Recent content from Tim Harlow
Metro Transit tests new schedule for D Line, aims for more consistent service
The idea is to have buses arrive at stops at more predictable intervals rather than following a printed schedule.
MnDOT: Scrap parkway plan, keep I-94 a freeway between St. Paul and Minneapolis
The agency says proposals to remake the freeway connecting the two downtowns with a parkway or road with at-grade crossings do not meet the goals for enhancing mobility, safety and connectivity, and should no longer be considered.
Brace yourself if you're heading out: Record number of travelers are likely to be on the move for the holidays
More than 119 million people are expected to travel between Friday and the start of the New Year, AAA says.
Snow snarls traffic, triggers emergencies, closes schools across Twin Cities area
As of 6 p.m., 5.2 inches had fallen at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with 6 inches reported at the Chanhassen offices of the National Weather Service as snow tapered off.
Season's largest dumping of snow expected Thursday as Weather Service ups it prediction
Shovels and snowblowers will likely be needed as 4 to 7 inches of snow is predicted to fall Thursday across central Minnesota and in the metro.
Holidazzle is back on Nicollet Mall for the first time in more than a decade
Events begin on Wednesday and run through Sunday between 6th and 11th streets.
12 Twin Cities single mothers receive a 'life-changing' holiday gift
This marks the 6th year metro dealerships donated vehicles at Christmas to Newgate's Wheels for Women program.
Study claims that 'Frosty the Snowman' is the riskiest Christmas song of all for drivers
Research found holiday songs with 120 or more beats per minute can led to reckless driving.
Tough travel conditions expected Saturday as mixed precipitation to fall across metro, southern Minnesota
Slick conditions are expected along and south of I-94, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory.
North Minneapolis' Phyllis Wheatley Community Center names new executive director
David Hunter II is a former participant in the center's programs and a north Minneapolis native.
A blast of arctic air plunges Minnesota into deep freeze for the next two days
Temperatures will fall all day Wednesday and sink below zero by evening.
Metro Transit spending $12 million to boost security, cleanliness on Twin Cities light rail and buses
The budget will allow Metro Transit to hire 40 additional TRIP agents and provide for more maintenance staff dedicated to cleaning and maintaining stations.
Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing tussles with police outside Pennsylvania extradition hearing
Luigi Mangione had a "written admission about the crime" when he was taken into custody, according to charges.
MnDOT's Name-a-Snowplow has become a wintertime tradition. This year's edition is now open for submissions.
The public can submit ideas online through Dec. 20. A contest to pick the winners will be held in January.
Metro Transit brings back scuttled routes and increases frequency on others as driver shortage eases
The Orange Line will run every 10 minutes during rush hours. The 94 between the downtowns will run every 20 minutes instead of 30 minutes.
Fog and snow lead to school and travel delays across east-central, northern Minnesota
Arctic air with subzero temperatures will arrive by Wednesday and Thursday.
Nine designs are being studied for new Lowry Avenue light-rail station
The station on the border of Minneapolis and Robbinsdale will be one of 14 on the Blue Line extension.
The 2025 St. Paul Winter Carnival buttons have been unveiled
Buttons feature designs created by local artist Heather Friedli. The 139th festival runs Jan. 23-Feb. 2.
![Hmong College Prep Academy in St. Paul. ] LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/22CQLUTTA6WR4XZRCE4ZHBREEI.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Minnesota attorney general sues ex-charter school leader over 'reckless' investment
The suit filed in Ramsey County said Christianna M. Hang's investment of Hmong College Prep Academy's money with a hedge fund was also illegal.
SeaQuest aquarium files for bankruptcy, faces investigations in Minnesota
Company officials in court documents blame "unprecedented disruption" during COVID for its current financial woes. Failed inspections have led to an active investigation of its Roseville location.
Stretches of two metro-area freeways will shut down this weekend
Closures in St. Paul and Bloomington/Richfield will put drivers on detour Friday night to Monday morning.
Hegseth says Trump is fully behind him despite rocky start to confirmation
President-elect Donald Trump looks to be having second thoughts about naming Minnesota native Pete Hegseth as defense secretary and may turn to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the role, according to multiple reports.
