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Har Mar Mall could be headed for the wrecking ball

The long-running Roseville mall has been hollowed out in recent years.

News

Roseville&#x27;s Har Mar Mall could be demolished to make way for a major redevelopment, according to marketing materials obtained by Axios.Why it matters: Vacancies have been piling up at the 63-year-old mall under owner Fidelis Realty Partners, fueling speculation that the Houston firm is planning an overhaul.

Man charged with killing Minnesota lawmaker pleads guilty

The attacks triggered a statewide manhunt and raised alarms over escalating political violence.

Politics & Policy

The man charged in last year&#x27;s politically motivated attacks that killed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/06/14/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-targeted-attacks" data-vars-content-id="d91647fc-b02d-4ffe-bef5-a7df2a16f737" data-vars-headline="Man charged with killing Minnesota lawmaker pleads guilty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/06/14/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-targeted-attacks" target="_self">Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman</a> and her husband and wounded another legislator and his wife pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court. The big picture: The guilty plea brings a measure of resolution to a case that rattled Minnesota politics and became a national symbol of growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="concerns about political violence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/06/15/minnesota-melissa-hortman-shootings-political-threats" data-vars-content-id="d91647fc-b02d-4ffe-bef5-a7df2a16f737" data-vars-headline="Man charged with killing Minnesota lawmaker pleads guilty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/06/15/minnesota-melissa-hortman-shootings-political-threats" target="_self">concerns about political violence</a>.

Twin Cities weekend: Rock the Cradle, St. Paul Pride, Juneteenth

There's another museum-hosted music festival in town — for ages 2 to 10.

Things to Do

Missing the Walker&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rock the Garden" data-vars-click-url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_the_Garden" data-vars-content-id="858ef5a4-c9ff-42a9-86d7-1418ab7d6831" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend: Rock the Cradle, St. Paul Pride, Juneteenth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_the_Garden" target="_blank">Rock the Garden</a>? There&#x27;s another museum-hosted music festival in town this Saturday — for ages 2 to 10.What&#x27;s happening: Minneapolis Institute of Art will be taken over by &quot;Rock the Cradle,&quot; an arts and music festival specifically for young children.<ul><li>The lineup includes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Will Sings Songs" data-vars-click-url="https://willsweb.site/" data-vars-content-id="858ef5a4-c9ff-42a9-86d7-1418ab7d6831" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend: Rock the Cradle, St. Paul Pride, Juneteenth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://willsweb.site/" target="_blank">Will Sings Songs</a>, popular YouTube dance duo <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Koo Koo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJfz4ZD1ADS08wFg70j0Niw" data-vars-content-id="858ef5a4-c9ff-42a9-86d7-1418ab7d6831" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend: Rock the Cradle, St. Paul Pride, Juneteenth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJfz4ZD1ADS08wFg70j0Niw" target="_blank">Koo Koo</a>, and The Laamartians — a group headed by Minneapolis musician <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Laamar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/laamarmusic/" data-vars-content-id="858ef5a4-c9ff-42a9-86d7-1418ab7d6831" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend: Rock the Cradle, St. Paul Pride, Juneteenth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/laamarmusic/" target="_blank">Laamar</a>.</li></ul>

Minnesota Democrats look to turn ICE watch volunteers into GOTV force

The DFL says thousands of new activists could help power its midterm ground game.

Minnesota Democrats are trying to turn tens of thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;ICE watch&quot; volunteers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/26/ice-watch-rapid-response-minnesota-network" data-vars-content-id="129c72cf-4bc1-4646-b880-9bc23c06c345" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Democrats look to turn ICE watch volunteers into GOTV force" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/26/ice-watch-rapid-response-minnesota-network" target="_self">&quot;ICE watch&quot; volunteers</a> into a &quot;GOTV army&quot; of door-knockers and &quot;poll protectors&quot; ahead of the midterm elections. Why it matters: Boots on the ground can make a big difference in close campaigns.

St. Paul rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot

Tenants would be able to order their own housing repairs, then bill their landlords.

