2/28/2025 -- Nicollet Revamp

🎙 A bill in the Minnesota House could lead to the addition of two new official state songs from legendary Minnesota musicians.

Politics

Walz Rules Out U.S. Senate Run ❌

The Summary: Governor Tim Walz has announced that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Senator Tina Smith in 2026.

Consideration of Third Term: While ruling out a Senate bid, Walz is exploring the possibility of running for a third term as governor. A spokesperson for the governor stated that Walz "loves his job" and is considering another term to continue his work on making Minnesota "the best state in the country for kids.”

Impact on Senate Race: Walz's decision not to run opens up the field for other candidates. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has already entered the race, and Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig is seriously considering a run. On the Republican side, Royce White and Adam Schwarze have announced their candidacies.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Unveils Plan to Redevelop Former Kmart Site, Reconnect Nicollet Avenue

The Summary: The City of Minneapolis has unveiled its plan for the New Nicollet Redevelopment project, which will transform the former Kmart site on Lake Street. This project will reconnect Nicollet Avenue, which was closed off in 1977 when the Kmart was constructed.

Key Features: The Development Framework includes a new park, various housing options for families of all income levels, and space for small businesses and a grocery store. To accommodate increased traffic, more than 700 parking spaces are included in the design.

Community Input: The project's vision was shaped by extensive community engagement. Thousands of residents participated in 14 in-person and virtual events, submitted 2,245 survey responses, and engaged in 520 in-person interactions.

Timeline and Implementation: If approved by the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey, construction could begin later this year. The project is expected to be completed by 2030, with the reopening of Nicollet Avenue to traffic occurring a few years into the development.

What Else We’re Reading…

University of St. Thomas Loses Second Federal Grant for Teacher Preparation Amid DEI Funding Cuts 💲

The University of St. Thomas has lost two federal grants for teacher preparation programs due to the Trump administration's cuts on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The most recent loss was a $2.8 million Teacher Quality Partnership grant, which provided stipends to about 20 graduate students annually for their required student teaching internships. This follows the earlier cancellation of a $6.8 million grant that supported 185 students studying to become special education and elementary teachers.

🏠 💲 Real Estate Feature: Most Expensive House Listings in the Twin Cities Metro

Check out the five most expensive houses that are currently on the market in the Twin Cities Metro.

Twin Cities Metro

• House 1 — $18.5M

• House 2 — $13.4M

• House 3 — $12.4M

• House 4 — $10.5

• House 5 — $10.0M

Sports ⚽

Minnesota Loons Season Preview

The Summary: Minnesota United FC returns for the 2025 Major League Soccer season with a sense of stability and continuity. The team has retained many of its key players from last year, including Tani Oluwaseyi, Kelvin Yeboah, and Bongokuhle Hlongwane. This continuity is expected to help the Loons build on their previous success, having reached the MLS quarterfinals just a few months ago.

Season Outlook and Challenges: Minnesota United kicked off their season with a loss to LAFC but is looking forward to their home opener against CF Montréal. Despite the initial setback, the team remains optimistic about their goal-scoring potential, especially at home. Manager Ramsay expressed confidence that goals will come as the season progresses.

Season Predictions: Experts' predictions for Minnesota United's performance in the 2025 season vary widely. While some analysts project a finish as high as 3rd or 4th in the Western Conference, others foresee a mid-table or lower placement.

Other Sports

🏀 The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from down 25 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder to win in overtime.

🏀 The Gopher Men’s Basketball Team lost at home to Northwestern and now find themselves on the outside looking in for the upcoming Big 10 posteason tournament with just three games left.

🏀 The Gopher Women’s Basketball Team lost to Washington at home. They finish their regular season on the road at #23 Michigan State.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota ✔

❯ Senator Tina Smith had some choice words for Elon Musk (Bring Me The News)

❯ A mom in Little Falls has filed a lawsuit against Tik Tok (WCCO)

❯ Brooklyn Park is consider a law to limit the number of dogs and cats in a home (CCX)

❯ Red Wing schools cancelled a Black History Month event with Keith Ellison (MPR)

The Final Word: Seeing Double 👀

Audience members were treated to a surprise opener at this past weekend’s Jim Gaffigan show.

-Patrick