Twin Cities employers are shifting hiring toward skills, certificates and AI fluency. Local companies and workforce programs are ramping up training.

A long investigation by a Central Minnesota task force ended with nine arrests and more than 2.5 pounds of cocaine seized in the St. Cloud area.

Sunny and mild Wednesday with highs near 74°F. Thunderstorm chances return Thursday and fire‑weather concerns spike Friday.

A crash near Manbeck Island on Lake Vermilion tossed boaters into the water Tuesday night; one person died and three were hospitalized.

Ariat will open its largest retail shop at Mall of America, marking the brand’s first Minnesota storefront and adding another national name to MOA’s 2026 expansion.

Federal prosecutors say a man set an Eden Prairie townhome on fire with four children inside; a judge has now sentenced him to 15 years in prison. A 9‑month‑old was hospitalized and three other children suffered lesser injuries.

Clear, breezy Tuesday in Minneapolis with highs near 74°F; a Red Flag Warning affects parts of western and southern Minnesota today. Secure outdoor items and postpone burns.

A jury cleared a Maple Grove daycare teacher on counts decided in a 2024 alleged touching case; jurors deadlocked on two other counts and related charges remain pending.

Hempel bought a West End Office Park building and plans roughly 150 senior independent‑living units plus ground‑floor retail, while Terasă construction continues across the street.

A proposed mixed‑use project that would reopen part of the Dock Cinema has reignited a fight in downtown Excelsior after the Heritage Preservation Commission blocked a demolition permit. The decision pits housing and economic goals against preservation of the town’s historic character.

Frost and a Freeze Warning early Monday give way to sunshine and a quick warmup into the 70s. Gusty afternoons later this week mean secure outdoor items and avoid open burning.

Frost Advisory through 8 a.m. CDT in Minneapolis. Showers and gusty winds possible late Monday into Tuesday.

A veteran NBA referee was held back after confronting Timberwolves coach Chris Finch late in Saturday’s playoff game at Target Center.