Category: Minneapolis, Minnesota Local News

Form, Figure & Firework

Opening Reception Sunday, April 14, 4:00 – 6:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Join the The Mill Yard opening reception to meet the featured artists and engage with beautiful art. Wine, beverages and snacks are served.

The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence. The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.

Artists featured at this show:

Bob Dylan by Kristi AbbottKristi Abbott, collage

Kristi Abbott is a collage artist. “I am fascinated with the use of color, pattern and texture and try to combine these elements in my work in an innovative and exciting way. My technique is still evolving and employs an exploratory and playful process that can incorporate photography, graphic manipulation, collage and painting.

I also hide images within my paper collages, creating a second level of interest beyond the initial image.” 

50 Marbles by Julie AllenJulie Allen, watercolor

Julie Allen has over 30 years of experience working in the medium of transparent watercolor. Her inspiration frequently comes from observing how subjects capture reflective light, strong values and color. From her experience, watercolor allows an artist to glaze on many layers of color to paper and still retain the beautiful reflective light. Her style of painting would be classified as contemporary realism. Julie teaches workshops at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts as well as offering private lessons in her home. Her award-winning work has been published and exhibited in numerous exhibitions regionally and internationally.

Epipelagic by Alexandria Mooney JonesAlexandria Mooney Jones, firework

Firework artist Alexandria Mooney Jones has always been drawn toward experimental mediums. Thanks in large part to a mother who was an art teacher, Alex learned to see artistic potential in everything. During the summer of 2007 a simple suggestion to deal with a difficult project was the spark that has ignited her body of work experimenting with pyrotechnics, a.k.a. fireworks, as an artistic medium. Her work is at the mercy of explosives and fire. Fireworks, as a medium, represent the tension between celebration and trauma. Every mark, every color is created with a lit firework. Artwork that proves there is beauty in the experimental, beauty in the uncontrollable, and sometimes even beauty in trauma.

Bleeding Hearts in the Wind by Solvei StohlSolvei Stohl, photography and linocut prints

In the mid 1970s Solvei Stohl studied painting and design as well as black and white photography. In the early 1980s she developed her own style of art photography. She and her husband worked in eastern Europe for over 20 years, returning to the Twin Cities in 2013. While living in Lithuania she was inspired by her surroundings and did a lot of street photography, which she came to love. She is drawn to the lighting and design of a scene and is truly satisfied when her finished print could be mistaken for a painting. In 2019 Solvei began doing Linocut printmaking, rekindling her love of drawing.

House on Laurel by Peter StohlPeter Stohl, ink and watercolor

Peter Stohl favors realism and prefers to work on paper employing a technique he developed of combining watercolor and ink hatching. He likes the texture of the ink hatching, he can achieve rich, dark tones that he cannot create with watercolor alone. He portrays everyday life and often sees his scenes as still lifes. He is drawn to the design, color, light and shadows of a particular scene, and finds it refreshing to recreate this atmosphere or mood on paper.

Donna Ray, ceramics

Donna Ray is a differently abled ceramic/potter/sculpture artist. She has been a ceramic artist for over 20 years and is a resident studio artist at Northern Clay Center. Donna has been exhibiting since 2010. She has curated solo shows, been awarded numerous grants, and held artist residencies. Her recent second solo show was at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Donna enjoys hand building and wheel throwing to create useful sculptural art.

Donna is a talented artist from Art for All, the Stephanie Evelo Program for Art Inclusion at the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Community Integration, which supports the work of emerging and professional artists with disabilities.

A work hard drive holding sensitive strategic team information was stolen from the Target Center office of the head of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ analytics department and copied last month by a disgruntled subordinate, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

Sachin Gupta got the hard drive back a little more than a week later but not before roughly 5,700 files were copied that held employment and player contracts, “as well as strategic NBA information.” Also on the hard drive were Gupta’s tax returns and other financial information, and his login and passwords from a password management app, the complaint read.

