Hennepin County

An environmental advocacy group plans to sue Hennepin County over toxic ash from the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center’s trash incinerator, alleging non-compliance with state law requiring a solid waste plan to address ash toxicity and volume. The group claims the county’s 2024-2029 Solid Waste Management Plan does not address incinerator ash, despite documented pollution concerns, and the city of Minneapolis approved a 2027 closure resolution for the facility.

Isanti County is considering increasing the wheelage tax from $10 to $20 annually to fund a new highway department building, aiming to avoid raising property taxes. The tax, dedicated to road and bridge maintenance, is already applied in other Minnesota counties with varying rates. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Wednesday.

Storms during the Fourth of July caused thousands of power outages in Minnesota, with nearly 10,000 customers losing electricity, primarily in Hennepin and Carver Counties. Xcel Energy is working to restore power but has not provided a timeline.

Minneapolis leaders announced a new plan to target open-air drug markets following 25 charges in a fentanyl and cocaine trafficking case involving two gangs. The initiative involves partnerships with Hennepin County, transit agencies, and Indigenous organizations.

Best Buy's Richfield headquarters assessed value dropped to $32 million in 2027, down from a 25-year minimum taxable value of $118.5 million, raising concerns about reduced city tax revenue. The city estimates a $600,000 loss in 2027 tax revenue due to the lower assessment.

A Hennepin County judge sentenced Marisa Simonetti to 90 days in jail and probation for harassment and domestic assault after she threw a tarantula at her housemate in 2024.

Residents of Heritage Park apartments in Minneapolis are demanding answers after over $11 million in public funds failed to improve living conditions, with hundreds of units remaining vacant or unsafe. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and city invested $11.3 million and $875,000 respectively, but ownership changes and financial disputes have left transparency unclear. Residents accuse MPHA of not ensuring proper use of funds, while former owners cited operational challenges.

A Hennepin County detention deputy named Dillon Field pleaded guilty after a domestic incident at Maple Grove Hospital, where he allegedly yelled at his wife during labor and attempted to lock her in the bathroom, triggering a lockdown. Field had previously been allowed at the hospital only if he behaved, but police say he returned aggressively after being removed, prompting the security response.

Hennepin County has invested $53 million since 2003 through its Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) grants, funding over 180 projects that created 18,000 housing units and 3,600 jobs. Recent grants include $200,000 for KMOJ radio station and support for community projects like grocery stores and cultural centers.

The assessed value of Best Buy's headquarters in Richfield dropped from $63 million to $32 million, causing a 5% decline in the city's commercial tax base. City officials warn this shift could increase the tax burden on other property owners, while the Hennepin County Assessor attributed the drop to market conditions like higher office vacancy rates and reduced demand for large campuses.

Hennepin County has established cooling centers to address high temperatures. The information was posted on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.

Minneapolis officials warn residents to prepare for extreme heat and potential severe storms next week, emphasizing the need for emergency plans, hydration, and awareness of weather alerts. The city is promoting cooling centers, an emergency alert system, and public communication strategies to ensure safety during the weather event.

Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County officials held the first community meeting since the Blue Line Light Rail Extension project's budget increase was announced. The meeting addressed community reactions to the growing budget and timeline for the project.

West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitoes across Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dakota counties, with one location each in Hennepin and Dakota and two in Ramsey testing positive. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District notes this is consistent with historical patterns, though last year saw over 120 human cases in Minnesota, including 50 in the Twin Cities. Residents are advised to use insect repellent, cover skin, and remove standing water.

Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is understaffed at the detention center despite adding deputies, leading to the transfer of 45 inmates to other jails at a daily cost of $2,700. A staffing report recommends increasing detention deputies from 265 to 318 to address safety and operational issues. Sheriff Dawanna Witt and Commissioner Jeff Lunde emphasize the need for funding and action to resolve the staffing crisis.

Isabel Lopez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers after a federal search warrant execution in Minneapolis was mistaken for an immigration raid. The incident occurred during an investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering, with Lopez facing reduced charges from initial felony counts.

Hennepin County and Minneapolis approved a $250,000 joint agreement to fund a new position in the county attorney’s office to assist survivors of felony-level 'Gone On Arrival' (GOA) domestic violence cases. Advocates criticize the decision to exclude a longtime partner, Cornerstone, and question why felony and non-felony GOA cases were treated differently in response protocols.

