

An overnight fire Wednesday ripped through Haskell’s Port of Excelsior, a bar restaurant and liquor store that has been in downtown Excelsior at the corner of Water and Lake Street since 1977.

New photos of the structure show the charred interior of the building, with parts of the roof gone. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and no one was injured in the blaze. 

Photos show aftermath of Haskell's Excelsior fire

Located at the corner of Water and Lake Street in Excelsior, the business has been open since 1977.

Haskell’s wrote on social media that while The Port restaurant and its Wine & Spirits shop are closed for the time being due to extensive fire damage, the business "remains committed to serving the Excelsior community."

The company is launching a “Virtual Tips for the Port” Venmo account – @HaskellsPortRelief – to help support their Port of Excelsior staff members, with “100% of the donations will go to displaced staff for lost wage relief.”

Haskell’s is also offering free local delivery for wine, beer, and spirits in the Excelsior area for orders over $50. 

For patrons looking for more ways to help support recovery efforts, the company suggests purchasing gift cards or visiting one of its eight other locations across the Twin Cities. 

“(Gift cards) are perfect for future visits or gifts, and they provide immediate support as we navigate our next steps,” the post details.

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

• Not as chilly today and brighter skies!
• Near 70 Friday!
• A clipper / cool front touches off spotty showers Friday night
• Cooler behind it for the weekend: mostly 60s & 50s
• Warming trend overall continues into next week with a couple of ‘stumbles’
• Many models still bring in 80s by next weekend

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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.

The SPCO announced the new season on Thursday, unveiling an expansive season of nearly 80 performances throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. 

"This season is about energy, collaboration and discovery," says SPCO president and managing director Jessica Mallow Gulley. "It brings together extraordinary artists and a wide range of musical voices, highlighting the creativity of our musicians and the breadth of influences that shape the SPCO."

The season will open and close with a program celebrating folk traditions in the U.S. and Hungary, led by conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy, one of the SPCO's five artist partners.

That opening weekend, beginning Sept. 18 at the Ordway Concert Hall, centers around Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 2, along with pieces by Ruth Crawford Seeger, Charles Ives, and Aaron Copland. 

Takács-Nagy will help close out the season over the weekend of June 11, 2027, with a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 8.

Throughout the season, SPCO will present work from familiar composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and Béla Bartók, as well as living composers like Philip Glass and Karin Rehnqvist, and premieres commissioned through the SPCO's Sandbox Composer Residency program. Those nine premieres, eight of which are commissions, include work by composers Gabriela Lena Frank, Chen Yi, and Jon Deak.

"Each program offers something distinct, but together they create a season full of contrast, curiosity and momentum," says artistic planning director Jonathan Posthuma. "There’s a real sense of exploration — not just in the music we’re performing, but in how these different traditions speak to one another."

The season's eclecticism is partly the result of the SPCO's musician-led structure. The roster of artist partners collaborates with the orchestra and brings in renowned musicians to shape the season and overall direction. 

In 2026, the artist partners include Takács-Nagy, pianist Richard Goode, cellist and composer Abel Selaocoe, violist Tabea Zimmermann, and violinist Alina Ibragimova, whose first concert since being named the SPCO's newest artistic partner will feature Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. 

Additionally, a litany of guest performers making their SPCO debut, including Roomful of Teeth vocalist Eliza Bagg, accordionist Radu Ratoi, mandolinist Avi Avital, harpsichordist Justin Taylor, and the Aaron Diehl Trio with vocalist Mikaela Bennett.

The majority of the season will take place at the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul, but shows are also scheduled for the Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis, the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, Saint Paul's United Church of Christ in St. Paul, Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, and St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi.

Season ticket packages are on sale now, with prices starting at $18 per concert for adults and free for children and students. Individual concert tickets will go on sale in August. 

Its concert stage will be filled with Minnesota-based acts when it returns to downtown Minneapolis on July 3 and 4.

In recent years, there has been plenty of local talent, but aside from appearances from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Morris Day and the Time, headliners have largely been national touring acts like Martina McBride, Ludacris, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, and the Wallflowers. 

This year, it's stacked exclusively with performers from the state or who were previous residents. 

On Friday, July 3, the stage will be headlined by Polica, who are joined by Dillinger Four and Bad Bad Hats. 