As head of the analytics department, Gupta had sensitive, proprietary data in his possession that the Wolves conceal from other teams, like information about players and decision-making, contracts or trade negotiations. The dissemination of information of that nature to other teams could be damaging to the success of the Wolves in the highly competitive NBA.

The team fired Somak Sarkar, 33, after learning of the hard drive’s disappearance. He was arrested Monday and charged in Hennepin County District Court with felony third-degree burglary. Sarkar remains jailed with bail set at $40,000 ahead of a court appearance Thursday.

Questioned by police after his arrest, Sarkar said that as a member of the coaching staff he had Gupta’s hard drive to “put some stuff on it” but forgot to return it, according to the complaint.

The team released a statement to the Star Tribune that it’s “aware of these allegations and will have no further comment as it is an ongoing legal matter.”

Sarkar has been in NBA front offices since he interned with the Houston Rockets in 2012 while on his way to graduating in 2013 from Rice University, according to the Texas school’s Department of Sports Management. He landed his first permanent job in NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans later that year as a strategic analyst, his Rice online profile said.

While in New Orleans, he crossed paths with several people currently working for the Wolves, including head coach Chris Finch, assistant coach Kevin Hanson and front office assistant Dell Demps.

Sarkar spent a year with the New York Knicks before joining the Wolves in August 2021. He was originally the team’s coaching analyst, which acts as a liaison between the coaching staff and the analytics department. He first reported to the analytics department, but that changed in June 2023 and he then reported to coaches.

Details of the suspected theft are spelled out in the complaint and a search warrant affidavit filed by police seeking court permission to look for evidence in Sarkar’s apartment near Target Center, including the discovery of any “monies to show profit of the sale of the stolen financial information and proprietary Timberwolves information.”

A search of the apartment turned up several hard drives, a computer, three tablets and multiple USB drives, the complaint read. Police then determined that one of the devices “contained all the information from [Gupta’s] hard drive.”

According to the court documents, Gupta met with police March 4 and said Sarkar had worked in analytics for the coaches until last summer but was reassigned after “butting heads” with his immediate superior, incorrectly entering computer coding and missing meetings.

Gupta told Sarkar of the transfer over a beer. Gupta said he thought the news went down well, but that Sarkar became standoffish from that point.

On Feb. 2, Gupta left his hard drive on his desk connected to one of his two laptops. Late in the afternoon of Feb. 3, a Saturday, security video captured Sarkar entering Gupta’s office. He then exited, looked around, went back into the office and left a minute later.

Gupta came back to work Feb. 5 and saw his hard drive was missing.

On Feb. 9, Sarkar was fired without explanation and escorted by security from the building.

An analysis of Sarkar’s work computer found that he used his device to open Gupta’s hard drive.

On Feb. 12, a friend of Sarkar’s who is also a Wolves employee got the hard drive and brought it to Gupta. A forensic analysis revealed that 1,200 files were copied on Feb. 11 in one instance and another 4,500 later that same day.

“Gupta is concerned that Sarkar is going to disseminate the proprietary Timberwolves information and his private information,” one of the court documents reads.

Gupta came to the Wolves in 2019 when then-President Gersson Rosas brought him aboard as executive vice president, the front office’s No. 2 position. Rosas was hired in May 2019.

After the team fired Rosas in September 2021, Gupta became interim head of basketball operations for the 2021-22 season.

The team did not hire Gupta for that role permanently and instead chose Tim Connelly from Denver in May 2022. Gupta has remained with the Wolves as executive vice president, leading the analytics department under Connelly.

After hearing for three years from dozens of gardeners opposed to the project, the Minneapolis Park Board on Wednesday night rejected a proposal by Hennepin County transportation planners to cut a bikeway through the Park Board-owned Soo Line community garden in the city’s Whittier neighborhood.

The county proposal “removes a central gathering place, it creates unsafe situations for children who are running back and forth between the two sections of garden that are now split,” said Park Board Commissioner Elizabeth Shaffer, whose district includes the Soo Line Garden.

