Transit & Infrastructure

MnDOT has delayed the start of major overnight closures and lane reductions on I‑394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100 from March 16 to March 19, 2026, after the weekend snowstorm slowed preparations. Under the updated schedule, westbound I‑394 will be fully closed each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Thursday, March 19, through Saturday, March 21, to allow bridge‑deck work on the Penn Avenue bridge, which itself will stay closed until fall 2026. Eastbound I‑394 will be reduced to a single lane from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday, March 20, through Saturday, March 21, and again nightly from Monday, March 23, through Saturday, March 28, with lanes reopening by 6 a.m. each morning. MnDOT is warning drivers in Minneapolis and the western suburbs to expect significant overnight delays and to watch for further changes as weather remains a wild card, with updated details posted on the agency’s project page.

After a powerful March blizzard that brought narrow, high‑end snow bands and blizzard warnings, Twin Cities road crews have mostly cleared highways—though ramps, bridges, parking lots and sidewalks remain slippery—and MSP is largely back to normal after hundreds of flight cancellations Sunday and short security waits Monday. Southern and southwest Minnesota, however, still face no‑travel advisories, road closures and white‑out/blizzard conditions with southeast Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin seeing 14–20" (southern metro 10–14", northern metro 6–10"), prompting National Guard activation and school and service disruptions.

High winds — peaking at 61 mph at MSP and as high as 74 mph near Bird Island — toppled trees and caused roughly 306 outages affecting just over 20,500 Xcel Energy customers across Minnesota Friday morning. High Wind Warnings remained in effect (metro through 10 a.m., some western areas until 7 a.m.), and a winter storm watch is now posted from late Saturday into Monday for central and southern Minnesota, with a wintry mix overnight and the potential for heavy snow and hazardous travel.

St. Paul police say an adult woman remains in critical condition after she was hit by a vehicle while crossing the intersection of White Bear Avenue North and Maryland Avenue East in the Prosperity Heights neighborhood around 8:17 p.m. Wednesday. Officers found her lying in the intersection and she was taken to Regions Hospital, where she is still listed in critical condition. A preliminary investigation indicates she was walking across the intersection when the vehicle struck her. Police say the driver stayed at the scene and has been cooperative with investigators. Authorities have not yet released identifying details about either the victim or the driver, and the crash remains under investigation — another data point in a city already under pressure over dangerous arterials and pedestrian safety.

Minnesota lawmakers are considering HF 3774, a bill from Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (DFL–Inver Grove Heights) that would require bicyclists riding in dedicated bike lanes to come to a stop at yellow traffic lights before entering an intersection or crosswalk. The proposal, heard March 11, 2026 in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, is a tweak to last year’s so‑called 'Idaho stop' reforms, which already allow cyclists to roll through stop signs with no cross‑traffic and to proceed through or turn at red lights without waiting for green. Crucially, the new rule would apply only when riders are in separate bike infrastructure; cyclists traveling in mixed traffic lanes with cars would still follow the regular rules for motorists. Backers, including a downtown Minneapolis rider who testified about seeing close calls from people 'racing the yellow lights,' say the aim is to cut bike–car collisions at intersections, while the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota warns lawmakers not to undermine a broader safety goal of clearing bikes out of danger zones quickly. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a larger transportation omnibus, so Metro riders won’t see any change unless it survives end‑of‑session deal‑making.

Overnight snow left slushy, slick spots across the Twin Cities Wednesday morning, making bridges, overpasses, side streets and parking lots hazardous and leaving many metro roads partially covered — with some completely snow-covered in the southwest metro and north of the Cities, MnDOT said. Plows are salting and clearing as temperatures hover near freezing, and at least a couple of minor crashes, including one on Highway 169 in Shakopee, have slowed commutes.

The Metropolitan Council has appointed Joseph Dotseth as the permanent chief of the Metro Transit Police Department after he served about 18 months in an interim role following the resignation of former chief Ernest Morales III amid an internal conduct investigation. Dotseth has nearly 25 years with Metro Transit Police, working as a patrol officer and internal affairs investigator before moving into leadership and taking over as interim chief in fall 2024. In a prepared statement, he said he is committed to making sure "every person who uses transit feels protected and respected," while Met Council regional administrator Ryan O’Connor touted his experience and pledged that the department will focus on rebuilding rider trust and regional partnerships. The council has not released specific policy or operational changes Dotseth intends to pursue, leaving questions about how he’ll handle ongoing concerns about crime, perceptions of safety, and enforcement practices on buses, trains and platforms across the metro. For Twin Cities riders and operators who use the system daily, this decision locks in who will be calling the shots on transit policing for the foreseeable future.

The St. Paul City Council has passed a resolution formally asking the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to force Ford Motor Co. to do more cleanup at the former Ford assembly plant site in Highland Park, now being redeveloped as Highland Bridge. Council members say new testing has found lingering contamination that wasn’t adequately addressed under earlier remediation plans, and they want MPCA to hold Ford to a stricter standard before more building goes up on the river bluff. The move signals the city no longer trusts Ford’s assurances or the original regulatory sign‑off to fully protect nearby residents, workers and the Mississippi River corridor. Neighbors who’ve watched the site transition from heavy industry to high‑dollar housing are already questioning online whether regulators went too easy on a major corporation, and whether buyers were given the full story up front. If MPCA leans on Ford, it could mean additional investigation, soil removal, vapor controls or construction slowdowns at one of St. Paul’s signature redevelopment projects.

St. Paul Public Works has posted 'rough road' caution signs on heavily damaged streets including Hamline Avenue, Vandalia Street, Shepard Road and Childs Road as winter potholes chew up pavement and vehicles across the city. The department says it is responding to resident complaints and working to improve conditions by spring, but has not given a full repair timeline or cost estimate. Longfellow Automotive manager Nick Holman tells FOX 9 this season is at least as bad as recent years, with snow hiding cratered spots and leading to blown tires, broken ball joints and bent control arms for drivers who can’t dodge the holes in time. The situation underscores how deferred maintenance and freeze‑thaw cycles are again turning core St. Paul routes into suspension killers, forcing metro drivers to eat repair bills while they wait for city crews to catch up.

St. Paul’s City Council has approved citywide restrictions on new drive‑throughs, banning them downtown and significantly limiting them along transit corridors and in pedestrian‑oriented zones while imposing detailed standards for queue length and circulation. The ordinance requires designs that keep drive‑through lanes from crossing primary pedestrian approaches to storefronts and accompanies simplified standards in mixed‑use zoning areas to promote safer, more walkable development.

The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to once again allow new drive-thrus citywide, but only under tight zoning and design rules that bar them from downtown, high‑frequency transit corridors and stand‑alone buildings. The ordinance requires far longer 'stacking' queues than before—12 vehicle spaces for restaurant lanes and 14 for coffee shops—to keep lines from spilling into traffic, and mandates that pedestrian access be designed so people never have to cross a drive‑thru lane or other vehicle circulation to reach a business. City leaders are framing the compromise as a way to balance convenience and economic development with Vision Zero–style safety goals after years of pressure to curb conflicts between cars and walkers; it also underscores a clear policy split with Minneapolis, which has kept an outright ban on new drive‑thrus since 2019. For St. Paul residents, the change will shape how future fast‑food, coffee and pharmacy projects are built in neighborhood commercial nodes while trying to protect bus corridors and the core from more car congestion.

Minneapolis’s speed‑camera pilot at five initial intersections produced large drops in speeding — city data show drivers exceeding the limit by 10+ mph fell about 51% (20+ mph down ~58%) and overall speeding was down more than 40% — and in 2025 the program logged 33,829 violations (29,504 warnings, 4,325 citations). The pilot, which added two more cameras Nov. 1 and may rotate sites under a state cap of 42, issues a warning for a first offense and fines ($40 for >10 mph, $80 for >20 mph) for repeat or higher‑speed violations, and cost roughly $956,000 in 2025 while generating about $18,000 in citation revenue.

Minneapolis is proposing a $38 million, state-of-the-art first-responder training campus on a 4.7‑acre site in the Windom neighborhood near West 60th Street, consolidating police, fire and emergency training now scattered across aging facilities. Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette says centralizing operations will improve coordination and deliver a "safer" and more "compassionate" response for residents and visitors. The project would include modern classrooms, major-incident training spaces, an indoor shooting range for MPD and space for employee mental-health support teams, and the city plans to ask the state to cover half of the cost. Officials aim to buy the property this year, break ground in 2026 and open the campus in 2029 or 2030, which will also make Windom one of the city’s most heavily used public-safety hubs. The plan will go before the City Council in coming weeks, where funding, neighborhood impacts and long-term operating costs are likely to draw close scrutiny.

