8/19/2024 --Four Children Shot in Stolen Car

Crime

Four Children Shot Driving In Stolen Car In Minneapolis

The Summary: Early Sunday morning, four children between the ages of 11 and 13 were shot while riding in a stolen car in north Minneapolis. The victims include three boys and one girl.

Details of the Shooting: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara reported that the children were in a stolen Kia near West Broadway and N. Girard Avenue when a dark-colored sedan began following them and opened fire with a fully automatic weapon.

Repeat Incident: Two of the five minors involved in the incident were arrested less than two weeks ago for being inside a different stolen car.

Police Response: During a press conference, Chief O’Hara condemned the incident as "outrageous" and highlighted the growing concern of juveniles involved in serious crimes while driving stolen vehicles.

“We are failing these kids.” -Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Police Chief

Minneapolis

Smith Foundry Officially Shuts Down After Numerous EPA Violations — East Phillips Residents Celebrate

The Summary: Smith Foundry in Minneapolis' East Phillips neighborhood closed its doors permanently on August 15th following an EPA inspection that revealed significant pollution violations. The closure marks the end of over 100 years of operation, during which residents endured high levels of air pollution.

Community Reaction: Residents celebrated the closure with a gathering at Cedar Field Park, expressing relief and joy after years of concern over the foundry's emissions. Community members had long complained about the foundry's acrid smells and black dust, which were substantiated by the EPA’s findings.

EPA Findings and Legal Actions: The EPA’s surprise inspection in May 2023 found that Smith Foundry had been emitting nearly double the pollution allowed by its state-issued permit from 2018 to 2023.

Impact on the Neighborhood: The foundry’s closure is expected to significantly improve air quality in the East Phillips area. Residents and local leaders, who have been advocating for environmental justice for years, view this as a major victory.

Business

❯ Lifetime To Create New Pickleball: The Chanhassen-based company has been increasing its presence in the pickleball market the last few years and has now filed a patent for a new ball it says has better bounce and durability.

❯ Minnesota Strong Labor Market: Accoring to the “State of Working Minnesota” report, Minnesota has the highest median wage in the Midwest at $26.43 per hour, a labor force participation rate of 68.3%, and the second smallest share of workers earning poverty wages at 13%.

❯ Startup Growth: Sixty-nine Twin Cities startups, including VivaQuant with a 1,770% growth, are among the fastest-growing private companies in America, according to the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.

What Else We’re Reading…

Twin Cities Based Nautical Bowls Under Fire From Franchise Owners

Nautical Bowls, a Twin Cities-based franchise, is facing multiple lawsuits from investors who claim they were misled about the profitability of the business, leading to significant financial losses and the closure of several stores. The CEO, Peter Taunton, was fired amidst these allegations, as franchisees report losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some forced to sell their homes or file for bankruptcy.

Read the full story from Fox9 here.

Sports

🏈 The Minnesota Vikings won their second pre-season football game on Saturday. Starting QB Sam Darnold did not play.

⚾ The Minnesota Twins won three out of four games against the Texas Rangers over the weekend. They now sit just 2 games back of first place in the AL Central.

🏈 The Minnesota Vikings made a big defensive trade by picking up All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore who is expected to quickly move into the starting line-up.

Quick hits

Headlines From Around The Twin Cities ✔

❯ The Star Tribune has changed its name to The Minnesota Star Tribune and announced plans to expand coverage in Greater Minnesota (NY Times)

❯ Minneapolis is paying $275k to a man beaten, choked by cop during 2020 riots (MPR)

❯ The Park Board is asking Minneapolis dog owners to clean up to avoid runoff (Axios)

❯ A Gustavus Adolphus teammate was charged with reckless driving in a crash that killed hockey player (Star Tribune)

❯ Derek Chauvin moved to new federal prison after stabbing (Fox9)

The Final Word: ✅ Off The Bucket List

Last week I went paddle boarding down Minnehaha Creek for the first time, starting in Edina and ending in SW Minneapolis. The creek has had well-above average water levels this summer making paddle boarding or kayaking incredibly doable without hitting any shallow spots. I would highly recommend!

-Patrick