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Dog park users mobilize to save Minnehaha off-leash area

They say the park will deteriorate without them taking care of it.

News

Many of the people who walk the wooded trails and beaches of the Minnehaha dog park are rallying in hopes of halting a scheduled vote Wednesday at a Minneapolis Park &amp; Recreation Board meeting to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="close the popular off-leash area" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/06/02/park-board-proposal-close-minnehaha-dog-park" data-vars-content-id="bd15ca34-5088-4bbb-bb42-3228da7f0b10" data-vars-headline="Dog park users mobilize to save Minnehaha off-leash area" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/06/02/park-board-proposal-close-minnehaha-dog-park" target="_self">close the popular off-leash area</a>. Why it matters: The vote could determine the future of one of Minneapolis&#x27; most popular dog parks while testing how much public input should shape decisions about culturally significant land.

Where Minnesotans want to spend their summer, according to our poll

As a staycation destination, one corner of Minnesota reigns … Superior.

Travel

As a staycation destination, one corner of Minnesota reigns — shall we say — Superior.

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.

Twin Cities events guide: Juneteenth, Midsommar, Father's Day

It's time to celebrate the longest day of the year.

Things to Do

Friday is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Juneteenth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/02/juneteenth-celebration-civil-rights-backlash" data-vars-content-id="a9d5abbd-4fa8-4f06-a00c-8a587de2a11f" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities events guide: Juneteenth, Midsommar, Father&#x27;s Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/02/juneteenth-celebration-civil-rights-backlash" target="_self">Juneteenth</a>, the federal holiday commemorating the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation.<ul><li>Here are five ways to celebrate the day this weekend.</li></ul>

MSP Airport gets a premium lounge for gamers

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MSP Airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/26/msp-airport-concourse-g-best-wing-vote-travelers-food-sky-club" data-vars-content-id="1319dcb6-0726-4eef-9f75-8f15be3e3a42" data-vars-headline="MSP Airport gets a premium lounge for gamers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/26/msp-airport-concourse-g-best-wing-vote-travelers-food-sky-club" target="_self">MSP Airport</a> is leveling up with a &quot;first-of-its-kind&quot; premium lounge dedicated to gaming. What to expect: The 3,800-square-foot Portal Lounge boasts over a dozen stations with Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation consoles and custom-built gaming PCs.<ul><li>Travelers can also pass the time with a snack or drink in an adjoining room that features more typical tables and bar seats.</li></ul>

Allegiant closes on Sun Country acquisition

Many Sun Country employees are uneasy about their jobs

Sun Country Airlines officially became a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air Wednesday after the companies closed their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1.5 billion merger" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/13/what-sun-country-sale-allegiant-means-for-msp-travelers" data-vars-content-id="ee571c43-bf75-4224-b866-b6dde3de85fa" data-vars-headline="Allegiant closes on Sun Country acquisition" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/13/what-sun-country-sale-allegiant-means-for-msp-travelers" target="_self">$1.5 billion merger</a>. Why it matters: This acquisition is going to mean big changes for many of the airline&#x27;s 3,300 employees, and it will also spell the end of the Sun Country brand — eventually.

Delta raises fees to $45 for first checked bag as fuel prices soar

The new prices take effect for flights booked April 8 or later.

Economy

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Delta Air Lines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/12/12/msp-delta-hub-airfares-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="493e6939-ab9c-455e-811a-62e2bc1d72a1" data-vars-headline="Delta raises fees to $45 for first checked bag as fuel prices soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/12/12/msp-delta-hub-airfares-minneapolis" target="_self">Delta Air Lines</a> announced Tuesday that it is raising its checked bag fees by $10.The big picture: It&#x27;s the third major carrier to hike fees for flyers as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fuel costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-flights" data-vars-content-id="493e6939-ab9c-455e-811a-62e2bc1d72a1" data-vars-headline="Delta raises fees to $45 for first checked bag as fuel prices soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-flights" target="_self">fuel costs</a> soar amid the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iran war" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/iran-war-us-tehran-ceasefire-talks" data-vars-content-id="493e6939-ab9c-455e-811a-62e2bc1d72a1" data-vars-headline="Delta raises fees to $45 for first checked bag as fuel prices soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/iran-war-us-tehran-ceasefire-talks" target="_self">Iran war</a>.<ul><li>Jet fuel prices have risen by nearly 88% in major U.S. cities since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per CNBC" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/07/delta-checked-bag-fees.html" data-vars-content-id="493e6939-ab9c-455e-811a-62e2bc1d72a1" data-vars-headline="Delta raises fees to $45 for first checked bag as fuel prices soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/07/delta-checked-bag-fees.html" target="_blank">per CNBC</a>.</li></ul>