“And it also is very unclear that Hennepin County understood our role as an elected body overseeing parkland around this project. … I am unclear if Hennepin County would be a good partner from the track record that we have seen the last three years.”

Hennepin County officials did not attend the meeting, and several Park Board commissioners expressed disappointment with the lack of communication. The fight has been brewing ever since the county floated the project six years ago.

A twist developed Tuesday when the discovery of polluted soil shut down gardening at Soo Line for the 2024 season before it had even begun. According to a Park Board news release, the area was once occupied by railroads and grain elevators, which may have left behind the diesel range organics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in the garden at levels exceeding state pollution control thresholds.

Hennepin County planners say the Soo Line Garden, 2845 Garfield Av., is the best place to build a paved trail to the Midtown Greenway bikeway within the 1.25 mile stretch between Humboldt and Stevens avenues that currently lacks ADA-compliant ramps.

The county prefers building through the garden because it is publicly-owned green space without any buildings that stand in the way. Planners say the trail would reduce the plantable square footage of the garden by only 5%.

Many gardeners don’t buy it. They’ve argued that a paved trail would introduce chemicals and supplant the garden’s community gathering areas, which double as an outdoor classroom for children from Whittier Elementary School.

They also dispute the county’s estimation that most of the garden’s plantable square footage would be saved, saying that county planners improperly factored in areas not suitable for growing, such as the root-bound space beneath a mature tree and narrow strips of land between the proposed trail and an alley.

Cycling organizations have been split on the county’s proposal, with some calling for the bikeway to be built exactly where the county wants it to go and others asking planners to study a different route that doesn’t go through the garden.

The Midtown Greenway Coalition, Soo Line gardeners and several park commissioners have asked the county to seriously consider building an ADA bikeway through the opposite side of the Greenway trench from the garden, where the county owns a piece of undeveloped vacant land. County officials have been reluctant to study that property as an alternative because the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority has long set it aside for a future rail project, though no such project has ever been proposed.

Hennepin County has asked to extend the project year once already to improve engagement with the diverse residents of Whittier, where nearly one-third speak a language other than English. But at an open house event last November, gardeners criticized the county for failing to bring translated materials for the numerous Spanish-speaking families that grow food at Soo Line.

Park Board staffers also criticized engagement efforts, citing the county’s inability to discern whether the community really wanted the bikeway as the reason why they could not recommend that park commissioners vote for or against the project.

Commissioners Shaffer, Steffanie Musich, Billy Menz, Charles Rucker, Becka Thompson, Cathy Abene and Meg Forney voted down the county’s proposal. Tom Olsen and Becky Alper abstained after unsuccessfully suggesting the board postpone the vote. No one voted for the bikeway.

Hennepin County planners must submit their final construction plans, environmental documentation and right-of-way approval to the Minnesota Department of Transportation by April 1 to maintain $1.1 million of federal funding committed to the project. It’s unclear if the project can be extended again.

Regarding the contaminants found in the garden’s soil, the Park Board is working with a consultant from Braun Intertec to define health impacts and remediation steps. Assistant superintendent of planning Michael Schroeder said the Park Board’s foremost concern now is to remove the contaminants. “Gardening uses remain paramount in the space,” he said.

According to a Park Board FAQ about the developing situation, diesel range organics bind strongly to soil particles and aren’t easily absorbed by plants, but polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be taken up by plant roots and leaves. “Beyond that, the [Park Board] does not know enough to determine the actual hazard,” according to the FAQ.

Musich said she was heartbroken to hear people won’t be able to garden at Soo Line this year.

“From day one, I’ve really struggled to understand why Hennepin County would be interested in disrupting one of the few places in a very busy part of town where people can find respite from city life,” she said. “I’m very heartened to hear that we’re working to find ways for people to continue that activity, even if it can’t occur in this location this year.”

