1 big thing: No Mow May 

Illustration of a roll of turf opening to reveal flowers, a bee, and a mushroom.

2. The lives vaccines could have saved

3. The Spoon: Kellen Mond, the Wedge shopper 

Illustration of a spoon of alphabet soup spelling out "The Spoon" 

4. Rendering vs. Reality: Downtown East tower 

Look who's hiring

5. 🏔 1 Dew thing to go...

A chance of thunderstorms today with a high of 75, according to the NWS forecast. 

Today's newsletter is 892 words, a 3.5-minute read.

🚨 Nick is watching "We Own This City," which feels like the missing chapter of "The Wire" (Nick's favorite show of all time). The series takes place in Baltimore, but there are lots of similarities to Minneapolis post-George Floyd. 

🔮 Torey just started "The Immortalists."

Twin Cities

Picture of the Twin Cities skyline with MSP written across it.

Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporter Torey Van Oot.

Axios Twin Cities

1 big thing: The best playgrounds 

2. Crunch time at the Capitol

Illustration of the Minnesota State Capitol with lines radiating from it. 

3. Art-a-Whirl and other weekend happenings

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Stop by to see who's hiring

4. Chart du jour: Baby formula stress 

5. The Spoon: Our overcount boost 

Illustration of a cookie on top of a spoon, with patterns of stripes and dots around it, and three ampersands.

6. 🔥 Hot homes: A dreamy patio in Robbinsdale

kitchen with white counters and blue cupboards

It's Friday! Highs in the 60s today, per NWS.

Situational awareness:  Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson is taking a "health-related" leave of absence. 

Hutchinson announced in February that he won't run for re-election following his December DUI arrest. 

🎧 Podcast alert: Axios' How It Happened: "Putin's Invasion Part V: The fight for the Donbas" is out with a new documentary episode examining the intense fight for the Donbas, in the eastern borderlands of Ukraine. Listen.

Today's newsletter is 912 words, a 3.5-minute read.

🎉 Nick is having a birthday party for his daughter McKinley, who is turning 4.

🐕 Torey is dog-sitting her dog Kirby's best friend, Gus! They'll probably go to an off-leash park.

🌸 Audrey is visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. (The crab apple trees are blooming!)

1 big thing: Brews and beans

2. Endorsement roundup: Jensen vs. Walz

New jobs to check out

3. Work starts on big Edina project

Demolition of a building on the left, a rendering of an apartment tower and office building on the right 

4. The Spoon: Don't chase these waterfalls 

Illustration of a loon sitting on a spoon, with a cherry in its mouth.

5. Charted: Wait times at MSP 

6. 🗝 1 reminder to go... 

tweet about carrying kid keys instead of adult keys

Wasn't that a spectacular weekend? Today's NWS forecast calls for sun, a high near 72 and increasing winds. 

Today's newsletter is 867 words — a 3,5-minute read. 

1 big thing: Office tower slated for apartment conversion

2. Find your favorite farmers market

3. Map du jour: A deadly year on the roads 

4. The Spoon: Target misses the mark

Illustration of a pattern of the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture in Minneapolis.

5. 🎂 1 fun thing to go: Happy birthday, Duluth!

Good morning! High of 75 today, with showers and thunderstorms possible this afternoon.

✈️ Programming note: We're on "vacation mode" with a slightly shorter newsletter today and tomorrow while we attend an all-company conference! 

We'll be back to full length (and strength) Monday. 

Today's newsletter is 728 words, a 3-minute read.

1 big thing: Housing affordability reaches worst level in 18 years

2. Quote du jour: A "deal," with few details 

3. Out today: "His Name Is George Floyd"

Fresh openings from the job board 

4. We're number ... 27?

5. The Spoon: It's roller coaster time

6. 🚸 1 question to go: Where are the best playgrounds?

Good morning. Happy opening day of the official 2022 candidate filing period to those who celebrate! 

