What's making news in Minneapolis, today and over the weekend:

Cities snuffing out hookah lounges: Justin Jahangiri's Shiraz Hookah at Cedar and Lake is among those businesses that find themselves unwelcome in an increasing number of cities. City leaders say they want to protect public health - others suspect intolerance of a Middle Eastern tradition. (Kelly Smith)

New stadium plan has Hennepin County, Vikings as safety net: Hennepin County and the Vikings would be asked to cover funds not gained from charitable gambling. (Mike Kaszuba) Meanwhile, opponents of the stadium plan on the sharply divided City Council plan to hold hearings in the coming weeks. (Eric Roper)

Payrolls down but payouts up: Counties and cities are coping with the rising cost of paying departing employees for unused sick and vacation time. Records show that Hennepin County made $4.8 million in payouts to departing public workers last year -- a number that has increased steadily over the past five years and 41 percent in all since 2007. Minneapolis spent $13.9 million on payouts of unused sick and vacation leave from January 2007 through December 2011, a period when annual payments jumped about 15 percent. (Maya Rao)

Skinny dip or performance art? Jury will decide: Patrick Scully and the city of Minneapolis agree on one thing: his naked midday swim at Sweeney Beach was more than a refreshing dip on a hot July day. Scully, a longtime performance artist and crusader for an au naturel lifestyle, says it's art -- an extension of his vision to live in a world where we're no longer afraid of our bodies. The Minneapolis Park Police officers who gave Scully a ticket say it's a misdemeanor, punishable by a $125 fine. (Abby Simons)

Mob attacks bring call for earlier curfew: After a string of random youth-on-youth attacks along Nicollet Mall, the Minneapolis Police Department has asked the city attorney's office if it can impose an earlier curfew along the mall and Hennepin Avenue. The 8 p.m. curfew would ban ages 17 and under from two of downtown's most active streets while allowing them to come and go for Twins games and other events, said Inspector Kris Arneson, who runs the downtown precinct. (Matt McKinney)

City to raze putrid duplex where hoarder lived and cats died: The City Council on Friday unanimously accepted a recommendation from city inspectors that the vacant 3,500-square-foot duplex at 1126 6th St. NE. be razed out of safety concerns. (Paul Walsh)

New trail could take cyclists from Lake Nokomis to Minnesota River: The public this month will be able to weigh in on a proposed plan for the Intercity Regional Trail, a 7-mile paved multi-use trail.

Police-involved shootings over weekend: Fugitive sought before accidental police shooting Friday is arrested the next day. The officer's injuries were not life-threatening. (Nicole Norfleet) A man was shot and wounded Sunday refused to drop his weapon as he approached threateningly Sunday, police said. (Joy Powell)