Good morning, this is Minneapolis Local Pulse for Saturday, December twentieth, twenty twenty five.
We wake up today following a violent incident in north Minneapolis. Police say an individual fired into a Metro Transit bus Friday afternoon, injuring three riders as the bus traveled near Dowling Avenue on the North Side. According to WCCO and ABC News, all three victims are hospitalized and expected to survive, and officers are still searching for the shooter. Metro Transit police are increasing patrols, and we should expect extra police presence at busy stops like Chicago and Lake and the Brooklyn Center Transit Center today.
At City Hall, we are in the middle of an intense debate over how our city responds to homeless encampments. Minnesota Public Radio reports that Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed the City Council’s humane encampment ordinance, which would have required bathrooms, trash pickup, fire extinguishers, and advance notice before clearing larger camps. The council is now weighing whether to try for an override. For us, that means uncertainty for neighbors living near encampments along Hiawatha Avenue and across the Midtown Greenway, and for people who rely on those camps for shelter.
Weather wise, after this week’s icy mix, roads and sidewalks around places like Nicollet Mall and University Avenue are slick in spots but improving through the afternoon. Temperatures sit in the 20s, with light snow showers possible, then turning calmer and colder tonight. We will want boots and a warm layer if we are heading out after dark.
On the economic front, Minneapolis continues to add jobs slowly, with local economists estimating unemployment hovering around three and a half percent. That is tight enough that many restaurants along Eat Street and in the North Loop are still posting help wanted signs, especially for kitchen staff and delivery drivers. In real estate, agents say median single family prices in the city are now just under four hundred thousand dollars, with slightly more homes hitting the market in neighborhoods like Longfellow and Northeast, giving buyers a bit more choice than last year.
We do see churn in local business. Bring Me The News reports that Proper, an Uptown boutique near Hennepin and Lake, is closing after about a decade, another sign of how challenging retail remains in the core. At the same time, new restaurants and coffee shops continue to open along East Lake Street, betting on the corridor’s long term recovery.
Culturally, we have plenty to do this weekend. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre hosts a Winter Solstice gathering at Powderhorn Park this evening from six to nine, with lanterns and community art leading us around the lake. The Cedar Cultural Center is set to host Festive Beats of Afrika tonight, and First Avenue welcomes JD McPherson for a holiday rock and roll show.
Looking ahead, families can cross the river for Holidays on the Hill tours at the James J. Hill House on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, with guided visits to the decorated mansion running throughout the weekend, and MPR’s arts desk highlights several local shows focused on memory and home, featuring Minneapolis musicians like Jellybean Johnson.
In schools, winter sports are in full swing, with Minneapolis high school basketball teams picking up early season wins in gyms from South High on East Lake to Patrick Henry on the North Side, and coaches emphasizing community support in the stands.
Our feel good story today comes from the broader northwest suburbs. CCX Media reports that the nonprofit SEEP has distributed more than three thousand toys to nearly five hundred families through a holiday market in Brooklyn Center, reminding us how our region pulls together when costs for basics like rent, food, and heat stay high.
In our public safety outlook, beyond the bus shooting, Minneapolis police report a handful of car break ins overnight around the University area and in lots near U.S. Bank Stadium. Officers urge us to keep cars empty and locked, and to report suspicious activity right away.
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