Thirty-year-old Amber O. Deneen of St. Paul was killed in a hit-and-run after being struck while walking with her two dogs; police arrested 39-year-old Michael Kentrell Smith and charged him with vehicular homicide in Ramsey County. The complaint says Smith slowed but did not stop at a stop sign before striking Deneen, witnesses followed and honked as he fled, surveillance showed the SUV at a nearby Speedway inspecting a front passenger tire, and Smith told officers he thought he hit bike-lane cones and said, "I’m sorry man... I don’t remember hitting nobody"; neighbors have planned a memorial and are calling for increased traffic enforcement.

Starting Monday Highway 280 will be fully closed from I‑94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I‑35W in Roseville and will remain shut until late August, reopening before the Minnesota State Fair. In the meantime both directions of I‑394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be fully closed 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, March 2 for ramp and bridge work, and I‑494 will be fully closed both directions between I‑35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for a bridge removal, with six ramps (the Nicollet/12th Ave connections) now permanently closed.

MnDOT is closing Highway 280 from I‑94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I‑35W in Roseville starting Monday and keeping it shut until late August, promising to reopen in time for the Minnesota State Fair while crews resurface pavement, repair bridges and improve drainage. Separately, both directions of I‑394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, March 2, as part of work on 34 ramps and bridges, with westbound lanes then reduced to two (using the E‑ZPass lane) into summer and the Penn Avenue bridge closed. A third project will close I‑494 in both directions between I‑35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for the second bridge removal in Bloomington/Richfield, alongside permanent closure of six ramps linking Nicollet Avenue and 12th Avenue to I‑494. These overlapping shutdowns will force detours onto I‑94, Hwy 36, I‑35W, Hwy 100 and Hwy 77, and MnDOT is bluntly telling drivers to leave extra time, watch for lane reductions and check 511 before heading out. For Twin Cities commuters, truckers and anyone headed downtown or to the airport, the message is that 2026 construction has arrived early and the old 'winter or road work' joke now describes February reality.

Sun Country and Delta have canceled multiple Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport flights to Puerto Vallarta on Sunday and Monday, Feb. 22–23, 2026, after Mexican forces killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes and cartel gunmen launched retaliatory attacks across Jalisco. U.S. travelers already in Puerto Vallarta are being told to stay at their resorts, and Delta has posted a travel alert saying civil unrest could disrupt flights through Feb. 26, while Sun Country warns that all travel to and from Jalisco airports, including PVR, "may be impacted" and is waiving change fees for affected passengers. Mexican officials say 25 National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks in Jalisco as cartel members blocked roads and burned vehicles following El Mencho’s death. The cancellations hit just as Minnesota’s spring break travel season ramps up, and social media posts from Twin Cities families show confusion and anxiety as they scramble to rebook or decide whether to travel into a volatile situation. Airlines say they are "monitoring the situation" with local authorities, but have given no firm timeline for when regular MSP–Puerto Vallarta service will resume.

MnDOT will shut down Interstate 494 in both directions between I-35W and Highway 77 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, through 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23, to demolish the Nicollet Avenue bridge and the pedestrian bridge at 12th Avenue in Bloomington and Richfield. Drivers will be detoured via I-35W, Hwy 62, Hwy 77 and the remaining portions of I-494, and MnDOT is warning of significant congestion as one of the metro’s busiest segments goes dark for the weekend. As part of the same project, the eastbound I-494 ramp to Nicollet Avenue and the Nicollet-to-westbound‑494 ramp closed permanently Thursday to reduce weaving and crash risk where ramps sit too close together to Lyndale, Portland and 12th Avenues. MnDOT says these changes will give drivers more room to merge and set up new bridges that better serve people walking, biking and driving. A second full I‑494 weekend closure between I‑35W and Hwy 77 is already scheduled March 6–9 to remove the 12th Avenue bridge, which will be closed from March 5 until September. Commuters and businesses along the corridor should plan alternate routes and expect repeated disruptions as the multi‑year reconstruction ramps up.

The Minnesota DNR says it will spend about $325,000 to replace Lake Alice’s 1960s-era water control structure at William O’Brien State Park in Washington County after a failed valve in August 2025 nearly drained the artificial lake, killing fish and closing the beach. Design work is slated for winter 2026, with permitting, land and archaeological surveys and other field work in summer 2026, and on-the-ground construction and dredging of the adjoining St. Croix River public access set to begin spring 2027 and wrap up in fall 2027. Public recreation on Lake Alice itself will be shut down until the project is finished, though the park’s river access will stay open in 2026 as water levels allow, meaning Twin Cities visitors can’t swim or paddle that lake for at least the next two summers. DNR officials say full replacement, rather than a patch job, is the most cost‑effective long‑term fix to make the impoundment and its outlet more resilient after the mechanical failure exposed just how vulnerable the system is. Metro park users who rely on William O’Brien for close‑in lake time will have to adjust plans and watch for periodic construction impacts along the St. Croix as the work gets underway.

MnDOT says it held a 10 a.m. planning meeting on Feb. 19 and deployed plows ahead of the snowfall, while pre-treating roads to reduce icing. Spokesperson Kent Barnard said the storm lasting longer than forecast "didn't throw any curves" for plow operations, and although the evening commute was chaotic with some trip times tripling, conditions were significantly clearer the following day.

St. Paul declared a snow emergency beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, after the latest 7.6" storm; night-plow routes must be cleared of parked cars by 9 p.m. Thursday and day-plow routes by 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The emergency runs 96 hours through 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, with full ticketing and towing enforced citywide (note: blocks without “night plow” signs are treated as day-plow routes, so parking is prohibited during the day-plow phase).

St. Paul has declared a snow emergency starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, after MSP Airport recorded 7.6 inches of snow — the Twin Cities’ largest snowfall of the season. All signed Night Plow Routes, including downtown and streets marked 'NIGHT PLOW ROUTE' or 'NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET,' must be clear of parked cars by 9 p.m. Thursday or vehicles will be ticketed and towed; unsigned Day Plow Routes must be clear by 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The snow emergency will remain in effect for 96 hours, through 9 p.m. Feb. 23, and Mayor Kaohly Her has formally suspended her earlier towing moratorium until Feb. 24, warning that this event will bring full ticketing and towing back into play. Her said she won’t "risk relying on unpredictable spring weather" to clear streets after weeks of ice ruts and is counting on plow and ticketing crews to restore passable pavement. Residents who don’t pay attention to the new emergency face a rude awakening in the form of impound bills on top of already‑steep winter costs.

Snow tapers off Thursday morning after a storm that dropped about 5–7 inches in the Twin Cities (with 5–10 inches across northern Minnesota and 1–3 feet along the North Shore); a winter weather advisory remains in the metro until 8 a.m. and until noon for the Arrowhead. The morning commute saw widespread slowdowns as crews plowed Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the rest of Thursday will be mostly cloudy and seasonable with highs near 32°F in the metro (teens–20s elsewhere), then upper‑20s Friday, mid‑20s Saturday, low‑20s Sunday and a rebound to upper‑30s early next week.

Two Brooklyn Park police officers and two civilians were hospitalized with non‑life‑threatening injuries Wednesday after a police SUV responding to an emergency call collided with another vehicle and rolled at 85th and Zane Avenues North. The Minnesota State Patrol says the squad, running lights and siren westbound on 85th, was hit by a southbound Chevrolet Equinox on Zane, triggering a three‑vehicle crash around 3:21 p.m. Aerial footage showed the squad on its side as first responders worked the scene at the busy north‑metro intersection. Because the crash involved Brooklyn Park officers, State Patrol is leading the investigation, which will examine speed, signals and right‑of‑way in emergency responses. The incident underscores the risks both officers and motorists face at controlled intersections when squads are running code through rush‑hour traffic.

I-94 east of downtown St. Paul will be fully closed in both directions this weekend for bridge deck repairs after a previously planned shutdown was postponed, with MnDOT confirming the exact segment, start/end times and which ramps will be affected. MnDOT has posted updated detour routes and details to guide motorists around the closure.

