The state’s 61st Teacher of the Year is the first from the Eden Prairie school district to win the award, organizers said. Eden Prairie High School English teacher Linda Wallenberg, who over her 49-year career has mastered the art of helping students feel understood, is Minnesota’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Wallenberg, who students refer to as “Wally,” has taught at the high school since 1977. At a banquet at the St. Paul RiverCentre on Sunday, she was named the 61st Minnesota Teacher of the Year. She is the first teacher from the Eden Prairie school district to win the award. “I believe the classroom is hope, and we cannot surrender hope,” said Wallenberg, who considers herself an eternal optimist, after the ceremony. “If the classroom is the place where we have the ability to build bridges, to give our children what they need to succeed, then we have a bright future.” A Chicago native, Wallenberg studied in Sweden before going on to graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1975. She earned a degree in English and Scandinavian studies, becoming the first certified Swedish teacher in Minnesota, according to Teacher of the Year organizers. She taught eighth grade English at Faribault Junior High for more than a year before joining Eden Prairie High School, where she has taught English and Swedish. She also has served as a gymnastics coach and has authored two books on the sport. Wallenberg has a master’s degree in English education from the University of Minnesota. She has been named Eden Prairie Teacher of the Year three times and also was a finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2005. Wallenberg said she often pulls from her experience coaching gymnastics to offer students advice on resilience. “I became a teacher because I am fiercely curious, and I love to learn. And I believe our students love to learn, too,” Wallenberg said. She said she works every day to show students that “they belong here. That there’s a seat for them in the classroom. That there’s the ability within that classroom to open their eyes up to the world. That has made a huge difference.” Eden Prairie High School senior Sedona Lashkowitz nominated Wallenberg for the award. She said Wallenberg took extra care to help guide her through her freshman year. “She made me feel so seen and heard,” Lashkowitz said. “She’s had so many students, but she just interacts one-on-one with each student and seems to remember the finest little details about every single person. It just shows she cares about every single person.” After nearly five decades as an educator, Wallenberg said she remains committed to teaching, empowering students and bringing English curriculum and literature to life. “My students might say it’s all about advocating for the Oxford comma,” Wallenberg said with a laugh. “But I’d say the thing that really made me land on English was stories. Our most precious ability to know each other is to share our stories.” Wallenberg has taught generations of students who since have become professional athletes and writers, as well as many educators, some of whom were Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists. She was selected as this year’s winner out of a pool of dozens of nominees, which was narrowed down to 12 finalists. The Teacher of the Year represents the state’s thousands of educators by speaking to education organizations, legislators and other community groups throughout the year. Sarah Ritter covers the north metro for the Minnesota Star Tribune. Twin Cities Suburbs Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula prompting criticism from the teachers union Ariel Lawhon and Imani Perry also are coming to Hopkins for the popular Hennepin County Library series Hyperlocal cable TV stations that broadcast everything from high school sports to city government meetings confront a perilous existence a longtime English teacher at Eden Prairie High School has been named the 2025 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Wallenberg – known to generations of students simply as “Wally” – is in her 49th year of teaching She is the first educator from Eden Prairie Schools to receive the state’s top teaching honor during a ceremony organized by Education Minnesota An independent selection committee made up of leaders in education business and government chooses the award recipient from a group of nominees who opt in to the process Wallenberg is the 61st teacher to receive the recognition since the award’s inception “Teaching is about the journey – the opportunity every fall and every single day to begin anew to guide students along their own journeys not just scholars,” Wallenberg said in a statement released by Education Minnesota an awakening of sorts – creating a sacred space where students can feel seen and trust their own authentic voices to take them out to the world.” teaching eighth-grade English in Faribault She joined Eden Prairie High School in 1977 and has remained ever since she also taught Swedish and coached the high school gymnastics team to a 150-7 record and two national titles She was twice named National Gymnastics Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Minnesota Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2005 She earned a degree in English and Scandinavian studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1975 after studying abroad at Uppsala University in Sweden Wallenberg later became the first certified Swedish teacher in Minnesota and earned a master’s in English education from the University of Minnesota and for 42 summers has served as a teacher and director at Concordia College’s Swedish Language Village Wallenberg received the Royal Order of the Polar Star from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden for her work in Swedish language education She is also the author of two books: “Fundamental Gymnastics” and “Play-By-Play