High near 69 today, with showers possible in the evening, per NWS.

Situational awareness: You can now order a third package of free at-home COVID tests from the federal government. Info. 

Today's newsletter is 835 words, a 3-minute read.

😎 Have a great day! And don't forget to join our referral program to earn cool Axios swag. 

Minnesota Republicans endorsed Scott Jensen as their candidate to take on DFL Gov. Tim Walz after a long and contentious debate on Saturday. 

Why it matters: The endorsement unlocks support from the state party and has historically carried significant sway with GOP primary voters. 

The GOP-endorsed gubernatorial candidate has gone on to be the party's general election nominee for nearly three decades.

What he's saying:  "Matt Birk and I have a team, we have a movement, you have fueled much of it," he told delegates of his ticket with the former Viking. "Together, we can absolutely bring that message to Tim Walz: Game over. You're done."

How it happened: The physician and former state senator, who entered the GOP convention as a frontrunner in a crowded field, crossed the 60% threshold needed to secure the endorsement after nine rounds of balloting. 

The process, which included fiery speeches and new alliances as the other four candidates dropped, took more than five hours and came down to a two-way battle between Jensen and former congressional candidate Kendall Qualls.

Bio, in brief: Jensen, a vocal critic of Walz's pandemic response and vaccine mandates, has garnered national attention — and backlash — for his comments questioning COVID-19 death tolls. 

During his one term in the Legislature, he had a reputation as a political wild card willing to buck his party leadership on issues such as gun control and conversion therapy. 

He's tacked right as a candidate, saying he will seek to ban abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest and suggesting DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon should be jailed for his handling of the 2020 election. On Saturday, he apologized to delegates for his past stance on gun control.

Behind the win: Jensen, who significantly out-raised his GOP rivals, revived some of his most conservative and controversial claims as he made the case to Republican delegates that he and Birk were best positioned to excite voters and defeat Walz. 

Following the vote, he told reporters that he now plans to broaden his platform to have "new issues brought in the mix," including consumer protection, corporate responsibility and water conservation. 

The other side: DFL Party chair Ken Martin blasted Jensen in a statement, saying Republicans selected "the most extreme and dangerous candidate to lead their party in the fall."

What to watch: The filing period for the August primary, which opens this week, will show whether other Republicans follow through on their promises to abide by the endorsement and drop their campaigns, which would allow Jensen to turn his focus to November. 

Qualls said in a statement Saturday that he plans "to transition back to private life."

Minnesota candidate for governor Scott Jensen wins GOP endorsement

The former state senator's COVID-19 comments have garnered national attention and backlash.

Scott Jensen. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Legislature 

Minnesota

Minnesota Republicans endorsed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Scott Jensen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/03/10/former-state-senator-scott-jensen-joins-race-minnesota-governor" data-vars-content-id="17d52df2-50f5-4d38-bd9c-011c7ade7ad1" data-vars-headline="Minnesota candidate for governor Scott Jensen wins GOP endorsement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/03/10/former-state-senator-scott-jensen-joins-race-minnesota-governor" target="_self">Scott Jensen</a> as their candidate to take on DFL Gov. Tim Walz after a long and contentious debate on Saturday. Why it matters: The endorsement unlocks support from the state party and has historically carried significant sway with GOP primary voters.

Politics

Axios Twin Cities, anchored by Torey Van Oot, Nick Halter and Audrey Kennedy, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard

Attention all Minnesotans who love their Mountain Dew: You can now buy boozy versions of the fluorescent beverage here in the state. 

What's new: Hard Mtn Dew hit local shelves Monday, a spokesperson confirmed.  

Minnesota is the sixth state to get distribution of the drink since its February debut. 

What to expect: A press release says the drink, which comes in original, Baja Blast, Black Cherry and Watermelon flavors, "offers the same great taste of [Mountain Dew] but with an added edge of 5% alcohol by volume." 