Man fatally shot in Robbinsdale was 22-year-old from Hastings
Nobody has been arrested in connection with the shooting Monday.
Man who shot at other motorists in road rage incidents in St. Paul charged with multiple felonies
James Allen Ameer Smith told authorities he "hates driving" and "all it has caused me is problems."
Woman dies in fire at senior living apartment building in Robbinsdale
Other residents were evacuated from the 7-story building on West Broadway after the blaze broke out about 5:15 a.m.
New minimum pay kicks in for Minnesota rideshare drivers
Uber and Lyft drivers pushed nearly two years for better wages. An Uber spokeswoman said riders may see a price increase as high as 25%.
Man killed by passing driver while removing deer he hit from Dakota County road
The victim, 69, had hit the deer on County Road 46 on Wednesday morning in Marshan Township.
As Stone Arch Bridge glow-up makes progress in Minneapolis, east side to re-open
The pedestrian bridge is undergoing a major renovation project, with the downtown side soon to close.
Woman dies in two-vehicle crash in northwestern Minnesota
The crash happened on Hwy. 10 in Pine Lake Township in Otter Tail County.
Two crashes on snowy, icy roads in Minnesota leave three people dead
The crashes happened in Crow Wing and Pennington counties Monday morning.
Minnesota officials are stepping up DWI enforcement to combat 'incredible and unacceptable' trend
The campaign is aimed at preventing traffic deaths and encouraging people to drive sober.
Minnesota State Fair tickets are being sold at lower price for one day
Fair officials say tickets being sold online for 2025 won't get any lower.
Why do blackout plates begin with the letter Z?
Also, transit will run less frequently on Thanksgiving and the day after.
Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin running for Democratic National Committee top job
Martin announced his bid Tuesday in a video posted on X. He's the second person to enter the race, after former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Salvation Army puts out the call for bell ringers as annual holiday campaign gets underway
The nonprofit also is expanding its ability to accept donations from those who don't carry change and prefer to use chipped credit card or smartphone.
Driver rear-ends semi, dies in crash that led to I-494 closure in Inver Grove Heights
The wreck was in the eastbound lanes near 7th Avenue. Drivers were diverted off the freeway for about 3 hours.
Minnesota leads nation in voter turnout — at least for now
Wisconsin could surpass the North Star State for the No. 1 spot when all votes are finalized and verified.
Teen dies in crash on Hwy. 7 in Minnetonka
The single-vehicle crash happened Sunday about 10:45 p.m. at County Road 101.
See flashing lights? Weeklong campaign urges drivers to slow down and move over at crash scenes.
Also, the Northstar commuter rail line turns 15 with a celebration from 6-9 a.m. Wednesday at Target Field Station in Minneapolis.
ID'd: Driver who died in 2-car collision at Sherburne County intersection
The crash occurred on Hwy. 10 in Big Lake Township, the State Patrol said.
Man whose murder conviction was vacated after 16 years is freed and speaks publicly for the first time
Edgar Barrientos-Quintana was released from jail last week and spoke during a news conference Tuesday.
Gas prices down sharply from a year ago in Minnesota
The most common price for a gallon of gas was $2.99, but one Minnesota station was as low as $2.21.
Pedestrian fatally struck while crossing Hwy. 7 in Hopkins identified
The incident happened Saturday at the intersection of 12th Avenue.
Do lower speed limits on city streets actually slow down drivers?
Speeds are trending in the right direction in St. Louis Park, a University of Minnesota study found.
Discover Airlines will take over Lufthansa's Minneapolis to Frankfurt route in 2025
Lufthansa said delays in aircraft delivery from Airbus and Boeing prompted the handoff.
Minnesota Star Tribune Publisher Steve Grove's memoir set for release in June
Grove, 47, said the book charts a "humbling and rewarding" experience in his life.
Record warmth possible on Tuesday; snow may be in store for Halloween
The mercury will flirt with 80 degrees Tuesday and could smash a high temperature record that has stood for 102 years.
Driver dies after hitting deer and then getting rear-ended by another driver in Maple Grove
The crash happened Sunday morning on eastbound I-94 near Brockton Lane.