Gymnastics.” Many of her former students have gone on to be professional writers at least three Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists have cited Wallenberg as their inspiration “Before meeting ‘Wally,’ I did not understand what true unbridled devotion looked like,” wrote 2024 Eden Prairie graduate Sophia Yoerks in a recommendation letter included with Wallenberg’s nomination “Not only does she teach impactful and informative material but she also finds countless ways to connect both herself and her students with it Even though I have known her for almost five years As noted in a December 2023 Eden Prairie Local News profile Wallenberg’s “AP Lit” course is often dubbed “AP Life” by students for its blend of literary analysis and life lessons She is known for coordinating her wardrobe with literary works for weaving student perspectives into her heavily annotated copy of “Hamlet,” and for creating what fellow teacher Sara Stein called “a sacred space” for students to find their voice indefatigable and full of love and curiosity for and about her students and the world,” Stein said in the 2023 article Wallenberg has been named Eden Prairie Teacher of the Year three times She was previously a finalist for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor in 2005 Wallenberg said her proudest accomplishment is the number of students she’s inspired to go into education “We have so many opportunities here to do this thing together link arm in arm,” she said in the 2023 story The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program is organized and underwritten by Education Minnesota Tradition Mortgage and Expedition Credit Union An Eden Prairie woman is facing charges after allegedly striking an ambulance with her vehicle and refusing a chemical test following her arrest last month is charged in Hennepin County District Court with second-degree driving while impaired (test refusal) Eden Prairie police were dispatched at about 10:45 p.m April 17 to a hit-and-run report near the 6200 block of St a residential street on the northeastern edge of Eden Prairie just south of the Minnetonka border near Baker Road and across from Life Time Crosstown Paramedics said a dark-colored Volkswagen hatchback collided with their ambulance on the driver’s side and continued west without stopping Officers traced the license plate to Tangen’s nearby residence slurred speech and a warm hood on the vehicle Officers also noted fresh damage to the front passenger side Tangen denied driving the vehicle and refused to perform field sobriety tests A neighbor later told officers Tangen had arrived home just minutes earlier and had been driving Tangen refused to submit to a breath test at the Eden Prairie Police Department Court records show Tangen has two prior DWI convictions She was booked into Hennepin County Jail early April 18 and released later that evening on $12,000 conditional bail Her first court appearance is scheduled for May 7 at the Ridgedale courthouse in Minnetonka An Eden Prairie woman has been charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct after allegedly striking and shoving her neighbor during a property line dispute was charged April 30 in Hennepin County District Court with two counts of fifth-degree assault and one count of disorderly conduct The charges stem from a series of alleged confrontations in mid-April near homes in the 16000 block of Berger Drive the woman approached her neighbor on April 16 while the neighbor was gardening and told her to leave what she claimed was her property She then allegedly struck the woman in the upper arm with a garbage bag full of trash and pushed her The neighbor reported experiencing spinal pain and told police she may require treatment the neighbor told police the woman “rammed” into her The woman told officers she confronted the neighbor over spray-painted markings near the disputed property line but denied striking her She said she placed the garbage bag in the flower bed and was then accused of assault A summons has been issued for the woman to appear for arraignment on May 28 before Judge Jamie L Anderson at the Hennepin County District Court’s Ridgedale location in Minnetonka Each misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine A Minneapolis man has been charged with felony third-degree burglary after Eden Prairie police say he was caught removing copper materials from a commercial building in the early morning hours of April 22 outside a building in the 6100 block of Blue Circle Drive According to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court officers responding to reports of copper theft found Dahl placing copper-related materials into the back of a Toyota Dahl allegedly admitted to removing the copper but claimed he had overnight permission from a man named “Jamie,” a claim officers could not corroborate Contractors at the site told police that no one had been given permission to remove materials Dahl was charged April 23 with third-degree burglary a felony under Minnesota law punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine He was released from custody on April 24 after posting $20,000 bail under conditions that include electronic home monitoring and completion of a chemical dependency evaluation Court records show Dahl is scheduled to appear for an omnibus hearing on June 11 before Judge Kristen Marttila in Hennepin County District Court My Cable Mart and other companies across the country are scrambling to figure out strategies for both now and the rest of the year Tariffs on a shipment of cables and TV mounts en route from China to Eden Prairie firm My Cable Mart will now total $170,000 said he had to inform customers that prices on those items would increase 22% two retailers and a fan manufacturer — had canceled orders worth $50,000 But if My Cable Mart hadn’t raised the prices Now Marriott, like other leaders of