Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is pushing the City Center complex as a potential site for a new Timberwolves/Lynx arena, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.

Why it matters: The idea — first floated by Axios — would mean demolishing one of the city's tallest towers and bringing an NBA arena onto the struggling Nicollet Mall.

What they're saying: Frey did not confirm or deny that he's pushing that location to team leaders, but told Axios: "You are right — I really like the site. ... I see the ability to literally march down Nicollet Mall to games and concerts and have a full pedestrian experience."

Catch up quick: City Center is mostly vacant, and its owner, Samsung, has put the complex up for sale after receiving $110 million from Target to exit a nearly 1 million-square-foot lease.

• The site is about 40% larger than the footprint of Target Center, which is 36 years old.

The other side: Officials with the Timberwolves/Lynx declined to comment, and it's unclear how enthusiastic they are about the site because Alex Rodriguez previously indicated that he and co-owner Marc Lore want nearby land to develop an entertainment district.

• City Center is boxed in.

Yes, but: Frey told Axios that there are opportunities for the team to acquire existing buildings at a lower cost for redevelopment.

• "This is a different economic development proposition in that the bones of some beautiful buildings are already in place," he said.
• The next-door Dayton's Project, which could be headed toward foreclosure, may offer additional redevelopment opportunities.

Reality check: The City Center site presents plenty of hurdles.

• While the retail and office complex is for sale, the Marriott hotel in the complex is separately owned by Host Hotels & Resorts of Maryland, which did not respond to a request for comment.
• The other sticking point could be public subsidies, should the Wolves/Lynx ask for them. Frey said his position remains the same — he's opposed to them.

The bottom line: Frey left the door open to other downtown locations, saying that both he and team leaders are in full agreement that any new arena should be built in downtown Minneapolis.

• Asked whether the larger farmers market area on the northern fringe of downtown — which Rodriguez has previously suggested as a possible site — is part of downtown, Frey said it is.
• "That is one of the options that is available. I think it offers opportunities, but there are also drawbacks."

What's ahead: Wolves CEO Matt Caldwell told reporters in January the most optimistic timeline would have the team selecting an arena location by the end of the year.

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Federal prosecutors say convicted fraudster Aimee Bock has been violating a judge's order by sending sensitive evidence to the media and elected officials ahead of her May 21 sentencing, according to MPR News.

Catch up quick: Bock was a leader in the $250 million Feeding our Future scheme, in which dozens of people have been convicted of falsifying claims for meal reimbursements meant for kids during the pandemic.

• She faces a possible life sentence.

What they're saying: Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Murphy and Rebecca Kline said Bock, who has been in jail for a year, directed her adult son to send non-public documents from her case to reporters and officials, including MPR and the Star Tribune.

• They're asking a judge to bar Bock from speaking to her two sons. A hearing is scheduled for this afternoon.
• "Her purpose for doing so can best be described as a public relations campaign — to seek to minimize her starring role in pilfering the Federal Child Nutrition Program while casting the 'real' blame for the rampant fraud on the Walz administration, state administrators and uncharged individuals," Murphy and Kline wrote.

Bock's defense attorney told MPR that Bock's sons "in an inartful way" are "hoping that the media and the legislative branch see their mom's plight."

🎤 Country star Kacey Musgraves will play Target Center on Sept. 22. Presale starts on May 7.

🩺 Mayo Clinic says it has developed an AI-assisted test that can detect pancreatic cancer up to three years before a diagnosis. (KARE 11)

🚌 A new state law is now in effect that says drivers must stop 20 feet from a school bus anytime its red lights are flashing. Previously, stops were required when the lights were flashing and a stop arm was out. (WCCO)

🪧 A Prior Lake husband and wife, as well as their daughter, have been charged with assaulting a conservative Turning Point USA reporter at an anti-ICE demonstration earlier this month. (Star Tribune)

🗳️ Former Minnesota Republican Party chair David Hann has suspended his campaign for U.S. Senate. (Statement via X)

Tonight is going to be a sports spectacle in the Twin Cities, with the Wild and Wolves playing back-to-back, each with a chance to close out their first round playoff series on home turf.

Why it matters: If both teams win, this would be the first time that the Wolves and Wild have advanced in the playoffs in the same year.

The other side: If they lose, the clubs will head to Denver and Dallas, respectively, for winner-take-all Game 7s on Saturday.

Between the lines: The Wild are slight favorites, while the Wolves — still without injured star Anthony Edwards — are underdogs.

Details: Wild puck drop is at 6:30pm on TNT/Fan Duel Sports Network and Wolves tipoff is at 8:30pm on ESPN.

The bottom line: Sorry bosses, but work productivity in the Twin Cities is going to be low on Friday.