Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL | Minnesota’s Health Care May Remain Excellent. The Question Is Who Will Still Be Able to Afford It Minnesota reviews two major hospital mergers as leaders weigh investment against higher costs, patient access, medical debt and local control over health care. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Coon Rapids Offers Free Drop-In Help From Police Department Social Workers Coon Rapids offers free, no-appointment meetings with police department social workers to connect residents with mental health, housing, food and other support. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Blaine Police Arrest 24 in Two-Day Undercover Child Exploitation Operation Blaine police arrested 24 people in a two-day undercover child exploitation sting targeting adults allegedly seeking sex with minors they believed were underage. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 VOICES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD (VFAW) | South Africa Beyond the Headlines: What Kind of South Africa Is the Next Generation Inheriting? An Exclusive Conversation with Khaye Nkwanyana South African official Khaye Nkwanyana reflects on apartheid, democracy, innovation and why Africa’s future depends on building, not borrowing, its own future. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS UPDATE | Federal Government Buys Appleton Prison for $495.6 Million After ICE Contract Announcement The federal government bought Appleton’s prison for $495.6 million after announcing it will reopen as a 1,600-bed ICE detention center under CoreCivic. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | University of Minnesota Researchers Study Possible Soil Contamination From Tear Gas University of Minnesota researchers are studying whether tear gas used during Operation Metro Surge left soil contamination at Twin Cities sites. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Federal Officials Threatened Hennepin County Sheriff With Prosecution Over ICE Access Federal officials warned Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt of possible prosecution over ICE jail access, but no charges have been filed. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS UPDATE | St. Paul Completes Closure of Pig’s Eye Park Homeless Encampment St. Paul closed its largest homeless encampment without arrests, but many displaced residents reportedly moved to another camp instead of entering shelter. Tom Akaolisa Editor
Coon Rapids Thu. Aug 6 2026 MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Target Field Concessions Workers Stage Unfair Labor Practices Strike Target Field concessions workers struck over labor practices, alleging unlawful subcontracting and bad-faith bargaining. Delaware North denies the claims. Tom Akaolisa Editor
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
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
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