Yes, but: Our Axios Des Moines colleague Linh Ta sampled the Black Cherry flavor and wasn't a fan.

Hard Mountain Dew comes to Minnesota

It comes in original, Baja Blast, Black Cherry and Watermelon flavors.

A screenshot of Hard Mountain Dew's Twitter announcement that the beverage will be available in Minnesota.

Image screenshot of @HardMountainDew Twitter account

Alcohol

Attention all Minnesotans who love their Mountain Dew: You can now buy boozy versions of the fluorescent beverage here in the state. What&#x27;s new: Hard Mtn Dew hit local shelves Monday, a spokesperson confirmed.

Food and Drink

Top Minnesota lawmakers have agreed to the framework of an end-of-session deal on spending a big chunk of the state's surplus, with one week to go until the deadline to adjourn for the year. 

The big picture: Under the tentative agreement announced by Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders Monday, about $4 billion will go to tax cuts and $4 billion to spending on areas such as education, public safety and health services over the next three years.

A remaining $4 billion will be saved for the future. 

The big catch: Leaders claim they haven't agreed on how to spend the money within those buckets, including how much Minnesotans will get back via permanent tax cuts pushed by Senate Republicans, targeted credits backed by House Democrats or direct payments proposed by the governor. 

That would mean committee chairs and leaders at the divided Legislature have just days to bridge big gulfs on policy and spending priorities. 

What they're saying: "It's going to be tough work," Walz told reporters Monday. "It's going to be around the clock up here."

Zoom in: Under the deal, $450 million will be earmarked for public safety, $1 billion for schools and $1 billion for health and human services. 

It also includes $1.4 billion in borrowing for public infrastructure and construction projects. 

What's next: Committees involving members from both chambers will continue to work on specifics. 

Leaders said they will step in as needed as the midnight Sunday deadline approaches. 

The intrigue: Because the two-year budget was set last year, lawmakers don't have to make any decisions on how to spend the money before they gavel out.

Walz has previously said he will not call a special session if the Legislature is unable to pass supplemental spending bills by the deadline. 

When asked whether his position had changed, he said he feels "pretty confident" that lawmakers can get it done this week. 

Minnesota leaders outline framework for end-of-session spending deal

Yes, but: Details need to be worked out still.

 Photo: Michael Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Top Minnesota lawmakers have agreed to the framework of an end-of-session deal on spending a big chunk of the state&#x27;s surplus, with one week to go until the deadline to adjourn for the year. The big picture: Under the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tentative agreement" data-vars-click-url="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22015504/framework-attachment.pdf" data-vars-content-id="ce7a7614-a908-487d-a0f0-cb5aaa33232c" data-vars-headline="Minnesota leaders outline framework for end-of-session spending deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22015504/framework-attachment.pdf" target="_blank">tentative agreement</a> announced by Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders Monday, about $4 billion will go to tax cuts and $4 billion to spending on areas such as education, public safety and health services over the next three years.

A new biography of George Floyd hits the shelves Tuesday.

The big picture: "His Name is George Floyd," written by Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, seeks to show "how systemic racism shaped George Floyd's life and legacy... telling the story of how one man's tragic experience brought about a global movement for change." 

Zoom in: The 432-page book is based on hundreds of interviews with Floyd's friends and family, "civil rights icons" and political leaders, according to the publisher.

What they're saying: Associated Press book reviewer Jeff Rowe writes that the authors did "a masterful, thorough and even-handed job" of achieving their goal of  analyzing the policies that impact Floyd's life without "[absolving him] of responsibility for his actions." 

Of note: Next week marks two years since Floyd's death under the knee of then-Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin sparked protests across the nation.

Go deeper: Read an excerpt of the book via The Washington Post. 

New George Floyd biography explores systemic racism and global movement

The book is being released a week before the second anniversary of Floyd's killing.

