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Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates

But many insiders say her DFL rival still has a strong path to the primary.

News

Sharp-elbowed attacks over ICE, fraud and electability are flying in the high-stakes U.S. Senate primary between <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Rep. Angie Craig" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/29/angie-craig-running-minnesota-senate-2026" data-vars-content-id="9e3101ca-afec-4a8d-a624-410e801bf0ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/29/angie-craig-running-minnesota-senate-2026" target="_self">U.S. Rep. Angie Craig</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/13/walz-flanagan-us-senate-tina-smith-race-democrats" data-vars-content-id="9e3101ca-afec-4a8d-a624-410e801bf0ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Senate primary heats up as ICE backlash boosts Flanagan among DFL delegates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/13/walz-flanagan-us-senate-tina-smith-race-democrats" target="_self">Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan</a>.Why it matters: Political fallout over Operation Metro Surge has stoked a race that was already seen as a proxy battle over the future of the Democratic Party.

Kado No Mise chef is Minnesota's only James Beard finalist

Shigeyuki Furukawa is up for the Midwest's best chef.

Food and Drink

Kado No Mise chef Shigeyuki Furukawa was named a James Beard Award finalist Tuesday for the Midwest&#x27;s best chef.Why it matters: Out of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="10 Minnesota restaurants and chefs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/21/minnesota-james-beard-semifinalists" data-vars-content-id="21195618-766b-4272-b977-0f77534a08a2" data-vars-headline="Kado No Mise chef is Minnesota&#x27;s only James Beard finalist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/21/minnesota-james-beard-semifinalists" target="_self">10 Minnesota restaurants and chefs</a> who were previously named semifinalists in the Oscar awards of the foodie world, Furukawa is the only nominee who made the shortlist.

Office tower value free fall continues

Downtown Minneapolis buildings have lost 35% of their value since 2020.

Downtown office values continued their plunge in 2025, and there&#x27;s still no <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bottom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/28/downtown-minneapolis-office-vacancy-leasing" data-vars-content-id="694f5ad8-3e1e-4d2b-b96a-069920d7c45d" data-vars-headline="Office tower value free fall continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/28/downtown-minneapolis-office-vacancy-leasing" target="_self">bottom</a> in sight for the market.Why it matters: If you&#x27;re a homeowner, this means office landlords are paying less in property taxes, and you&#x27;re covering the difference.

Twin Cities weekend guide: Easter egg hunts, psychic fair, dessert contest

If you're looking to branch out from your neighborhood's egg hunt, we know where to go.

Things to Do

Easter is on Sunday, and if you&#x27;re looking to branch out from your neighborhood&#x27;s egg hunt, we know where to go.<ul><li>Here are six unique Easter activities for all ages — and several species.</li></ul>

What's behind the spat over the Hennepin County sheriff's budget

County leaders are bracing for major shocks to their $3.1 billion budget.

A Hennepin County commissioner&#x27;s remarks on the Sheriff&#x27;s Office budget sparked outrage in Twin Cities law enforcement agencies last week.Yes, but: The serious money troubles facing Hennepin County that caused the controversy in the first place got lost in the headlines.Why it matters: Not only is the sheriff&#x27;s budget at stake, but so are county-run <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="safety net programs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/13/mutual-aid-evictions-rental-assistance" data-vars-content-id="c99ba695-ec62-48d2-be0b-d99e50f6bde8" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s behind the spat over the Hennepin County sheriff&#x27;s budget" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/13/mutual-aid-evictions-rental-assistance" target="_self">safety net programs</a>, library services, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fraud" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/06/minnesota-fraud-cases-timeline" data-vars-content-id="c99ba695-ec62-48d2-be0b-d99e50f6bde8" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s behind the spat over the Hennepin County sheriff&#x27;s budget" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/06/minnesota-fraud-cases-timeline" target="_self">fraud</a>-fighting efforts, the survival of Hennepin County Medical Center — and property taxpayers&#x27; bills.

Why Twin Cities property taxes could spike this year

Cities and counties are squeezed by the usual inflationary pressures — and federal policy changes.

It&#x27;s not just you: The early <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="property tax notice" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/11/15/minnesota-homeowners-property-tax-increases-2025" data-vars-content-id="b3cdf347-77a3-425f-af39-a915f0106938" data-vars-headline="Why Twin Cities property taxes could spike this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/11/15/minnesota-homeowners-property-tax-increases-2025" target="_self">property tax notice</a> that recently arrived in the mail probably was higher than usual.The big picture: In part, the sharp levy increases across the Twin Cities reflect the flipside of President Trump&#x27;s &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="big, beautiful bill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/09/11/minnesota-tax-cuts-trump-big-beautiful-bill-savings" data-vars-content-id="b3cdf347-77a3-425f-af39-a915f0106938" data-vars-headline="Why Twin Cities property taxes could spike this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/09/11/minnesota-tax-cuts-trump-big-beautiful-bill-savings" target="_self">big, beautiful bill</a>&quot; (BBB).

