St. Louis Park now charges up to a 3% fee for city services paid with credit or debit cards to offset processing costs, but offers fee-free alternatives like cash, check, or ACH payments.

Captain Chad Bauer of Bloomington Fire Department is profiled for his dedication to service, detailing his career shift from utilities to firefighting and emphasizing his family and community bonds.

Bloomington's City Council approved a 6.96% property tax levy increase for 2026, below the initial 9.44% proposal and the Minnesota average, aiming to fund city services responsibly.

Mankato declares a snow emergency prohibiting parking downtown from Dec. 30 at 10 p.m. to Dec. 31 at 8 a.m. to enable snow clearing. Free parking is available at ramps. Towed vehicles can be found at Affordable Towing.

Saint Paul reintroduces alternate side parking rules for efficient snow management in specific neighborhoods during winter, aiming to improve road safety and accessibility.

Minneapolis faces snow and a drop to 12 degrees today, with wind chills hitting -10 degrees by New Year's Eve. The weather will continue cold with slight warming by Sunday. Travel conditions may be slick, with a hazardous weather warning issued.

Saint Paul has seen a significant reduction in homicides, achieving the lowest rate in 12 years. Police Chief Axel Henry credits proactive initiatives and community engagement for the improvement.

Free CPR and AED training sessions are offered by Heart Safe Plymouth, in collaboration with Plymouth Public Safety and the Rotary Club, with spots for early 2026.

Mankato Police Explorers volunteered at Kiwanis Holiday Lights, with a social media post praising their community engagement. Despite weather challenges, the event remains a festive highlight, ending December 31.

Minnetonka is renewing its water and sewer systems due to aging infrastructure, with strategic financial planning for future replacements and changes to billing structures to adapt to lower water usage trends.

Champlin's Jigsaw Jamboree returns on January 9, offering puzzle contests for teams, with casual and competitive sessions. Prizes await winners, and participants can keep their puzzles. Registration is open and spots are limited.

Champlin launched a Puzzle Exchange program, allowing residents to trade completed puzzles for tokens to get new ones, promoting community sharing and sustainability.

Mankato Police and Fire offer free Uber rides on New Year's Eve to promote safety, with a $15 voucher available from 8 pm to 2:30 am, in a collaborative effort to prevent impaired driving.