Laura Oakes

Pearl Park in Minneapolis has transformed into a hub kindness one year after the Annunciation Church and School mass shooting. The park is filled by rows of fresh green plants waiting to go into the soil at the park, while volunteers eagerly pack school supplies for students that have been donated by the community.

Catalytic converter thefts appear to be creeping up again, despite a 2023 state law that put more restrictions on scrap metal dealers in the state. In St. Paul, deputy police chief Kurt Hallstrom says thefts are up slightly in recent months: "This is an act against our community that requires the community to pay attention."

Two days of nearly ideal weather means big crowds for the people trying to navigate their way into the Minnesota State Fair. So far Thursday and Friday, parking lots and park-and-rides filled up early. State Fair spokeswoman Maria Hayden recommends one of their express bus options instead, after a daily attendance record was set on Thursday.

It's not quite fall yet, as the calendar flips to September. But you wouldn't know that judging by the color of some of the trees in Minnesota. If you think some of our trees have been turning too early, you're right: "That's an indication of the drought and basically stress on the plants."

As the City of St. Paul continues to grapple with copper wire theft, a new pilot project could result in a complete overhaul of how the city is lit. They're partnered with North Dakota State University on a study to test the feasibility of solar streetlights - but it comes with a number of questions too.

Vance Boelter has pleaded not guilty in Hennepin County court Wednesday afternoon. Already serving two life sentences plus 40 years on federal charges, Boelter's lawyers filed several motions, including one for double jeopardy which legal experts say won't work. Here's the latest:

The day after a mass shooting at a Minneapolis apartment has left many questioning why there was no extreme risk protection order against Carlton Johnson II, which would have temporarily barred him from having a gun in the first place. Johnson obtained a permit to carry a firearm in June despite a known criminal history.

US-Canada trade war heats up as new tariffs impact Minnesota's economy, farmers, and cross-border trade. Canadian visits to MN drop 20%.

The 25th annual Selby Avenue Jazzfest is expected to draw 10,000 people to St. Paul on Saturday. Live jazz and more than 100 vendors will fill the intersection of Selby Avenue and Milton Street. Here's what to know ahead of the event:

It's something you don't hear about often, but St. Paul's Concordia College making a bold move. They are cutting tuition costs for undergraduates. "We know one of the realities is sticker shock," says school president Brian Friedrich.