West Metro
June 11, 2017
Brooklyn Park investigator Janese Brown fired her pistol under the supervision of Kent Nielsen, Brooklyn Park Police training officer.

Maple-Grove-run gun range finds itself 'at capacity'

Some cities have municipal liquor stores, others own community centers. In Maple Grove, it's a city-owned gun range that draws crowds. The city hopes an $8 million investment will keep up with growing demand.
South Metro
June 11, 2017
The National Weather Service in Chanhassen released this photo.

Photos: Dramatic storm turns sky green, leaves hail 'drifts' in its wake

An eerie, panic-inducing sky opened up to lightning, strong winds and dime-sized hail across a wide swath of Minnesota on Sunday morning.
West Metro
June 11, 2017
A reporter holds up an example of the amount of fentanyl that can be deadly after a news conference about deaths from fentanyl exposure, at DEA Headqu

Opioid surge puts first responders at risk in Minn.

As Minnesota cases climb, DEA releases safety guide on dangers of exposure to fentanyl, other synthetics.
West Metro
June 9, 2017
Crews worked on The Landing hotel on May 2, 2017. It's slated to open in June 2017, marking the fifth and final block in the massive $342 million Prom

Wayzata hotel opens Saturday, the first on Lake Minnetonka in more than 50 years

The opening of a Wayzata hotel recalls an era when the lake was a lodging hub.
West Metro
June 9, 2017

Southwest metro briefs: Edina selects planning firm to review future of Braemar Park

West Metro
June 9, 2017
An insect stands on the flowers of a chive in the Birchwood Gardens in St. Louis Park on Tuesday, June 6. City crews continue to till the soil, and co

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
June 9, 2017

Southwest metro blotter, June 11

West Metro
June 8, 2017
Olav Madsen lived in Crossroads at Penn apartments for more than 10 years before he was rejected as a tenant by new owners in 2015.

TPT documentary covers tenant displacement in Twin Cities suburbs

On this weekend, it dives into displaced tenants of affordable housing.
West Metro
June 8, 2017
A pair of developers want to build a pair of residential towers across from the Galleria and Southdale shopping centers in Edina.

Edina City Council greets residential towers in 'lukewarm' fashion

The proposal for the residential buildings across from the Galleria and Southdale is in the early stages of review.
West Metro
June 8, 2017
Alec Cook

Edina grad charged in sex assaults expelled from UW-Madison

Despite an appeal from an attorney, the decision is final to expel Alec Cook, who is charged with sexual assault.
West Metro
June 7, 2017

Warrant: Head of Minnetonka-based prostitution ring still running operation from jail

Sex workers trying to raise money for Ricky Turner Jr.'s bail, investigator says
West Metro
June 7, 2017
Grain Belt Studios, a facility operated by Artspace in Minneapolis. Hopkins is partnering with Artspace to look at creating affordable housing for art

Hopkins looks to create artist housing and studio space

The city is partnering with nonprofit Artspace to explore options.
West Metro
June 6, 2017

Feds investigate possible fraud by Mound man who promised big returns

Mound man used investor money to buy vehicles, trips and pay off personal debts, court records say.
West Metro
June 6, 2017

Search on for 18-year-old officials believe drowned in Wright County river; ID released

A search Monday failed to find the young man; efforts resumed Tuesday.
Music
June 6, 2017
A pool table at Paisley Park bears Prince's symbol.

Carver County Historical Society scores trove of Paisley Park photos

The photos, taken by a friend, capture Prince's home at a time when no pictures were allowed.
West Metro
June 5, 2017

Prison for driver, 19, who fatally dragged Wright Co. teen as drug deal went awry

West Metro
June 4, 2017
Chris Davis, 18, hugged former social worker Pam Russ, who started graduation ceremony as a way to acknowledge the students’ successes. "It's a

Graduation marks major milestone for youth who overcame challenges

Some of these teens and young adults have been homeless. Many are poor. What they share, statistically, is the unlikelihood of ever earning a high school diploma.
West Metro
June 3, 2017

Hopkins woman dies in crash on ramp at Hwys. 212 and 62 in west metro

Another fatal crash was reported near Marshall. Meanwhile, the name of a man killed Friday night in a wrong-way crash on Duluth's Bong Bridge was released.
West Metro
June 3, 2017
Jen Baumgarten, 38, of St. Louis Park poses in a nursery for the foster care children she's helping. She applied to be a Hennepin County foster care p

Hennepin County ramps up the hunt for foster families

Urgent needs prompt Hennepin County to go digital with heart-tugging ads.
West Metro
June 3, 2017

Man found dead in Lake Minnetonka ID'd as Blaine doctor, 65

The man was pulled from the lake Thursday, one day after an abandoned sailboat was found.

Twin Cities West Metro

News coverage of the Twin Cities western suburbs, including Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Wayzata.