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On July 4, the stage turns toward a predominantly hip-hop lineup that features Brother Ali, Ant (of Atmosphere), Dessa, Nur-D (who also performed in 2025), and Gully Boys. 

The 2026 installment will be the fourth time the festival has been held in Minneapolis. It returned from an eight-year hiatus in 2023, but shifted cities after spending its first 20 years in St. Paul.

Typically, the Taste of Minnesota concert is free. In 2025, the festival added a VIP ticket tier that included amenities like a reserved viewing area, air-conditioned bathrooms, and a pair of drink tickets. Details on tickets for 2026 have not yet been shared.

Cassandra Wald shared photos with Bring Me The News, showing a black bear lounging in a culvert near her home in Claremont, about 30 minutes outside of Rochester.

The bear sighting had one local school district on high alert, with Triton Public Schools writing a letter to parents on Tuesday, detailing students would be dropped off as close to their homes as possible.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office also issued a warning to residents, writing both their office and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) suggest removing any pet food, bird feeders, or trash cans from their property. 

"At this time, both our office and the Minnesota DNR are asking residents to help the bear move through naturally by removing anything that may encourage it to stay. The biggest concern right now is people unintentionally attracting the bear by leaving out garbage, bird feeders, pet food, or by approaching and feeding it," the agency wrote.

“The best thing we can do is give the bear space, avoid attracting it, and allow it to continue on its way."

You can report bear sightings to the Minnesota DNR on its website. 

The collision was reported just before 3 p.m. at Highway 55 and County Road 2 in Regal, northwest of Paynesville, and involved a Ford Escape and an International Semi.

The two people in the SUV – identified as 88-year-old driver Duane Lieser and 85-year-old passenger Rosella Leiser, both of Belgrade – died at the scene. Duane Lieser was not wearing a seat belt at the time, the Minnesota State Patrol crash report notes.

The report states that the SUV was heading north on County Road 2 while the semi was westbound on Hwy. 55 "when one vehicle entered the intersection, failing to yield to the other vehicle, resulting in collision."

The report doesn't state which vehicle failed to yield, but the intersection is controlled with stop signs on County Road 2, with eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 55 having the right of way.

The driver of the semi, a 43-year-old Belgrade man, was not injured.

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

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According to the St. Cloud Police Department, officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash with injuries at the intersection of 33rd Avenue and 8th Street North just before 10 p.m.

A bicyclist had reportedly been hit by a pickup truck while traveling south at the intersection. The driver of the pickup truck immediately left the scene, according to the department. 

The boy sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital by Mayo Ambulance. 

The driver, identified as a 36-year-old St. Cloud man, later returned to the scene, where he admitted to striking the bicyclist. He was arrested and taken to Stearns County Jail on pending charges. 

The driver of the pickup is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, according to the department. 

During a Thursday morning news conference, ahead of a council meeting, Frey said "Minneapolis cannot afford to hit the reset button right now" by instead beginning the process of hiring a new police chief, and called O'Hara the "right leader for this particular moment in our city."

"If the council chooses not to support this nomination, they need to be very clear-eyed about the consequences," Frey said. "It means perhaps more than a year of uncertainty and transition. It also means losing critical momentum at a time when consistency matters most."

In recent weeks, Frey and the Minneapolis City Council's progressive majority have been at odds over the reappointment of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette, who oversees MPD, and a proposed $38 million training facility for police, firefighters and other first responders.

The council is expected to revisit Barnette's appointment on Thursday after initially rejecting it on a 7-6 vote, prompting a veto from Frey that the council failed to overturn, with the city attorney warning that the city will be stuck in “a seemingly never-ending loop” if a compromise isn’t reached.

Despite unprecedented crises, Frey argues that public safety in Minneapolis has significantly improved under the leadership of O'Hara and Barnette, who have been in their roles since November 2022 and October 2023, respectively.

The city lost lost hundreds of officers after George Floyd's murder in May 2020, but Frey said O'Hara has helped rebuild MPD's ranks, now with upwards of 640 officers and applications up over 200%.

Plus, the mayor said "crime is down in virtually every category," including shootings in north Minneapolis, where they're at "an all-time record low."

