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| |  | Sangmin Cha of Minnesota Aurora FC kicks the ball during a game between South Georgia Tormenta FC and Minnesota Aurora FC on July 23, 2022. (Jeremy Olson / ISI Photos / Getty Images) |
| It’s almost soccer season | Are the Twin Cities the best place for women’s sports? President of Aurora FC Saara Hassoun thinks so. “ The Twin Cities has this really beautiful mix of being a big enough city to house so many different types of teams and so many different types of sports, but small enough that everybody knows each other,” she said on today’s episode. Since the Aurora began playing in 2022, they’ve gone undefeated in the regular season and landed at number one in the Heartland Division four times. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities] | - How can this be better?: Hassoun wants to keep developing relationships with women’s teams across the cities. She pointed to Portland, where the professional basketball and soccer teams have joined together to build a facility specifically for women athletes. [ESPN]
- Rising to the moment: In response to heightened immigration enforcement this winter, the team partnered with realtor Nate Pentz to donate $5 from every season ticket to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
- Jump on the fanwagon: The best way to become a superfan? Just show up, Hassoun said. You don’t have to know everything, and the team is still new enough that you can say you were an OG fan.
- Plan ahead: The home opener is May 21, when the Aurora will face Rochester FC at TCO Stadium. [2026 Season Schedule]
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| What the Cities Are Talking About |
| What’s brewing: Witch’s Hat Tower stans, rise up! The Minneapolis City Council secured a contractor to begin renovations on the iconic water tower. There isn’t a set reopening date, but it could be late 2027 or 2028. [MSP Mag] | | Comeback: Our Streets, which ran Open Streets for a decade, will once again be in charge of the Lyndale Avenue takeover this summer. The city of Minneapolis ended the partnership in 2023. Our Streets told Bring Me The News they needed more money than the city would give. The June event, which closes Lyndale Avenue to vehicle traffic and allows residents to pursue vendors in the street, will be privately funded. [Bring Me The News] | | Following the money: Independent journalist Taylor Dahlin tracked down where $1 million in Minneapolis grants for small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge is going. Interesting highlights: The West Bank Business Association is working on a “storefront walking museum” while Whittier received $17,000 for upkeep of the Alex Pretti memorial. [Taylor Dahlin] | |  | The Tree of Life ceremony ends with the raising of the maypole. (Tiffany Bui / City Cast Twin Cities) |
| Welcome, spring: I’m still emotional after Sunday’s Mayday celebrations. Between the Battletrain with a half-pipe ramp and the gorgeous bug puppets, the parade had me smiling the whole time. The Tree of Life ceremony featured a moving play reflecting neighbors’ experiences during Operation Metro Surge, which had me close to tears. The best part was when the crowd started chanting “Sun! Sun!” as a boat bearing a large sun sculpture crossed Powderhorn Lake. | | Upgrades: Little Earth, the country’s only Native American-only Section 8 housing project, will get a $50 million remodel. For some residents, the renovation is long overdue; the complex hasn’t been updated since its founding 50 years ago. The housing project was created after the Indian Relocation Act of 1956. [Sahan Journal] |
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| | Tuesday, May 5 | | | Wednesday, May 6 | | | |
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| I’m telling all my friends about how COOL our members are! We are only two people away from reaching our goal of 75 new Neighbors. Thank you to Margaret L. and Eric N. for joining, you two are stars. 🤩 Will you help us cross the finish line? | | If you want something to tickle your brain, try this week’s crossword. All the answers are famous Minnesotans. |
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