7/12/2024 -- Minneapolis Parks Strike Continues On

Minneapolis

Historic Minneapolis Park Workers Strike Continues Indefinitely

The Summary: The Minneapolis park workers' strike, initially planned for one week, will now continue indefinitely due to stalled negotiations.

Background: The strike was originally set to last one week, starting shortly before the July 4th holiday weekend. The decision to extend the strike comes after seven months of negotiations, which have been at a standstill since a 16-hour meeting on July 1.

Wage and Working Conditions: Workers have criticized the park board for allowing wages to fall behind inflation and for offering lower pay compared to neighboring cities.

"We are united. We have each others' backs. Organized labor has our back. The community has our back, and we will fight until we get a fair contract and the respect we deserve.” -AJ Lang, Union Leader

Business

❯ MSP Airport Ranked #1: The MSP Airport (MSP) has been named the No. 1 airport in the United States in Travel+Leisure's 2024 World's Best Awards survey, recognized for excellence in access, check-in and security, restaurants and bars, shopping, and design.

❯ Mike Lindell Faces Eviction: Mike Lindell's MyPillow is facing eviction from another Twin Cities building after a lawsuit alleged the company owes nearly $450,000 in rent payments, despite Lindell's claim that the issue is resolved.

❯ U of M Closes Clinic: The University of Minnesota is closing its nurse practitioner clinic in downtown Minneapolis on October 31 due to financial viability issues, having required over $3 million in subsidies since its opening in 2015.

What Else We’re Reading…

Metal Thieves Are Stripping America’s Cities

A new article from the New York Times talking about copper wire thieves heavily features the Twin Cities which have been plagued the past few years, costing the cities thousands in repairs.

“The moment we fix them, people come back and snatch them up again.” -St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter

GAME: Three Headlines and a Lie — State Fair Food Edition

This week the new state fair foods were announced. Three of the foods listed below will be at the 2024 fair while one is a lie. Try to spot the lie — the links will reveal which one’s are real and which one is the lie.

❯ Deep Fried Ranch Dressing (link)

❯ Buffalo Cheese Curd and Chicken Tacos (link)

❯ Sweet Corn Cotton Candy (link)

❯ Cookie Butter Crunch Mini Donuts (link)

Read the full list of the new state fair foods here.

Sports

🏀 Anthony Edwards led Team USA in scoring in their exhibition against Canada. He had some highlight reel plays.

🏀 Caitlin Clark is in town this weekend to face the Lynx, and Target Center has officially sold out.  

🏒 PWHL Minnesota has had additional coaching turnover after firing three more coaches this past week.

💲 U of M Athletic Director Mark Coyle hinted that more cuts may be on the horizon within Gopher Athletics as the department faces financial pressures in the NIL world.

🍸 Cocktails will now be allowed to be served at Gopher football games starting this fall (All Gophers).

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ Minneapolis has outlined plans to launch speed and red light cameras (KSTP)

❯ Minneapolis has bid to become the new location for the Sundance Film Festival (WCCO)

❯ Downtown St. Paul's only remaining grocery store, Lunds & Byerlys, cuts hours (Star Tribune)

❯ Minnesota human services department is investigating 15 autism providers for possible fraud (Minnesota Reformer)

❯ Minneapolis sets hotel revenue record in June (Fox9)

Quick hits

Headlines From Greater Minnesota ✔

❯ Duluth officials have proposed criminalizing public encampments (MPR)

❯ A Crookston officer who killed man in homeless shelter is ID'd as same officer who killed man in May (Star Tribune)

❯ Pine City has made history by appointing the first openly gay mayor in the history of the city (Fox9)

The Final Word: Check Your Uber For Snakes

You have to read this article to belive it. A python was found in a rideshare car this past week. Someone’s driver rating is about to go down.

-Patrick