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Minnesota Capitol leaders reach end-of-session deal with HCMC funding

The agreement temporarily cuts car tab fees and provides property tax refunds.

News

Leaders at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota&#x27;s politically divided Capitol" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/17/minnesota-capitol-legislative-preview-top-issues" data-vars-content-id="e6a47612-472f-4c0f-9f6d-30ad44c26dfd" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Capitol leaders reach end-of-session deal with HCMC funding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/17/minnesota-capitol-legislative-preview-top-issues" target="_self">Minnesota&#x27;s politically divided Capitol</a> have struck an end-of-session agreement that includes a &quot;historic&quot; infusion of &quot;funds to stabilize&quot; Hennepin County Medical Center. Why it matters: The Level I trauma center, which serves residents from across the state, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="was at risk of closing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/09/hcmc-closing-medicaid-cuts" data-vars-content-id="e6a47612-472f-4c0f-9f6d-30ad44c26dfd" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Capitol leaders reach end-of-session deal with HCMC funding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/09/hcmc-closing-medicaid-cuts" target="_self">was at risk of closing</a> without financial assistance.

St. Paul skyway users frustrated by prolonged closure

The Alliance Bank Center has been closed for over a year

Nancy Kehmeier typically walks from her Landmark Tower condo to the east side of downtown St. Paul two or three times a day, but for the past 13 months, that has meant leaving the climate-controlled skyway system.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="closure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/11/alliance-bank-tower-st-paul-vacancy" data-vars-content-id="934c681c-d82d-4026-90ad-5610575347f2" data-vars-headline="St. Paul skyway users frustrated by prolonged closure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/11/alliance-bank-tower-st-paul-vacancy" target="_self">closure</a> of the Alliance Bank Center has cut off a key connection in the city&#x27;s 5-mile system of glass bridges, forcing residents like Kehmeier to navigate around the building and putting additional pressure on people with accessibility challenges.

Twin Cities weekend: Art-A-Whirl, garage sales, peony festival

Cat-themed auto shop Turbo Tim's is bringing back its live car-crushing event.

Things to Do

Happy Art-A-Whirl! The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="largest open artist studio tour" data-vars-click-url="https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/" data-vars-content-id="7c6029b5-8b0b-4a48-a39d-0a6c10fceac8" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend: Art-A-Whirl, garage sales, peony festival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/" target="_blank">largest open artist studio tour</a> in the country kicks off Friday with a packed three days celebrating local creatives — and almost every event is free to the public.<ul><li>Not sure where to start? Here are three spots we recommend. </li></ul>

Minnesota monitoring possible hantavirus exposure linked to cruise outbreak

Experts say the risk to the public remains low.

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Tuesday that it&#x27;s monitoring one person who may have &quot;briefly been exposed&quot; to a cruise ship passenger who tested positive for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hantavirus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/07/hantavirus-cruise-outbreak-covid-pandemic" data-vars-content-id="89ea2514-2a1e-4bc9-b3e9-0695929a787f" data-vars-headline="Minnesota monitoring possible hantavirus exposure linked to cruise outbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/07/hantavirus-cruise-outbreak-covid-pandemic" target="_self">hantavirus</a>.What we know: The unnamed individual in Minnesota doesn&#x27;t have symptoms and is cooperating with public health officials. <ul><li>&quot;We want to emphasize that the risk to the public remains very low,&quot; the department said in a press release.</li></ul>

How Minnesotans can stay one step ahead of scams

Recognizing how scams build from routine to urgent can help stop them in their tracks.

Partners

Minnesotans are seeing scam attempts increasingly appear in routine daily moments — a message about a delivery, a call from &quot;your bank&quot; or an email that seems to come from someone you trust.<ul><li>These messages are designed to feel familiar enough to trust and urgent enough to act upon.</li></ul>April marks AARP Fraud Prevention Month — an effort focused on helping Minnesotans recognize these patterns and respond with more confidence.

Your guide to Minneapolis' most flavorful markets

Markets across the city serve meals rooted in culture, memory and place — and reflect Minneapolis' culinary depth.

Dozens of international markets and grocers throughout the seven Cultural Districts in Minneapolis serve as culinary gateways to communities around the globe — and they&#x27;re open to everyone curious about exploring new flavors.Why it&#x27;s important: From Indigenous foodways to immigrant traditions, these markets offer a sense of place for both longtime residents and newcomers to engage with cuisines and local stories that too often go overlooked.

Minnesota couples go small with "micro weddings"

You don't need to splurge on a big guest list to have a special day.

Dating

Ballrooms are out. &quot;Micro weddings&quot; are in — and they might be smarter, too.Why it matters: Some couples are skipping big <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weddings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/12/zola-wedding-cost-trends-2025" data-vars-content-id="bbf69bf0-3944-42f6-9bbc-fe41697d8aa8" data-vars-headline="Minnesota couples go small with &quot;micro weddings&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/12/zola-wedding-cost-trends-2025" target="_self">weddings</a> to save money and throw a more intimate gathering.

How Minneapolis' Cultural Districts tell their stories through food

In Minneapolis' Cultural Districts, food is a gateway to heritage, resilience and possibility.

From golden raisin lattes to shawarma, the many restaurants of Minneapolis&#x27; seven Cultural Districts serve up more than meals — they&#x27;re an invitation to connect with the history, culture and community that have shaped the city across generations.