small U.S. companies is trying to decide what to do next — and for the rest of the year President Donald Trump raised tariffs on almost every country by 10% He had proposed much higher tariffs for many countries but pulled back on almost all of them except for China Most tariffs on Chinese goods are now 145% But some that fall in special product categories could be even higher Caught in the middle of an escalating trade war are companies that depend on imports for their livelihoods Some of the firms say they are considering layoffs Others are considering taking out loans or lines of credit to cover the tariffs a supplier of fasteners and other necessary parts and equipment to factories across the country already has enacted some price increases and will take more if needed CEO Dan Florness said Friday during the Winona-based company’s quarterly earnings call with analysts “There’s no way to cushion 145% tariffs,” Florness said “There’s no math that you can make that work.” Fastenal kept its quarterly income steady year over year and while the company can renegotiate contracts based on changing factors Florness questioned just how much a company can do that and keep customers “You have to ask yourself what demand gets destroyed,” he said Marriott is among those wondering if they will be forced to abandon huge cargo containers of goods — which they have already paid for — at U.S Company owners also are worried about losing more customers as they increase prices Trump has said he believes tariffs will balance trade deficits and bring more manufacturing operations to the U.S His moves have thousands of businesses scrambling trying to get advice on what to do next and how to calculate prices “Working with thousands of small businesses our phones have been ringing off the hook with customers seeking strategies to mitigate impacts and execute them quickly,” said Chris Sikora director of port services at global logistics giant C.H “While our scale allows us to do both those things the first step is helping customers understand their impact.” can take a temporary “wait-and-see approach” because they have already received freight for the summer and back-to-school seasons Many companies that do not have that option are in crisis mode My Cable Mart ships four containers a year from China Marriott has calculated that the company will take on more than $600,000 in additional costs this year because of the increased tariffs He assumes the company will lose more business because the higher prices I am hoping that is not such a hardship [that] we do need to look at layoffs.” Beth Fynbo Benike, whose company Busy Baby made the decision to abandon $160,000 worth of her baby mat products in China, doesn’t know what the next step will be. Her pricing in contracts with Walmart and Target were based on the tariffs costing about $30,000. Now, it would cost the Oronoco company about $200,000. “What that means is that when I run out of stock in two to three months, I no longer have products to sell and no more revenue coming in, which means I can’t pay my bills. I can’t pay my employees, or my debt,” Fynbo Benike said. She has considered rerouting her products through another country, but because the Trump administration’s tariff plans have changed so much, she’s worried she’ll run into other issues. Concerns about tariffs and a potential trade war have “led to the biggest sudden drop in confidence in the past decade except for when COVID-19 hit the U.S. in March 2020,” Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis wrote in an essay on Wednesday. “When people and businesses lose confidence, they pull back from spending and investing, potentially leading to a meaningful slowdown in economic activity, perhaps even to a recession.” That’s what worries Marriott at My Cable Mart. For him the new tariffs mean price hikes that “will most likely reduce sales,” Marriott said while combing through products at the company’s warehouse. “People just don’t have an extra 22% [to pay out] when you look at all the consumers everywhere.” Patrick Kennedy of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report. Dee DePass is an award-winning business reporter covering Minnesota small businesses for the Minnesota Star Tribune. She previously covered commercial real estate, manufacturing, the economy, workplace issues and banking. Economy Renowned investor Warren Buffett surprised a crowd of thousands Saturday with his plans to retire at the end of the year The company is behind Twin Cities-based businesses like DQ and HomeServices of America Our columnist is less certain about the outright ban than he was two years ago originally proposed by the company PolyMet still needs to re-apply for a key federal permit The morning started with clouds and drizzle but by the time the sausage was sizzling and the pancake griddles were humming the sun had found its way to True Friends Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie The Eden Prairie Lions Club’s annual Pancake Breakfast drew 576 guests on Sunday April 27 – a hearty turnout for a community tradition that’s been feeding families and raising funds since the 1980s “We didn’t run out of anything,” said event chair and Lions Club member Barbara Hanson now in her third year leading the breakfast I even got compliments on the pancakes and sausage.” when tables filled and latecomers scanned the room for open seats cheerful Lions – kept the lines moving and the coffee flowing The menu included pancakes and syrup donated by the Original Pancake House and kid-friendly toppings like whipped cream and chocolate chips. “People really love the sausage,” Hanson said Held each spring at the camp’s dining hall on Indian Chief Road the all-you-can-eat fundraiser supports a wide range of causes the Eden Prairie Lions Club donated more than $207,000 to local nonprofits and city services – including $50,000 to True Friends Camp Eden