"This kind of progress, it's fragile," Frey said. "If you remove our safety leadership at this moment, you don't accelerate reform, you unravel it."

Both O'Hara and Barnette have faced criticism for their handling of the shooting of Davis Moturi by a neighbor whom he’d reported to police, and the deaths of Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels, both victims of domestic violence who had reported abuse to police.

A recent audit revealed that MPD had delayed response times in the Moturi and Lussier cases “due to staffing shortages, heavy call loads, and shift‑change gaps.”

O’Hara has also been criticized over MPD’s response to Operation Metro Surge, with a number of community groups and residents saying officers should have done more to intervene following numerous examples of excessive force by ICE and Border Patrol agents during the months-long immigration operation.

Michael Selle was taking a Brazilian jiu-jitsu class with his teenage daughter Saturday morning at Minnesota Top Team in Eagan when he started to experience early warning signs, including dizziness and numbness, but pushed through and finished the class, according to a GoFundMe.

As the pair left the gym, Selle attempted to drive them home, but he started to hit curbs and had to pull over. He told his daughter, McKayla, that his arm felt numb, and she knew he needed to immediately go to the nearest emergency room.

After the father and daughter arrived at Abbott Northwestern – WestHealth in Plymouth, they learned that Selle had torn a carotid artery and suffered a stroke.

"A freak accident that none of us could have anticipated," McKayla writes on the GoFundMe page. "One moment we were sharing a passion we both love, and the next, our lives changed in an instant."

A few hours later, Selle was transferred to Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Neurological ICU in Minneapolis, where he suffered a second, more severe stroke, which required a stent to be put in.

The GoFundMe is raising money for Selle's medical bills, rehabilitation, and daily needs, as he remains unable to work.

"My father is active, dedicated, and full of life. Now, he’s unable to work as he focuses on healing and rehabilitation," McKayla writes. "The medical bills are already piling up, and the costs of ongoing care and therapy are overwhelming.

"As his daughter, I want to do everything I can to support him, but we can’t do it alone."

The Compass Group USA confirmed in a WARN notice to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development that its subsidiary, Chartwells, will make 153 layoffs in St. Cloud and 64 in Marshall.

It comes after St. Cloud State University and Southwest Minnesota State University informed Chartwells that they are not renewing the contracts to provide dining services on the respective campuses.

The layoffs at both locations will go into effect from July 1, the company told DEED.

Positions affected include an executive chef, cooks, food service workers, bookkeepers, hourly supervisors, a general manager, and the assistant director of dining services.

"At this time, we anticipate this layoff will be permanent," Compass Group told DEED. "We appreciate the dedication of our employees and deeply regret that we are required to take these steps.

"While no formal bumping rights are applicable, to further support employees, we are helping them to find opportunities to move into open positions within our broader company."

Both universities have selected French-based Sodexo as their new dining partners, with Minnesota Business reporting that Sodexo has been meeting with soon-to-be-laid-off workers and expects to hire many of them.

KNSI News reports that Chartwells had provided dining services at SCSU since 2016, prior to which Sodexo held the contract.

Trapper's Landing Lodge announced this week that it has struck a deal with Odyssey Resorts to take over its resort operations and reservations.

The resort, which was originally founded in 1924, will remain under the ownership of brothers Adam and Andrew Arnold, but they are relinquishing control of daily operations.

Today's Travel Article is sponsored by Visit Grand Rapids

Trapper's has also contracted Evolution Resort Real Estate to handle the sales of a number of vacation homes on the 17-acre property, which includes the Beachside lake homes and Timberlane cabins built by the Arnolds over the past decade.

"Our family has spent 10 years building Trapper's Landing into what it is today," said Andrew Arnold. "Odyssey knows Minnesota resort hospitality better than anyone, and they're the right partner to help us keep growing without losing what our guests and cabin owners come back for."

Along with dozens of lodging units, Trapper's offers amenities including a heated outdoor pool, a sauna, a marina, sports courts, a winter ice rink, canoe and kayak rentals, and the Merit Lakeside Dining and Cocktails restaurant.

It becomes the 10th resort under Odyssey's management, and represents another expansion into north-central Minnesota for a company mostly based on the North Shore.

