Good morning, this is Minneapolis Local Pulse for Friday, August 8th, 2025.
We start today with important public health updates. Eleven of our local beaches, including popular spots around Lake Nokomis and Bde Maka Ska, remain closed after routine water quality checks revealed unsafe bacteria levels. If you were planning to swim, it’s a good idea to check before heading out. And there’s an air quality alert in effect across the city through at least noon today, driven by lingering wildfire smoke from Canada. The haze could make outdoor activities tough, especially for kids, seniors, and anyone with respiratory concerns. The forecast calls for humid, hot conditions with highs climbing well into the 90s, and it could feel like 100 degrees later this afternoon. That mix of heat and haze means it’s a day for everyone to take it slow, drink plenty of water, and reconsider outdoor plans.
In City Hall news, a new audit reveals that communication breakdowns between city administration and the council affected how Minneapolis responded to an ICE protest early this summer. No rules were found to have been broken, but the report recommends better coordination when federal agencies conduct operations in our neighborhoods. Meanwhile, at the county level, the future of Hennepin Healthcare—Minnesota’s largest trauma center—is uncertain, as leaders warn that without new funding, the hospital may face closure within months. City and county commissioners are meeting to try and find solutions.
Turning to crime and public safety, we’ve been following a spike in car break-ins, especially in the Linden Hills area. Minneapolis police have taken nearly 350 reports of broken car windows in recent weeks, with many vehicles targeted on the same street. There’s also a renewed debate between Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Police Chief Brian O’Hara over how to address juvenile crime, especially after a recent incident over the weekend where four minors were involved in a shooting. Both officials are calling for more resources and accountability but continue to disagree on the right approach to prevention.
On a positive note, after a citywide search, a missing 12-year-old girl last seen near Minnehaha Falls has been found safe and is now home with her family.
If you’re looking for something fun this weekend, Target Field hosts the Twins versus the Royals for a three-game series, including tonight’s post-game fireworks display and Native American Heritage night tomorrow. For the artsy crowd, the Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival takes over the heart of the city, bringing live murals, pop-up performances, and local artisan markets. The Irish Fair of Minnesota kicks off today on Harriet Island in St. Paul, promising music, dance, and more than a few pints. Saturday also brings the 30th annual IgboFest, celebrating Nigerian culture, to North Minneapolis, with traditional food and spectacular costumes.
Job seekers, Minneapolis unemployment remains low—hovering near three percent—and new openings have been posted in tech, health care, and the hospitality sector as we near the back-to-school rush. In real estate, the median sale price of a Minneapolis home holds steady at roughly four hundred and ten thousand dollars, but agents report bidding wars heating up in neighborhoods like Powderhorn and Northeast.
In schools and sports, congratulations go out to the Minneapolis South High track team, which brought home a state title in the four-by-one relay this week. The community is also rallying behind Koi Perich, a standout athlete from North High, who’s getting national buzz for his versatility on the football field.
A final feel-good story to carry you into the weekend: Minneapolis Animal Care and Control has waived all adoption fees through September, hoping to find loving homes for dozens of cats and dogs looking for a new start. If you’ve got room in your heart, now’s the perfect time to help out a furry friend.
Thank you for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been Minneapolis Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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