🗼 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...

TODAY, the St. Paul City Council could vote to expand the city's powers to fine negligent landlords, wage thieves and other bad actors They're also trying to guard against turning the fines into a revenue-generator for the city From today's @axios.com Twin Cities 📧 >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

🏘️🏘️ Twin Cities residents: Here's how many new neighbors you can expect in your town over the next 25 years From the @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

"The entire debate at the Capitol was, 'Who's going to profit?' … Never a look at the mental health challenge." Experts and addicts warn Minnesota legislators of online sports gambling's perils, by @nickhalter.bsky.social in today's @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

POLICE REFORM: The state settlement agreement for Minneapolis Police was a big deal — and the new federal reform plan covers a lot of the same ground. BUT here are 6 key ways the DOJ's consent decree goes further >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

🚨 TWIN SNOW EMERGENCIES >> St. Paul's takes effect at 9pm tonight Tonight, don't park on streets with "NIGHT PLOW ROUTE" signs Tomorrow, don't park on day plow routes (the streets *without* signs) stpaul.gov/snow

🚨 JUST IN >> Minneapolis declares a SNOW EMERGENCY — so move your cars!! You know the drill: * TONIGHT at 9p thru 8a Friday — restrictions begin * TOMORROW from 8a-8p — parking limited on EVEN sides * SATURDAY from 8a-8p — parking limited on ODD sides www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-arou...

Stevenson came within 38 votes of unseating Andrea Jenkins last November. He’s running again. My profile on Stevenson from my @minnpost.bsky.social days >> www.minnpost.com/metro/2023/0...

This fall, St. Paul Mayor @melvincarter.bsky.social urged the city council to loosen rent control rules before the end of the year. "It might have been ambitious" They did not — but he's hopeful they'll revisit it soon. (Some members have been lukewarm on his idea.) www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

The St. Paul City Council's vote on a new city budget last night featured a show of political gumption by the body's four newest members 👀 'A method used to discredit young women, especially in leadership is to question whether or not we know how to do our job.' www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

BREAKING: The Minneapolis City Council just voted 9-4 to override Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of the city budget. Their spending plan is now in place Frey had previously approved the levy increase the council proposed: 6.8% — still one of the largest in years, but lower than the 8.3% it might've been

FINAL VOTE: On a 5-1 vote, the St. Paul City Council has approved a budget with a 5.9% property tax levy increase

JUST NOW: The St. Paul City Council voted 4-2 to reject a "compromise" @melvincarter.bsky.social brokered with @mitrajunjalali.bsky.social, which centered on a 6.9% property tax levy increase. The council is now debating a budget with a 5.9% levy increase — and more cuts to police.

RIGHT NOW: Budget battle in St. Paul If the council passes a budget with a 5.9% levy increase, @MayorCarter (who wants 6.9%) says the city would need to implement a hiring & spending freeze until it could assess the impacts — because it’s not clear what would need to be cut

Amid property tax sticker shock, Minneapolis has edged away from a proposed 8.3% levy hike. In St. Paul, the city council is pushing the mayor to do the same. 🥋 In today's @axios.com Twin Cities: When you're tightening your belt, how tight is too tight? www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

INBOX: St. Paul school board members picked three finalists for their next superintendent’s job, including former MN Education Commissioner (and Boston supe) Brenda Casselius Also finalists: current supes in Hopkins, Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, and Edina, Stacie Stanley.

JUST NOW: By an 8-5 vote, the Minneapolis City Council has voted to throw the brakes on a plan to rebuild the streets through George Floyd Square. They've directed city staff to instead explore building a pedestrian mall at the site of Floyd's murder.

Based on the hoarse voices (and one mask) on the dais today, there is some kind of bug going around the Minneapolis City Council. Not the best time to be sick. They're about to enter their budget season sprint. Send them some Airborne or echinacea or something. 🙃

JUST IN: The Minneapolis City Council failed to override Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of a proposal to create a labor standards board. Only 8 of 9 required council members voted to overturn the veto after CM's Jamal Osman and Andrea Jenkins flipped. Background >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

NEW: Minneapolis City Council Member @emilykoskimpls.bsky.social is officially announcing her run for mayor right now A way-too-early-[but is it really too early? probably not actually] look at how the 2025 race is shaping up >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

A growing number of Minnesotans' livelihoods depend on how much fun you have outdoors 📧 Why outdoor recreation isn't just a "nice-to-have, or an amenity” in the state’s economy — from today’s @axios.com Twin Cities newsletter >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

St. Paul is holding its final public hearing on its budget amid a tug-of-war with between the City Council and Mayor @melvincarter.bsky.social over the size of the tax increase Some speakers here argue the city needs to limit its levy increases as overall property tax bills rise

As God is my witness, I just saw Charlie Brown & Linus walk into Rice Park. Linus rapped his knuckle with a clang on this tree, which epitomizes the modern spirit. “This really brings Christmas close to a person,” Linus said, none too convincingly. Charlie nodded. “Fantastic.”

NBOX — Mayor Jacob Frey's campaign spokesperson: "We … look forward to presenting voters with a clear choice between two contrasting visions for the future of Minneapolis. Mayor Frey's responsible leadership has helped the city recover while making critical progress"

Interesting moment at the Minneapolis City Council's budget committee Council members voted 8-4 to deny a 4% COLA raise to 161 "appointed" executive branch employees — basically department directors and managers in the Frey Administration — saving about $1M to be reallocated in a tight budget year

"It’s getting harder to build our lives in Minneapolis. Mayor Frey and the status quo are failing Minneapolis residents." —State Sen. @omarfatehmn.com announced his run for mayor today, officially joining a field of challengers hoping to unseat incumbent Jacob Frey in November 2025

Minneapolis' rebuilt Hennepin Ave features a compromise between bus lanes vs. on-street parking New "dynamic lanes" will serve as parking lanes most of the day, restoring about 85% of the former spaces — but convert into a bus lanes during rush hour: www.axios.com/local/twin-c...

In St. Paul, police calls for all sorts of different types of crime appeared to be subsiding this year, an @axios.com analysis found. Then, in the last two months, a string of homicides rattled the city. 📧 In this AM's Twin Cities newsletter >> www.axios.com/local/twin-c...