A federal judge blocked subpoenas from the Trump administration targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials over immigration enforcement, ruling the subpoenas were an attempt to harass and retaliate. The judge found no credible link between the requested information and potential criminal violations, emphasizing Minnesota's right to refuse federal immigration enforcement assistance.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's subpoenas of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, ruling the effort aimed to 'harass and retaliate' against them for refusing to assist federal immigration enforcement. The judge found no credible link between the requested records and potential criminal violations, emphasizing Minnesota's right to decline aiding federal immigration law enforcement.

A Minneapolis man was charged with burglary after being linked to a business break-in and admitting to multiple other burglaries. Court documents reveal he has prior felony convictions and faces a higher sentence due to a pattern of criminal conduct.

A 49-year-old man, Pao Her Lee, faces felony threats and harassment charges for sending threatening emails to St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her when she was a state representative. The emails included graphic attachments depicting Her and recently murdered Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman with bullet holes, and Lee’s case was transferred to Hennepin County due to Her’s current role as mayor. He is scheduled for a court appearance on July 10.

Hundreds of apartments at Heritage Park in Near North Minneapolis remain vacant or unsafe despite millions in city and state investments. Council Member Pearll Warren and Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) highlight misappropriated funds and ongoing disrepair, with Certus Financial LLC now tasked with rehabilitation but lacking a clear timeline.

A new report by the Metropolitan Council compares a $3.58 billion light rail extension (Blue Line) with a $120 million bus rapid transit alternative, sparking debate among supporters and opponents. Rep. Jon Koznick advocates for halting the light rail project due to cost concerns, while Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde emphasizes the necessity of the light rail for transit-dependent communities.

President Trump falsely claimed he won Minnesota in the last three presidential elections, but evidence shows he lost each race. He won most counties but failed to secure the four largest metro-area counties, with margins of defeat ranging from 1.5 to seven percentage points. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon defended the state's election integrity, stating no evidence of widespread fraud exists.

Gov. Tim Walz appointed Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry commissioner Nicole Blissenbach as a Fourth District judge in Hennepin County, replacing retiring Judge Bev Benson. Blissenbach, who has led the DLI since 2022, was one of six candidates recommended by the Commission on Judicial Selection for the vacancy.

A youth psychiatric facility in East Bethel, Nexus Family Healing, was under investigation by the Department of Human Services for violations including unreported maltreatment and unsafe medication practices. After a license suspension in May, Nexus announced an agreement with DHS to lift the suspension. Hennepin County awarded Nexus a $21 million contract in 2024 to operate a Youth Stabilization Center, citing urgent care needs for children.

The Blue Line Extension project's cost has increased by $336 million, raising the total projected cost to nearly $3.6 billion. The Metropolitan Council attributed the increase to project scope changes and additional contingency, with construction starting in 2027 and service delayed until 2033.

An ICE agent arrested in Texas faces charges for shooting a Venezuela-born man in Minnesota during an immigration enforcement operation under the Trump administration. The arrest was announced by Hennepin County's top prosecutor.

Minnesota’s governor pardoned an illegal alien from Laos who was convicted of armed robbery in 1994 before he could be deported by ICE. The individual, Jai Vang, was involved in an armed robbery incident at age 18 in Hennepin County.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, Christian Castro, has been charged with second-degree assault and falsifying information after shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge. The arrest warrant was issued by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. The incident occurred in January.

A Minnesota prosecutor charged an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with second-degree assault and falsely reporting a crime in a nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man. The incident occurred during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The officer, Christian Castro, is accused of shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the thigh.

Minnesota has charged an ICE officer with assault in connection with a federal crackdown that led to the deaths of two American citizens. Hennepin County officials note these are the first such charges against a federal immigration agent in the state.

An ICE agent has been charged with assault for allegedly pointing his gun at people in a car on a Minneapolis highway. Prosecutors in Minnesota stated this is the first criminal case against a federal immigration officer involved in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Minnesota's Ramsey County is investigating the arrest of Hmong American citizen ChongLy 'Scott' Thao by ICE agents as potential kidnapping, burglary, and false imprisonment. DHS has refused to cooperate with state investigations into federal officers' actions, including the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during the Trump administration.

Abdirashid Ismail Said, accused of an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme, skipped a court appearance, leading to a warrant and forfeited bond. Authorities are working with federal agencies to locate him, as his case faces legal setbacks.