🌱 Fire Breaks Out At House Of Charity + Winter Carnival Begins

Georgi Presecky
Updated ·3 min read

Happy Friday, Minneapolis! Let's get to the latest local news.

First, today's weather: Partly sunny and colder. High: 12 Low: 7.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Minneapolis:

1. City officials "vehemently defended" the Minneapolis proof of vaccine policy at a court hearing Wednesday, in which restaurant owners are attempting to sue over apparent loss of business due to the mandate. Their attorney said COVID-19 is "no longer an emergency" despite case numbers reaching their highest level since the pandemic began. (Paid source: Star Tribune)

2. Minneapolis Police Department Inspector Katie Blackwell testified Thursday in the civil rights trial of three former officers on the scene of George Floyd's killing. Blackwell spoke of the department's "Duty to Intervene" policy and said, "the department teaches officers to use the lowest amount of force necessary." (KARE11)

3. Assistant Anoka County Attorney Paul Ostrow announced he will join the race for Hennepin County Attorney. He previously served as president of the Minneapolis City Council. (Paid source: Star Tribune)

4. A fire broke out Wednesday in the nonprofit House of Charity. Though no one was hurt, the organization's food center in downtown Minneapolis will be closed indefinitely due to fire damage. (CBS)

5. The Minnesota women's soccer team announced its official name will be Minnesota Aurora FC. The season will begin in May as part of the new USL W League. (KARE11)

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Today in Minneapolis:

  • The Copper Hen offers bottomless mimosas. (10:30 a.m.)

  • The Saint Paul Winter Carnival begins with ice sculptures and scavenger hunts. (5 p.m.)

  • Bobby Rush and Jontavious Willis perform at Dakota Jazz Club. (7 p.m.)

  • Hear "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™" in Concert with the Minnesota Orchestra. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Plans to open Southwest Light Rail have been delayed until 2027. (MinnPost)

  • The temporarily closed Band Box Diner was just named Minnesota's best "hole in the wall" diner. (BMTN)

  • Thirteen hockey players from Minnesota will represent Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics. (SC Times)

  • TGI Fridays will offer free food to Minnesota delivery drivers next month. (WJON News)

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That's all for today, Minneapolis! See you soon for more local news.

— Georgi Presecky

This article originally appeared on the Minneapolis Patch