Two semis collided around 10:25 a.m. Monday on northbound Highway 169 near the Pioneer Trail interchange in Bloomington, spilling a load of recycled material across the roadway. State troopers say the truck hauling recycled material hit a semi carrying sand; the sand stayed contained, but the recycled load covered the right lane and the Pioneer Trail on‑ramp to 169, forcing closures for several hours. The driver of the recycling semi suffered minor injuries. MnDOT and cleanup crews had the debris cleared and all lanes reopened by about 1:30 p.m., but late‑morning traffic in the south‑west metro was significantly backed up while the lane and ramp were shut.

The St. Paul City Council has backed a resolution supporting a study of new passenger-rail service between St. Paul and Kansas City, building on the strong early performance of Amtrak’s Borealis line to Chicago, which reached 100,000 riders in under six months. The move signals city interest in making Union Depot a broader Midwest rail hub and in exploring another long-distance option for Twin Cities travelers beyond Chicago and existing Empire Builder service. While the resolution itself doesn’t fund or commit to a line, it positions St. Paul to be at the table as Amtrak, MnDOT and neighboring states weigh potential routes, costs and federal funding. Rail advocates online are already touting the idea as a way to connect the Twin Cities more directly to Kansas City and the central U.S., while skeptics are watching to see whether the concept has enough political and financial backing to move beyond the study stage.

A large fire and at least one small explosion broke out late Friday night at the University of Minnesota’s main steam plant on the Minneapolis riverfront, prompting a major fire response and temporary evacuations in the immediate area. The plant is a key utility hub that provides steam heat and other services to much of the Minneapolis campus, raising concerns about potential service disruption in the middle of a severe cold snap. Fire crews reported heavy flames inside the facility before bringing the blaze under control; no fatalities were immediately reported, and officials were still assessing structural damage and the cause. University authorities said they were working on contingency planning for campus heating if needed and would update students, staff and nearby residents as they learned more. Social media posts from students and neighbors described loud booms, smoke over the river, and emergency alerts late into the night, underscoring public anxiety about both safety and staying warm. Environmental regulators are expected to review whether any emissions or runoff from firefighting operations affected the Mississippi River corridor.

Police on the Highway 7 corridor from St. Louis Park to St. Bonifacius say fatal crashes on that stretch fell from five in 2024 to zero in 2025 after they deployed an AI‑equipped orange trailer to spot distracted drivers and seatbelt violations. The South Lake Minnetonka Police Department and neighboring agencies used the system to capture real‑time photos of drivers on their phones or unbelted, feeding officers more than 1,500 stops in a year — a 300% jump over the previous year — while also running social‑media campaigns and student‑made PSAs about traffic safety. Serious‑injury crashes dropped by half, from an average of six per year to three, which officers say they can see in day‑to‑day patrols as they now encounter far fewer motorists visibly on their phones. The work was funded by a $451,000 grant that ran out in June, and the Highway 7 Safety Coalition — a group of more than a half‑dozen west‑metro agencies — is now trying to secure new money to keep the stepped‑up enforcement going. The program shows how automated enforcement, combined with visible policing and education, can change driver behavior on a dangerous suburban highway without relying solely on traditional speed traps.

TSA will charge a $45 Confirm.ID fee, effective Feb. 1, 2026, for travelers who do not present acceptable identification (such as a REAL ID, passport or trusted traveler card); the fee covers a 10-day travel period and temporary driver’s licenses are not accepted. TSA urges travelers to pay online before arriving — airport payment options and signage will be available but delays are expected — and warns that paying the fee does not guarantee identity verification or boarding, saying the charge shifts costs from taxpayers to travelers.

Amtrak has preemptively canceled some passenger rail services in Minnesota in anticipation of an incoming blast of brutal winter weather, affecting trips scheduled over the next few days. The move is aimed at avoiding trains being stranded in dangerous conditions and reflects forecasts of extreme cold, ice, and blowing snow across the Upper Midwest. While the carrier’s notice focuses on specific state corridors, the changes will ripple into the Twin Cities by limiting or altering connections for residents traveling to and from Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Ticketed passengers are being offered rebooking options or refunds, and Amtrak is directing riders to its website and alerts system for route‑by‑route updates as conditions evolve. The cancellations come on top of already stressed winter travel networks, with social media posts from Minnesota riders showing confusion and frustration over short‑notice changes but also some support for prioritizing safety.

Light snow Wednesday afternoon will coat roads (around a half‑inch to about 1 inch in spots) and make travel slick, with gusty northwest winds — locally reaching the mid‑40s mph in western Minnesota — and a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for western and southwestern Minnesota until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Arctic air moves in Thursday with a midday high near 8°F that plunges into the subzero teens overnight and a brutally cold Friday (around −8°F), and an Extreme Cold Watch is posted from Thursday evening through Saturday morning for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the Twin Cities area.

A union says ICE has detained vetted workers at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, prompting hundreds of airport employees to fear coming to work. MSP airport workers plan a 1 p.m. Tuesday news conference to publicly push back against ICE operations, part of a coordinated day of press events alongside educators, students, families, clergy and physicians.

MnDOT and FOX 9 report that light snow and gusty winds are creating slick travel across Minnesota Friday, with the Twin Cities seeing under an inch of accumulation but scattered ice on highways, including parts of Highway 169 near New Hope and Brooklyn Park. A winter weather advisory is in effect for western Minnesota until 6 p.m., and MnDOT has issued no‑travel advisories in northwestern Minnesota where high winds and blowing snow have dropped visibility to zero on several major highways. Southwestern Minnesota roads are reported completely ice‑covered, and black ice plus blowing snow are affecting large stretches of northern, western and southern Minnesota. In the metro, main routes are mostly normal early but drivers are being warned to watch for changing visibility and sudden icy spots as snow bands and wind move through during the day.

Allegiant is buying Sun Country in a $1.5 billion cash-and-stock deal, with the combination framed as a 2026 merger that will keep a significant presence at MSP’s Terminal 2. Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker says the tie-up is a growth opportunity that will bring more budget flights out of Minneapolis–Saint Paul and expand routes — including new international destinations — from the airport.

MnDOT will close Interstate 94 in both directions through downtown St. Paul from Friday, Jan. 16, to Sunday, Jan. 18, for bridge and roadway work, with signed detours routing traffic around the core. The shutdown will affect a key east–west freeway used by commuters and regional travelers, and drivers are being urged to plan alternate routes and expect delays throughout the weekend.

Overnight rain and near‑freezing temperatures are creating 'sneaky' slick spots on Twin Cities roads Tuesday morning, with MnDOT reporting ice‑covered highways northwest of the metro and a jackknifed semi on I‑35 in Chisago County as a winter weather advisory covers the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Red Wing and Willmar through the morning. Main metro routes are mostly passable but side streets, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots are especially icy; rain is expected to end around sunrise with highs in the low 30s, but evening fog and refreezing could create additional hazards later in the day.

Metro Transit will permanently end Northstar Commuter Rail service on Sunday, Jan. 4, after years of steep ridership declines from about 3,000 weekday riders pre‑pandemic to just over 400 weekly rides in 2024, on a line running from Target Field in downtown Minneapolis through Fridley, Coon Rapids, Anoka, Ramsey and Elk River to Big Lake. Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, Metro Transit will launch enhanced Route 888 express buses serving existing Northstar stations in Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids and downtown Minneapolis every 30 minutes during weekday rush hours and hourly midday to replace part of the rail service.

A 26-year-old bicyclist, identified as James Moo, died after he was struck by a driver in St. Paul, according to police and local reporting. The collision occurred on a city street, and Moo later succumbed to his injuries; authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash and have not yet announced any charges.

After a weekend blizzard that produced heavy snow, high winds and hundreds of crashes, Interstate 35 was closed south of Albert Lea — between I‑90 and Highway 30 in Ames, Iowa — stranding motorists and prompting Minnesota National Guard assistance in Freeborn County and southern Minnesota. The corridor has since reopened in far southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, but state DOTs say crews will work through the morning of Dec. 29 to remove disabled vehicles and finish snow-and-ice clearing and advise motorists not to detour around I‑35 until conditions improve.

Blizzard‑force winds, whiteout snow and icy roads produced more than 500 crashes across Minnesota over two days — Sunday recorded 366 property‑damage and 30 injury crashes and Monday about 186 property‑damage and 16 injury crashes — with dozens of jackknifed semis and hundreds of vehicles driven off the road. Portions of I‑35 in southern Minnesota were closed after multiple crashes and stranded motorists, prompting Minnesota National Guard assistance, while the Twin Cities saw 5–7 inches of snow (higher totals in western Wisconsin) and continued slick, low‑visibility conditions.

