Twin Cities

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

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Twin Cities with Nick Halter, Torey Van Oot, and Kyle Stokes.

Axios Twin Cities

Standard

Twin Cities Members

Membership

Axios Twin Cities Partners

Axios Twin Cities Weekender

Weekender

Twin Cities Alerts

Alert

Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Nick Halter, Audrey Kennedy and Torey Van Oot.

Axios Twin Cities Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios Twin Cities Deep Dive

Deep Dive

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.

St. Paul takes center stage in nationwide "No Kings" protests

Bernie Sanders and Bruce Springsteen are set to join crowds as the Twin Cities host a flagship rally.

Tens of thousands of Minnesotans are expected to march to the State Capitol Saturday for a star-studded No Kings rally. The big picture: Progressive political groups, labor unions and human and civil rights organizations expect the nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations to surpass last year&#x27;s No Kings rallies in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="June" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/14/photos-no-kings-protests-downtown-chicago-trump" data-vars-content-id="31898c9e-f969-402c-bf9f-623b8475a9a1" data-vars-headline="St. Paul takes center stage in nationwide &quot;No Kings&quot; protests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/14/photos-no-kings-protests-downtown-chicago-trump" target="_self">June</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="October" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/18/no-kings-protests-october-18-turnout" data-vars-content-id="31898c9e-f969-402c-bf9f-623b8475a9a1" data-vars-headline="St. Paul takes center stage in nationwide &quot;No Kings&quot; protests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/18/no-kings-protests-october-18-turnout" target="_self">October</a>.<ul><li>St. Paul will serve as the &quot;flagship&quot; protest, according to organizers, with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen scheduled to attend. </li></ul>

State Rep. Elliott Engen arrested on DWI suspicion

The 27-year-old was booked at 4:42am Friday morning in the Ramsey County jail.

State Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Elliott Engen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/03/03/minnesota-republicans-bills-dont-pass" data-vars-content-id="936859ba-4d1e-4a2d-b5be-c73ca7c10308" data-vars-headline="State Rep. Elliott Engen arrested on DWI suspicion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/03/03/minnesota-republicans-bills-dont-pass" target="_self">Elliott Engen</a>, a GOP candidate for state auditor, was arrested and booked in the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of DWI, according to county records. The 27-year-old from White Bear Township was booked at 4:42am Friday on charges of fourth-degree DWI, according to a news release from the department. He was released less than two hours later.

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.

10 Minnesotans set for 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics

Medal hopes are high as the Paralympic Winter Games open Friday in Italy.

Minnesota will have 10 athletes competing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympic Winter Games, which start Friday.Why it matters: The competition gives Minnesotans another chance to cheer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="for gold on the world stage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/20/minnesota-medal-count-womens-hockey-gold-medal" data-vars-content-id="947a7de4-94e3-42d5-90a6-9add0b244c35" data-vars-headline="10 Minnesotans set for 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/20/minnesota-medal-count-womens-hockey-gold-medal" target="_self">for gold on the world stage</a>.

Minnesotans to watch in the Winter Olympics

Minnesotans are well represented in Milano.

Dozens of Minnesotans are competing under the Team USA banner at this month&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Milano Cortina Winter Olympics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/team-usa-2026-winter-olympics-milano-cortina" data-vars-content-id="67ceb278-2018-44a8-9899-cdc3e4ae16f6" data-vars-headline="Minnesotans to watch in the Winter Olympics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/team-usa-2026-winter-olympics-milano-cortina" target="_self">Milano Cortina Winter Olympics</a>.Why it matters: We&#x27;re second only to Colorado in the number of hometown athletes we&#x27;re sending to the Games.

Minnesota Olympians pushing women's hockey to win gold and go viral

Eight players with "State of Hockey" ties could help the PWHL cash in on the Winter Games' visibility.