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Last year state lawmakers approved a one-time cash infusion of $300 million dollars to support public safety in local communities. But there were some rules about how it could be spent, like prohibiting use for remodeling a police station or buying armored vehicles.

Those limitations became a new flashpoint in a debate over public safety in the Minnesota Legislature this week. 

House Republicans want Democrats, who are in the majority, to reconsider those restrictions on the funds, citing the tragedy in Burnsville last month when three first responders were killed responding to a domestic call. 

Rep. Jeff Witte, R-Lakeville, in a committee on Tuesday tried and failed to amend a bill requiring reports on how local governments use that aid to include that change. 

“My bill and amendment will lift the restrictions and untie the hands of our law enforcement leaders, our police chiefs and sheriffs, and trust them that they know what they need to keep our community safe,” Witte said during a press conference touting public safety priorities Wednesday.

The hearing Tuesday grew tense, prompting one lawmaker to get up and leave the room. Rep. Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, who was a key negotiator on the tax bill that included the $300 million for public safety, pushed back on the effort. She called the proposal “a solution in search of a problem” blaming Republicans for politicizing the issue. 

Funding restrictions are narrow and the language on what the money can be used for is permissive, she said.

“There’s no law enforcement agency anywhere in the state in Minnesota that received this money and that’s called us and said, ‘man we’re really having trouble figuring out how to spend it.’ It’s not a thing,” Gomez told the panel Tuesday.

The public safety aid, which is divided up among cities, counties and tribal governments, started to become available in December. Local governments are already budgeting how to use it. 

When asked Wednesday if he had heard from any law enforcement agencies wanting to use the aid for armored vehicles, Witte — who is a retired police officer — said he has received calls in recent days in the wake of Burnsville and an incident last week in Oakdale.

“The reason they haven’t seen the need is because it wasn’t in the bill. It wasn’t allowed. So law enforcement hasn’t been asking, but they are sure talking now,” he said.

Witte’s proposal is just one in a slate of public safety-related bills Republicans are hoping Democrats will bring up in committee before a key deadline at the end of the week. 

They acknowledged that the political makeup of the capitol—the DFL controls the House, Senate and governor’s office—makes it an uphill climb, but vowed to fight anyway.

But one of their long-time priorities will be getting a hearing. Republicans have sought to boost penalties for straw purchasers, or someone who buys a gun for someone not allowed to have one or a person who doesn’t want their name associated with the purchase. Under current law, it’s a gross misdemeanor. A bill proposed by Rep. Kaela Berg, DFL-Burnsville, will increase the penalty to a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

If the gun is used in a violent crime, that could land someone in prison for five years facing a $20,000 fine. The House Public Safety Committee will discuss the proposal Thursday morning. 

“If they want to clone [the bill] and get it done — whatever we can do to close that straw purchase bill. That’s our goal,” said Rep. Paul Novotny, R-Elk River, during Wednesday’s press conference. 

In a newly filed affidavit in trooper Ryan Londregan’s murder case in the fatal shooting of motorist Ricky Cobb II, a State Patrol use-of-force trainer accused prosecutors in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office of lying and opined that Londregan followed his training and did not violate policy.

It’s the latest development in the case that is growing increasingly political as Londregan’s defense attorneys and prosecutors in County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s office clash repeatedly in court filings and in the press. Both parties head to court Thursday morning to argue over Moriarty’s independent use-of-force expert, who she stopped working with after the expert said Londregan acted reasonably.

But in a defense filing Wednesday, Sgt. Jason Halvorson, a 25-year veteran of the force, said that a senior prosecutor who authored the criminal complaint took Halvorson’s statements out of context and “lied by omission.”

According to that complaint: Halvorson was asked whether a reasonable officer would believe that pointing a gun at a fleeing driver and yelling at the driver to stop would cause the driver to stop. He said “No.” He was asked, “would it be foreseeable to expect the exact opposite, meaning [the driver] would continue to leave?” He replied, “That was probably his intention was to flee the area, so he’s gonna keep going in that direction away from me.”

