|
| | | FBI Raids at Minneapolis Child Care Centers | The FBI executed search warrants at 22 locations in Minnesota yesterday morning in collaboration with other federal, state, and local law enforcement. According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the raids were related to "the rampant fraud of U.S. taxpayer dollars" and were not connected to immigration enforcement. Federal agencies did not immediately announce any arrests in the raids. [Star Tribune] | - Quick recap: In late December 2025, YouTuber Nick Shirley posted a viral video alleging fraud at nearly a dozen daycare centers in Minneapolis. The state of Minnesota conducted on-site compliance checks at nine of the accused locations and found them to be "operating as expected." The Trump administration has sought to connect Minnesota's Somali community to fraud and used fraud as part of the justification for sending over 3,000 immigration enforcement agents to the state. [Reuters / CBS News]
- Who's being targeted? The search warrants were executed mostly at Somali-owned businesses. Umi Hassan, owner of ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis, said the Somali community is being profiled and is experiencing "a collective banishing." Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer thanked the DHS for "taking action against Somali fraudsters." Gov. Tim Walz said "if you commit fraud in Minnesota, you're going to get caught," following with a call for joint investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renée Good "instead of cherry picking when we seek justice and when we turn a blind eye." [FOX 5 / Star Tribune]
|
|
|
|
|  | Pagliacci, 2024 © Brent Delanoy for The Glimmerglass Festival |
| | For a traveling theater troupe, painted smiles and colorful costumes belie infidelity and betrayal. The façade is shattered when a hidden affair is revealed and a night of theater gives way to jealousy, suspicion, and ultimately violence. As the line between performance and reality blurs and the drama onstage begins to mirror the turmoil offstage, Pagliacci begs the question—does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? | | Tickets at MNOPERA.ORG. |
|
|
|
| What the Cities Are Talking About |
| I-94 Subway Line: In a piece for Streets.mn, Union Park District Council board member Scott Berger makes an intriguing case for building a subway line between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul where I-94 currently runs. MnDOT is already planning to reconstruct or significantly redesign the I-94 corridor, but hasn’t chosen a final design yet. Berger argues that a subway line could cut public transit times between Minneapolis and St. Paul significantly, further unifying the Twin Cities as a single economy. What do you think? Reply to this email to share your thoughts. [Streets.mn] | | In other MnDOT news: Minneapolis City Council Members Elliott Payne and Michael Rainville are backing a proposed “Art Walk” on Central Avenue NE, urging MnDOT to include it in the street’s 2028 reconstruction. The plan would narrow traffic lanes by about six inches each, creating roughly four extra feet of sidewalk space for art, outdoor seating, and pop-up markets. [Northeaster / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities] | |  | Daniel del Prado faced backlash after announcing a QR code ordering system at Cardamom. (Adam Sage / City Cast Twin Cities) |
| From scandal to sushi: Local restaurateur Daniel del Prado is quietly planning to open a new food hall near 50th and France featuring Korean fried chicken from Daq Daq, pizza and salad from Lucia, and nigiri and rolls from Rose Sushi. The move comes after the Walker Art Center cut ties with del Prado's Cardamom restaurant following backlash from the decision to abruptly replace some staff with QR codes. [Star Tribune / Racket] | | Evidence fight continues: Becca Good is asking the FBI to return the car that her wife Renée Macklin Good was driving when she was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Attorneys argue that the federal government has no reason to keep the vehicle as they have publicly declined to open an investigation into the shooting. [MPR News] | | You think you know the news? Take a stab at this week's news quiz to test your knowledge of local headlines. [City Cast Twin Cities] | |
|
|
|
| | Wednesday, Apr 29 | | | Thursday, Apr 30 | | | |
|
|
|
|
| Before I go, a huge THANK YOU to our new Neighbors Autumn W., Kendra F., Katherine D., Valerie D., Sarah O., and Megan H. who joined us as we were wrapping up our spring membership campaign. | | We still have a few extra Twin Cities Loon pennants available, so anyone who signs up this week can still get one! | | | |
| |
|
|
|