Olympics

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rise of professional women&#x27;s hockey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/07/minnesota-professional-women-hockey-league-attendance-record" data-vars-content-id="5eb4638f-a629-45ed-be90-895055007ef1" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Olympians pushing women&#x27;s hockey to win gold and go viral" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/07/minnesota-professional-women-hockey-league-attendance-record" target="_self">rise of professional women&#x27;s hockey</a> in North America has made training for this year&#x27;s Winter Olympics &quot;really different,&quot; Plymouth native Kelly Pannek tells Axios.Before the 2018 and 2022 Games, the U.S. women&#x27;s training schedule included exhibitions against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="men&#x27;s clubs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usforacle.com/2017/10/15/usf-hockey-plays-us-womens-national-team/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="5eb4638f-a629-45ed-be90-895055007ef1" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Olympians pushing women&#x27;s hockey to win gold and go viral" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usforacle.com/2017/10/15/usf-hockey-plays-us-womens-national-team/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">men&#x27;s clubs</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="college teams" data-vars-click-url="https://eaglenews.org/20567/sports/fgcu-defeats-usa-womens-national-team-in-exhibition/" data-vars-content-id="5eb4638f-a629-45ed-be90-895055007ef1" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Olympians pushing women&#x27;s hockey to win gold and go viral" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://eaglenews.org/20567/sports/fgcu-defeats-usa-womens-national-team-in-exhibition/" target="_blank">college teams</a> — games that weren&#x27;t always the best measuring sticks, Pannek says.<ul><li>Four years later, in the Professional Women&#x27;s Hockey League, &quot;you&#x27;re daily being pushed by the best players in the world — in your practices,&quot; the Minnesota Frost center tells Axios.</li></ul>

Women's hockey eyes its Olympic moment

The league opens its third season with two new teams — but no national TV deal in the U.S.

Sports

International sporting spectacles helped launch women&#x27;s soccer and basketball leagues into the stratosphere. Now, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Professional Women&#x27;s Hockey League" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/07/minnesota-professional-women-hockey-league-attendance-record" data-vars-content-id="ef241438-a49f-4cb3-b7f2-12af304a1e2a" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s hockey eyes its Olympic moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/07/minnesota-professional-women-hockey-league-attendance-record" target="_self">Professional Women&#x27;s Hockey League</a> leaders hope the upcoming Olympics can do the same for them.Why it matters: The PWHL opens its third season Friday with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two new expansion teams" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kuow.org/stories/torrent-time-seattles-womens-pro-hockey-team-hits-the-ice" data-vars-content-id="ef241438-a49f-4cb3-b7f2-12af304a1e2a" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s hockey eyes its Olympic moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/torrent-time-seattles-womens-pro-hockey-team-hits-the-ice" target="_blank">two new expansion teams</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="promising attendance figures" data-vars-click-url="https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/final-stop-on-pwhl-takeover-tour-highlights-attendance-growth-league-trails-only-nhl" data-vars-content-id="ef241438-a49f-4cb3-b7f2-12af304a1e2a" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s hockey eyes its Olympic moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/final-stop-on-pwhl-takeover-tour-highlights-attendance-growth-league-trails-only-nhl" target="_blank">promising attendance figures</a> — but without <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a national TV deal in the U.S." data-vars-click-url="https://www.thescore.com/pwhl/news/3290243" data-vars-content-id="ef241438-a49f-4cb3-b7f2-12af304a1e2a" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s hockey eyes its Olympic moment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thescore.com/pwhl/news/3290243" target="_blank">a national TV deal in the U.S.</a> that could secure the fledgling league&#x27;s financial future.

Here are the Minnesota Olympians to watch at the Paris Games

Suni Lee and Regan Smith are favorites for the podium.

More than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two dozen athletes with Minnesota ties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.startribune.com/paris-summer-olympics-minnesota-team-usa-2024/600375940/" data-vars-content-id="de820cde-a405-42cd-a148-7cecad94ada0" data-vars-headline="Here are the Minnesota Olympians to watch at the Paris Games" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.startribune.com/paris-summer-olympics-minnesota-team-usa-2024/600375940/" target="_blank">two dozen athletes with Minnesota ties</a> head to Paris this week for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Summer Olympics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/04/olympics-dates-gymnastics-soccer-basketball-how-to-watch" data-vars-content-id="de820cde-a405-42cd-a148-7cecad94ada0" data-vars-headline="Here are the Minnesota Olympians to watch at the Paris Games" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/04/olympics-dates-gymnastics-soccer-basketball-how-to-watch" target="_self">Summer Olympics</a>.The big picture: Gymnast <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Suni Lee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/04/23/suni-lee-olympic-gymnastics-minnesota" data-vars-content-id="de820cde-a405-42cd-a148-7cecad94ada0" data-vars-headline="Here are the Minnesota Olympians to watch at the Paris Games" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/04/23/suni-lee-olympic-gymnastics-minnesota" target="_self">Suni Lee</a> of St. Paul and swimmer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Regan Smith" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/06/14/regan-smith-olympic-trials-paris-butterfly-backstroke-minnesota" data-vars-content-id="de820cde-a405-42cd-a148-7cecad94ada0" data-vars-headline="Here are the Minnesota Olympians to watch at the Paris Games" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/06/14/regan-smith-olympic-trials-paris-butterfly-backstroke-minnesota" target="_self">Regan Smith</a> of Lakeville — two of the state&#x27;s buzziest Olympians — will vie to return to the podium this year.