A Hennepin County commissioner's remarks on the Sheriff's Office budget sparked outrage in Twin Cities law enforcement agencies last week.

Yes, but: The serious money troubles facing Hennepin County that caused the controversy in the first place got lost in the headlines.

Why it matters: Not only is the sheriff's budget at stake, but so are county-run safety net programs, library services, fraud-fighting efforts, the survival of Hennepin County Medical Center — and property taxpayers' bills.

Driving the news: Last Tuesday, before voting to transfer money to the sheriff's office to cover a $15 million budget overrun, Commissioner Marion Greene said, "I'm not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety."

Reality check: The remarks alarmed 41 local police chiefs and mayors, who signed a letter pointing out that many public safety services the sheriff provides aren't optional under state law.

• Greene's apparent suggestion that local police departments might take on more of these responsibilities is "not grounded in reality," the letter said.
• Greene declined Axios' request for comment.

The big picture: The controversy emerged as Hennepin County braces for major shocks to its $3.1 billion operating budget.

• Even if county leaders convince the state to rescue HCMC, officials tell Axios they expect a $32 million cut to federal food stamps and housing grants.
• President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" also saddled the county with more responsibilities in overseeing safety net benefits that will cost millions more to carry out.

This was the context for the spat with Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt, who has warned against raiding her office's $170 million budget to balance the county's books.

• For years, a staffing crisis forced Witt's office to lean heavily on overtime and ship jail inmates to other counties.
• A hiring spree helped address these problems. The jail started 2025 with 161 deputies, and ended the year with 237, a spokesperson told Axios.

The intrigue: On March 11, Witt publicly floated the possibility of a lawsuit against the commission to protect those staffing levels.

• Two weeks later, Greene made her comments scrutinizing the sheriff's mandate.

What we're watching: The sheriff's office won't be the only budget under scrutiny in the coming months.

• Hennepin County Libraries may see "service disruptions" as officials look for cuts, County Commissioner Kevin Anderson recently told the Minnetrista City Council.
• County officials will provide their next budget update in June.

The bottom line: "It's not business as usual," Greene said. "It can't be … given the duress the county is under."

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What success looks like for me is more events downtown, and more high energy restaurants. With people comes security and safety, and with safety and security, comes more people.

Leipold is hopeful that a plan to renovate Grand Casino Arena and Roy Wilkins Auditorium could anchor a new downtown St. Paul entertainment district.

Driving the news: The Wild and St. Paul officials are asking the state to contribute $200 million to a project that would cost $600 million overall.

• It's a less-expensive project than the city and team pitched last year.

The intrigue: The renovations could unlock other development around the complex — including a long-sought convention hotel, Leipold told the Business Journal.

• He also believes a spruced-up Roy Wilkins could book an additional 75 events each year.

🚧 Minneapolis will begin construction work later this summer on a long-debated project to rebuild the streets in and around George Floyd Square. (KARE11/Background via Axios)

🏛️ Two bounty hunters from Oklahoma face felony charges in Hennepin County after prosecutors said they shot pepper balls toward protestors with "replica firearms." (MPR News)

🍎 Ruby's Pantry abruptly shut down its regional food bank operation, citing financial difficulties. (KSTP)

🌿 Lift Bridge Brewery must pay $1.8 million after a jury ruled the company misled two former business partners hoping to co-create a THC beverage line with the Stillwater brewery. (Star Tribune)

• Lift Bridge's attorney said the trial "contained significant legal errors," and the company may appeal.

🚓 Crystal police are increasing patrols after three straight days of what officers called "unmanageable" youth gatherings in a city park. (CCX News)

🎓 Eden Prairie High School will hold a separate graduation for athletes competing in the state track and field championships, which are scheduled for the same time as the district's ceremony. (Eden Prairie Local News)

More than 300 Minnesota law enforcement agencies are joining a month-long, statewide crackdown on distracted driving in April.

The big picture: The campaign means extra patrols to help catch drivers paying more attention to their phone, music, mirrors, food or makeup than the road.

By the numbers: Distracted driving has been a factor in more than 33,000 crashes since 2020, resulting in 162 fatalities, according to state data.

What they're saying: "Society must see what's happening on our roadways as unacceptable," Shakopee Mayor Matt Lehman told reporters yesterday.

• Lehman's daughter-in-law, Ashley, was killed last July after another driver crashed into her car at a four-way stop. The cause is still under investigation.

The intrigue: The number of distraction-related crashes has dropped sharply since Minnesota enacted a tougher "hands-free" law in 2019.

• Yes, but: These statistics rely heavily on self-reporting, and increases in the number of cell phone tickets leads researchers to speculate distracted driving is a bigger problem than the data suggests.

The Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine is reopening to visitors on May 23 after a two-year closure caused by flooding.

Why it matters: Prior to its closure, the northern Minnesota iron mine drew 34,000 visitors a year, according to the Minnesota DNR.

How it works: The 90-minute tours take sightseers a half-mile underground. Once there, they ride a train nearly a mile, to the deepest area that was mined, before operations ceased in 1962.

Book tours