Twin Cities East Metro

Local

May 9

Claudia Gutierrez Mendez wearing black T-shirt and black face mask standing outside Hamburguesas El Gordo restaurant in Minneapolis with her hands on

Twin Cities restaurant chain owner charged in Dakota County with dodging $260K in taxes

Claudia Gutierrez Mendez, who runs three Hamburguesas El Gordo restaurants, faces charges that she filed false tax returns.

High Schools

May 8

St. Paul Academy freshman Zahir Hassan is ranked third in Class 1A this week, down from No. 1.

High school boys tennis teams bear down on the postseason

A new No. 1 player, Garrett Webb of Mounds Park Academy, leads the Class 1A individual rankings in the final week of the regular season.

East Metro

May 8

Large fire erupts in Newport with billowing smoke seen miles away

No word yet on whether there are any injuries.

Sports

May 8

Clockwise from top left: Mounds View head coach Dan Engebretson, Mounds View assistant coach Marty Morgan and Woodbury wrestler Alex Braun were honore

Wrestling Hall of Fame reveals award-winners, new members

Alex Braun of Woodbury and Lanna Walter of Sauk Centre/Melrose were named wrestlers of the year, and Dan Engebretson and Marty Morgan from the Mounds View coaching staff were honored.

High Schools

May 8

Maple Grove's Ryan Stendahl rose from fourth to second in the most recent Class 2A individual rankings.

Maple Grove reclaims lost ground in boys golf rankings

The Crimson began the season at No. 1 but fell to fourth. Now they stand third behind Spring Lake Park and Cretin-Derham Hall.

Stage & Arts

May 8

Katherine Fried as ex-con Percy stands amid the townspeople in Ten Thousand Things' "The Spitfire Grill."

Review: Ten Thousand Things' 'Spitfire Grill' crackles in minimalist staging

An ex-con helps folks in a small town imprisoned by their own stories and histories find renewed hope.

High Schools

May 7

Willie Braziel, 310-220 in 20 years as a high school basketball coach, is taking over the boys program at Simley.

Prominent basketball coach makes sudden switch of suburban schools

Willie Braziel is taking over as coach of Simley's boys basketball program, leaving Columbia Heights after two stints covering 14 years.

Variety

May 7

Abby Jimenez was once known for her creative cupcakes. Now she's known for her bestselling romance novels, too.

Nadia Cakes baker writes 'Minnesota spicy' romance novels with 'cinnamon roll' heroes

Nadia Cakes' Abby Jimenez has become a rom-com powerhouse and a booster for the state, setting modern tales in Lake Minnetonka, Ely and along the Root River.

Local

May 6

White House environmental official tours PFAS-site in Lake Elmo

Visit follows new EPA rule that sets enforceable limits on contamination in drinking water.

High Schools

May 6

Minnetonka's Claire Kohler is the Class 3A defending champion in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. She currently holds the state’s fastest time in the

Prep Athletes of the Week: No barrier slows Minnetonka hurdler

Senior Claire Kohler, fastest in the state and defending Class 3A champion in two races, finds ways to deal with the stress she causes herself.

High Schools

May 6

Carter Raymond, shown during last season's Class 2A championship game, is Randolph's pitcher and is batting .447 with four doubles, three triples and

Change at the top looms in high school softball rankings

Farmington's victory over Rosemount will weigh heavily. Meanwhile, Randolph stands strong at 14-0 in Class 2A.

High Schools

May 6

East Ridge, which celebrated a state championship last season, has won six games in a row and risen to third in the Metro Top 10.

Baseball Metro Top 10 features perfect teams and charging challengers

Three undefeated programs and three climbing toward the top stand out in the weekly ranking.

East Metro

May 6

Hudson teacher charged for alleged sexual contact with 11-year-old student

A judge has barred the St. Paul woman from contact with minors as her case continues.

East Metro

May 6

People lounge on a bench and look out at the St. Croix River and historic Stillwater Lift Bridge Thursday, Sep. 14, 2023, in Lowell Park in Stillwater

Stillwater to host dinner on Historic Lift Bridge

The May 18 public dinner will be held as a grand opening celebration for the city's new Chestnut Plaza, located immediately west of the bridge.

Local

May 5

Crowds gather Friday to see the historic steam train The Empress at Union Depot in St. Paul, Minn. The train's arrival coincided with Choo Choo Bob's

Could a big week for St. Paul's Union Depot hint at a brighter future?

This week, Union Depot celebrated the announcement of a second daily Amtrak train to Chicago and the opening of Choo Choo Bob's Train Store in the quiet landmark.

Colleges

May 4

St. Thomas record-setter Anna Swanson is grateful for another track season, and much more. “I’m a living miracle," she said.

'I'm a living miracle.' Tommies athlete goes from broken bones to broken record

Anna Swanson was removed from a demolished car last year with a shattered pelvis and broken spine. Doctors thought her athletic career could be over. This year, she set a school record for the University of St. Thomas track team.

Local

May 4