Wood and funding for public safety equipment like CPR mannequins and police drone technology All proceeds from the breakfast go back to the community With Schooner Days just weeks away – set for May 30 to June 1 at Round Lake Park – the Pancake Breakfast kicks off a busy season for the Eden Prairie Lions Club and it’s for a good cause,” Hanson said ahead of this year’s breakfast “It’s one of those events that brings people together – and that’s what we’re here for.” Eden Prairie fifth grader Rylee Fincham is among the young singers who will perform in the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs’ Annual Spring Concerts on Sunday Fincham performs with the Cantabile choir for grades 4 through 6 The Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs include more than 300 youth singers in grades K-12 from across the Twin Cities metro area They recently performed at the “Olympics of choir,” the American Choir Directors Association Conference Tickets to the May 18 concerts, which include both a 1:30 p.m. and the 4:15 p.m. performance, are free and available starting May 5 through the Minnesota Orchestra Box Office Near the eve of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office while news outlets and pundits proclaimed either delight or disaster a group called Braver Angels Minnesota continued its work building bridges across the political divide From April 24-May 3, some of its leaders hit the road in Greater Minnesota with a “Reduce the Rancor” bus tour, visiting Worthington, Willmar, Kerkhoven, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Bemidji, and Brainerd. The group’s website states: “Braver Angels Minnesota is part of a national citizens’ movement that brings together conservatives respect and goodwill in American politics.” A variety of local civic and educational groups sponsored the local bus tour stops “Communities are built on social trust and relationships,” Sara Carlson co-chair of Willmar Lakes Area Vision 2040 and director of the Willmar Area Community Foundation “It is really important that we all do our best to guard that trust and those relationships carefully so we can tackle hard things together.” Speaking to a small group at an open house event Monday afternoon at the Willmar Area Community Foundation Melinda Voss of Braver Angels Minnesota said the “partisan trend over the past 40 years is a national security problem.” China “Humans are not designed to listen to the other side,” Voss said referring to human biology and the amygdala a part of the brain that controls emotions of fear and aggression “We have to make allowances that we are human We are interested in strengthening the community We’re interested in productive conversations We need to engage people and connect personally.” who identifies as “blue” on the political spectrum is a leader of the Twin Cities East Metro Braver Angels chapter Joining her at the open house was Scott Schluter a leader with the Greater Minneapolis Area chapter and who leans “red.” “There’s more common ground than we’ve been led to believe,” Schluter said There are 28 points of agreement between reds and blues with values Other Braver Angels Minnesota chapters include Western Suburban While informal conversation occurred in afternoon open house events evening programs included “fishbowl” exercises in which small groups from conservative and liberal perspectives took turns sharing their “hopes and concerns for the new administration.” Following that audience members paired up to share their thoughts after listening to both sides.  We must give up the idea that you are always right,” Voss said “The other side has a right to their opinion A spokesperson and celebrity of sorts from the red side paid a surprise visit to the Willmar open house Wilk Wilkinson is a truck driver from Clearwater former head of the National Institutes of Health Collins and his primary scientific perspective became a lightning rod for dissent from those opposing COVID-19 mandates and vaccines Some of the lightning bolts came from Wilkinson who identifies as a conservative Christian Wilkinson keeps busy hosting the podcast “Derate The Hate,” with several hundred episodes dating back to 2021 he has become involved in the national Braver Angels organization “We all have our blind spots,” Wilkinson said “Braver Angels provides people with a space a structure for contentious issues in a non-contentious way.” Wilkinson said they met when Collins reached out to Braver Angels seeking to understand the negative reaction to COVID-19 actions “Francis Collins has been demonized in the conservative media,” Wilkinson said All humans have the same basic needs but have different ways to get there.” Wilkinson appeared with Collins in his home in Chevy Chase, Md., near Washington, D.C., for an interview on PBS entitled “Ex-NIH director and truck driver explore how to bridge divisions deepened by the pandemic” that aired March 26 Wilkinson said he also is friends with former neo-Nazi leader Jeff Schoep who in 2020 told the New York Times that his “Nazi days” were over “Jeff Schoep is now for counter-extremism,” Wilkinson said “It’s an incredible story about what can happen when you engage someone hateful.” founded in 2016 with co-chairs Bill Doherty and the Rev is described in a news release as “a national nonpartisan nonprofit with a particularly strong base in Minnesota dedicated to reducing unhealthy polarization without either side compromising its values.” Braver Angels Minnesota is working to recruit communities to create new local alliances and offers a number of workshops and online courses Doherty is a professor and director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota Thiemann is retired as president and chief executive officer of Portico Benefit Services a separately incorporated ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America He has been an active volunteer in Braver Angels at the national and state levels “We are lucky in Minnesota to have such strong national leaders,” Voss said. She also noted the “civility caucus” in the Minnesota Legislature, calling the state an “ideal place” for such an effort because the Legislature is evenly divided The Reduce the Rancor campaign kicked off in March 2024 with the support of colleges and universities and chairs of state Republican and Democratic parties.  