Tom Akaolisa | MinneapoliMedia

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota’s Students Cannot Wait for Adults to Finish Arguing About Education

Minnesota’s students need results, not endless debates. Real recovery requires evidence-based teaching, accountability, attendance and measurable learning.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota’s Students Cannot Wait for Adults to Finish Arguing About Education

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Costco Pays $5.5 Million for Former TGI Fridays Site, Advancing Coon Rapids Expansion

Costco has finalized its $5.5 million purchase of the former TGI Fridays site, advancing plans to double fuel capacity and ease congestion in Coon Rapids.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Costco Pays $5.5 Million for Former TGI Fridays Site, Advancing Coon Rapids Expansion

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Blaine Police Recorded 5,304 Calls for Service, 126 Arrests in June

Blaine police handled 5,304 calls in June, including 1,402 traffic stops, 481 medical calls, 187 crashes and 126 arrests, highlighting a busy month for officers.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

VOICES FROM ACROSS AMERICA (VFAA) | Peter Mutabazi Never Expected Kindness to Save His Life

Peter Mutabazi survived abuse and homelessness in Uganda to become a foster father whose compassion has transformed dozens of children's lives through love and belonging.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her Faces Expanding Workplace Misconduct Investigation

Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her faces an expanding workplace misconduct probe after complaints by two senior police officials. The allegations remain unproven.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her Faces Expanding Workplace Misconduct Investigation

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Payment Transparency Law Gives Subcontractors Access to Public Project Records

Minnesota's new Payment Transparency Act lets subcontractors request public-project payment records, with agencies required to respond within seven days at no cost.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Appleton Prison Will Reopen Under Five-Year Federal Immigration Detention Contract

Appleton's Prairie Correctional Facility will reopen under a five-year ICE contract, adding about 1,600 detention beds and creating jobs in western Minnesota.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Wed. Aug 5 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Finds Assisted-Living Facility Neglected Resident Given 18 Liquor Shots

Minnesota found a Holdingford assisted-living facility neglected a resident after staff gave him 18 liquor shots in 24 hours. The facility plans to appeal.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Aug 4 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota Cannot Build a Strong Economy on Weak Oversight

Minnesota's future depends on stronger oversight and economic growth. Protecting taxpayers, restoring trust and attracting investment require competent, accountable government.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota Cannot Build a Strong Economy on Weak Oversight

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Aug 4 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Raises Legal Age for Buying and Possessing Kratom to 21

Minnesota raised the legal age to buy or possess kratom from 18 to 21. Selling it to anyone under 21 is now a gross misdemeanor under state law.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Raises Legal Age for Buying and Possessing Kratom to 21

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Aug 4 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Makes Prison Presumptive for Medicaid Fraud Exceeding $1 Million

Minnesota now presumes prison for Medicaid fraud over $1 million, strengthening penalties and expanding investigators to protect taxpayer-funded healthcare.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Makes Prison Presumptive for Medicaid Fraud Exceeding $1 Million

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Aug 4 2026

BUILDERS OF MINNESOTA | The Gospel of 49 Chairs: How Nadia Wotrang-Brown Bet Her Home to Feed the Soul of Minnesota

Chef Nadia Wotrang-Brown sold her home to build Nadia's Jamaican Kitchen, creating a family legacy rooted in faith, resilience, authentic food and community.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

BUILDERS OF MINNESOTA | The Gospel of 49 Chairs: How Nadia Wotrang-Brown Bet Her Home to Feed the Soul of Minnesota

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Aug 4 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Saint Paul Opens Federal Housing and Community-Development Spending Report for Public Review

Saint Paul has opened public review of its federal housing spending report, giving residents until Aug. 18 to comment before it is submitted to HUD.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Tue. Aug 4 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Tourism Officials Estimate SummerSlam Could Generate $100 Million for Minneapolis Region

SummerSlam drew thousands to Minneapolis, with officials projecting up to $100 million in regional economic activity, though a final impact study is still pending.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Tourism Officials Estimate SummerSlam Could Generate $100 Million for Minneapolis Region

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Mon. Aug 3 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Municipal Elections Shape Daily Life. Voters Should Treat Them That Way.

Coon Rapids voters should treat municipal elections seriously because City Hall decisions on taxes, safety, roads and growth shape daily life far more than many realize.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Municipal Elections Shape Daily Life. Voters Should Treat Them That Way.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Mon. Aug 3 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Coon Rapids Police Open New Continuous Recruitment for Part-Time Community Service Officers

Coon Rapids Police are hiring part-time Community Service Officers, giving law enforcement students paid experience, benefits and a pathway to policing careers.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Mon. Aug 3 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Search Continues for Man Missing in Mississippi River Near Hidden Falls Park

Ramsey County Water Patrol and Minnesota DNR crews are searching for a man who disappeared in the Mississippi River near Hidden Falls Park.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Search Continues for Man Missing in Mississippi River Near Hidden Falls Park

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Mon. Aug 3 2026

THE POWER OF HER | Suwana Kirkland Built a Public Safety Career From the Systems She Once Needed to Survive

Law enforcement leader Suwana Kirkland overcame poverty and adversity to reshape public safety, proving lived experience can inspire transformational leadership.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

THE POWER OF HER | Suwana Kirkland Built a Public Safety Career From the Systems She Once Needed to Survive

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Mon. Aug 3 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Court Denies xAI’s Emergency Request to Stop Minnesota “Nudification” Law

A federal judge refused to stop Minnesota’s AI nudification law before it took effect, but xAI’s broader constitutional challenge continues.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Court Denies xAI’s Emergency Request to Stop Minnesota “Nudification” Law

Tom Akaolisa Editor

Coon Rapids Mon. Aug 3 2026

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Wildfires Expand Beyond 64,000 Acres as Winds Threaten Increased Fire Activity

Northern Minnesota’s July Lightning Incident has reached 64,249 acres as more than 1,000 firefighters confront shifting winds and closures.

Tom Akaolisa Editor

MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Wildfires Expand Beyond 64,000 Acres as Winds Threaten Increased Fire Activity

Tom Akaolisa Editor

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