Halvorson said in Wednesday’s filing that senior prosecutors Mark Osler and Josh Larson attended that interview with BCA agents and the prosecutors asked him the hypothetical questions and cherry-picked from the 37-page interview.

“The truth in this matter is that I went on to explain that choice of actions in this context are ‘situationally dependent,’” Halvorson wrote.

Upon his review of the interview transcript, the trainer said his exact words were:

“… if you’re throwing out so many hypotheticals it’s just one of those situations where it’s each individual situation is all dependent upon the actions of the actual suspect you’re dealing with and how they comply to the de-escalation and how they actually respond to the de-escalation. And If I’m not seeing the actual responses that I’m looking for, I have to make the decision quickly of what my next move is gonna be.”

He said Osler excluded critical facts and context from the complaint, “thereby purposefully misleading the reader of the complaint.”

A statement from Moriarty’s office Wednesday said defense attorneys were using the court to file “baseless press releases” with false accusations.

“There is significant evidence that supports the charges in this case. The complaint is accurate and lays out the evidence to establish probable cause,” the statement said, adding later: “We will address the voluminous defense filings and litigate the case in court, and not in the press.”

Morairty’s office charged Londregan with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Cobb during a traffic stop last July 31. Troopers pulled Cobb over on Interstate 94 in Minneapolis for driving without taillights around 2 a.m. They attempted to remove him from the vehicle after learning he’d been accused of violating a standing domestic order for protection. As Cobb shifted the vehicle into drive and took his foot off the brake, the car lurched forward, dragging another trooper positioned at the driver’s side. Londregan fired twice from the passenger side, striking Cobb twice in the torso.

In the affidavit filed Wednesday, Halvorson said he has served as the use-of-force training coordinator for 10 years and trained Londregan, as well as Trooper Brett Seide, who was trying to get Cobb out of the vehicle before Londregan arrived.

The trainer said that he did not perform a complete use-of-force review. He said he offered to do one, but Larson and Osler didn’t accept it.

A complete review, Halvorson said, requires meeting with Londregan, and Halvorson said that as he understands, Hennepin County District Court issued an order preventing Londregan from speaking with witnesses about his case.

The complaint also states: “Under State Patrol policy, any use of a firearm is deadly force. A firearm may be readied for use only in situations where it is reasonably anticipated that firearms may be required. State Patrol policy also states that members shall not shoot from or at a moving vehicle, except when deadly force is authorized, and that troopers should make every effort not to place themselves in a position that would increase the possibility that the vehicle they are approaching can be used as a deadly weapon against them or others.”

But to that, Halvorson wrote in the affidavit that he did not rely on patrol vehicle pursuit policy because “this was not a vehicle pursuit.” The trainer added that Londregan “did not violate the use-of-force General Orders, including, but not limited to the use-of-force policy…”

“Trooper Londregan acted in accordance with his training,” Halvorson said.

Moriarty’s independent use-of-force expert, Jeffrey Noble, a former police chief from California who is frequently used as an exert in police cases, including the killings of George Floyd and Philando Castile, is being subpoenaed by Londregan’s defense attorneys to provide all records from his work with prosecutors.

Prosecutors said they handed over all Noble-related records to the defense, but the defense argues there’s more information they are entitled to.

Judge Tamara Garcia ordered the subpoena to be on pause until she makes a determination on Noble.

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has given $20 million to another 10 Twin Cities nonprofits, she and the winning recipients announced Tuesday.

The massive donations, which are often record amounts for organizations, were given to 361 nonprofits nationwide and are part of a surge in philanthropy from the Seattle billionaire over the last few years.

Scott, 53, an author and the ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, has doled out more than $129 million to 34 Minnesota nonprofits since 2020 as part of her pledge to give out a majority of her wealth over her lifetime.