Organizers of a St. Paul campaign to empower tenants to make repairs to their rental housing, then bill their landlords for the work, announced they&#x27;ve gathered the signatures to put their measure on the November ballot. Why it matters: If enacted, the &quot;right-to-repair&quot; ordinance would join St. Paul&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first-in-the-Midwest rent control policy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/06/st-paul-rent-control-vote-new-construction" data-vars-content-id="7d6ea9f6-c6de-4cd7-adbe-ecf597ec7e9b" data-vars-headline="St. Paul rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/06/st-paul-rent-control-vote-new-construction" target="_self">first-in-the-Midwest rent control policy</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sweeping tenant protections" data-vars-click-url="https://nlihc.org/tenant-protections" data-vars-content-id="7d6ea9f6-c6de-4cd7-adbe-ecf597ec7e9b" data-vars-headline="St. Paul rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nlihc.org/tenant-protections" target="_blank">sweeping tenant protections</a> as another local law giving renters more leverage.Driving the news: The Safe Homes Saint Paul campaign last week submitted more than 7,500 petition signatures from registered voters — at least 2,200 more than needed to trigger an election.<ul><li>The city clerk must still confirm their validity.</li></ul>How it works: The proposed ordinance would require a landlord to address a maintenance issue within 14 days of a tenant&#x27;s notice.<ul><li>If they didn&#x27;t act, the tenant could pay for repairs and then bill the landlord for the cost up to half a month&#x27;s rent or $500, whichever is greater.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;This seems like common sense,&quot; the campaign&#x27;s political coordinator, Cole Hanson, told Axios.<ul><li>He said many petition signatories&#x27; first reaction to the ordinance is: &quot;I didn&#x27;t know [renters] couldn&#x27;t already do this.&quot;</li></ul>The other side: &quot;This feels like one more thing that could make future investors more hesitant to put money into the city,&quot; Nate Hood, a small-time landlord and member of the St. Paul Planning Commission, told Axios.<ul><li>Hood would rather the city strengthen enforcement against bad landlords.</li></ul>Zoom in: If enacted, renters would be empowered to order repairs for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a lengthy list of problems" data-vars-click-url="https://archive.ph/3CqLj" data-vars-content-id="7d6ea9f6-c6de-4cd7-adbe-ecf597ec7e9b" data-vars-headline="St. Paul rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://archive.ph/3CqLj" target="_blank">a lengthy list of problems</a>, ranging from minor — like a broken doorknob — to major, like a failing roof or foundation.<ul><li>In a multi-unit building, tenants could also share the cost of a more costly repair to a shared appliance, such as a broken boiler, Hanson said.</li><li>The ordinance also spells out a procedure for handling disputes, allowing landlords 30 days to obtain a second opinion from an inspector.</li></ul>Friction point: &quot;Deciding what needs fixing, who&#x27;s qualified to do it, and whether a permit is required is real liability. This measure hands it to renters who never signed up for it,&quot; said Cecil Smith, president of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association.<ul><li>The association&#x27;s statement said &quot;unpermitted&quot; repairs could turn small problems into big ones.</li></ul>Yes, but: Hanson frames the ordinance as a &quot;break in case of emergency&quot; safeguard for tenants dealing with a negligent landlord, saying lingering maintenance issues often pose real safety risks.What we&#x27;re watching: If signatures are confirmed, the St. Paul City Council would have until July 6 to either send it to the ballot — or enact the ordinance themselves.<ul><li>Four of the council&#x27;s seven members have endorsed it, though Mayor Kaohly Her hasn&#x27;t publicly taken a position.</li></ul>

Son of slain Minnesota Democrat turns family tragedy into effort to curb political violence

The son of Melissa Hortman hopes sharing his family's story can help prevent future violence.

Since losing both his parents in a politically motivated attack, Colin Hortman has channeled his grief into a simple goal: preventing another family from experiencing a similar loss.The big picture: In recent months, the 31-year-old programmer met privately with members of Minnesota&#x27;s divided House, participated in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="workshops on bridging the partisan divide" data-vars-click-url="https://braverangels.org/" data-vars-content-id="c76271a7-8551-43b0-8e5c-29ebb42a1c21" data-vars-headline="Son of slain Minnesota Democrat turns family tragedy into effort to curb political violence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://braverangels.org/" target="_blank">workshops on bridging the partisan divide</a>, and gave his first public talk on the need to lower the temperature when talking politics. <ul><li>&quot;When someone is framed as a danger to survival or as fundamentally immoral, as an enemy, it invites fear. And fear, when repeated often enough, turns into permission,&quot; he said <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at an April event in Rochester" data-vars-click-url="https://youtu.be/fYimVCuy3AU?t=4052" data-vars-content-id="c76271a7-8551-43b0-8e5c-29ebb42a1c21" data-vars-headline="Son of slain Minnesota Democrat turns family tragedy into effort to curb political violence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://youtu.be/fYimVCuy3AU?t=4052" target="_blank">at an April event in Rochester</a>. &quot;Permission to harass, permission to threaten, and eventually, permission to act.&quot; </li></ul>&quot;I&#x27;m standing here — the human cost of the shift,&quot; he told the crowd.

Minneapolis council faces another difficult George Floyd Square vote

"If there's not significant public funding, nobody's going to be able to do that project," one developer warns.

The Minneapolis City Council faces a tough choice this week: Approve a controversial plan to redevelop the former gas station at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Floyd Square" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/12/04/george-floyd-square-compromise-proposal" data-vars-content-id="3c06b9ac-59fb-499d-af7f-60fa1b037124" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis council faces another difficult George Floyd Square vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/12/04/george-floyd-square-compromise-proposal" target="_self">George Floyd Square</a> or send an already delayed project back to the drawing board.Why it matters: The drawn-out search for a developer at the site — known as &quot;The People&#x27;s Way&quot; — has shown how private investors are still leery of funding revitalization projects at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="struggling intersection" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/23/george-floyd-square-anniversary-street-project" data-vars-content-id="3c06b9ac-59fb-499d-af7f-60fa1b037124" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis council faces another difficult George Floyd Square vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/05/23/george-floyd-square-anniversary-street-project" target="_self">struggling intersection</a>.