Other properties under Odyssey's management include the Mountain Inn, Caribou Highlands Lodge, and Lutsen Sea Villas in Lutsen; EastBay Suites in Grand Marais; Larsmont Cottages, Grand Superior Lodge, and Breezy Point Cabins in Two Harbors; and Beacon Pointe in Duluth.

In 2023, Odyssey expanded to the Brainerd Lakes area, taking over operations at the Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort in Deerwood.

"We welcome Trapper’s Landing Lodge into our family of vacation properties and are excited for everything this resort brings to our portfolio of premier destinations," said Howard Anderson, CEO of Odyssey Resorts.

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Criminal charges allege the incident took place when Chandler Lawrence Gooding, 31, was playing basketball with 6th grade boys at Prairie Winds Middle School on April 10.

After he was supposedly fouled by a student player, Gooding is accused of throwing a basketball in the face of the student two times, causing the student’s nose to bleed. 

Investigators interviewed the boys who were present during the game, including the victim, who told police Gooding became "extremely upset" and was "swearing, had pushed one of the boys out of frustration, and had thrown his keys at another," per criminal charges.

Photos of the victim’s injuries showed a bloody nose, red cheeks, and several long scratches down one of his cheeks. 

Gooding was charged via summons and is not currently in custody. 

Bring Me The News has reached out to Mankato Area Public Schools for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Over the past several months, MPS has worked with an outside firm to conduct a financial analysis, which “revealed a pattern, dating back at least several years, where state special education revenue was likely not maximized due primarily to mis-categorized expenses and the underutilization of available reimbursement mechanisms," according to a recent update from the school district.

This resulted in MPS determining that it's in line to receive an additional $10.7 million in special education funding from the state of Minnesota this school year and $10.8 million next school year.

"Now that the work has been done to correctly code and categorize expenses in the current year, which is used to determine the next year’s revenue, MPS expects to receive significantly more state special education revenue both in the current year and for next year," the update reads.

MPS now anticipates a $39.7 million budget gap, down from $50.5 million, which the district says will allow it to "restore some of the previously planned reductions," with input from students and board members.

"While we cannot change past decisions or correct issues in the past, we can recognize the harm that these issues have caused our students, families and staff who have lost their jobs due to budget cuts as MPS likely did not capture all of the state special education revenue possible for at least several years," the district says.

This year's installment will get underway on June 10, with concerts every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. through July 29. 

The series brings a variety of local performers to a stage in front of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The community gathering includes kid activities and a climbing wall, as well as food and drink available for purchase.

Things will get started with the Innocent Reggae Band on June 10, followed by nights with Miss Georgia Peach, Betty Won't, Salsa del Soul, and J-Mo on the Beat & the J-Lighters, among others. 

Here's the full summer lineup for Groovin' in the Garden.

• June 10: Innocent Reggae Band
• June 17: Miss Georgia Peach 
• June 24: Jellyjacket 
• July 1: Betty Won’t
• July 8: Salsa del Soul 
• July 15: J-Mo On The Beat & The J-Lighters 
• July 22: Red Eye Ruby 
• July 29: School of Rock 

David Davis serves as an instrumental and general music teacher at Park Spanish Immersion Elementary in St. Louis Park, teaching kindergarten through 5th grade students. He is the second teacher from the district to win the award. 

With the school since 2021, Davis has worked in education in both Wisconsin and Virginia, and holds a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas.

“A major issue in public education is that students often have too little ownership over their own learning,” Davis said in a press release announcing the award. “The future of public education can be meaningful, relevant and joyful when we trust students’ inherent brilliance, creativity and intrinsic motivation.” 

This isn’t the first time Davis has been recognized for his accomplishments in the classroom.

According to Education Minnesota, he was the first Minnesotan named a top 25 semifinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, and received Give A Note Foundation’s Music Education Innovator Award and Yamaha’s “40 Under 40” recognition. 

Between 2018 and 2024, Larry Cook allegedly misused more than $1.3 million in funds for Real Believers Faith Center, while Sharon Cook allegedly misused about $800,000 in funds for Les Jolies School of Dance, according to lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

"The breadth of wrongdoing is staggering: at least $2 million in nonprofit assets was siphoned through cash withdrawals, CashApp payments, and pledged as collateral for risky loans that served no charitable purpose," the 48-page lawsuit reads.