A winter storm warning in effect from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday brought a changeover to snow across the Twin Cities (generally 3–5 inches, locally higher to the north), with wind gusts up to about 40–45 mph causing blowing snow, low visibility and snow‑covered roads through the Wednesday morning commute. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 255 crashes and 375 vehicles off the road (including 13 jackknifed semis), 19 injury crashes and one fatal wreck, and a multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy. 52 near the Concord Blvd. exit in Inver Grove Heights that snarled traffic in both directions.

A winter storm dropped roughly 5–7 inches across the Twin Cities metro — Burnsville 7", Maple Grove 6.2", MSP Airport 5.8" and Chanhassen 5.6" — while high winds produced white‑out conditions and slippery roads that snarled travel. I‑35 was closed between Albert Lea and Ames, Iowa, and no‑travel advisories were in effect across southern Minnesota; blizzard warnings covered much of western and southern Minnesota, with heavier totals reported in western Wisconsin (Haugen 9", Eau Claire 8.5") and final totals from blizzard‑warning zones still pending.

Minneapolis has declared a Snow Emergency beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, ahead of a storm expected to drop 4–7 inches, and will impose a three-day parking schedule: Day 1 — no parking on either side of Snow Emergency routes from 9 p.m. Dec. 28–8 a.m. Dec. 29; Day 2 — no parking on even sides of non-Snow Emergency routes and both sides of parkways from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 29; Day 3 — no parking on odd sides of non-Snow Emergency routes from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Dec. 30. Several Twin Cities suburbs, including New Hope, West St. Paul, Eden Prairie, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, Crystal, Elk River and St. James, have also declared snow emergencies, and the same storm prompted a ground delay program at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.

A light overnight wintry mix has left ice and light slush on Twin Cities roads under a winter weather advisory until 8 a.m. Monday, causing some spinouts and crashes during the morning commute. MnDOT reports that travel is not advised on several highways just southwest of the metro, with closures on MN 19 between MN 5 and MN 93 and Highway 212 from Glencoe to Olivia, and multiple 'no travel advised' stretches on MN 5, MN 19 and MN 22 as of about 6 a.m.

St. Paul police and other agencies closed the ramp from Highway 52 northbound to I‑94 westbound on Sunday evening for an active investigation, with police on scene since at least 4 p.m. The exact nature of the incident has not been disclosed; police tape is up and the ramp remains shut while investigators work.

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, a 24-year-old Toyota Camry driver struck an unoccupied Minnesota State Patrol squad car with emergency lights activated on I‑94 near Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, where a trooper was responding to a prior crash. The impact pushed the squad into a tow truck; a Camry passenger suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries and the driver was arrested on suspicion of DWI. MnDOT traffic cameras recorded the collision and the State Patrol says the crash remains under investigation.

Authorities say a person exited a Metro Transit bus near 36th and Penn Avenues North in Minneapolis around 3:30 p.m. Friday and then fired into the bus, injuring three people. Two victims have non-life-threatening injuries and a third is in critical but stable condition; police are searching for the suspect and plan to release imagery.

Ford is recalling more than 270,000 vehicles — 2022–2026 F‑150 Lightning BEV, 2024–2026 Mustang Mach‑E, and 2025–2026 Maverick — under recall 25C69 because an integrated park module may fail to lock into Park and allow the vehicle to roll away. Ford will provide a free park‑module software update; owners will receive interim letters in February and further notices when the remedy is available (anticipated February 2026), and can contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission says Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport will see about a 4% year-over-year rise in holiday traffic, with roughly 763,000 passengers expected to clear security and about 1.8 million total travelers from Dec. 19, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026. The busiest pre‑Christmas day is forecast to be Friday, Dec. 19 (nearly 43,000 screenings; 445 departures), with even higher post‑holiday screening volumes topping 50,000 on Dec. 26 and Dec. 28; travelers should expect busy roadways, ramps and terminals.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission says it is reevaluating which firms qualify for its disadvantaged business programs at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport after a federal rule under the Trump administration eliminated race and gender as factors for determining economic disadvantage. The review could affect certification and future contracting opportunities at MSP; updated criteria and timelines were not immediately disclosed.

St. Paul’s Rondo Community Library will close on Dec. 15 for up to a year while it undergoes planned facility and safety upgrades. The temporary shutdown, which began ahead of some planned improvements, has prompted community concerns about the loss of library space and services during the renovation.

A Mahtomedi woman died after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 94 in the Twin Cities east metro on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Authorities are investigating the fatal incident on the busy interstate corridor; additional details on the circumstances were not immediately released.

The Minneapolis City Council on Dec. 11 approved a final “flexible open street” plan for George Floyd Square at 38th & Chicago, keeping the intersection open to traffic while prohibiting vehicles from crossing the precise memorial location. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and includes major infrastructure upgrades and restoration of Metro Transit service on Chicago Avenue, with city leaders saying the design centers healing, unity and neighborhood vitality.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said Dec. 11 that airlines are not required to cover passenger expenses like hotels, meals, or ground transportation when flights are disrupted by manufacturer aircraft recalls or groundings. The clarification, following recent Airbus A320-family issues, still leaves passengers eligible for refunds on canceled flights under federal rules; Twin Cities travelers at MSP should expect airlines may offer goodwill aid but are not obligated to pay incidental costs in recall situations.

St. Paul Public Works Director Sean Kershaw explained why residential plowing doesn’t start immediately under the current snow‑emergency system and said the city will test two alternate‑side parking models beginning in January to let plows reach neighborhood streets sooner. The city’s existing phases begin at 9 p.m. (Night Plow) and 8 a.m. the next day (Day Plow) to give drivers time to clear main routes and residents time to move cars; the pilot, running January through mid‑April with weekly side‑switching, keeps one side clear to speed residential plowing and was lightly tested last winter.

Metro Transit introduced Route 345 on Dec. 10, 2025, creating a new connection from the Woodbury area to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. The service provides a direct east‑metro link to two major regional hubs, expanding transit options for commuters and travelers.

Minneapolis and St. Paul declared snow emergencies Wednesday night, Dec. 10, following a winter storm, triggering citywide parking restrictions, towing enforcement, and scheduled plowing. Minneapolis’ three‑day rules begin 9 p.m. Wednesday with no parking on Snow Emergency routes, then even‑side non‑routes and parkways Thursday, and odd‑side non‑routes Friday; St. Paul starts Night Plow routes at 9 p.m. Wednesday, switches to Day Plow routes at 8 a.m. Thursday, and its emergency lasts 96 hours to Sunday at 9 p.m.

A man was fatally struck by a snowplow Wednesday in a catering company parking lot on Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport property. Authorities responded to the scene and opened an investigation; additional details about the victim and driver were not immediately released.

Belle Plaine, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, New Hope and West St. Paul declared snow emergencies Wednesday morning after several inches of snow fell across the metro. As of 6:40 a.m., Minneapolis and St. Paul had not declared snow emergencies; residents are advised to follow their city’s posted parking rules to avoid tickets and towing.

A 66-year-old Forest Lake man died after crashing into the median and then walking into traffic, where he was struck on northbound I-35E just north of County Road J in Lino Lakes around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The 26-year-old driver who hit him was uninjured; the victim’s identity will be released later as troopers investigate what led to the initial off-road crash.

The FAA has selected Peraton to lead a multi‑year overhaul of the nation’s air‑traffic control systems, a move with implications for Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and travelers across the Twin Cities. Announced in a Dec. 5 TwinCities.com report, the award positions Peraton to manage core modernization work the FAA says is needed to improve safety, reliability and capacity.

The FAA has scaled back its mandated flight‑capacity reductions at 40 major U.S. airports from a planned 10% ramp (held at 6%) to 3% as controller attendance improved, but the order — in effect since Nov. 7 amid unpaid air traffic controllers, staffing shortages and missed paychecks — remains in place and continues to limit operations at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International (MSP). The cuts and earlier staffing shortfalls have caused widespread delays and thousands of cancellations nationwide (dozens at MSP), prompted airlines to offer refunds and waivers, and spurred an FAA probe into carriers’ handling of the reductions.