the organization changed its name from Better Angels to Braver Angels following a trademark dispute with The Better Angels Society a nonprofit associated with filmmaker Ken Burns The term Better Angels was inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address in which he appealed to the “better angels of our nature.” Editor’s note: Forrest Peterson is a freelance writer based in Greater Minnesota nonpartisan media organization whose mission is to provide high-quality journalism for people who care about Minnesota What do a Coon Rapids High School senior, Eden Prairie’s former parks and natural resources manager, and a retiree who combines humor with anger management have in common? They all are fine woodworkers whose creations were on display at the 41st annual Northern Woods Exhibition at Eden Prairie Center Forty-eight woodworkers entered this year’s show, hosted by the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild at the mall from April 24 to 27 The guild gave out awards in 16 categories and the public was able to vote for a People’s Choice award This year’s People’s Choice winner was “Curiouser and Curiouser” by Mark Laub a piece featuring five rotating cylinders inspired by the book characters and illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” All ages and experience levels were welcome received the Youth Award for his oak rocking chair Several entrants listed “retiree” in their biographies Some were hobbyists; others were professionals with business cards or website links on display inviting commissions and sales Mike Berner of Excelsior crafted a walnut dining table using wood his grandfather had cut and milled from a tree on the family’s Chanhassen property Jay Ankeny’s “Memory Box” was one of many he and other woodworkers have made voluntarily for parents whose children didn’t come home from the hospital Ankeny writes that his parents lost both his twin and his brother’s twin as infants “is much more satisfying than sculpting a smartphone.” To honor his father’s military service in Korea woodworker Dan Thomas crafted a frame box from oak olive and purpleheart woods to showcase his father’s Purple Heart medal Professional woodworker Thomas Schrunk displayed an intricate liquor cabinet that was not for sale willing to gift it to any person or group making a $5,000 donation to the Croatia Archeological Project at the University of St Many of the pieces on display had practical uses who retired as Eden Prairie’s parks and natural resources manager in 2015 crafted a sofa table with a low shelf that could hold a stack of his wife’s quilts “She first asked for a table that would just hold family pictures,” he explains “So I made her a simple one with materials that only cost about $18 but started stacking her quilts on the floor and said it would be nice if it had a shelf “I wanted to make a nicer table to do that so I bought a beautiful piece of walnut and used curly maple for the inlay Then I decided to use ash for the drawer to highlight the dovetail joints.” Fox speaks about the woods he chooses as if he were introducing an intimate friend “The legs of the table are rift sawn,” he says “That means there are no cathedral patterns to distract your eyes.” Fox believes his sawing technique reduced the appearance of the arched pattern that can sometimes be visible in wood grain He runs his eyes along the silky smooth surface of the table “There are five coats of finish,” he explains but this table probably took over 200 hours to make.” Woodworkers appreciate the value of every piece of wood Fox took a piece of walnut destined for the scrap pile and realized it had a “punky knot” – a hole he made an image of a walnut tree and placed it in the hole creating a fun wall decoration that forces the viewer to look closer Woodworker Avery Shoemaker of Minneapolis also created a practical piece: a simple writing desk she could place over her lap as she sits on the floor to write in her notebook She included a small drawer with a glass handle to hold her writing supplies created a sturdy step stool and a bar stool Charlie Kocourek of Fridley made a measuring cup organizer from quilted mahogany Scott Olson of Eden Prairie crafted identical Asian tables from elm and poplar His notes say his design was inspired by the Qing-style calligraphy tables Cindy Darwin entered an end table made from walnut and both black and white ash woods and credited the education she received at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Portland for her ability to produce a piece with such decorative detail Tony Kubiak won Best Traditional Piece for his mahogany Philadelphia tassel-back armchair Calan Slattery crafted a modern executive desk of walnut and ash Art that uses wood as the primary medium was prominent in the show Roger Knudson crafted an oversized red stiletto shoe that stood over five feet tall he also created a super-sized purple clarinet of basswood Doug Affinity won Best Finish for his rendition of his dog’s face gleefully chewing a new toy received for Christmas One piece that crossed many boundaries was Greg Flanagan’s drum set He noted that a talented collaboration made it possible Michael Helsinger at Nordic Shells built the shells of the drums made the lugs and served as the veneer technician Not every piece turned out as the artist had planned entered a cracked shelf covered with books His artist statement read: “So I build this really nice shelf for my wife who was very pleased … until my rock head brother-in-law asked me if it came from IKEA He’s lucky I hit the shelf and not his balding head why am I displaying a broken shelf in this show I paid the pricey entrance fee and can’t get a refund.” This year’s Best of Show was awarded to cabinetmaker Mark Laub for his piece Cut and Burning.” He called it a “metaphor for my lifelong struggle with the stigma and shame of mental illness.” scissors-shaped cabinet “… is trying to escape from its glass and aluminum bars suggesting that our real-life cages might also be as easily broken as …glass The scissors emphasize the necessity of not only turning negative and toxic pages in our book of memories The materials of the sophisticated piece include sapele pommele The exhibition was sponsored by 24 businesses and individuals from the region all representing various tools and supplies fine woodworkers need The Minnesota Woodworkers Guild states on its brochure Ridgeview Foundation hosted its annual Pins for a Purpose event at Bowlero in Eden Prairie on April 25 The event raised more than $47,000 in support of Ridgeview’s pediatric program More than 230 bowlers and supporters turned out for the event Funds raised will help purchase pediatric-specific equipment and technology such as child-sized stethoscopes and nebulizers the money will support staff training and Ridgeview’s Pediatric Limited-Stay Unit which allows children to be treated locally without transfer to larger metro hospitals Premier sponsors for this year’s Pins with a Purpose included Emergency Physicians & Consultants Ridgeview Medical Staff and South Valley Anesthesia Ridgeview is an independent nonprofit regional health care system serving the southwest metro region of the Twin Cities Topgolf is once again eyeing Eden Prairie as a possible location for its next entertainment venue city officials and business leaders confirmed The golf and entertainment chain has been in discussions with the city for about eight years Eden Prairie’s community development director no site has met the needs of both Topgolf and the city in terms of property size offering high-tech driving ranges that combine golf with interactive games The company has a location in Brooklyn Center and is constructing a second venue in Woodbury At Eden Prairie Center, a preliminary plan calls for transforming the vacant JCPenney building and surrounding parking lot into a mix of apartments, retail, offices and a hotel. City officials presented the concept during a March workshop describing it as early-stage and potentially supported by tax-increment financing “City staff has shared with real estate representatives inquiring about the Danfoss site that this property could be a favorable location for Topgolf,” Klima said president of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce said he is optimistic about the possibility and we are excited that these two locations could be a fit for them,” MulQueeny said “Topgolf draws a lot of customers from across the region which would be a benefit to our other businesses including Eden Prairie Center and its stores retailers and other complementary businesses It would add another reason for people to come to Eden Prairie for entertainment and explore all we have here.” confirmed discussions with Eden Prairie have been ongoing “I can confirm that we’ve talked to the city of Eden Prairie for many years about various sites and that we’re constantly evaluating potential opportunities for Topgolf in the southwest metro,” Reimann said we are still searching and evaluating potential options.” As Minnesota heads into peak storm season, Fire Chief Scott Gerber wants residents to take this week – Severe Weather Awareness Week – as a cue to review their emergency plans before the skies darken and sirens blare “Weather is one of our greatest risks that has the ability to impact our cities,” said Gerber whose department oversees Eden Prairie’s emergency management program “This is a good time to pause and think about how it can impact us – both professionally and at home.” Running April 7-11, the statewide awareness campaign is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management division in partnership with the National Weather Service Each day focuses on a different hazard: alerts and warnings when tornado sirens will sound across Minnesota at 1:45 p.m Eden Prairie’s outdoor warning sirens – placed strategically across the city – will activate as part of that test But Gerber reminded residents the sirens are designed to alert people who are outdoors you may not hear it in your house because they are meant to warn outdoors – not indoors.” mobile phone notifications or NOAA Weather Radios – devices programmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to broadcast official warnings He also encourages residents to develop a family plan “Have we talked about it as a family?” he said “Where’s a good shelter spot to be able to go We’re fortunate here in the Midwest that most of our homes have basements.” The city uses this week to reinforce preparedness among staff especially those who work outside. “What kind of watches and warnings do we think about?” Gerber said. “Where are the shelters they could go to?” Gerber has responded to numerous high-wind and flooding events He has also been deployed to hurricane-stricken regions experiences he says have informed and strengthened the city’s emergency preparedness “There’s many things that are tornado-like,” he said. “How do we clear debris How do we make sure residents are informed How do we manage volunteers and donations?” On recent federal budget cuts potentially affecting the National Weather Service and FEMA he added, “We’ll figure it out and adapt.” Gerber said preparedness is everyone’s responsibility “Emergency management is about being able to help deal with and recover from incidents that might happen,” he said. “From individuals to families to businesses to cities to the state – we all play a role.” At this point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Why sit through the endless credits for a small tease of what’s to come next will likely be less than what it advertised Why drift over to Disney+ to watch the required supplemental material That’s a task I quickly gave up on after “WandaVision” vastly overstayed its welcome.  