Concourse G takes the crown as MSP Airport's best wing

At <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MSP Airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/02/08/twin-cities-airport-minneapolis-st-paul-msp-travel-guide" data-vars-content-id="dfbd1000-4094-4188-93d1-b9853c4686df" data-vars-headline="Concourse G takes the crown as MSP Airport&#x27;s best wing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/02/08/twin-cities-airport-minneapolis-st-paul-msp-travel-guide" target="_self">MSP Airport</a>, Concourse G is the place to be.State of play: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently renovated wing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mspairport.com/concourse-g-improvements" data-vars-content-id="dfbd1000-4094-4188-93d1-b9853c4686df" data-vars-headline="Concourse G takes the crown as MSP Airport&#x27;s best wing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mspairport.com/concourse-g-improvements" target="_blank">recently renovated wing</a> won our poll seeking to name the airport&#x27;s best concourse in a landslide, gobbling up over 40% of the vote.<ul><li>Concourses C (18%) and F (15%) rounded out the top three. </li></ul>

Gas prices rise in Minnesota as oil spikes after Iran strikes

Prices at the pump are now over $3 a gallon.

Gasoline prices are jumping as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="oil prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/oil-prices-iran-trump-rubio-mitigate-costs" data-vars-content-id="e1607373-f6d5-4452-b8e0-54b35ce3d893" data-vars-headline="Gas prices rise in Minnesota as oil spikes after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/oil-prices-iran-trump-rubio-mitigate-costs" target="_self">oil prices</a> spike following the U.S. and Israel <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="strikes on Iran" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" data-vars-content-id="e1607373-f6d5-4452-b8e0-54b35ce3d893" data-vars-headline="Gas prices rise in Minnesota as oil spikes after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" target="_self">strikes on Iran</a>, reflecting market fears of extended geopolitical upheaval.Why it matters: Americans use about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="370 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=23&amp;t=10" data-vars-content-id="e1607373-f6d5-4452-b8e0-54b35ce3d893" data-vars-headline="Gas prices rise in Minnesota as oil spikes after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=23&amp;t=10" target="_blank">370 million</a> gallons of gas <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&amp;s=mgfupus2&amp;f=m" data-vars-content-id="e1607373-f6d5-4452-b8e0-54b35ce3d893" data-vars-headline="Gas prices rise in Minnesota as oil spikes after Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&amp;s=mgfupus2&amp;f=m" target="_blank">per day</a>, so price increases have an immediate effect on their pocketbook and mood about the economy.

What Sun Country sale means for MSP travelers

Sun Country says the deal will be good for Minneapolis travelers, but time will tell.

Business

Sun Country is saying all the right things about what a sale to Allegiant would mean for the Twin Cities, but time will tell if this is good for the local economy. Catch up quick: Sun Country and Las Vegas-based Allegiant <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced the acquisition" data-vars-click-url="https://ir.suncountry.com/news-releases/news-release-details/allegiant-and-sun-country-airlines-combine-creating-leading-more" data-vars-content-id="2284a76f-74a2-46bb-a3f9-2dff15a218d5" data-vars-headline="What Sun Country sale means for MSP travelers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ir.suncountry.com/news-releases/news-release-details/allegiant-and-sun-country-airlines-combine-creating-leading-more" target="_blank">announced the acquisition</a> Sunday in a deal that values the hometown airline at $1.5 billion.