The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation on December 5, 2025 into how U.S. airlines implemented FAA-ordered flight reductions during the federal shutdown, a move that could affect carriers serving Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. The agency previously imposed nationwide cutbacks that included MSP; the probe will review carriers’ compliance and could lead to enforcement actions.

The Federal Railroad Administration finalized a rule on Dec. 5, 2025, allowing railroads to reduce some manual track inspections if they use approved technology to detect defects. The nationwide change applies to rail lines that run through the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro, shifting more inspection responsibility to sensors and automated systems while the FRA says safety standards will be maintained.

Metro Transit says a school bus and a light-rail train collided around 9:30 a.m. Friday at University Ave W and Western Ave N in St. Paul, sending one student to the hospital with minor injuries as a precaution. A witness told authorities the bus driver ran a red light; Metro Transit Police and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating, and another bus transported the remaining students to school.

Light snow, ice and slush across Minnesota contributed to 100 property-damage crashes between midnight and 9 a.m. Friday, including 64 vehicles off the road, 10 spinouts, two jackknifed semis and five injury crashes. One person died in a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 67 near 190th Ave north of Wood Lake just after 8 a.m., and MnDOT said side streets and ramps were the slickest in the Twin Cities.

Washington County and a church reached a $7.35 million agreement for property needed to build the Lake Elmo Avenue–Minnesota 36 interchange in Lake Elmo. The pact clears a key right‑of‑way hurdle for the east‑metro highway project as the county advances design and land acquisition.

About a half‑inch of snow Tuesday night left some Twin Cities roads slick Wednesday morning, with MnDOT reporting clear to partially covered conditions and warning that side streets and ramps may be most treacherous. Plows are salting ahead of a rapid temperature drop into the single digits this afternoon and below zero overnight.

Federal auditors from the U.S. Department of Transportation say Minnesota improperly issued a sizable share of commercial driver’s licenses to foreign nationals — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy alleged about one‑third were unlawfully issued, including holders from El Salvador, Somalia and Ukraine with expired work authorization — and have given the state 30 days to fix deficiencies or risk losing roughly $30 million in federal highway funds. Minnesota’s Driver and Vehicle Services has paused issuing CDLs to foreign nationals while conducting an internal review and preparing an action plan, and USDOT is also probing CDL training centers for possible falsified training data and curriculum shortfalls.

Ramsey County and Metro Transit announced on Dec. 2, 2025, that the long‑planned METRO Purple Line will be replaced by a new 'Bronze Line' hybrid bus route running between St. Paul and Maplewood. The revised corridor shortens and retools the project, shifting away from the previous Purple Line plan and setting up next steps for design, environmental review and public engagement.

Metro Transit will debut the E Line bus rapid transit this weekend, replacing Route 6 and providing faster, more frequent service between Southdale and the University of Minnesota with upgraded stations and security features. The agency expects about 3,000 riders per day, and business groups at 50th & France and in Linden Hills—hit hard by construction—are cautiously optimistic the new service will boost foot traffic.

Airbus ordered urgent software fixes for A320-family aircraft following a flight-control incident. The company says most jets have now been updated, with fewer than 100 planes worldwide still awaiting the required patch.

A daylong snow event slicked roads across Minnesota Saturday, with the State Patrol reporting 174 property‑damage crashes, 13 injury crashes, 114 vehicles off the road and two jackknifed semis between midnight and 4 p.m.; MnDOT said most Twin Cities and southern Minnesota roads were snow‑covered and icy. Snow totals included about 2.8 inches in Bloomington and higher amounts in southern communities (Fairmont 7.5 inches, Faribault 5.5 inches, Albert Lea 4.5 inches), and Minneapolis–St. Paul International reported dozens of disruptions — 25 canceled and 81 delayed arrivals, and 18 canceled and 93 delayed departures — with light snow expected to continue into the night and exit around midnight.

President Trump signed a stopgap funding bill ending the 43‑day shutdown, OPM directed federal employees to return Thursday and agencies will issue back pay in four tranches beginning by Nov. 19 while the measure reverses shutdown‑era firings and bars new layoffs through January. The package restarts programs including SNAP, releases $3.6 billion in LIHEAP heating aid to states and tribes, and extends funding through Jan. 30, though SNAP and other benefits may take days or longer to reach recipients and a separate vote on ACA premium subsidies is expected in December.

Minnesota State Patrol says a man died by suicide around 4:52 p.m. near Highway 36 and Highlands Trail North in Lake Elmo, leading authorities to close eastbound Hwy 36 between I-694 in Pine Springs and Demontreville Trail North. MnDOT said the closure was expected to last into the evening with an estimated reopening around 10:19 p.m.; details on involvement of other vehicles were not immediately available.

Lakeland will hold an open house to discuss plans for a new City Hall, but city leaders have sent the current proposal back to the drawing board and halted moving forward with acquiring the Telus building at 84 St. Croix Trail S., which had been the subject of a $525,000 letter of intent. Officials directed staff to broaden the search and reevaluate potential sites and options.

The union representing hundreds of food-service workers at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport called off a threatened strike after reaching a labor agreement with HMSHost, avoiding disruptions during a busy travel week. The tentative deal means airport restaurants and concessions can continue operating without a walkout while details are finalized.

On Nov. 23 at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem handed out $10,000 bonus checks to several dozen TSA agents and announced a $1 billion national investment in TSA security checkpoint technology. The bonuses recognize staff who worked through the federal shutdown, and the upgrade plan includes new scanning, X‑ray and AIT equipment across U.S. airports; FAA separately said 776 air traffic controllers/technicians with perfect attendance will also receive $10,000, while DHS has not specified the total number of TSA recipients.

The Metropolitan Council has opened applications for a new Metro Transit Police Department chief, with interim chief Joseph Dotseth confirming he will apply. The department cited improving safety trends — serious crime down 21% year‑over‑year and officer‑initiated calls up 129% — alongside ongoing efforts such as de‑escalation training, station upgrades and the Transit Rider Investment Program; applications close Dec. 17.

Waymo has begun mapping and early testing in Minneapolis with a fleet of "less than 10" Jaguar I‑PACE and Zeekr RT vehicles driven by humans, using its sixth‑generation Waymo Driver and self‑cleaning sensors tuned for snow and ice after winter‑prep testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, California’s Sierra Nevada and upstate New York. The company says no permits are required for this mapping phase but will work with state and city officials as it seeks commercial approval and plans a phased expansion model like San Francisco aiming for airport and freeway connectivity, drawing support from state House transportation co-chairs and MADD Minnesota.

MnDOT will hold public meetings in St. Paul as it begins visual quality planning for the Robert Street reconstruction between Page Street and Cesar Chavez Street, part of a project to replace pavement and sidewalks and improve safety. Meetings are at Backstory Coffee Roasters, 432 Wabasha St. S., on Monday from 9–11 a.m. and Dec. 10 from noon–1 p.m.; Project Manager Chris Bower and partners will gather feedback to reduce community impacts ahead of phased construction slated for 2027–2028.

A Minnesota Reformer reporter and photographer documented about 20 ICE detainees in shackles boarding a Key Lime Air charter on the MSP tarmac the morning of Nov. 12, 2025, as three unmarked vans delivered them under federal escort. The Metropolitan Airports Commission said federal law prevents MSP from restricting such operations and that it receives no advance notice of non‑commercial flights; one detainee described being flown to Louisiana before removal to Ecuador amid an uptick in deportations.

MnDOT denied a permit for the annual Vikings-Packers tug-of-war on the Stillwater Lift Bridge, prompting organizer Ryan Nelson of Guv’s Place in Hudson to relocate the event to Hudson’s Old Toll Bridge. Last year’s event drew about 150 participants and raised $4,000 for first responders; organizers say the move could boost Wisconsin businesses while Stillwater’s mayor explores whether the city could assume permitting to bring it back, though MnDOT’s willingness to reconsider remains unclear.

Metro Transit agreed to pay $500,000 — the maximum allowed under Minnesota’s liability cap for government entities — to Bradley Legrid, who was run over by a bus while riding a motorized skateboard in the crosswalk at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. Legrid suffered severe injuries, and his attorney criticized the state cap as incentivizing agencies to delay settlements; Metro Transit declined to comment on the case’s details.

