Taylor Rivera

2 days ago | audacy.com | Taylor Rivera |Lindsey Peterson

Minneapolis is boosting summer safety efforts amid a violent start to the season. "Operation Safe Summer" will put more eyes on busy spots like food markets and big events like the Pride Festival and Taste of Minnesota, as well as shops for liquor and tobacco. All of it is aimed at making sure everyone feels safer in the city. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says this safety initiative is just one part of Minneapolis' comprehensive public safety plan - but it's a vitally important one.

3 days ago | audacy.com | Taylor Rivera |Susie Jones |Lindsey Peterson

Members of the Minneapolis Council are at odds over a Boom Island Park safety plan in the wake of Sunday's deadly shooting. The incident claimed the life of a 23-year-old woman and injured five others. It left a scene described as a "warzone" by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara. Councilmember Michael Rainville, whose ward includes the park, immediately called for the Boom Island parking lot to be closed nightly until further notice, citing a history of violent incidents.

3 days ago | audacy.com | Taylor Rivera |Steve Simpson |Lindsey Peterson

Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth (Cold Spring) is sharing some growing frustration over the budget stalemate that continues to grind on, as a special session has yet to be called. Demuth says that Governor Tim Walz's (DFL) priorities are contributing to delays as Minnesota approaches a July 1 government shutdown. "The governor has said that there's certain priorities that he's had that have to do with sustainable aviation fuel and data centers and a few different things," Demuth told WCCO.

2 weeks ago | audacy.com | Taylor Rivera

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a groundbreaking pension bill Friday amidst some legislative uncertainty. The $78 million bill will increase pension and disability benefits for public sector employees, including police officers, firefighters, and teachers. For public safety personnel represented by Public Employees Retirement Association police and fire there is a three-year cost-of-living adjustment delay once they retire. A year would be taken off in the bill.

2 weeks ago | audacy.com | Taylor Rivera |Laura Oakes

Memorial Day is Monday and local group "Flags for Fort Snelling" has revived the tradition of placing an American flag at every gravestone in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The practice was abandoned for nearly 30 years due to a lack of federal funding. But Flags for For Snelling founder Joanne Malmstedt credits dedicated volunteers for growing the effort from a few thousand flags to its current scale over the past decade.