St. Paul weighs crypto ATM crackdown

Law enforcement officials say the ATMs are of little use to real cryptocurrency investors, but have become lucrative tools for scammers.

St. Paul is poised to become the latest and largest Minnesota city to ban <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cryptocurrency ATMs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/19/minnesota-crypto-atm-crackdown" data-vars-content-id="af91b3f4-c9b0-4ca4-9b79-a2851a0a4ec2" data-vars-headline="St. Paul weighs crypto ATM crackdown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/19/minnesota-crypto-atm-crackdown" target="_self">cryptocurrency ATMs</a>.Why it matters: Law enforcement officials say the kiosks are of little use to legitimate crypto investors, but have become lucrative tools for scammers preying on seniors.

Minnesota at high risk of a recession, economist warns

The Moody's forecast keys on the state's creeping unemployment rate and the trade war's growing toll.

Minnesota is one of 22 states at high risk of a recession, according to a new<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/Markzandi/status/1959686593276490220" data-vars-content-id="ddbc82a4-12eb-4c88-bc2c-76aa24a75983" data-vars-headline="Minnesota at high risk of a recession, economist warns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/Markzandi/status/1959686593276490220" target="_blank"> analysis</a> from Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody&#x27;s Analytics.Why it matters: It&#x27;s just one economist&#x27;s opinion, but Zandi&#x27;s 50-state index highlights real pain points in Minnesota&#x27;s economy: a creeping unemployment rate; and a growing toll from broader forces like trade wars, an immigration crackdown and federal job cuts.

Minnesota cities target crypto ATMs

Money fed into a crypto ATM is nearly impossible to recover, leaving local police overmatched.

Several Minnesota cities are considering crackdowns on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cryptocurrency ATMs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/02/crypto-scams-crime" data-vars-content-id="24b1aaaf-7fb4-47fd-b477-eec2b3ed00ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota cities target crypto ATMs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/02/crypto-scams-crime" target="_self">cryptocurrency ATMs</a>, saying they&#x27;ve become preferred tools for scammers.Why it matters: Fraud at crypto kiosks has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="skyrocketed in recent years" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2024/09/bitcoin-atms-payment-portal-scammers" data-vars-content-id="24b1aaaf-7fb4-47fd-b477-eec2b3ed00ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota cities target crypto ATMs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2024/09/bitcoin-atms-payment-portal-scammers" target="_blank">skyrocketed in recent years</a>. In more than 5,500 cases nationwide, victims lost over $189 million to schemes involving a crypto ATM in 2023, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to the FBI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2023_IC3CryptocurrencyReport.pdf" data-vars-content-id="24b1aaaf-7fb4-47fd-b477-eec2b3ed00ff" data-vars-headline="Minnesota cities target crypto ATMs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2023_IC3CryptocurrencyReport.pdf" target="_blank">according to the FBI</a>.

Minnesota: Where banks will still count your coins

Minnesota stands out for more than just "gray duck"—many local banks still count spare change for free, according to a recent New York Times Magazine article.

Minnesota is apparently unique for more than just &quot;gray duck&quot; and our electors&#x27; spurning of Ronald Reagan: An unusual number of banks here will still count spare change for free.<ul><li>That&#x27;s one nugget from a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New York Times Magazine story" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/01/magazine/worthless-pennies-united-states-economy.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare" data-vars-content-id="a842597a-7392-4370-ac98-f80ab8006114" data-vars-headline="Minnesota: Where banks will still count your coins" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/01/magazine/worthless-pennies-united-states-economy.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare" target="_blank">New York Times Magazine story</a> this weekend.</li></ul>The big picture: The Times story is about the costly absurdity of the U.S. Mint continuing to produce <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pennies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/20/the-why-of-coins-and-tokens-crypto" data-vars-content-id="a842597a-7392-4370-ac98-f80ab8006114" data-vars-headline="Minnesota: Where banks will still count your coins" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/20/the-why-of-coins-and-tokens-crypto" target="_self">pennies</a>. Most of them flow from merchants to consumers&#x27; spare change jars, never to recirculate again.

A chloropleth map of the Twin Cities metro area showing projected property tax increases in cities and towns. Darker-green shaded suburbs proposing larger property tax increases of 10-15% include Cottage Grove, Lino Lakes, Rosemount and Rogers. Minneapolis is proposing an 8.1% levy increase, and St. Paul is proposing a 5.3% increase. A smaller number of communities are proposing decreases in their levy, including New Market Township (-11.1%).

Proposed Twin Cities levy changes, 2025 to 2026

Data: Minnesota Department of Revenue; Note: Totals are not final and do not reflect levies by counties, schools or special taxing districts; Map: Axios Visuals

A map of the estimated strength of each state's economy as of September 1, 2025 according to Moody's. 16 states, including Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania, have an expanding economy. 13 are treading water, including California and New York. 22 are either in or at high risk of a recession, including Illinois and Minnesota.