Axios Twin Cities

April 24, 2026
Top of the morning!
- Sunny with a high of 63, per NWS.
🎂 Happy birthday weekend to our members Alaya London, Melinda Keller, Tom And Lorri Evans, Steve Webster, Jamie Verbrugge, and Mary Nienaber!
🏀 The Wolves won Game 3 against the Nuggets last night.
Today's newsletter is 1,132 words, a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Walz starts writing his next chapter
Gov. Tim Walz is back on the road, with recent trips to Spain for a progressive leaders conference and Los Angeles for a nationally televised late-night interview.
The big picture: The DFL governor's ramped-up travel schedule, combined with this week's announcements that he's writing a book and launching a federal PAC, offer early clues about his post-office plans.
- He says he'll use the PAC to help Democrats "expand the map" by recruiting and supporting candidates in rural areas.
State of play: Walz ditched plans to seek a third term amid declining approval ratings and intensified scrutiny over his administration's response to fraud in state programs.
- But aides say his vice-presidential bid left him with a robust fundraising list and a steady stream of requests to headline events for Democrats across the country.
Case in point: He joined other governors at a fundraiser in Los Angeles last night, recently headlined a Democratic Party gala in Idaho and travels to Maine next week.
- He's also received speaking invites in Hawaii and Washington state this summer.
Between the lines: Walz has said he'll "never" seek elected office again.
- But allies expect him to try to maintain a presence on the national stage as a fundraiser, campaign surrogate and "party leader" in 2026 and beyond.
The intrigue: His book, which will focus in part on resistance to Operation Metro Surge, will be released in 2027 — meaning he could be on a promotional and media tour as the presidential primary picks up.
What he's saying: "I want to go out and find teachers, nurses, small business owners [to run for office]," Walz told ABC's Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday, noting that he'd also like to return to teaching.
Reality check: While he may be in demand nationally, it's unclear how active the governor will be on Minnesota's campaign trail, where DFLers still see the fraud issue as a top liability.
The other side: Minnesota Republicans dismissed Walz's moves as a "lame duck governor personified" and criticized him for going "AWOL" in the closing weeks of session.
What we're watching: Walz's final State of the State address on Tuesday will signal his end-of-term priorities — and how he'll aim to define his legacy.
2. Zoom in: Who pays for Walz's travel
Campaign funds paid for the recent trips overseas and to Los Angeles, a spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Yes, but: Taxpayers are still on the hook for some related travel costs.
The reason: Walz's State Patrol security detail accompanies him on out-of-state travel, even when the trips are for personal or political purposes.
By the numbers: The Minnesota State Patrol spent over $700,000 in state funds to protect the governor as he crisscrossed the country between mid-2023 and the end of 2025, data obtained by Axios via a public records request shows.
- Destinations included overseas trade missions, family vacations and dozens of fundraisers and speeches before, during and after his 2024 vice presidential bid.
Zoom in: Troopers also joined Walz on the trail during his vice presidential bid, when he had Secret Service protection.
What we're hearing: University of Minnesota professor Richard Painter told Axios that spending state funds on such security is in the "public interest," even when trips aren't related to the governor's official duties.
- "It's absolutely critical that we prevent any assassinations, any violence against our political leaders," said the former White House ethics lawyer, who has criticized Walz over other spending.
"It's a fraction of what we pay for other things, and it's really key to keeping democracy working."
3. Restaurant roundup: Goodbye, Beast Barbecue
Duck Duck Coffee is expanding to East Lake Street, Longfellow Whatever reports.
- Ducks on Lake will open in the former Milkweed space as soon as next month.
☕️ In more coffee news, Eden Prairie's Smith Coffee & Cafe is adding a new location at 50th & France this fall, per the Minnesota Star Tribune.
🇫🇷 Aubergine, the neighborhood French bistro by Gavin Kaysen alums, opens today in Cathedral Hill.
🍗 Beast Barbecue in Northeast Minneapolis announced that it will close on May 2.
🍝 Brian Ingram's North Loop pasta spot Salt & Flour Kitchen will relaunch May 4 with "nothing over $15," Ingram announced on Instagram.
4. The Spoon: Meet the newest Viking
🏈 The Vikings surprised analysts and fans by picking Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks in last night's NFL Draft. (ESPN)
🎤 Basilica Block Party organizers say the music festival, last held in 2024, will not return. (Star Tribune)
🏗️ Minnesota United FC owner Bill McGuire is moving to buy the site of the recently-demolished Midway CVS to develop "market-rate apartments and new retail services," St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced.
- McGuire leads a group that's also building a hotel, offices and restaurants around Allianz Field, just across University Avenue.
The state Senate sent Gov. Tim Walz a bill raising the legal age for purchasing Kratom from 18 to 21. (Background via Axios)
- The widely available substance, which can have opioid-like effects, has surged in popularity.
5. Hall Monitor: Witch's Hat repairs move forward
👋 Kyle here with a few updates from a busy day at Minneapolis City Hall...
🧙♀️ The Prospect Park water tower's observation deck — aka "the Witch's Hat" — could finally reopen to the public this fall.
- City council members voted to hire a contractor to complete repairs to reopen the tower, which has been closed since 2019.
❓ Minneapolis' top public safety official's job remains in limbo. The council failed to override Mayor Jacob Frey's veto of their rejection of community safety commissioner Todd Barnette's reappointment.
- Barnette cannot serve past August without an affirmative council vote.
💾 Next month, the city council could, in effect, enact a temporary moratorium on data centers — just by opening debate on the proposal.
- Downtown boosters see data centers as a means of rescuing falling property values, but some council members want the city to study the environmental and development risks.
6. 🐣 1 cute thing to go: Bring on the farm babies
The Minnesota Zoo's "farm babies" are baa-baa-back.
Why it matters: They're super cute. Squee!
What's new: Miniature donkeys and cattle will join this year's barnyard crew of chicks, piglets, lambs and foals at the zoo's demonstration farm.
If you go: The spring exhibit is open daily during zoo hours, tomorrow through May 17.
- Live music and other special activities are scheduled on weekends.
🎟️ Admission is included with your zoo ticket or membership.
🥅 Kyle enjoyed this Athletic story on fellow LNHS alum and Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger.
💇♀️ Audrey is getting a haircut.
😴 Nick is probably not awake yet because he was at the Wolves game last night.
🌇 Torey is definitely awake — she hit send on this edition!
Today's newsletter was edited by Delano Massey.
Sign up for Axios Twin Cities









