A historic number of openly LGBTQ+ candidates are running for the Minnesota Legislature in this year's midterm elections.

What's happening: At least 11 candidates who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community will appear on ballots for the Aug. 9 primary, according to a list compiled by state Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis).

The big picture: Advocates say a record-breaking number of LGBTQ+ candidates are running across the nation as lawmakers in many states advance proposals that could curtail their rights.

What they're saying: Dibble, who is gay, said the high interest from Minnesota candidates is "absolutely a response to [a] national coordinated effort to attack LGBTQ people and trans youth."

• Growing LGBTQ representation at the local level, including on city councils, has also created a "pipeline" of potential candidates to run for state Legislature or Congress, he said.

Zoom in: State House candidate Leigh Finke told Axios that proposals such as a 2021 bill that would make it a misdemeanor for trans students to participate in school sports or use locker rooms for females prompted her to run.

• "It became extremely important for me to have a trans person at the Capitol to have a voice. We've never been represented," the St. Paul Democrat, who will be Minnesota's first openly transgender legislator if she wins her bid, told Axios.

Flashback: Minnesota made history as the first state with an openly gay state legislator after Sen. Allan Spear came out in 1974.

• Since then just 10 more out legislators have served, per Dibble's count. Five of those lawmakers are currently in the Legislature.

What to watch: A number of the candidates, including Finke and former state Rep. Erin Maye Quade, are running in competitive primaries next month.

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The owner of Tilt Pinball Bar has purchased the beloved dive bar Liquor Lyle's on South Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.

Driving the news: Tilt made the announcement on Instagram.

• Real estate broker Jeff Salzbrun confirmed the purchase to Axios, and said the building sold for $700,000 on Friday. Salzbrun represented the sellers.

The intrigue: The bar will become a pinball bar, according the Instagram post. The company, which is owned by real estate developer Daniel Oberpriller of North Bay Cos., said more details would be forthcoming.

• Tilt opened near Eat Street in 2017.
• In the Instagram post, Tilt said it would be changing its name to LITT Pinball Bar "due to certain reasons."

Flashback: Axios broke the news last year that the longtime Lyle's owners Russell Spence and Ken Meshbesher would not reopen the bar and put it up for sale. A third partner, Ron Meshbesher, died in 2018 and his stake is owned by his wife, Kim.

🚨 Some neighbors blame Grand Avenue crime problems on the new owners of Billy's. But the St. Paul bar owners say their Black late-night clientele gets wrongly scapegoated for any and all crime on the avenue. (Pioneer Press)

🎥 The former Mann Hopkins Cinema 6 will be redeveloped with 150 apartments and commercial space under a new proposal. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

🇺🇦 Five wounded Ukrainian soldiers have arrived in Minnesota to receive prosthetics and treatment at Minneapolis’ Limb Lab. (Fox9)

A 10-court pickleball facility with a restaurant and self-serve taproom is planned for Maple Grove.

The details: Developer Ryan Cos. has proposed a 33,000-square-foot building near the Interstate 94/Highway 610 interchange, near Maple Grove Hospital.

• The operator of the facility, which will be called Pints & Paddle, could not be reached for comment.

What to watch: Pending city approvals, the project could break ground in the fall, said Brett Angell, assistant community & economic development director for Maple Grove.

State of play: Pickleball is exploding in the Twin Cities.

• In addition to cities converting their tennis courts to pickleball, private operators have opened booze-and-pickleball complexes in Northeast Minneapolis and other places.
• Life Time is also outfitting many of its clubs with pickleball courts.
• Des Moines, Iowa-based Smash Park is planning to expand its pickleball chain here. A spokesperson said the company anticipates making land purchases in the fall.

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👋 Torey here. I'm always looking for new spins on my go-to summer coffee order of cold brew with oat milk.

Dogwood Coffee delivered last week, with a seasonal drink special called "Beach Please."

Details: Coconut Zamboni Cold Brew topped with banana cold foam and a crack of pink salt. A 16-ounce cup costs $6.

• The online menu describes it as "a beach vacation in a glass (minus the rum)!"

💭 My thought bubble: Delicious, refreshing and just sweet enough to feel like a special treat. I was worried that the banana flavor would overpower the drink, but it was a nice touch!