“This really is a game changer for us,” said Mary Niedermeyer, CEO of CAPI USA in Brooklyn Center, which received $2 million to support its programs, including a culturally specific food shelf. “This type of gift never comes around. It’s unheard of until she started doing this.”

Scott’s private donations are all “unrestricted,” meaning nonprofits can use the funds in whatever way they want, a rarity in philanthropy. Scott also gave to eight other Minnesota nonprofits:

• $2 million to Appetite for Change, which increases access to healthy foods in north Minneapolis
• $1 million to Dream of Wild Health, a Native-led Minneapolis nonprofit that provides culturally specific food and related programs
• $2 million to ISAIAH, a faith-based, nonpartisan coalition in St. Paul
• $2 million to OutFront Minnesota, a St. Paul-based LGBTQ advocacy organization
• $2 million to WellShare International in Minneapolis, which provides public health programs in Tanzania and Minnesota
• $2 million to Gender Justice in St. Paul, a legal and policy advocacy organization
• $2 million to Build Wealth Minnesota in Minneapolis, which offers financial literacy classes and loan assistance for homeowners
• $3 million to Twin Cities Rise in north Minneapolis, which helps low-income Minnesotans with job training and career coaching
• $2 million to All Square in Minneapolis, a criminal justice reform and re-entry program

“They are vital agents of change,” Scott wrote on her website Yield Giving, adding that these nonprofits are “advancing the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means, and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles.”

David McGee teared up when he heard that Build Wealth Minnesota scored $2 million, double what the nonprofit’s executive director had expected.

“I screamed, and my whole office ran in,” he said. “We’re elated. It’s a real nice shot in the arm.”

The money will help more Black Minnesotans achieve homeownership through loans and closing cost assistance, narrowing racial disparities.

This week’s round of grants was different from Scott’s past donations, which were a surprise to organizations that received cryptic notices of an out-of-the-blue donation they hadn’t applied to get. This time, Scott’s organization, Yield Giving, put out an open call for applications.

More than 6,000 organizations applied for what was planned to be 250 grants of $1 million each but Scott and her team decided to more than double that, giving $640 million to 361 organizations. Smaller nonprofits with annual budgets between $1 and $5 million were eligible.

Nonprofits that applied evaluated one another before an evaluation panel made the final decision. The process was overseen by Chicago-based Lever for Change. That meant applicants went through seven rounds of evaluation before becoming a finalist, said Dream of Wild Health Executive Director Neely Snyder.

“It was kind of a shot in the dark. We didn’t know we’d get it,” Snyder said of applying last year. “We knew it would be very competitive.”

Dream of Wild Health will use its $1 million to expand programs and amenities on farmland in Hugo the nonprofit bought in 2020, providing more youth programs and space for Native farmers to grow food.

To be vetted by other nonprofits validates OutFront Minnesota’s work advocating for LGBTQ equity in Minnesota, said Kat Rohn, the nonprofit’s executive director.

“To have our work recognized on the national stage is such a huge honor,” Rohn said, adding that the historic $2 million donation will likely help expand advocacy work statewide.

In Minneapolis, WellShare will use the $2 million to expand staffing and community health programs, while in St. Paul, the $2 million to ISAIAH will support its existing work statewide.

Gender Justice will also be able to expand its work, with 25 employees working in Minnesota and North Dakota on issues including abortion access and trans rights. Gender Justice Executive Director Megan Peterson said she hopes a large Scott gift will spark other donations.

According to the Associated Press, Scott has given away $16.5 billion. Her net worth is estimated to total more than $35 billion, according to Forbes.

Emma Corrie, CEO of Twin Cities Rise, said the unprecedented $3 million donation will help the organization serve more Minnesotans of color and expand to St. Cloud this year, helping break cycles of generational poverty. Smaller nonprofits like hers, which has 34 employees, is mostly reliant on private donations and foundation grants for revenue.

“An infusion like this allows us to amplify our work and be noticed by other donors,” she said.