MnDOT will hold a public meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Hastings City Hall to outline a $30–$40 million reconstruction of U.S. 61 between just north of 3rd Street and just south of 36th Street. Plans include roundabouts at MN 316 and 36th Street, a new signal at 18th Street, new sidewalks and ADA ramps, and replacement of the historic Todd Field wall to meet safety standards, with construction slated for fall 2027 through spring 2029 (most work in 2028). Funding comes from the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Solicitation and MnDOT’s Transportation Economic Development program.

A Pontiac Grand Am traveling south in the northbound lanes of Highway 169 in Bloomington collided with a Hyundai Sonata near Anderson Lakes Parkway just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, pushing the Hyundai into a Ford F-150. The Pontiac’s driver, 29-year-old Jasmine Jayde Nanclares of Shakopee, died at the scene; the Hyundai driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and those in the F-150 were unhurt. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating and said seat belt use and alcohol remain unknown.

Musab Ibrahim Kosar, 22, of Fridley, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide after his Tesla sped off I‑94, exited at Dale Street with its headlights reportedly turned off, and struck a Toyota RAV4 at Dale and Rondo Avenue in St. Paul, killing 31‑year‑old St. Paul baker Benjamin Michael Villano. A state trooper who followed the Tesla clocked it at 84 mph and later over 100 mph but did not activate lights or sirens before the crash; Kosar and a 19‑year‑old passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries. The passenger, who suffered fractures and a dislocated hip, told investigators she had asked Kosar to stop speeding and that they had broken up earlier that day, and the criminal complaint alleges Kosar’s operation was “grossly negligent.”

The D.C. Circuit on Thursday stayed U.S. DOT’s new rule that would have limited commercial driver’s licenses for noncitizens to holders of H‑2A, H‑2B or E‑2 visas, finding the agency skipped proper procedure and failed to justify safety benefits. The rule—spurred by several fatal crashes—would have required immigration‑status checks and cut eligibility to roughly 10,000 of 200,000 noncitizen CDL holders; California this week revoked 17,000 CDLs amid audits tied to the issue. The stay halts enforcement nationwide, preserving current licensing standards while litigation proceeds.

MnDOT will close westbound I-494 between Highway 77 (Cedar Ave.) and Highway 100 from 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, through the weekend for winter prep work; eastbound I-494 will also close Saturday night for utility work, with detours via Hwy 77, Hwy 62 and Hwy 100. The agency says lanes will reopen by Monday morning weather permitting, and the I-494 ramps at Nicollet Ave. and 12th Ave. will be permanently closed by the end of the year for bridge construction.

Metro Transit will boost uniformed security across nearly every light‑rail route this winter, deploying agency police, community service officers, transit ambassadors and contract security beginning this weekend. Officials say serious crime has fallen but minor offenses such as drug use and vandalism have remained steady, driving rider safety concerns.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission says a 4,800‑sq‑ft U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at St. Paul’s Holman Field received a city building permit on Nov. 4, replacing a small in‑building CBP site to better process international charter passengers and cargo. The project, funded with federal/state grants and General Airport Revenue bonds, will handle 100–150 international flights per year and feature LEED Gold design with geothermal, solar, and a green roof.

Washington County announced an Ideal Avenue (County Road 13) improvement project between Stillwater Blvd and 34th St N on the Oakdale–Lake Elmo border, adding wider shoulders, turn lanes, and better pedestrian/bike facilities, drainage, and capacity. An open house is set for 4–6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Oakdale Discovery Center, with online feedback accepted Nov. 19–Dec. 10; the $7.8 million project is slated to start in spring 2029 and will be funded by the county’s transportation sales tax, the Minnesota Transportation Advancement Account, and the cities of Lake Elmo and Oakdale.

The Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport retail operations of St. Paul-based Airport Retail Group are being split into a standalone business, with investor Megan Bender buying a stake and becoming CEO. The new entity plans to nearly double sales, including by opening a new travel convenience store in MSP’s Terminal 2.

After the federal shutdown prompted USDA to pause SNAP disbursements and initially push a roughly 65% partial‑payment plan, a coalition of states sued and district judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered USDA to use contingency and other funds to provide full November benefits. The 1st Circuit upheld the lower‑court order requiring full funding (after a brief Supreme Court stay), leaving some states that already issued full payments in limbo as the Supreme Court prepares to decide whether the administration may enforce the 65% cap.

For Tuesday, Nov. 11, most government offices and post offices are closed across Minneapolis–Saint Paul, while many grocery stores and malls remain open. Minneapolis and St. Paul will not enforce parking meters (UMN meters are enforced), Metro Transit buses and Blue/Green lines run regular schedules and offer free rides to veterans and active‑duty military with ID, most libraries and many schools are closed, and select museums have varied hours.

Hennepin County dropped a proposed second ‘vertical’ access at Lake Minnetonka’s North Arm public landing in Orono after resident and city pushback, revising its redesign to add a picnic area instead. The county still plans safety and sustainability upgrades — including ramp realignment, parking changes, stormwater controls, shoreline pods for anglers/paddlers, lighting and solar features — and Commissioner Heather Edelson said the controversy will spur broader coordination among 14 lakeshore cities, the county, LMCD and the DNR on commercial use of public landings.

MnDOT reopened the reversible E‑ZPass lanes on I‑394 between downtown Minneapolis and Golden Valley on Sunday after months of bridge and pavement work, but warns overnight closures will continue through December and major traffic shifts resume in spring. Starting in February, all westbound traffic will be routed into the E‑ZPass lanes during construction, then eastbound traffic will follow as crews rehab concrete, repair bridges and ramps to Hwy. 55/I‑94, and replace the Penn Avenue bridge deck.

St. Paul officials say repeated copper wire thefts have kept roughly 250 streetlights dark along a four‑mile stretch of Shepard/Warner Road from Lowertown to Otto Avenue, despite citywide progress restoring lights. Public Works estimates it will cost $750,000 or more to fully restore the corridor; the city spent $2 million in 2024 replacing stolen wiring and installing high‑access poles, and 2025 service calls about dark lights are down about 30% year‑over‑year. Council President Rebecca Noecker is urging residents to press City Hall for dedicated funding, citing public‑safety concerns and recent related vandalism along the corridor.

The St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation purchased the condemned Capital City Plaza parking ramp at 50 Fourth St. from Madison Equities and will begin work to address safety violations, aiming to reopen it by late 2026. The privately funded deal, near the Green Line’s Central Station, keeps the ramp and the adjacent Alliance Bank Center closed for now while skyway connections to Osborn370 and Treasure Island Center remain open.

Gov. Tim Walz appointed transit specialist Robin Hutcheson as chair of the Metropolitan Council, with her term beginning Dec. 1, 2025 and running through Jan. 4, 2027; she succeeds Charlie Zelle, who retired in September, and interim chair Deb Barber is currently serving. Walz called Hutcheson a "proven leader" focused on roadway safety and quality of life. Hutcheson, a former Minneapolis Public Works director and Salt Lake City transportation director, is a Senate‑confirmed former administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration who worked on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and she also serves as a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies, runs Hutcheson Advisory, formerly led NACTO’s board, and holds degrees from CU Boulder and the University of Utah.

Xcel Energy canceled phase two of its Ten Mile Creek Solar project in St. Croix County, WI, proceeding with a 300‑MW first phase over 2,980 acres and adding a battery energy storage system that will interconnect via a new line to the Allen S. King site in Oak Park Heights. Xcel will file with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin by year‑end 2025, kicking off a 12–18 month review, with construction possible in late 2027 and service by late 2029 as the coal‑fired King plant retires in 2028.

Delta Flight 2313 from New York’s LaGuardia to Minneapolis–St. Paul was evacuated Tuesday evening after the crew reported a bomb threat around 8 p.m. ET, according to the Port Authority. Passengers deplaned while the aircraft was searched and cleared by about 10 p.m., but Delta delayed the flight until Wednesday morning.

Gov. Tim Walz and state public-safety leaders broke ground Monday on a $67 million Bureau of Criminal Apprehension regional office and forensic lab at 2350 Bassett Drive in Mankato. The 56,000‑square‑foot facility, slated to open in early 2027 with about 50 staff, will handle up to 6,000 cases and 12,000 evidence items per year, expand DNA/firearms/drug testing and training, and is expected to ease caseload pressure on the St. Paul BCA lab that serves the Twin Cities.

