Welcome, Twin Cities newbies! Here’s everything we forgot to tell you about Minnesota, from why we refuse to eat the last bite to why we don’t dance at concerts. Plus, we’ll hear some heartwarming stories from real-life transplants. Also, if you don’t know what the heck a data center is and why there’s so much controversy, join the club. Professors Elise Harrington and James Coleman from the University of Minnesota will share what you need to know if a tech company comes a’knockin’ to town.

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 13th episode:

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Berlin

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

The long-vacant Sears near the state Capitol has a new owner, and hopefully soon, a new life. The Rondo Community Land Trust is promising to replace it with a mixed-use space. Listen on to hear how the org is putting land back into community hands. Plus, although Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara was lauded as a changemaker at the start of his term, it’s not clear he’ll get a second. What can he do to survive 22 open misconduct complaints and being $20 million over budget?

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 10th episode:

Taskrabbit

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A masked vigilante in Minneapolis who goes by the name of "NoMark" has amassed over half a million followers on social media for his crime-fighting antics. But is that really what the city needs? Host Sean McPherson and contributor Tane Danger discuss. Musician Jeremy Messersmith joins to talk about his new album, “Fox Coyote,” and his April 24–25 release shows at the Parkway Theater, plus his dos and don’ts for hosting house shows. Sean and Tane also get into escalating financial trouble at Hennepin County Medical Center, including leadership turnover and a push for legislative approval to raise a downtown Minneapolis sales tax to help fund the hospital, with potential service closures looming.

Check out jeremy messersmith's new album, Fox/Coyote

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 9th episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

What should you do if you see a loon falling from the sky? You’ll know after listening to this episode, and we’ll explain why Minnesota's state bird sometimes drops from the sky. Plus, the city of Minneapolis quietly released video footage from the night an ICE agent shot a man in North Minneapolis back in January, and it tells a very different story than what the Department of Homeland Security put out. Later, freelance journalist Anya Armentrout joins to talk about her recent story with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder about why Minnesota ranks seventh worst in the country for grocery store access, which Twin Cities neighborhoods are hit hardest, and the local organizations getting creative to bring food to people who need it most.

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 8th episode:

Taskrabbit

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

If you don’t know Roy Blakey, you should. Blakey traveled the world as a theatrical ice skater and later became the forefather of male nude photography. His niece, Keri Pickett, captures his legacy in her new documentary “Uncle Roy,” premiering at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. Plus, after much controversy and many community workshops, the city’s plan for George Floyd Square is in place. But organizers who turned the place into an autonomous zone remain resolute. What’s next for the memorial?

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 7th episode:

Taskrabbit

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Dan Suitor is one of many lawyers in the Twin Cities who have pivoted to helping free immigrants from ICE custody by filing habeas petitions. But he doesn’t do immigration law. As a self-described "dirtbag" lawyer, Suitor shares why the moment compelled him to step outside his comfort zone. Suitor also explains why advocates’ fight to temporarily change the pre-eviction notice window from 30 days to 60 days is important. Plus, check out the St. Paul Art Crawl and excellent local music this week. 

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 6th episode:

Taskrabbit

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

If you are a fan of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, you already know how incredible women's sports are! While more and more people are embracing women’s sports, Denver is only the second city in the U.S. to build a stadium specifically for women’s soccer. Will betting on women’s sports drive Denver’s economy or will Denverites be left paying the price for another stadium? City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver podcast host Bree Davies about why Denver has invested so much into having sports downtown, how Denver has capitalized on repurposing old industrial spaces, and how bad traffic gets when all your sports are downtown. Plus, is it better to have a Mayor with or without aims for a greater political office?

Mentioned on the show:

The $tadium Game: Inside the lucrative world of Colorado’s pro sports stadiums [⁠The Denver Pos⁠t]

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? ⁠Email David now! ⁠

We’re also on Instagram: ⁠@yourcitycouldbebetter⁠

Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? ⁠Check out our options⁠.

The Twin Cities punches above its weight when it comes to breakfast. In fact, host Sean McPherson will argue any day that we do breakfast better than anywhere else. With so many great spots to choose from, Sean is joined by celebrated food critic and our newest City Cast contributor, Kirstie Kimball, as well as contributor Hans Buetow, to highlight the best of the best. Later, executive director of the Sex Workers Outreach Project, Andi Snow, joins the conversation to discuss the state of sex work in the Twin Cities, how labor organizing works for sex workers, and how our cities' sex workers responded to Operation Metro Surge.

Check out the excellent breakfast spots mentioned in today's episode:

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 3rd episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In the future, grocery stores could use data they’ve collected on you to change the price of your bananas (or other food of choice). Though that reality isn’t here yet, Sen. Lindsey Port wants to preempt this “surveillance pricing.” Plus, we go chasin’ waterfalls (and hot dogs) for this month’s events guide. Also – Aldi or Aldi’s? 

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 2nd episode:

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Bob Dylan recently launched a Patreon promising “a living archive of lectures from the grave, letters never sent, and original short stories curated by Bob Dylan.” Producer Adam paid the $5 to subscribe and reports back on what’s inside. It’s also contributor and MPR newsroom coordinator Denzel Belin’s birthday, so host Sean McPherson puts his news instincts to the test in a round of “Head-Lies,” where Denzel has to pick the one real headline from a group of fakes.

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.