"Defendants not only misused charitable funds, but they operated without basic governance safeguards, failed to maintain tax-exempt status, failed to maintain registration with the AGO, and dissolved a nonprofit mid-investigation without the legally required notice to the AGO in an attempt to evade oversight."

But the Cooks both deny wrongdoing, telling local media outlets this week that the AG's case is based on "lies."

Per the announcement from AG Ellison's office, an investigation determined that Real Believers has at least two bank accounts, one managed by each of the Cooks, with 91% of the transactions from Larry Cook’s account allegedly having no identified nonprofit purpose, and the same with 50% of the transactions from Sharon Cook's account.

Prosecutors claim transactions from the two Real Believers bank accounts include $278,700 in cash and bank withdrawals and $150,000 in cash transfers to the Cooks and their family members.

More specifically, the Cooks are accused of using a Real Believers bank account to pay for $24,000 in charges from two hotels, one of which is in London, as well as parking fines and late fees to their homeowner's association.

When asked about the expenses in depositions, the couple reportedly invoked their Fifth Amendment right to avoid criminal self-incrimination, and now they're publicly denying the allegations, calling them "brutal lies" and "fiction."

"The whole case is based on lies because we wouldn't talk to them," Larry Cook told KARE 11 on Tuesday. "All they have is some numbers from bank accounts and they're trying to say they did this and they did that."

The lawsuit alleges that the Cooks used Les Jolies funds to make $50,000 in payments to themselves and family members using a money-transfer app, plus a $9,100 payment to luxury travel company Commendable, and payments of $1,100 to luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors.

The couple is also accused of founding separate for-profit businesses and using them to funnel money from the nonprofits to themselves.

For example, Sharon Cook established LJP Costumes, whose bank account was allegedly used to pay $18,000 to a Minnesota vacation rental business and $5,000 to a cruise company.

"I do get a salary for what I do at [Les Jolies], so they're acting like we took everything that was for the nonprofit and spent it on ourselves, which is a total lie," Sharon Cook said during an interview with WCCO.

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office was granted a temporary restraining order to protect the nonprofit assets from being diverted.

Early on, Ellison recused himself from the case since he knows the Cooks personally, given that they're prominent figures in the north Minneapolis community where he lives.

Rosalyn Rode, 37, sustained life-threatening injuries in the April 26 incident at her townhome in Mankato, according to a GoFundMe, and also faces the heartbreaking loss of her boyfriend, Joshua Robert Downey.

Her ex, Joseph David Bulfer, has been charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and several other felonies in Downey's fatal shooting and the attack on Rode.

"This sudden and violent event has turned their world upside down, leaving the family in urgent need of support as they begin the long road to healing and recovery," the fundraiser reads.

The GoFundMe is raising money for Rode and her two sons help cover medical bills, living expense, and other needs as they "rebuild their lives and find some stability after such a traumatic event."

Rode's injuries included numerous bruises throughout her body, a laceration to her head, a collapsed lung, and three or four broken ribs, per a criminal complaint.

A separate fundraiser is benefitting Downey's family, including his two children, Gracie and Jacob.

Downey was a parks supervisor for Blue Earth County and a devoted father.

If you know anyone who is affected by domestic violence, you can find more information on services available here, via the Minnesota DPS.

You can also call the Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111.

The roughly 500-person unit, unionized with Unite Here Local 17, announced on Monday evening that 81% of employees voted in favor of authorizing a strike against the Delaware North Company.

Their contract expired on Jan. 31 this year, and the group says that wages, healthcare, and job protections are their top concerns in the negotiations.

"The Twins organization needs to hold their concessionaire Delaware North Company accountable and tell them to settle a fair contract or they will face a strike," says Unite Here 17 secretary treasurer Sheigh Freeberg.

While workers have voted to authorize a strike, the union has not called one. Authorization votes are often seen as a tactic during protracted or difficult negotiations.

"Delaware North values its team members and the exceptional service they provide to guests at Target Field," reads a statement from the company, provided to Bring Me The News.

"With only one bargaining session held to date, we are concerned that the recent strike authorization vote does not accurately reflect the current status of negotiations and may create confusion for our team members."