Ramp from northbound I-35W to eastbound I-94 in Minneapolis closes for five weeks
The ramp and lanes on I-94 will be closed until Nov. 29.
Vehicle inspection station opens in Brooklyn Center
Others are set to open, too, as state tries to meet expanding need for inspections.
Juvenile found dead inside Red Wing correctional facility
Officials are still trying to determine how the death occurred.
100 mph and drinking by unlicensed driver cited in Minneapolis pileup that killed 1, injured others
A court filing said the driver who caused the crash was pushing 100 mph" and did not appear to brake before impact.
Amtrak's Borealis train ridership reaches 100K in five months
The St. Paul-Chicago route is exceeding projections.
Portions of I-494 will close through Bloomington and Richfield this weekend
The westbound lanes of Hwy. 55 in Plymouth remain closed through Nov. 1.
Body found in Eden Prairie pond matches description of missing 11-year-old boy, police say
Mohamed Mohamed, who has autism, went missing around 5:45 p.m. Sunday.
Feds award MnDOT $138 million to use on EZ Pass lane project in south metro
The project underway between Hwy. 169 and Hwy. 77 is expected to be complete in 2026.
Fire continues to burn in Pine County's Chengwatana State Forest; part of forest remains closed
The fire, reported Thursday in the forest east of Pine City, involves about 167 acres, the DNR said.
Cheryl Reeve and Lynx fans cry foul over call that let Liberty tie score, then win WNBA championship
Like their head coach, many fans felt the Lynx got robbed of a chance to win their fifth championship.
Online dashboard shows DWI arrest information
The dashboard, previously kept in-house, is now available to the public. It went live last week.
Woodbury HS substitute teacher who re-enacted George Floyd murder on leave from job as police officer
Steven Dwight Williams, now banned from South Washington County schools, allegedly mimicked pointing a gun at students during classes Monday. He's now under investigation by the district and the police department where he works.
Como Zoo names new Amur tigers
Marisa and Maks were born in August. The twins were the first born at the St. Paul zoo in more than 40 years.
Man shot to death in St. Paul, is city's third homicide victim in 4-day span
The man was shot multiple times and found by police at the intersection of Jackson Street and Wheelock Parkway.
Brooklyn Park City Council wants one of its members to get mental health evaluation over 'concerning' behavior
The council has drafted a letter encouraging Maria Tran to seek help after witnessing "disconcerting" behavior and Tran's desire to buy a gun and bring it to council meetings.
Anoka man falls short of his own world record at pumpkin weigh-off in California
Travis Gienger still notched another win at the 51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Maple Grove parts ways with fire chief
Tim Bush had been chief since 2017.
Man impersonating FBI agent arrested, missing person found in Eau Claire, Wis., in fraud scam
The fraud case was the second one of its kind within a week, police said.
Lawbreaking drivers spur plan to rebuild Ham Lake intersection
Anoka County is planning to build an overpass at Hwy. 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard.
6 kids arrested after armed robbery spree, 2 stolen vehicle crashes in Minneapolis
The suspects were boys and girls ages 11 to 14. Their arrests come less than a week after a 10-year-old was arrested in connection with buzzing a playground with a stolen car.
Both directions of I-494 in Edina and Bloomington will close for the weekend
A second closure is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 25-28.
Two people killed in Becker County crash
Three vehicles collided on Hwy. 59 north of Detroit Lakes.
Walz authorizes Minnesota National Guard to help out in Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches
The Minnesota National Guard is working with the state Department of Public Safety's Homeland Security and Emergency Management division to determine how it will help.
Blaine City Council censures member who allegedly publicly criticized city staffers' work
In a counter move, Lori Saroya has asked state and federal authorities to investigate mismanagement of taxpayers' funds.
Ice Castles will build spectacle at State Fairgrounds this winter
The move to the new site comes after a one-year stint in Maple Grove.
Brooklyn Park bridge over Hwy. 169 closed indefinitely after damage
The 77th Avenue/Brooklyn Boulevard bridge over Hwy. 169 was hit by an over-height load Monday.
Four-day shutdown of light-rail trains in downtown Minneapolis starts Wednesday night
Blue and Green Line trains will stop running at 10 p.m. Wednesday and stay offline through 3 a.m. Monday.