Minnesota Medicaid providers caught up in fraud crackdown

Advocates say legitimate providers are losing payments and scrambling to keep care going.

Advocates say thousands of legitimate Medicaid service providers are getting swept up in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota&#x27;s fraud crackdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/06/minnesota-fraud-cases-timeline" data-vars-content-id="fcf10313-d7cc-4838-a8da-95cb61defcc1" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Medicaid providers caught up in fraud crackdown" 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">Minnesota&#x27;s fraud crackdown</a>.Why it matters: Many of these companies and nonprofits provide critical support for Minnesotans who rely on government-funded programs for autism, mental health and disability services.

Trail mix: Mayor Pete's Minnesota battleground endorsement

It&#x27;s official: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="House Speaker Lisa Demuth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/11/02/lisa-demuth-minnesota-governor-republican-primary-tim-walz" data-vars-content-id="8a0d2cf4-1689-40d3-8470-eaaea22171d4" data-vars-headline="Trail mix: Mayor Pete&#x27;s Minnesota battleground 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/2025/11/02/lisa-demuth-minnesota-governor-republican-primary-tim-walz" target="_self">House Speaker Lisa Demuth</a> and running-mate Ryan Wilson will compete in the Republican primary for governor after losing the MNGOP endorsement. <ul><li>Their announcement — a reversal from Demuth&#x27;s earlier pledge to drop without it — came one day after the MNGOP chair issued a rare statement giving his blessing for candidates to proceed to the primary given problems with the voting tech. </li></ul>

Minnesota Republicans delay major fundraising dinner

The dinner will be rescheduled for after the primary, the chair said.

The Minnesota Republican Party is postponing a major fundraiser scheduled for this week until after the August primary, Axios has learned. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The annual Lincoln-Reagan" data-vars-click-url="https://mngop.com/lincoln-reagan-dinner/" data-vars-content-id="a3584a5b-3140-4c8c-bc62-2f3d15775a40" data-vars-headline="Minnesota Republicans delay major fundraising dinner" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mngop.com/lincoln-reagan-dinner/" target="_blank">The annual Lincoln-Reagan</a> dinner is meant to be one of the GOP&#x27;s biggest buckraking events ahead of the crucial midterm elections.

Nicole Mitchell appears to be exploring a political comeback

Her campaign website disclosure suggests she's running for City Council in Woodbury.

Embattled former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="DFL state Sen. Nicole Mitchell" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/18/senator-nicole-mitchell-guilty" data-vars-content-id="9108b393-668d-44c4-baad-869bf89e58ca" data-vars-headline="Nicole Mitchell appears to be exploring a political comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/18/senator-nicole-mitchell-guilty" target="_self">DFL state Sen. Nicole Mitchell</a> appears to be taking steps toward another run for office. The big picture: The moves come less than a year after the Woodbury Democrat <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="resigned" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/21/nicole-mitchell-burglary-conviction-resignation" data-vars-content-id="9108b393-668d-44c4-baad-869bf89e58ca" data-vars-headline="Nicole Mitchell appears to be exploring a political comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/21/nicole-mitchell-burglary-conviction-resignation" target="_self">resigned</a> following her conviction in a high-profile felony burglary case.

Minnesota GOP endorsements set up contested Senate and governor primaries

Candidates pitching themselves as political outsiders prevailed over better-funded rivals backed by the establishment at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota Republican Party&#x27;s weekend endorsing convention" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/05/29/minnesota-republicans-battle-for-key-endorsements-in-statewide-races" data-vars-content-id="8c329dea-ff47-473e-ac06-0d7e30fe846c" data-vars-headline="Minnesota GOP endorsements set up contested Senate and governor primaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/05/29/minnesota-republicans-battle-for-key-endorsements-in-statewide-races" target="_self">Minnesota Republican Party&#x27;s weekend endorsing convention</a>.The big picture: The outcome sets the stage for contested GOP primaries for both U.S. Senate and governor this August.

Minnesota Republicans battle for key endorsements in statewide races

Democrats will also meet to decide who gets the DFL seal of approval.

More than 2,000 Minnesota Republicans will gather in Duluth this weekend to dole out pivotal endorsements for governor, U.S. Senate and other key races. Why it matters: In Minnesota Republican politics, winning the party endorsement for a statewide contest has historically meant winning the primary.<ul><li> Candidates who lose often &quot;abide by the endorsement&quot; by dropping out and backing the victor before the August primary. </li></ul>

Politics 🇺🇸

St. Paul rental repair ordinance headed for November ballot

Son of slain Minnesota Democrat turns family tragedy into effort to curb political violence

Minnesota Democrats look to turn ICE watch volunteers into GOTV force

Minneapolis council faces another difficult George Floyd Square vote

Minnesota Medicaid providers caught up in fraud crackdown