The company says it offered "several" bargaining dates earlier in the year. However, Freeberg tells Bring Me The News the company canceled one scheduled session. Late last week, Delaware North agreed to two more dates to be held later this month.

The company did not respond to a request for further details.

"This stadium brings in an incredible amount of money for the Twins each game day, and it's time that we the people who make the stadium work see some of this," a concessions worker at Target Field, identified only as Ariel, says in a statement. 

In its statement, Delaware North added that it has "contingency plans in place" in the event of a strike, which would "maintain the guest experience at Target Field."

According to a GoFundMe page, Shannan Parker was out jogging on the night of April 21 near her Minneapolis home when she was hit at Washburn Avenue North and Lowry Avenue North.

Bring Me The News has reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department for more information on the incident, and whether or not the driver involved could face charges. 

Parker was immediately transported to North Memorial Hospital, where she underwent multiple surgeries. Parker was moved out of the Intensive Care Unit last week, and now faces months of physical therapy. 

“If you know Shannan, you know she is the life of the party – bubbly, outgoing, and someone who brings light into every room she enters,” wrote the page’s organizer. "More importantly, she is an incredible mom of three teenagers, always putting her kids first and showing up for everyone around her. This accident has turned her world upside down."

The online fundraiser was established to support Parker and her family during her recovery. 

“At this time, we have very limited information about the driver involved,” the page’s organizer detailed. “We do know they were young and likely carried only minimal insurance, meaning there will be little financial recovery available from that avenue.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the page has raised more than $22,000 of its $25,000 goal. 

E's Gourmet Sandwiches opens at 221 Myrtle St. E on May 6, led by 20-year-old, first-time restaurateur Ethan Sorensen.

He says that, after building experience in restaurants through his teens, including a stint as Lake Elmo Inn's marketing manager, he saw a dearth of high-quality fast casual options.

He also credits launching a restaurant at a young age to mentorship from his aunt, chef Jamie Malone, who previously owned and operated Grand Cafe.

He further cites the influence of Pat Weber of Mise en Place Consulting, who guided Sorensen in the opening and helped shape the menu.

“I’ve always loved seeing all kinds of people come through for a bite,” Sorensen says. “Construction crews, office workers, tourists, locals. Sandwiches are one of those foods everybody connects over, and I wanted to create a place that serves fresh food fast, whether it’s lunch, dinner, or something to bring on the boat or to a picnic.”

The grab-and-go restaurant, which has space to dine-in as well, will emphasize fresh ingredients and a mix of new takes and classic sandwiches, like its Jalapeño Popper Melt, which comes with jalapeño cream cheese, cheddar, lingonberry jam, hot honey, and brown sugar bacon.

It also serves burgers, wraps, and sides like garlic cilantro fries, chicken wild rice soup, and pretzel sticks.

In addition to the option to order at the restaurant, E's will launch an ordering kiosk at the neighboring bar, No Neck Tony's, in the summer. 

“This is definitely a financial risk,” Sorensen says. “But being young comes with energy, and sometimes that’s the best time to bet on yourself.”

The decision came at a Monday meeting, when councilors decided to delay the vote on the tax abatement agreement, which would save Google about $33.5 million over 28 years.

 It’s still unclear when the body will take up the issue again. 

Google has offered to pay around $130 million for necessary public infrastructure, as well as contribute $450,000 in taxes each year after the data center is complete, in exchange for an annual tax rebate of about $1.2 million. 

The proposed project has drawn the ire of a significant number of residents, who formed the nonprofit “Stop The Hermantown Data Center.” 

Members are demanding the city conduct an Environmental Impact Statement to look at the potential effects of the project, and have expressed their reservations about pollution and higher taxes and utility rates. 

But proponents of the project argue it will create dozens of full-time jobs, hundreds of temporary construction roles, and infuse a much needed economic boost to the city and the school district. 

The Duluth News Tribune reports that Google’s property tax payments would generate more than $40 million for the local school district and about $4.5 million for the city throughout the duration of a proposed tax abatement package.

The California-based tech company has targeted Minnesota for data centers, looking at roughly a dozen sites across the state, according to the Star Tribune. It recently secured a tax abatement package of $36.5 million for a project in Pine Island.