Climate change has shrunk ice coverage, on average, year-to-year on Lake Superior, making ice-cave access anomalous. Eleven years ago, in 2015, I couldn’t make it to the caves, and I’ve had FOMO ever since.

Plus remembering the Hortmans as the House returns, hero dogs doing important work, and how you can help Midtown Global Market in today's Flyover news roundup.

This week's music listings? We got 'em here:

Today's ICE Watch update is great if you need a midday cry.

Our shuttle pulls up and a skinny guy carrying Nordic skis disembarks—the first return trekker. “How was it?” I call to him. He yells back, “Beautiful!”

Return of the Stout Month. racketmn.com/doin-beers-5...

There aren't better events. racketmn.com/bonspiel-at-...

Plus John Oliver on MN, One Minute Tours guy takes off, and helping Haven Watch in today's Flyover news roundup.

ICE: still here, still snatchin' folks outta their homes.

Come for Stout Month, stay for my attempt to dommy mommy readers into drinking Routine by BlackStack Brewing.

Stout Month! Stout Month! Stout Month!

Plus Songs for Our Neighbors: Raising Funds for Food & Rent at the Parkway, a Book & Vinyl Fair at BlackStack Brewing, and more of the week's best events.

We asked Minnesotans how their bosses responded to our statewide crisis. And boy, did they tell us. racketmn.com/corporate-co...

A lot of comments on this one! racketmn.com/amy-klobucha...

Justice for Silver Bay's Rocky Taconite.

“You ever stop to think how much more smoothly Minneapolis politics would function if Jacob Frey could be just like 15% less of a dick?”

We investigate a delicious phenomenon.

Plus MN goes gun crazy, lyin' ICE, and a very cute restaurant in need in today's Flyover news roundup.

The ICE occupation isn't over yet, and neither is ICE Watch.

I'm pretty proud of this poem I made out of the euphemisms that companies used to describe the ICE occupation in corporate communications. Also read the whole story: racketmn.com/corporate-co...

If you'd like AN ORIGINAL POEM with your journalism...

How optimistic and/or cynical you feeling? Let's discuss.

Choo-choo-choose some fun/free V-Day events:

We asked Minnesotans how their bosses responded to our statewide crisis. And boy did they tell us.

It's time for movie listings!

Uh, mission accomplished?

Bosses' emails to employees during Operation Metro Surge said "these are stressful times" but meant "get back to work."

Maybe the updates can soon end? White House border czar Tom Homan says Operation Metro Surge will "conclude," though Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Coalie is evil. We love Rocky.

In today's Flyover news roundup:

“There's, you know, something more to it than just, ‘I want to create pretty pictures.’ Art is a powerful tool to spread a message to people.”

We felt comfortable about not getting scooped on this story I came up with last week.

Still waiting on that major drawdown...

Is evil Coalie stealing Rocky Taconite's valor? We asked the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

this one goes out to all you millennial renters

A Racket reader demanded to know one way or the other.

Plus MN flags are selling out, Cloudland donates to MIRAC this month, and a fundraiser for a good cause in today's Flyover news roundup.

As Minnesota's senior senator runs to replace Tim Walz as governor, her votes and positions on Trump, ICE, and labor should be disqualifying to progressive voters.

for @autostraddle.bsky.social, i wrote about how minnesota's queer-owned businesses (and queer folks in general) are standing up to ICE and defending their communities:

It has been brought to our attention that today is World Pizza Day. Happy World Pizza Day. With that in mind, please enjoy this old story from the archives:

I saw Eric Church this weekend but I had other things on my mind.

Heartbreaking letters from kids detained at Dilley, Rolling Stone talks to the punks of the local movement, a report from the VA memorial service honoring Alex Pretti, and more ICE-related news to start your week.

Plus a free market on Lyndale, rare films—including a trio of queer romances—thanks to Il Cinema Retrovato, and last call for Dyani White Hawk's "Love Language" at the Walker.

Let's chat: racketmn.com/open-thread-...

It’s the Racket Restaurant Roundup. racketmn.com/hello-to-com...

A messy delight. racketmn.com/best-budget-...

Long week. racketmn.com/mn-ice-watch...

Talking Operation Metro Surge through a media lens. racketmn.com/racketcast-e...

"Our love is gonna melt ICE."

We had our favorite Twin Cities music writer, @usefulnoise.bsky.social from @racketmn.com, on the podcast this week to play some music trivia, and of course he completely destroyed. www.triviamafia.com/podcast/2026...