Tom Akaolisa | MinneapoliMedia

Coon Rapids Fri. Dec 19 2025

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota at the Breaking Point: Healthcare, Housing, and the Cost of Standing Still

Minnesota faces a 2026–2027 budget crisis as rising healthcare and housing costs collide. This strain tests state resilience and the stability of the ACA framework.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota at the Breaking Point: Healthcare, Housing, and the Cost of Standing Still

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Fri. Dec 19 2025

City of Coon Rapids Hiring Seasonal Warming House Attendants to Support Winter Recreation

Coon Rapids is hiring seasonal part-time Warming House Attendants (15-20 hrs/week) through Feb 23. The role manages skating rinks and assists families. Apply now!

Tom Akaolisa Editor

City of Coon Rapids Hiring Seasonal Warming House Attendants to Support Winter Recreation

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Fri. Dec 19 2025

Coon Rapids Police Department launches officer recruitment drive for 2025 and 2026, highlighting pay, wellness, and community policing

Coon Rapids Police are hiring for immediate and future full-time officer roles. Applicants must be MN POST licensed or eligible by March 1, 2026. Hiring is continuous.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Fri. Dec 19 2025

Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Dale Pehrson Retires After 23 Years of Service

Chaplain Dale Pehrson retired from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office after 23 years. He provided critical spiritual and emotional support to residents and first responders.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Fri. Dec 19 2025

Anoka County Approves $3.9 Million Round Lake Boulevard Signal and Safety Upgrade

Anoka County approved a $3.9M project to modernize 1.5 miles of Round Lake Blvd. Upgrades focus on aging signals and safety for 25k–30k daily vehicles in Anoka and Andover.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Fri. Dec 19 2025

Blaine Approves Watershed Agreement to Address Longstanding Water Quality Issues

Blaine approved a $400k water quality deal with Coon Creek Watershed District to cut phosphorus and E. coli, meeting Clean Water Act standards and reducing flood risks.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Thu. Dec 18 2025

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Northstar’s End: When Leadership Takes the Exit Ramp

Northstar Commuter Rail is ending in January 2026. Despite its decade of service connecting suburbs to Minneapolis, leaders cite low ridership as a lack of vision fails.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Northstar’s End: When Leadership Takes the Exit Ramp

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Thu. Dec 18 2025

Coon Rapids launches 2026 Snowflake Days button design contest for 62nd anniversary

Coon Rapids Snowflake Association seeks 2026 Button Design Contest entries for its 62nd anniversary. The winning art will feature on buttons for the Jan 30–Feb 8 festival.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Thu. Dec 18 2025

Coon Rapids Police seek volunteer Reserve Officers to support community safety

Coon Rapids Police are hiring volunteer Reserve Officers. These non-sworn, unarmed roles support public safety and events, allowing sworn officers to focus on enforcement.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Police seek volunteer Reserve Officers to support community safety

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Thu. Dec 18 2025

Anoka County Commissioners Call on Middle School Students to Join 2026 National Civics Bee

Anoka County urges students (grades 6-8) to enter the 2026 National Civics Bee. The nonpartisan contest builds civic literacy for the U.S. 250th anniversary. Entry is free.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Thu. Dec 18 2025

Blaine Police Department to Host Tip A Cop Fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota at The Ball Park

Blaine police host a Tip A Cop for Special Olympics Dec 20, 5-8 PM at The Ball Park. Officers serve as celebrity waiters; 100% of tips benefit the organization.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Blaine Police Department to Host Tip A Cop Fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota at The Ball Park

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Thu. Dec 18 2025

Anoka-Hennepin Teachers Vote on Strike Authorization as Contract Talks Reach Critical Juncture

Over 3,000 Anoka-Hennepin teachers are voting Dec 17–20 on a strike authorization due to stalled contract talks. Results for MN’s largest district are due Saturday.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Dec 17 2025

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | The Blood of the North Star

Gun violence has shattered Minnesota’s sense of safety. In 2024, 564 died, mostly suicides, with rising harm to youth and communities of color, deepening fear statewide.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | The Blood of the North Star

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Dec 17 2025

Coon Rapids Police Department launches recruitment drive with focus on experience, wellness, and community trust

City of Coon Rapids is recruiting two full-time police officers, seeking Minnesota POST-licensed or license-eligible candidates as part of an ongoing public safety hiring effort.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Police Department launches recruitment drive with focus on experience, wellness, and community trust

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Dec 17 2025

Anoka County to Close at Noon Dec. 24, Closed Dec. 25 for Christmas Holiday

Anoka County offices will close at noon Wednesday, Dec. 24, and remain closed Thursday, Dec. 25, for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, following county policy.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Anoka County to Close at Noon Dec. 24, Closed Dec. 25 for Christmas Holiday

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Dec 17 2025

Maple Grove Business Association dissolves after 24 years as Chalkfest 2026 moves toward a new model

The Maple Grove Business Association has dissolved after 24 years due to funding shortfalls, ending its role in city events and leaving the future of Chalkfest uncertain.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Dec 17 2025

Two Years Later, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Renews Call for Help in Fridley Hit and Run Death

On the anniversary of Calvin Garron’s death, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office renewed its plea for tips in the unsolved Dec. 2022 Fridley hit-and-run that killed him.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Two Years Later, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Renews Call for Help in Fridley Hit and Run Death

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Dec 17 2025

Tuesday special election primaries narrow field for two Minnesota House seats, with control of chamber at stake

Voters held special DFL primaries Dec. 16 for two vacant Minnesota House seats, races that will shape party control and leadership ahead of the 2026 session.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tuesday special election primaries narrow field for two Minnesota House seats, with control of chamber at stake

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Dec 16 2025

The Promise to End Chronic Homelessness Is Fading. The Costs Are Not.

Hennepin County says its goal to end chronic homelessness by 2025 is far from complete, as Minneapolis weighs mayor and council pay raises amid ongoing housing failures.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

The Promise to End Chronic Homelessness Is Fading. The Costs Are Not.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Dec 16 2025

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Accusing Uber of Deceptive Subscription Practices

AG Keith Ellison joined a 21-state FTC lawsuit alleging Uber made Uber One easy to join but hard to cancel using deceptive dark patterns.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Accusing Uber of Deceptive Subscription Practices

Tom Akaolisa Editor

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