The price MSP travelers pay for Delta's dominance

MSP travelers pay more than average to fly domestically. Here's how much — and why.

Delta raised some eyebrows among savvy travelers this week for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="charging $699" data-vars-click-url="https://thriftytraveler.com/news/airlines/airfare-discrepancy-skiplagged/" data-vars-content-id="5842115e-86df-4f6b-bdf4-da6a8052b777" data-vars-headline="The price MSP travelers pay for Delta&#x27;s dominance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thriftytraveler.com/news/airlines/airfare-discrepancy-skiplagged/" target="_blank">charging $699</a> to fly one-way from Minneapolis/St. Paul International to Atlanta — in basic economy!Why it matters: It&#x27;s an extreme example of what Minnesota-based travel analyst Kyle Potter calls the &quot;hub penalty&quot; that travelers pay for Delta&#x27;s dominance at MSP.

Minnesotans love to walk for exercise. But for utility? Not as much

We might walk 3 miles around a lake, but a few blocks to a restaurant is too much.

The Twin Cities rank <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="among the most active" data-vars-click-url="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-and-st-paul-among-americas-fittest-cities-survey-says/601443671" data-vars-content-id="f3851206-15fb-4771-9dd7-4664788ded34" data-vars-headline="Minnesotans love to walk for exercise. But for utility? Not as much" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-and-st-paul-among-americas-fittest-cities-survey-says/601443671" target="_blank">among the most active</a> metro areas in the nation, but do we only walk for pleasure?The big picture: Our willingness to walk for utility has come under recent scrutiny. At a recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="RE Journals Summit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/10/10/downtown-leaders-divided-kupchella-documentary-crime" data-vars-content-id="f3851206-15fb-4771-9dd7-4664788ded34" data-vars-headline="Minnesotans love to walk for exercise. But for utility? Not as much" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/10/10/downtown-leaders-divided-kupchella-documentary-crime" target="_self">RE Journals Summit</a>, Eric Anderson of City Center Realty Partners lamented that it&#x27;s hard to get people to walk four blocks from Target Field Station to a building in the North Loop.

MSP Airport running smoothly ahead of MEA rush

TSA agents and air traffic controllers continue to show up for work — for now

MSP Airport has so far been able to operate smoothly despite a federal government shutdown that has caused pain for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="flyers in other cities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/08/government-shutdown-airports-flight-delays-air-traffic" data-vars-content-id="fe68c61b-f9c9-46a7-be8d-02149efa034b" data-vars-headline="MSP Airport running smoothly ahead of MEA rush" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/08/government-shutdown-airports-flight-delays-air-traffic" target="_self">flyers in other cities</a>.Why it matters: It&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota Educators Academy week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/10/19/mea-weekend-travel-advice-minnesota" data-vars-content-id="fe68c61b-f9c9-46a7-be8d-02149efa034b" data-vars-headline="MSP Airport running smoothly ahead of MEA rush" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/10/19/mea-weekend-travel-advice-minnesota" target="_self">Minnesota Educators Academy week</a>, which means the airport is much busier than normal as families head out on mini-vacations while there&#x27;s no school Thursday and Friday. <ul><li>Several districts also hold conferences this week and some parents take advantage of an additional day or two.</li></ul>

A map of the state of Minnesota shaded into seven regions, labeled with results of a reader survey. The northeastern Minnesota region, including Duluth, the Boundary Waters and North Shore, is the most popular with 70.4% of reader votes. The other regions are: the Twin Cities metro; southwest MN; southeast MN; a swath of south-central Minnesota including St. Cloud and Twin Cities exurbs, including Lake Minnetonka; and north-central Minnesota, including the Brainerd Lakes Area and Hinckley; northwestern MN — which is the second most popular region with 12% of reader votes. The rest of the regions were chosen with single-digit shares of reader votes.

Travel

Where Minnesotans want to spend their summer, according to our poll

MSP Airport gets a premium lounge for gamers

Allegiant closes on Sun Country acquisition

Twin Cities flyers lose drink service on short Delta hops

Delta raises fees to $45 for first checked bag as fuel prices soar