CAPI USA will use the donation to start a community fund to provide closing costs for new homebuyers in Brooklyn Center. The donation will also boost its capital campaign for a building expansion.

“We were just shocked and so excited,” Niedermeyer said. “It’s going to be reinvested in the community.”

The Twin Cities Auto Show is the place to compare hundreds of new vehicles in every category – sedans, compacts, SUVs, trucks, EVs, luxury cars – from domestic and imported brands all under one roof without driving to dealerships around town, including new makes and models that can’t be found on dealer lots. The Twin Cities Auto Show is presented by Kwik Trip.

*  *  *  * What’s New in 2024 *  *  *  *

Celebrity Appearance: Meet Constance Nunes of Netflix’s “Car Master: Rust to Riches” Saturday, March 30 (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and Sunday, March 31 (12 p.m. and 3 p.m.) in the Custom Garage. Constance stars as the lead mechanic on the Netflix original series, “Car Master: Rust to Riches,” where she has helped the team at Gotham Garage build unique specialty cars for five seasons with a sixth currently in production.

Cars Against Crime™ Display of Movie and TV Cars – Cars Against Crime utilizes a world class collection of movie cars and television cars. These crime fighting vehicles serve as tools to enhance events, create memories, and bring joy to the community. Organizations supported in 2024 include Wills for Heroes, Metro Critical Incident Stress Management, Crimestoppers, and Frontline Foundation. The Twin Cities Auto Show is hosting this fantastic display to encourage donations to Cars Against Crime in support of our brave public safety professionals.

Adrenaline Avenue – This display is your license to dream, your invitation to step into the driver’s seat and feel luxury at its finest.  Immerse yourself in the power, style, and exhilaration that define some of the world’s most coveted vehicles.

Get Your Auto Show Tickets at Kwik Trip – Kwik Trip will sell Twin Cities Auto Show tickets at select stores around the Twin Cities. Tickets sold at Kwik Trip stores will be $6 off the at-the-door price of $17. Kwik Rewards members may have the chance for additional perks. Plus, attendees will be able to register onsite every day of the show to win FREE fuel for a year, compliments of Kwik Trip. No purchase necessary.

*  *  *  *  Show Highlights *  *  *  *

Twice as big as years past, the 2024 Electric Vehicle Neighborhood and the Electric Garage powered by Xcel Energy will be charged up with experts, the latest in electric vehicle technology, and information to help potential EV buyers make their decision to plug in.

The life-size Xcel Energy Garage allows you to see how low-impact and convenient electric vehicle ownership can be, especially when you can charge your vehicle right in your own garage. We look forward to sharing this demonstration with attendees and helping them make an informed decision about electric mobility.

Sign up to test drive one or more EVs in which a professional driver will acquaint attendees with the vehicle and ride along on your test drive. Routes have been pre-determined to make it a convenient and comfortable experience. Manufacturers offering test drives include Ford (Mustang and Lightning), Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Polestar.

Attendees can also register to win a fresh-and-foldable Honda Motocompacto, the new ultra-compact e-scooter which becomes its own lightweight, compact, and stackable carrying case.

Legendary Meteorologist Paul Douglas is back as the Electric Vehicle spokesperson for the Twin Cities Auto Show. An EV owner himself, Paul offers intelligent insight into the EV products available.

The 2024 Car of the Show is the Honda Pilot. The Pilot is the largest and most powerful SUV in Honda history and will be on display at the show entrance, in the Convention Center concourse, and within the Honda display.

Luxury Lane is bigger than ever this year! The display has established itself as a must-see for both automotive enthusiasts as well as casual car fans. Discover some of Minnesota’s finest and most lavish vehicles.

Subaru will be hosting dog adoptions as a part of their Subaru Loves Pets Campaign. The dogs will be from Midwest Animal Rescues and Services, a local organization committed to the awareness and support of homeless dogs and cats.

