What's making news in Minneapolis, today and over the weekend:
Cheaper, stronger heroin claiming more lives: A kid just a few years out of high school who struggled with self-esteem and a lifelong junkie whose promising music career was cut short by drug use were two of the latest victims in a rising tide of heroin overdose deaths in the Twin Cities, according to medical records. The rise in overdose deaths has long been anticipated by drug abuse experts, who say cheap, strong heroin has flooded the Twin Cities market. (Matt McKinney)
No lifeguard? Close beach, family of drowned teacher says: The family of 16-year-old Chiccena Carpenter, who drowned at Cedar Lake last week, also wants to push for legislation to make sure beaches in Minnesota don't stay open without a lifeguard present. (Masako Hirsch)
Property tax warnings hit record highs in Hennepin: Hundreds of property owners owe the county nearly $43 million in back taxes and penalties. (Kevin Duchschere and Jane Friedmann)
Task force operates without oversight board: BCA maintains that FBI-led Safe Streets Task Force complies with the law. But state auditor worries it skirts legislation. (Randy Furst)
Police sergeant suspected of punching a bar patron: Sgt. David Clifford turned himself in Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Anoka County investigators began looking for him in connection with the fight at Tanner's bar in Andover on Saturday night, the Sheriff's Office said. (Héron Marquéz)
Cosby to keynote charter schools conference: The annual National Charter Schools Conference in Minneapolis this week will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the nation's first charter school in St. Paul. (Kim McGuire)
Walkability survey will help guide light-rail growth: Community organizers are asking St. Paul and Minneapolis residents to map, evaluate and score the walk from their homes to future Central Corridor light-rail stations. (Chao Xiong)
Obituary: Alphonse Bolden Sr., "Music was his love and his life": As "One Man, One Band," Bolden brightened the Minneapolis Farmers Market and other urban venues. (Pamela Miller)
Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame: A class-by-class list of all members
This retired journalist changed professional wrestling from Mankato
