The Vikings have partnered with local Latino artist Cadex Herrera for a new ¡Vamos Vikings! mural that captures the spirit of Latino and Hispanic culture against a Twin Cities backdrop.

While driving around the City of Minneapolis, you may have seen Waymo vehicles. Waymo, a company that operates autonomous, driverless vehicles in other parts of the US, is currently testing its fleet on Minneapolis streets.

The Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) program awards grant funding to support local businesses, arts, and cultural organizations in Saint Paul. Since its start, STAR has generated more than $1.4 billion in private investment throughout the City.

The City of Minneapolis’ Vibrant Storefronts Initiative is positively impacting underutilized retail spaces.

It’s that time of year again – The Minnesota State Fair is just around the corner. Even if you have no plans to attend this year’s Fair, if you live in the Twin Cities metro area, you may still benefit from the annual event.

Office-to-residential conversion projects are an effort to make housing more accessible and affordable. However, converting an office building into a residential use can pose a major structural and financial challenge.

One of the largest Pride celebrations in the United States will take place in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday, June 28. What began more than 50 years ago as a small grassroots march along Nicollet Avenue has grown into a vibrant, 12-block parade on Hennepin Avenue, drawing an estimated 200,000 attendees to the city each year.

Over the past few years, the City of St. Paul has implemented several new policies to address the current housing shortage. These changes have already started to impact housing in the capitol City. Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis launched a new online dashboard that tracks contextual and market-based indicators related to housing in St. Paul. The dashboard reveals some emerging trends in the wake of recent housing reforms.

Grand Ave was home to the first electric streetcar route in St. Paul. Now, it’s home to an annual, two-mile long street festival. Grand Old Day returns this year on June 7th!

The state of Minnesota is considering a bill that would legalize and regulate small plug-in solar photovoltaic devices, also called “balcony” solar. While the bill is still moving through the legislative process, it reflects a broader shift toward decentralized, consumer-driven energy generation.

Happiness can be difficult to quantify. Despite this, researchers have endeavored to identify the top happiest cities in the world. The results for 2026 were announced earlier this month in the annual Happy City Index. Only one US city made it into the top 50.

In March, the infamous CVS Pharmacy located at the corner of Snelling and University in St. Paul was at last laid to rest. After shuttering its doors in 2022, the former pharmacy stood vacant for years, accumulating moth balls and a bad reputation. While the CVS was a local eyesore, it was once a place to pick up groceries and prescriptions in a food and pharmacy desert.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) is closing Highway 280 between I-94 to Highway 36/I-35W for repairs and improvements until later this year. Drivers should anticipate some traffic and delays, but the project should improve road and safety conditions on the Highway.

Last year, the City of New Ulm, Minnesota, approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for a new, tiny home development. New Ulm’s approval of GartenDorf and similar projects demonstrates the City’s willingness to use PUDs to explore different and even unconventional housing types to combat the current housing shortage.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will kick off on February 6 in Milan-Cortina. The Winter Paralympic Games will follow a month later on March 6. Athletes competing in this year’s Games will be able to stay in six Olympic Villages across northern Italy. Each location is designed to utilize existing structures to the extent possible, and many are planned to serve local communities long after the Games have ended.  

Earlier this month, the American Planning Association (APA) released its annual trend report for 2025. The document identifies some of the major themes of 2025 and speculates what planners can expect in the new year. If you’re in a bit of a rush on your way to a New Years party – don’t worry. We compiled a list of the highlights from the report!

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has has devastated ash tree populations in the Midwest and eastern states since it was first identified in the US over two decades ago. Now, researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a promising defense against it.

Last week, the longest government shutdown in US history came to a close. The shutdown began at the beginning of October, when Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution or full appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year. 43 days later, Congress passed a deal which reopened the government . . . with some caveats, especially for the hemp-derived cannabinoid industry.

Today, voters across the country will head to their local polling place to cast their votes for the 2025 election. Several closely watched races have made headline news recently, including the mayoral race in New York City and a redistricting ballot measure in California. While it hasn’t necessarily made first-page news, there is another item on the ballot this election that is worth some attention. In addition to voting for Mayor, St. Paul residents will be asked to consider if the City should amend its charter to allow for administrative citations.