At the Custom Garage sponsored by Automotive Concepts, attendees can find ways to make cars as unique as possible. Whether they dream of sleek luxury, rugged off-road capability, or cutting-edge technology, we’re here to help customize new vehicles to perfectly suit any lifestyle.

The Unique Classic Cars room is sponsored by Unique Classic Cars of Mankato. Step back in time and explore a fantastic collection of classic cars. Immerse into automotive history as attendees wander among meticulously restored vintage vehicles, each with its own story to tell.

Minnesota State Patrol Troopers will be on hand to talk about their mission to keep people safe on the roads. The troopers will have some of their squad cars on view, including a 1954 Ford and 1979 Dodge St. Regis.

*  *  *  * Special Events *  *  *  * 

Minnesota Broadcasters Association New Car & Truck Awards: Saturday, March 30 The 12 award categories include: Electric Vehicle, Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Subcompact & Compact Car, Midsize & Large Car, Luxury Car, Luxury SUV, Full Size Pick-up Truck, Compact/Mid-Size Pickup, Large SUV, Mid-Size SUV, Mini Van & Van, and Best in Show.This event will be held in the Electric Vehicle Neighborhood and hosted by Paul Douglas.

Military Appreciation Night: Tuesday, April 2. On this 10th annual Military Appreciation Night, all active military and veterans will receive FREE entry to the Twin Cities Auto Show courtesy of Toyota. Guests and family members accompanying military professionals will receive $7 off admission. A ceremony will be held at 7 p.m., in the Toyota display, complete with color guard and the singing of “The National Anthem.” On behalf of the GMADA, the Twin Cities Auto Show will present donations to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) of Minnesota and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V).

Career in Cars Day: Wednesday, April 3 from 10am – 2pm. The Minnesota Auto Dealers Association (MADA) is once again hosting a day dedicated to showcasing the careers available in the retail auto industry for young adults and job seekers. Anyone interested in attending can sign up on the Auto Show website. Those who register in advance will receive a special credential, free admission to the Twin Cities Auto Show, and a complimentary Auto Show t-shirt (while supplies last).

“Survivor” Casting Call: Thursday, April 4 from 4 – 9pm. Join WCCO and the Twin Cities Auto Show for an open casting call. This is Minnesota’s to apply for the adventure of a lifetime.

Auto Show After Dark: Friday, April 5 beginning at 6pm. On this evening, we turn down the show lights and illuminate the show floor with headlights, running lights, interior lights – all to produce a brilliant nighttime atmosphere.

LOCATION: Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Avenue S

DATES: Saturday, March 30 through April 7, 2024

HOURS: Fridays, Saturdays, Wednesday, Thursday 10am–9pm / Monday and Tuesday 4pm–9pm / Sunday 10am–7pm.

TICKETS: Adults (16+) $13 online ($17 onsite); Teens (11 – 15) $6; Children 10 and under FREE

Military Appreciation – Tuesday, April 2 FREE for Vets and Current Military. $7 off for Family and Friends

Half-Price Wednesday (April 3) $8.50. $3 off coupons are available at GMADA metro member auto dealerships.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has nominated a longtime state transportation official to be the city’s next public works director.

Timothy Sexton currently serves as an assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where he’s worked since 2014. Before that, he worked for the Washington State Department of Transportation since 2006, according to his LinkedIn profile.

If confirmed by the City Council, Sexton would replace former MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who was ratified as city operations officer in December. Brette Hjelle is serving as interim public works director.

Sexton currently serves as the assistant commissioner for sustainability, planning and program management for MnDOT, overseeing a staff of 350. The city’s public works department spends some $440 million annually and has more than 1,100 employees whose duties include street repair, plowing, garbage and recycling collection, water and emergency sewer repairs.

“His strong background in transportation coupled with his climate action work is exactly the direction we’re headed as a community and as a nation,” Frey said of Sexton in a statement.

The City Council is expected to schedule a public hearing before voting on Sexton’s nomination.