Hennepin County Judge Laura Thomas reduced a jury’s roughly $4.26 million award in favor of Christopher Lee Swickard to $500,000, citing Minnesota’s statutory damages cap on claims against public entities. A jury had found Metro Transit 80% at fault (Swickard 20%) after Swickard, 52, had his left leg amputated below the knee following a February 2023 incident on E. Lake St.; the probationary driver, Said Muse, resigned and argued Swickard caused his own injuries by chasing the bus, and Metro Transit notes warnings against running after buses.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that 36% of drivers observed at roadside incident scenes neither slowed down nor moved over, based on traffic‑camera analysis of 12,360 motorists in 13 states. Minnesota’s Move Over (Ted Foss) law requires motorists to change lanes—or slow down if they cannot—when passing emergency, maintenance, and, since 2023, stalled or disabled vehicles with hazards flashing; state records show nearly 1,500 Minnesotans have been cited so far in 2025 (about 1,680 in 2024 and 1,400 in 2023). Officials and AAA Minnesota say increased awareness and consistent messaging could improve compliance and protect responders and stranded motorists on Twin Cities roads.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has launched a weekly food aid program for unpaid federal workers affected by the government shutdown. AFGE leader and MSP TSA agent Neal Gosman said TSA employees took home donated food boxes after their shifts, and AFGE representative Mark Johnson said many workers cannot pay rent due Nov. 1 and face $50/day late fees.

The Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require facial recognition and photo capture for all non‑U.S. citizens, including green‑card holders, at all ports of entry and departure starting Dec. 26, 2025. The Federal Register rule expands CBP’s existing program to land, sea, and air locations, authorizes biometric capture for children under 14 and adults over 79, and aims to combat document fraud and enhance border security.

Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines will launch a new route between Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and increase frequencies to other coastal destinations as part of its summer 2026 schedule. The expansion adds a new nonstop option for Twin Cities travelers and boosts flights to popular coastal markets during the peak summer season.

Microsoft reported on Oct. 29 that issues with its Azure Front Door content delivery network are causing access problems to Azure and services like Office 365, Minecraft, Xbox Live and Copilot. The company says it is investigating and mitigating; outage reports surged on Downdetector, and Microsoft acknowledged the incident on its status page and social media. The disruption could affect Twin Cities businesses and consumers that rely on Microsoft cloud services.

Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis reopens Friday after roughly 1.5 years of reconstruction between Lake Street and Douglas Avenue, a project that topped $30 million and added protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks and new bus shelters. Businesses along the corridor — some of which reported steep revenue losses (Autopia said a 60% drop) and closures such as Pizza Shark while the Uptown Art Fair relocated — received support from the city, which awarded grants to 36 businesses between Franklin and W. 36th Street through its business technical assistance program over the past two years.

A Wisconsin man died in a two‑vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Afton, Minnesota, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. The collision occurred in Washington County on the east‑metro interstate corridor; authorities are investigating the cause and have not yet released further details.

MnDOT closed Highway 65 in both directions between Highway 10 and 85th Avenue NE in Spring Lake Park on Tuesday after a semi hauling a metal pedestrian bridge struck the County Road 10 bridge deck around 11:25 a.m. The Minnesota State Patrol says the impact disconnected the trailer, which was then hit by another vehicle; no injuries were reported. The closure was announced just before noon with an estimated reopening by 4 p.m.

Edina police are searching for a man who fired a shot at a woman’s SUV on northbound Highway 169 just north of I‑494 around 7 a.m. on Oct. 11; no one was injured. On Oct. 27, police released photos of the suspect’s older sedan with tinted windows and asked anyone with information to email EdinaPoliceTips@EdinaMN.gov after the victim reported the sedan was weaving and the driver pointed a gun and fired as she passed.

Forest Lake police closed Highway 61 late Sunday after a man threatening suicide prompted an emergency response on the roadway. Officers shut the highway to protect the public and manage the situation in Forest Lake, Washington County; the report details how police handled the incident.

Rick King, chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, announced his retirement on Oct. 26, 2025. The MAC oversees Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and several reliever airports, making the leadership change significant for the Twin Cities’ primary aviation infrastructure; the report did not immediately specify timing or succession details.

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Portland aborted its takeoff at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport after flames were seen shooting from an engine. Authorities and reports described the incident as an "aircraft fire."

Alaska Airlines said Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, that it has resumed operations after an IT outage grounded its flights for hours, causing delays and cancellations across its network. The disruption affected flights serving Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) before service restarted.

Trains on the Southwest Light Rail have begun moving along the new tracks for on‑track testing. The Metropolitan Council says the Green Line extension to the west metro is still targeted to begin service in 2027, reaffirming that timeline after testing started.

Metro Transit will replace Northstar commuter rail service at the Big Lake and Elk River stations with new express bus service, affecting riders who use those stations to reach Minneapolis and other Twin Cities stops. The change shifts how Sherburne County commuters access the Northstar corridor and downtown, with officials outlining the replacement service to maintain connectivity.

MnDOT says sections of I-94 through downtown St. Paul will be closed from Friday through Monday for construction work, with posted detours and significant travel delays expected. The shutdown affects a core interstate corridor used by commuters and event traffic, and is part of ongoing road and bridge work in the downtown St. Paul area.

The Brooklyn Center Fire Department extinguished a school bus fire near 55th Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard shortly before 3 p.m., safely evacuating eight children with help from the driver and bystanders. Metro Transit provided a bus to keep students warm and Brooklyn Center police coordinated reunification at a nearby elementary school; the bus was a total loss and the cause is under investigation, with an initial suspicion of a mechanical issue near the engine.

Grand Avenue between Macalester and Wheeler streets reopens Tuesday, Oct. 21, with a free community celebration from 4–6 p.m. and a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.; traffic is expected to reopen by 11 p.m. The $6.7 million phase — part of the larger Grand Ave. project between Snelling and Fairview and partly funded by the 1% sales tax approved in 2023 — aims to improve pedestrian safety and crossings, modernize infrastructure, and upgrade environmental and transit amenities, with most construction due to finish by year‑end 2025 and final cleanup into 2026.

A rollover crash closed a stretch of I-35W in Burnsville during the morning commute, forcing traffic to divert, according to a local report. Authorities warned of significant delays as detours were set up; no immediate information on injuries or a reopening timeline was available.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services will discontinue its pilot for same‑day printing of standard Class D driver’s licenses on Oct. 31, 2025, after recommending against expansion due to quality and appearance differences that led to acceptance issues at bars and airports. The pilot, launched in May 2023 at the Dakota County License Center in Lakeville and in Moorhead, will shift all standard licenses, IDs, and permits back to vendor‑printed cards mailed to customers.

Minneapolis Public Works will begin its fall street sweeping on Tuesday, enforcing temporary 'No Parking' rules on posted streets while crews clean. Residents are urged to watch for signs, use the city’s online map or call 311 to check their block’s schedule; vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed and towed.

The Stillwater Lift Bridge in Washington County closed for the season on Oct. 20, affecting pedestrian and bicycle crossings on the St. Croix River in the Twin Cities metro. The seasonal shutdown diverts trail users to alternative routes such as the St. Croix Crossing path until the bridge reopens in spring.

The Minnesota State Patrol says a motorcyclist who was speeding crashed on a downtown Minneapolis freeway ramp and died. The fatal single-vehicle crash occurred on a ramp serving the city’s downtown; the State Patrol is investigating and has not yet released further details.

Ryan Ebert, 44, an 18‑year veteran of the St. Cloud Police Department, died Oct. 18 at Hennepin County Medical Center after being gravely injured in a crash Oct. 13 on northbound Highway 77 just south of I‑35E in Apple Valley. The Minnesota State Patrol report says Ebert’s pickup struck a transit bus and a cable barrier, the 65‑year‑old bus driver suffered non‑life‑threatening injuries, the report lists alcohol as a factor and notes Ebert was not wearing a seat belt, though St. Cloud Chief Jeff Oxton said medical records showed only a trace amount well below impairment levels; family members have authorized organ donation and final MSP findings are pending.

A chain-reaction collision in Minneapolis involving two SUVs and a moving train left one driver in critical condition, according to the Star Tribune. The crash occurred at a rail crossing in Minneapolis; emergency responders transported the critically injured driver as investigators worked to determine how the sequence of impacts unfolded.

Two drivers were killed in a wrong-way collision on U.S. Highway 52 in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Authorities responded to the scene in Dakota County and have opened an investigation into how the wrong-way vehicle entered the roadway.

