Mayor Jacob Frey said Secretary Noem's suggestion that he set up "safe zones" for protests is unconstitutional: "The entire country is a safe zone" for free speech Also, he quipped: "Could you imagine *ME* telling *Minneapolis activists,* 'Hey guys. Just protest in this single park. Nowhere else.'"

"There’s an old Jewish phrase which goes… [a few lines of Hebrew*]… which is generally translates to, 'There’s nothing that brings two mayors together like a bullshit federal investigation." —Mpls Mayor Jacob Frey, on stage with St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her this morning

Canadian PM Mark Carney “ran the Bank of England. He ran the Bank of Canada. He's not a bomb-thrower. When someone like that says the old alliance is over — not pausing, not wobbling, over — that's a seismic marker.” www.axios.com/2026/01/21/d...

BREAKING: A federal judge ordered ICE agents to stop retaliating against peaceful protesters and observers in Minnesota www.axios.com/2026/01/17/f...

As Manny González of "Tortas" fame talked to @nickhalter.bsky.social from his kitchen, the sound of whistles could be heard just outside Midtown Global Market's doors as ICE agents walked by. "They just abducted another person," a market staff person said. www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Every modern use of the Insurrection Act has come either at a governor's request or to expand federal civil rights protections. Trump would flip that script, sending troops against a governor's wishes to crush protests of the federal government's own actions. www.axios.com/2026/01/15/t...

Axios has video from the scene where federal agents fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis this AM. According to footage obtained by Axios' Nick Hatler, an SUV attempts to drive past several ICE vehicles — and the SUV does appear to strike an agent >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Just watched a bunch of coastal yokels lower a small ball from the top of a small building and call it a New Year’s celebration… YAWN www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Facebook helpfully reminds of The Reason For The Season

JUST IN: After weeks of talks, Minneapolis' mayor & City Council leadership have reached an agreement on the $2 billion city budget Mayor Frey and council budget chair @aishaforward10.com jointly announced a deal that resolves the big sticking points — especially earmarks to MPD spending

Well this is interesting: The Minneapolis City Council has set a special meeting Tuesday night to "consider amendments" to the city budget. The Council approved it last week, but Mayor Jacob Frey has been weighing a veto. The mayor must sign or veto by Tuesday lims.minneapolismn.gov/agenda/Counc...

After many bad puns, @katiecashman.bsky.social's proposal passes 11-1

"I would hate TOI-LET this funding go to waste" — @katiecashman.bsky.social at today's meeting, eliciting a deep GROAN from me watching remotely (Council had to recess the meeting until tomorrow before they could pass it.)

Downtown Minneapolis has a "leaking" problem: There aren't enough good spots to take one. Later today, the City Council is set to vote on @katiecashman.bsky.social's solution: ongoing funding for public restrooms www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Minneapolis is set to revive pilot programs that give the city a role in shoveling snow and ice from many high-traffic sidewalks The City Council voted 8-4 to set aside $595,000 in the Public Works budget (which will redirect some staff) Background >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

SOON: A Minneapolis City Council panel is meeting to sort through options for George Floyd Square What happens before a Dec. 11 deadline isn't clear… But it does appear a pedestrian mall is off the table after a key grassroots group left it out of their own proposal: www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

This winter may be especially brutal for Twin Cities homeless shelters, and not just because it's off to a cold start. Federal rule changes have jeopardized millions in housing funding — which advocates say will strain an already fragile safety net >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

I went to a brass band performance and a future-of-George Floyd Square community meeting broke out Okay, that’s not exactly it — but there is some news being made here tonight: the release of the grassroots group Community Visioning Council’s plan for the future of the intersection

Gopher football 🪓🪓🪓

INTERACTIVE MAP >> Before Minneapolis' election, Katie Cashman argued Ward 7 was only seen as a moderate stronghold because renter-heavy neighborhoods had rarely turned out in force. Turnout did skyrocket in these wards — but it didn't save Cashman: www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

How did the "Don't Rank Frey" slate strategy fare in 2025? Just like in 2021, a lot of voters didn't play along. ~40% of Davis' 20k voters and 64% of Hampton's 15k voters did not rank Fateh 1/4 of Davis voters and 2/5 of Hampton voters ranked Frey 2nd Full story >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

BREAKING: Jacob Frey has been re-elected mayor of Minneapolis. Frey received 50% of the vote after second- and third-choices were reallocated — a stronger share of the vote than in 2021 Omar Fateh is the second-place finisher at 44.4% >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

ST PAUL STUNNER: Kaohly Her has won the mayor's race, ousting @melvincarter.bsky.social just four months after entering the race @kaohlyherformayor.bsky.social argued St. Paul City Hall is stuck in the doldrums — and the mayor's administration was the cause >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

It’s Election Night!! Reporting for duty at @omarfatehmn.com’s party in a Seven Corners hotel ballroom, which is expected to fill quickly with supporters. Here’s what we’re watching in Minneapolis and St. Paul >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Voter No. 293 at Hancock Rec Center in St. Paul’s magnificent Midway