Image courtesy of Viking/Penguin Random House

Minneapolis

A new biography of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Floyd" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/black-lives-matter-movement/" data-vars-content-id="d64e85a1-110a-4ccf-bd0e-71595293a043" data-vars-headline="New George Floyd biography explores systemic racism and global movement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/black-lives-matter-movement/" target="_self">George Floyd</a> hits the shelves Tuesday.The big picture: &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="His Name is George Floyd" data-vars-click-url="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703358/his-name-is-george-floyd-by-robert-samuels-and-toluse-olorunnipa/" data-vars-content-id="d64e85a1-110a-4ccf-bd0e-71595293a043" data-vars-headline="New George Floyd biography explores systemic racism and global movement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703358/his-name-is-george-floyd-by-robert-samuels-and-toluse-olorunnipa/" target="_blank">His Name is George Floyd</a>,&quot; written by Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, seeks to show &quot;how systemic racism shaped George Floyd&#x27;s life and legacy... telling the story of how one man&#x27;s tragic experience brought about a global movement for change.&quot;

News

If your neighbors' yards are starting to look a little shaggy, it might be by design. 

What's happening: No Mow May is gaining traction in Minnesota, with a growing number of local cities formally encouraging residents to participate.

Why it matters: Letting your grass grow (and weeds bloom) during this spring period is good for bees and other pollinators. 

Those pollinators in turn help the rest of the ecosystem — everything from the flowers in our gardens to our food supply — thrive. 

The backstory: The movement, which began in the United Kingdom in 2019, made its U.S. debut in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 2020, according to Popular Science.

Now, more than 35 towns and cities across the Northeast and Midwest are participating. 

Zoom in: At least four cities here in the Twin Cities suburbs have launched "no mow" campaigns for the first time this spring, according to the Star Tribune. As part of the push, the cities won't cite residents who are in violation of lawn maintenance rules for the month. 

In Edina, more than 1,200 people signed up, city manager Scott Neal told Axios. New Brighton gave away all 250 yard signs it had on hand for participating households. 

What you're saying: Axios Twin Cities reporter Torey Van Oot gauged your interest on Twitter and was flooded with messages from folks happy to leave the mower in the garage. 

"It encourages biodiversity and requires me to do nothing, which is my favorite thing," local journalist Adam Uren tweeted. "Just an absolute win-win." 

Of note: While many residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul are taking part in the campaign, neither city is formally participating. 

A Minneapolis city spokesperson told Axios that while inspectors are not proactively issuing grass citations at this time, residents who do get a notice based on a complaint can call and explain they were supporting a pollinator-friendly yard. 

St. Paul residents who receive notice of a complaint can request an extension.

Torey's thought bubble: Longtime readers know I love to mow. But this year, we've held off and... I don't hate it! 

What's next: Well, for many of us, giving the grass a trim in just a few weeks. The University of Minnesota has some tips for maintaining your lawn in a healthy way. 

Whenever you start, don't forget to be a good neighbor by waiting until at least 8am on the weekend to let the mower rip!

No Mow May grows a fan base in Minnesota

If your neighbors&#x27; yards are starting to look a little shaggy, it might be by design. What&#x27;s happening: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No Mow May" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/mndnr/status/1389995844699660293?lang=en" data-vars-content-id="fe09502f-8afc-45ae-915b-b384a3cefc4e" data-vars-headline="No Mow May grows a fan base in Minnesota" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/mndnr/status/1389995844699660293?lang=en" target="_blank">No Mow May</a> is gaining traction in Minnesota, with a growing number of local cities formally encouraging residents to participate.

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Stories

No Mow May grows a fan base in Minnesota

Hard Mountain Dew comes to Minnesota

New George Floyd biography explores systemic racism and global movement

Minnesota leaders outline framework for end-of-session spending deal

Minnesota candidate for governor Scott Jensen wins GOP endorsement

Newsletter editions

🍼 Formula crisis

🚧 Road deaths rise

🚫 No Mow May

💸 Hard times for homebuyers

☕️ Brews and beans