MnDOT will close both directions of Highway 7 between Vine Hill Road in Shorewood/Deephaven and County Road 101 in Minnetonka from 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, for a culvert replacement. Drivers will be detoured via I-494, Highway 5, and Highway 41 during the shutdown.

MSP Airport and the Metropolitan Airports Commission say MEA-week travel will surge about 19% over a typical fall day, with more than 52,000 passengers expected at TSA on Thursday, Oct. 16, and over 50,000 on Wednesday, Oct. 15. To ease congestion, a new free FLEX Lane at Terminal 1 on the left side of Departures Drive (access via doors 5–8; connected to ramps and sky bridges) is now available, while officials expect only minimal local impacts from the ongoing federal government shutdown. Travelers are urged to arrive two hours early for domestic flights, three hours for international, consider MSP RESERVE for security, prebook parking, and use cell phone lots for pickups.

The City of Bloomington spent nearly $1 million in federal COVID‑19 relief funds to renovate a bathroom at City Hall, according to a Star Tribune report. The use of federal aid for a municipal facility upgrade highlights how pandemic funds were allocated locally and raises oversight and prioritization questions for residents and officials.

An 85-year-old Lakeville man died and a 44-year-old Farmington woman was critically injured after a wrong-way crash around 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, on Cedar Avenue just south of 185th St. W in Lakeville. Police say preliminary information indicates the man was driving south in the northbound lanes when the vehicles collided; both were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, and investigators report no signs of impairment at the scene as the probe continues.

The City of Minneapolis has issued a formal Request for Proposals this week for Phase One of the 'New Nicollet' redevelopment at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue, the former Kmart site long blamed for severing the corridor. Phase One targets the southeast quadrant with subsidized and affordable apartments; bids are due in January 2026, with a developer to be approved later in 2026 and construction still several years away.

City of Bloomington officials are considering a 9.44% property tax increase alongside plans for a $100 million complex, according to a new report. The proposal would affect Bloomington taxpayers in Hennepin County as city leaders review budget and capital project options.

Jerrod Rentist Johnson, 20, of Minneapolis, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly using a large wooden table leg to repeatedly beat a woman at the Fairview and University Avenue Green Line platform in St. Paul about 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2025; surveillance footage reportedly shows initial swings, 21 additional strikes and about 17 seconds of continued blows after the victim lost consciousness. The victim suffered a fractured skull, multiple fractures in her right arm, a swollen‑shut eye, a concussion and head wounds closed with staples; officers found a bloodied table leg on the platform and arrested Johnson with blood on his hands, and he faces a separate pending assault charge in Hennepin County.

MnDOT will close I-494 between I-35W and Highway 77 overnight Friday at 10 p.m. through Saturday at 5 a.m. to pour concrete for the Portland Avenue bridge decks; drivers are detoured to Highway 62. Two ramps — I-494 east to Lyndale Avenue and I-35W north to eastbound I-494 — are scheduled to close starting Sunday night, Oct. 12 and will remain closed through November.

MnDOT announced the John Ireland Boulevard bridge over I-94 in St. Paul will close starting Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, for a teardown and rebuild and is expected to remain closed until August 2026. The long-term project is part of repairs to nine bridges on I-94 and I-35E in St. Paul; MnDOT published driver and pedestrian detours and warned of construction noise and traffic impacts for nearby residents and commuters.

MnDOT announced overnight lane reductions and targeted closures on I-35W in Burnsville beginning Monday, Oct. 6, to allow crews to stripe and deck the westbound Highway 13 bridge. Southbound I-35W will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Oct. 6–8 while northbound is reduced to one lane; then northbound will be closed nightly 9 p.m.–5 a.m. Oct. 8–10, with detours and traffic impacts between I-494 and the I-35/I-35E/I-35W split.

Authorities identified the pickup driver killed in the head-on Andover crash with a school bus as Dustin King, according to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend. Deputies said the pickup, which was towing a trailer, crossed the center line on Roanoke Street at 175th Avenue NW (just south of the Rum River) and struck the school bus; the driver was pronounced dead at the scene and two people on the bus were injured.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will hold its first-ever statewide safety stand-down on Sept. 29, pausing projects and requiring all employees to reflect and recommit to work-zone safety in honor of two contractors killed in Twin Cities work zones last week. One worker was struck by a construction vehicle with a boom on I-35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24 and another by a dump truck on Hwy. 610 in Maple Grove on Sept. 26; MnDOT says it is coordinating with the State Patrol and Minnesota OSHA on investigations, noting the deaths are Minnesota’s fifth and sixth construction-related fatalities this year.

Spirit Airlines will end all flights and service at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, exiting the market in December. The move follows the carrier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this year and comes after it had already scaled back most of its MSP flights.

A Sept. 27 report says a $600 million renovation program at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is nearing completion. The multi‑year capital project, overseen by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, modernizes facilities at the region’s primary airport and is entering its final phase.

A second highway construction-zone worker has been killed in the Twin Cities on successive days, the Star Tribune reports, one day after a worker died on I-35W in Burnsville. Authorities are investigating both crashes amid renewed concerns about driver behavior and safety in active work zones across the metro.

St. Paul Regional Water Services opened its new $250 million McCarrons water treatment plant on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, upgrading core drinking water infrastructure for St. Paul and nearby suburbs. The facility’s commissioning marks a major capital project for the utility intended to enhance service reliability and capacity for metro customers.

Westbound I-94 will be closed in downtown St. Paul between southbound I-35E and John Ireland Blvd. from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, through Monday, Sept. 29, as part of a MnDOT project to repair nine bridges on I-94 and I-35E. Detours include routing northbound I-35E traffic to westbound Hwy 36 and southbound Hwy 280, and sending southbound I-35E drivers via eastbound I-94 to southbound Hwy 52 to I-494; additional weekend closures and John Ireland Blvd. bridge work in October mean drivers should expect delays.

MnDOT says eastbound I-94 at Minnesota 610 in Maple Grove is closed Thursday afternoon due to a traffic incident, with reopening estimated around 6 p.m. A separate crash on westbound MN 610 between Fernbrook Lane N and Maple Grove Parkway is contributing to major backups amid ongoing construction lane closures.

A construction worker was fatally struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35W in Burnsville on Sept. 24, 2025, authorities said. The incident occurred within a work zone on the core Twin Cities freeway and remains under investigation.

Bridge work on Interstate 94 over the St. Croix River at the Minnesota–Wisconsin border will begin Monday, affecting traffic between Washington County and Hudson. The project is slated to create travel impacts at the busy Twin Cities–to–Wisconsin crossing; drivers should plan for delays and possible changes to traffic patterns.

Metro Transit will shut the Blue Line light rail for 12 days starting at 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, through Saturday, Oct. 4, with replacement buses running and trips expected to take longer. The closure launches phase one of the agency’s multi-year Renew the Blue project, replacing track along the entire corridor and several switches near Cedar-Riverside; trains resume at 7 a.m. Oct. 4, running every 12 minutes. A second phase is planned for June 2026 with a 45-day full-line closure; the Blue Line carries more than 17,000 rides per day.

Five people were shot near the Midtown Greenway by Lake Street and Stevens Avenue, steps from the transit station, shortly after 11 a.m. on Sept. 15; one victim, 46-year-old Adam John Peterson, died at the hospital Saturday. Investigators say shots were fired near the Greenway and on a walkway by the I-35W exit ramp, with victims found at multiple nearby locations; no arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Police Chief Brian O’Hara has linked the violence to nearby encampment activity and signaled increased enforcement.

The City of St. Paul reopened West 7th Street on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, after a sinkhole forced a four-month closure. The restoration of the major corridor resumes normal traffic flow along a key route connecting downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Metro Transit says it will increase service to accommodate the all-day Farm Aid 40 concert at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, adding capacity and extra trips to handle large crowds before and after the event. The agency is directing concertgoers to use transit for access to the stadium area given expected heavy traffic and limited parking.

A Minneapolis resident filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Metropolitan Council, alleging Metro Transit light-rail stations have accessibility barriers that impede access for people with disabilities. The case targets station conditions on the Twin Cities LRT system; details on the specific stations and court venue were not immediately available.

The City of Falcon Heights reports earning a $49,000 profit from on-street parking fees charged during the Minnesota State Fair in areas near the fairgrounds. The fees were enforced on city streets in Falcon Heights during the event, generating revenue beyond program costs.