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh has an idea for filling empty storefronts: When they're vacant, tax the landlord. A look at "commercial vacancy taxes," which experts say could curb speculation (and gentrification) — but could also backfire on local biz >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

One of Minneapolis' most successful homelessness prevention programs is not accepting new referrals, and could run out of money by next spring unless the mayor and City Council can agree on a rescue plan >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

🗼 I arrived in Tokyo recently excited to try their legendarily efficient train system. I left wowed by another mode of transit: its surprisingly safe streets. Can Minnesota learn lessons from Japan’s war on traffic deaths? My reflection for @axios.com >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

I recently returned from vacation in Tokyo, where I was excited to try Japan’s legendarily efficient train system. I left wowed by another mode of transit: its surprisingly safe streets. I reflected on whether lessons from Japan apply to Minnesota for @axios.com >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

TODAY, the St. Paul City Council will take a key vote that could help kick off redevelopment of the former Hamm's Brewing complex St. Paul Brewing — whose patio arguably made the complex a destination in the first place — argue the plan will kill their business >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

These high school competitors proved themselves in the Twin Cities. Now they're in Des Moines, hoping to once again dominate the National Speech & Debate Tournament — where Minnesotans have *cleaned house* since 2000 Fellow Minnesota Speech kids, this one's for you: www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

📢 Hey Minnesota parents: We should talk more about open enrollment!!! Take Minnetonka Public Schools. Nearly 40% of its students live in other districts, but open-enroll in. They're the most extreme example — but they're far from alone

The debate is about more than just street design — it's about who gets to shape the future of George Floyd Square. 🔎 PLUS: A closer look at the survey that's become a central point of contention at City Hall >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Today, the Justice Department moved to dismiss Minneapolis' federal consent decree for police reform — which a judge is still reviewing MPD is already under a state-level court settlement Here's how the agreed-upon federal reform plan is(/was?) more detailed >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

St. Paul has rejoined Minneapolis on a growing list of major cities with sweeping tenant laws meant to protect high-risk renters Landlord groups say parts of the new ordinance are "unworkable" >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

👀 < 🍩🍩 A search for the Twin Cities' best donut My toughest assignment yet for the @axios.com newsletter >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

SCOOP: A fight over where to store St. Paul's garbage trucks almost halted citywide trash pickup. Under City Council pressure to move the truck lot elsewhere, emails @axios.com obtained show Mayor Melvin Carter's staff has already rejected 3 other sites >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

In today's @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter >> A vibe check on St. Paul City Hall — and there's definitely some tension. Some of it is legitimate disagreement over policy issues But some of the friction is over process and workplace behavior www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Tonight, the St. Paul City Council again deadlocked on selecting a new Ward 4 representative, which will in all likelihood will leave Mayor Carter to make the appointment But most council members *did agree the appointment process was at least “clunky” and at worst untransparent

BREAKING: St. Paul's trash will be picked up, at least for the next three days Mayor @melvincarter.bsky.social declared a temporary state of emergency, but the City Council would still need to extend the emergency this week >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

JUST NOW: St. Paul's Ward 4 still has no representative The City Council just adjourned without appointing a temporary member for the ward And one of the applicants for the interim job, Melissa Martinez-Sones, has now withdrawn, Council President Rebecca Noecker says.

UPDATE >> Council President Rebecca Noecker responded, telling me the mayor's letter is "alarmist": The new garbage hauler's "lack of planning is not our emergency… They know how permitting works," she said. Later, Carter's deputies held their own briefing explaining the risk to trash services… 🧵

BREAKING: St. Paul might have no trash pickup service after April 1 unless a dispute over where the city's new garbage hauler can store its trucks is resolved, Mayor Melvin Carter told city council members today >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

NEW: St. Paul's rent control debate is back Three council members will propose exempting all new buildings from rent control, as Mayor @melvincarter.bsky.social proposed last year. As today's @axios.com Twin Cities notes, the proposal may need to be a package deal >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

DATA: Minneapolis police are pulling a *lot* fewer people over — and it may not be just traffic stop reforms at work 🚔 In today's @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter: As Minneapolis preps speed cameras, I checked in on how human-powered enforcement is going… www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

Sales have dropped off sharply at many Lake Street businesses that serve Minneapolis' Latino communities. In today's @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter, more on a sign that an immigration crackdown is having the effect that the Trump administration intends >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

You can book your summer Boundary Waters permit starting this Wednesday — but maybe take a beat before snagging a whole bunch: 🛶 Today’s @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter: Permit-hoarding is a real problem in Minnesota’s premier wilderness >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

BREAKING: Council President Mitra Jalali (@mitrajunjalali.bsky.social) will step down from St. Paul City Council after Feb. 4, citing the job's ongoing toll on her health. She'll go on leave, and an interim will take the seat until a special election for her seat: www.facebook.com/share/p/1FFn...

@espn.com — not for the first time — calls the Minneapolis skyline “St. Paul.” They actually had to **drive an additional distance** to earn this fuck-up

NEW: Most of the property owners in George Floyd Square oppose turning the intersection into a pedestrian mall — and state law requires a majority agree A serious snag… BUT the Minneapolis City Council does have a pathway for continuing to explore the idea >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...