Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL) listens to a response to one of her questions from Rebecca Wilcox, Child Safety and Prevention Manager

What we know about the Sen. Nicole Mitchell burglary allegations so far

The incident complicates the final weeks of the 2024 legislative session.

North Oaks withdraws request for density exemption from Met Council

6:00am
Met Council staff members said the planned development didn't meet density requirements, and that granting North Oaks an exception could set a bad precedent.

Mother charged with fentanyl overdose death of her 8-month-old boy in Roseville hotel room

4:45pm
A rolled-up dollar bill with fentanyl on it was found on the hotel floor, the charges say.
St. Paul
2:53pm
Charges: Man targeted woman's St. Paul home at random, raped her at gunpoint and robbed her

Charges: Man targeted woman's St. Paul home at random, raped her at gunpoint and robbed her

The suspect said he was "driving around in the early morning hours ... and randomly selected a house to break into," the charges read.
High Schools
8:32am
The 17th running of the Hamline Elite Meet, for the state's top high school track and field athletes, will be Friday night.

Hamline Elite Meet, already in rare air, presents co-ed look for track

A mixed-gender relay, unavailable elsewhere in Minnesota, is back for the third time, and participation will be nearly tripled from where it started.
Local
April 25
Friends Maureen Smith, left, and Constance Gruen, both of Roseville, look over the notes and flowers near the site where Philando Castile was fatally

Falcon Heights, St. Anthony move toward renewing police partnership severed after killing of Philando Castile

The vote was unanimous in Falcon Heights but not St. Anthony, where one council member expressed concern about cost, quality of service and culture.
East Metro
April 25
Oakdale issues warning after coyote attacks dog in nature preserve

Oakdale issues warning after coyote attacks dog in nature preserve

No people have been hurt, officials said.
East Metro
April 24

8 months in jail for Blaine man who caused 120-mph crash hours after he was caught speeding

A judge set aside a sentence of 1½ years in favor of jail time and put the man on probation for five years.
East Metro
April 24
Local
April 24
In this May 24, 1943, photo, the capsized battleship USS Oklahoma is lifted out of the water at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.

A Minnesota sailor killed at Pearl Harbor to come home, 83 years later

William F. Gusie, 19, was aboard the Oklahoma when it was torpedoed and sunk
East Metro
April 24
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, posed with family members for a portrait on the first day of the 2023 session in St. Paul.

Brooks: Minnesota state senator's burglary arrest puts private family drama in the election year spotlight

Public waits to learn more after state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was arrested in a relative's home.
East Metro
April 23
DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell was charged with first-degree burglary on Tuesday.

DFL state senator charged with first-degree burglary at stepmother's home

Sen. Nicole Mitchell's arrest could cause political complications for Democrats, who control the Minnesota Senate by a one-seat margin.
High Schools
April 23
East Ridge coach Brian Sprout and the Class 4A defending state champion Raptors land at No. 7 in the first Metro Top 10 baseball rankings of the 2024

Is the east side the best side in high school baseball? Poll has an answer.

Yes, Wayzata is No. 1 in the Star Tribune Metro Top 10. But where does the balance of power swing (or miss) in the Twin Cities and suburbs?
High Schools
April 23
The Football Film Federation is offering high schoolers free entry to a training session in which they'll use the latest video technology to learn the

Focusing on bringing football film into frame

High schoolers will learn how to properly record coaching film at a free training session hosted by the Football Film Federation on Sunday.
East Metro
April 22
Surveillance footage shows an armed man pointing a handgun at police following a standoff outside the Target store in Woodbury. Police shot the man, a

Armed man shot during standoff with police outside Target in Woodbury

The shooting occurred late in the morning in the parking lot, police said.
High Schools
April 22
Angela Proper of St. Agnes is 7-0 with a 1.47 ERA this season.

Prep Athletes of the Week: Pitcher and her team perfect together

Angela Proper is 7-0 for the St. Agnes softball team, accounting for all but one of her team's victories. She also has a .586 batting average.
Politics
April 22
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a first-term Democrat from Woodbury, was arrested in Detroit Lakes early Monday morning on suspicion of burglary.

Woodbury state senator arrested in suspected burglary

Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a DFL lawmaker from Woodbury, was arrested Monday morning in Detroit Lakes and booked into the Becker County Jail.
Books
April 22
Caitlin O'Neil, co-owner of Minneapolis romance bookstore Tropes & Trifles, restacks books. The shop is part of the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore

In book-loving Minnesota, Independent Bookstore Day lasts 5 days. Here's what indie shops recommend.

The event, which gathers thousands, celebrates local bookstores, community and, of course, books.
Local
April 21
Good Samaritans rescue a driver from his burning SUV on Interstate 94 in St. Paul on Thursday.

Good Samaritans rescue driver from fiery I-94 crash in St. Paul

No injuries were reported in the wreck, though the driver was taken to Regions Hospital for evaluation.
Local
April 20
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/rtsong-taatarii@startribune.com
Value Village, some donated clothing is baled and sold by the pound to used clothing giant Rags

Why you should donate clothing: It (probably) won't end up at the dump

Fast fashion is tough on the climate, but clothes can have second and third lives.
Local
April 18
Tomatoes grow in raised beds.

What St. Paul gardeners need to know about the city's new boulevard garden rules

Raised boulevard planters have long been common in St. Paul — but not technically permitted until this year. As gardening season begins, a look at the new rules.
High Schools
April 18
Tori Tschida of Lakeville South's girls team and Tanner Bachelor of Shakopee's boys team are players worth keeping an eye on.

Lacrosse lists: 21 top players and the school that's No. 1 for boys and girls

Five players on our list play for the same high school, so it's no surprise that school has the top ranked teams for boys and girls.
East Metro
April 18

Private prison van driver, accused of raping St. Paul woman he was transporting, gets 30 years for similar attacks

The St. Paul woman alleged in a federal lawsuit that Marquet D. Johnson sexually assaulted her as he drove her from Texas to the Ramsey County jail. He was just sentenced to 30 years in prison for similar attacks on three other women.

Twin Cities East Metro

News coverage of the Twin Cities eastern suburbs, including Afton, Lake Elmo, Maplewood, Oakdale, Roseville, Stillwater and Woodbury.