St. Louis Park

One of the early suburbs of Minneapolis, it is the birthplace or childhood home of movie directors Joel and Ethan Coen, musician Peter Himmelman, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and Sen. Al Franken. Minnesota's first shopping center — Lilac Way — was built there in the late 1940s.

West Metro

August 3

The Fifth Congressional District candidates squared off in a debate on Aug. 2. The debate included DFL candidates, from left, Patricia Torres-Ray, Mar

DFL rivals work to stand out in competitive Fifth District race

Kelliher and Torres Ray emphasize experience; Omar offers new voice.

West Metro

July 28

“How many children’s lives and people’s lives are we going to have to accept losing before we decide that there are some minimal things that we

St. Louis Park seeks to strengthen firearm regulations upon request from students

The move is the result of discussions held this year between city officials and St. Louis Park students who pleaded for stricter gun control following a spate of school shootings across the nation.

West Metro

June 14

Berek and Amanda Awend, along with drummer Kevin Sundberg and bassist Ryan Bash, rehearsed for Sunday’s music festival at Beth El Synagogue and Beni

St. Louis Park synagogue, Catholic school come together for a 'common sound'

Music festival spotlights interfaith collaboration.

West Metro

June 9

A rendering shows the proposed building at Westwood Hills Nature Center.

Plans for new Westwood Hills Nature Center building move ahead at higher cost

Critic says "deluxe" Westwood Hills project not best use of funds.

West Metro

May 30

Hopkins Superintendent Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed sat with Alice Smith Elementary School fourth-graders as they studied Minnesota rocks during class.

Hopkins superintendent makes history

The first woman and person of color leading the west metro school district, Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed is part of a changing face of leadership serving a student body that is increasingly diverse, too.

Don't miss

May 7

Steve Lyon and the SLP Community Band during their final rehearsal before they perform the piece he wrote about his cancer journey, "Melanomore," at t

St. Louis Park band conductor tells his cancer story by composing 'MelaNoMore'

Steve Lyons and the St. Louis Park Community Band will perform the piece at Orchestra Hall on Tuesday night.

West Metro

April 17

St. Louis Park Mayor Jake Spano and the City Council shown in 2016.

St. Louis Park votes to adopt ranked-choice voting for local elections

The city is likely to become the third in the state to switch to the election method.

West Metro

March 5

Luella Peterson, 2, was amused by the behavior of a bull snake at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park. The facility draws about 36,000 visi

Busy St. Louis Park nature center could get $12 million upgrade

At a forum on the Westwood Hills plan, residents liked the design but questioned the price.

West Metro

January 15

St. Louis Park High School students Isaac Wahl, left, Libby Ramsperger, Cole Nugteren, Owen Campbell and Marley Miller plan to call their coffee shop/

St. Louis Park students look to build 'Nest' for themselves as a place to decompress

St. Louis Park students raise funds for a coffee shop away from school.

West Metro

December 23, 2017

The St. Louis Park branch of the League of Women Voters hosted a news conference this month at City Hall encouraging the city to switch to ranked-choi

Ranked-choice voting in St. Louis Park? Some are making the push

The city's Charter Commission could make a recommendation to the council early next year.

Local

August 19, 2017

“It’s a shame we have to fight like that, and bring all these old memories back,” said World War II veteran Mel Dahlberg, of Jordan, Minn.

Nazi resurgence alarms Minn. WWII vets, Holocaust survivors

In the aftermath of last weekend's deadly violence in Virginia, no one may be feeling more anger and fear than those who battled the Nazis and those nearly killed by them.

Super Bowl LII

August 8, 2017

A 46-year-old man was arrested during a sting in St. Peter, Minn. Southern Minnesota law enforcement agencies are ramping up sex trafficking stings as

Minnesota fights sex trafficking by cracking down on buyers

As the Super Bowl gets closer, law enforcement officials and nonprofits across Minnesota are taking aggressive new action to crack down on customers of prostitution and boosting programs aimed at keeping teens out of the sex trade.

West Metro

July 18, 2017

Body cameras like this one worn by Minneapolis police will be assigned to about 40 sheriff’s deputies this year.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to add some body cameras this year

Up to 40 devices could be rolled out by December.

West Metro

July 18, 2017

St. Louis Park is second Minn. city to raise tobacco sales age

St. Louis Park's action follows in the footsteps of neighboring Edina.

West Metro

July 15, 2017

North Minneapolis' Webber Park library, which opened in May, is the newest branch in the Hennepin County Library system.

Hennepin County Library system scraps plan to renovate every 12 years

Renovating libraries based on the building's use, instead of an automatic revamp every 12 years, could be more efficient and possibly less expensive over time, Hennepin County Library leaders now say. It might also ensure that patrons get the same experience no matter which library they visit.

West Metro

July 13, 2017

Hennepin County leaders say new approach needed to address gaps — from housing to income

Officials estimated that eliminating the racial and ethnic income and employment disparities would mean $4.6 billion in income growth

West Metro

June 27, 2017

Michelle Kennedy grabbed a back of cigarettes behind the counter for a customer at Vernon BP gas station in Edina in May. St. Louis Park is poised to

St. Louis Park poised to become 2nd city in state to raise tobacco sales age to 21

The move follows that of neighboring suburb Edina, which approved the increase last month.

West Metro

June 9, 2017

A moth stood on the flowers of a chive in the Birchwood Gardens in St. Louis Park

Once feared left for dead, St. Louis Park community garden comes back to life

The garden, a homegrown treasure of the Birchwood neighborhood, has been fallow since 2014.

West Metro

April 22, 2017

Heavy rains pushed Minnehaha Creek over its banks, and workers at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital brought in extra pumps and filled thousands of sand

Methodist Hospital joins watershed district to build flood wall in St. Louis Park

Methodist Hospital so far surviving April rains thanks to 370-foot concrete structure.

West Metro

April 11, 2017

Buddhist monk Phraathikan Prapatphan Ritsakunwong, left, participated in a water blessing with Thuan Vuong, a Hennepin County Sheriff’s deputy, duri

New Buddhist temple in St. Louis Park hopes to become center of Thai culture

A Thai Buddhist center is moving into an old church in St. Louis Park.

West Metro

March 13, 2017

SWLRT critics say Minnehaha watershed had conflict of interest in permit approval

Minnehaha Creek agency is accused of conflict of interest over land sale.

West Metro

February 7, 2017

Hennepin County looks to increase staff to prosecute, investigate sex trafficking

Funds sought to beef up county attorney's, sheriff's offices.

West Metro

January 7, 2017

West metro briefs: Hennepin County cities, schools receive $1.8M in sports grants

From new Minneapolis high school fitness centers to a new ice rink in St. Louis Park, schools and cities are benefiting from Hennepin County’s $1.8…

West Metro

December 21, 2016

Water pressure: St. Louis Park to close problematic water treatment plant

Objections to contaminant levels in water prompt city to shut down site by 2017.

West Metro

December 12, 2016

Globe-trotting columnist Thomas Friedman finds lessons at home in St. Louis Park

In his new book, Thomas Friedman calls St. Louis Park a "healthy community" amid global accelerations.

StarTribune

St. Louis Park