like every Minnesota sports fan who’s lived through countless seasons of agony and deep soul searching there comes a time when the clouds lift and you feel as if you’ve been placed upon the highest mountain The release of “Thunderbolts*” (no that asterisk is not a typo) marks that time for the MCU I wrote that that movie was “a semi-comforting reminder that it’s OK for a movie to be just fine and forgettable.” Now I’d recalculate that allocation much more in the latter’s camp than the former everyone’s favorite raised-from-the-womb assassin speaks that “there’s something wrong with me … an emptiness … a void.” She’s going through the motions completing missions and erasing targets with nothing more than a blank stare director Jake Schreier doesn’t share her sentiments when it comes to manning this $200 million behemoth The guy at the helm of the Netflix series “Beef” gives the opening proceedings a more flavorful edge opting for a much-marketed practical skyscraper jump and longer-take in-camera fight choreography Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) in the belly of a secret underground bunker housing the secrets of CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is definitely not a pleasant coincidence They’re all supposed to kill each other leaving no more loose ends for the impeachment trial that’s digging up all of their involvement in Valentina’s off-the-book endeavors Since they all realize that they have a common enemy the loners decide to team up to increase their chances of survival just means that they’d like to prolong the inevitable delay until their fate catches up with them But unlike the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy this ragtag group does not consist of heroes looking to strengthen their commitment to protecting humanity or lovable misfits who just needed a chance to do good They’re also characters that don’t immediately scream that they’re all that interesting Walker and Valenita are from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” a show I never watched Ghost and Taskmaster respectively appeared as the antagonists in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and “Black Widow,” two films I’ve completely memory-holed Yelena did make an impression in “Black Widow” and her successive appearances in the MCU much of that coming from Pugh’s innate charm and pathos as well as co-writers Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo for making these less-than-desirable characters into compelling people and the ones that do stick around land at a much more consistent rate David Harbour’s Red Guardian does throw off that balance on a few too many occasions with the character’s lovability being sabotaged by an overwhelming eagerness There’s also the presence of Bob (Lewis Pullman) a Valentina-sponsored human experiment who has the power to make those that he touches relive their worst nightmares With the aid of the A24 veteran duo of cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo and production designer Grace Yun, there’s a more natural balance to the emotional depth of these characters. That “Absolute Cinema” trailer touting the indie credentials of all the talent involved may have reeked of cinemaphile desperation but the final product illustrates that the marketers weren’t lying about the goods they’ve assembled here The theme of the film is recovering from driftlessness through finding a purpose alongside friends and family For as much as a gun or a fist can accomplish some nice words and a hug can do a lot more To be talking about ideas and themes instead of Easter eggs and cameos is a breath of fresh air for the MCU one that I dubiously hope they’ll maintain as they wade into the titans that are this summer’s “Fantastic Four: First Steps” and next year’s “Avengers: Doomsday.” Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures will release “Thunderbolts*” in theaters nationwide on Friday promises to reshape Eden Prairie Center’s north end The ambitious proposal envisions a transformation of the vacant JCPenney site and surrounding parking lot into a vibrant mix of apartments The concept was shared with Eden Prairie City Council members March 18 in an informal workshop The meeting served as an annual update on parcels around the city that are candidates for development or redevelopment The Eden Prairie Center concept plan stems from months of discussions between city staff and mall owner MetLife Insurance “I would say it is in the very preliminary stages,” said Julie Klima the city’s community development director “They have more work to do to understand all of the costs and partners they would need to work with It’s all high-level concept at this point.” If the preliminary plan turns into a formal application for city review and approval it may include a request for tax-increment financing (TIF) on the city’s part cities are allowed to use TIF to capture the increased taxes that come from a redeveloped property and use those tax “increments” to pay for at least some of the improvements all of the tax revenue begins flowing to local governments for general-fund use The city used TIF to redevelop the mall in 1996 as part of a broad plan that resulted in a new entertainment wing with theater screens and restaurants as it raised the taxable value of the mall and its anchor stores from $23 million to $132 million a $109 million increase far outpacing the $71 million hike that was predicted at the project’s start The city’s commitment to that project was $13 million But the taxable value of the shopping mall – and the property taxes it generates – has declined in recent years the mall and its anchor stores are valued at about $88.5 million It’s uncertain whether a new TIF district to help finance redevelopment of the mall’s north end would have the same success as the 1996 effort given the headwinds that traditional malls are now facing Experts say the trend is toward malls with mixed-use development and experiential shopping rather than just a conglomeration of retail storefronts City staff said the MetLife concept discussed with the council this week aligns with several goals in the city’s Aspire Eden Prairie 2040 plan The concept includes about 750 apartment units with a portion expected to have affordable rents as required by the city’s Inclusionary Housing Policy The policy mandates that 5% to 15% of the units be affordable to lower-income residents with the exact percentage based on rent levels the city has also wished for a hotel large enough to accommodate community gatherings City staff said no specific hotel company has yet been identified about MetLife’s concept The rough plan includes underground parking Mayor Ron Case suggested that discussions with MetLife include the possibility of installing solar panels on the project’s significant roof space like the one atop the Eden Prairie Community Center would help the city advance its 2050 sustainability and climate action goals The redevelopment concept also calls for some office use and freestanding retail as well as retail on the ground floor of apartment buildings in taking down the JCPenney building and perhaps a portion of the mall proper would reduce the mall’s current square footage overall The city’s Aspire Eden Prairie 2040 plan suggests that mixed-use development of this type can help counter the challenges facing retail shopping malls “Redevelopment there gives us an opportunity to take a harder look at those new and emerging priorities,” said Klima mix of uses – all of that – will be fleshed out in the development review process But the mix of uses that the city is working to achieve on that site is certainly represented in that concept.” The mall’s north end is less than a block from the northwest edge of Anderson Lakes Regional Park and about three blocks from the Town Center Station which was built in anticipation of the Green Line LRT Extension the concept plan does not currently incorporate connections to either with the possibility of formal plans submitted for city review later this year the city is asking the Minnesota Legislature to amend state law by removing “blight” as a precondition to establishing a TIF district Other TIF-law changes are also being considered by legislators this session Eden Prairie Center is one of several potential development or redevelopment sites highlighted by city staff during a March 18 workshop with council members none of which has filed a formal application for city approval: While the arrival of the Metro Green Line light-rail extension is still on the horizon Eden Prairie is already laying the groundwork for a more transit-oriented future the city is putting millions of dollars into new or upgraded infrastructure ensuring its streets and trails are ready to embrace the coming light-rail era around future stations Other possible light-rail-related projects are more speculative as they appear in the city’s long-range capital improvement plan (CIP) And that doesn’t include a potential new fire station in the Golden Triangle area – so named for its concentration of tax-generating industry and its borders along Interstate 494 The area is currently served primarily by the fire station on Scenic Heights Road A 2024 fire study indicated that a new station may eventually be needed in the city’s northeastern corner Some of the street projects would have been done regardless of light rail according to Public Works Director Robert Ellis though perhaps not the new trail alongside it But he acknowledges that light rail is motivating some of the work as it not only adds another transit option to the Golden Triangle but is also expected to spur new development and redevelopment of existing parcels “There will be a lot of changes in the future once light rail is operational,” said Ellis a 14.5-mile route between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie Four of its 16 light-rail stations are in Eden Prairie: City West But the nearly $3 billion project has encountered construction challenges that have created delays and increased costs going back years. A new audit of the project found a number of shortcomings in the Met Council’s oversight that needlessly increased the price tag and timeline The schedule calls for the Green Line extension – formerly known as the Southwest light-rail extension – to begin operations in 2027 The delays have given Eden Prairie time to enhance local access and anticipate development the Eden Prairie City Council in 2016 adopted a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) ordinance meant to guide development near light-rail stations by providing design and zoning standards that allow higher-density development in areas within a 10-minute walk of stations The thought was that infrastructure improvements like light rail would add value to the surrounding property encouraging developers or redevelopers to build to a parcel’s highest and best use creating more taxable value for the community Eden Prairie’s first TOD was Elevate at Southwest Station The project includes 13,000 square feet of commercial space and 222 residential units above retail It sits adjacent to the Shops of SouthWest Station and the transit hub operated by SouthWest Transit and Metro Transit Another example of TOD is The Fox & The Grouse apartments located within walking distance of the Golden Triangle light-rail station Developed by Greco and Eagle Ridge Partners the first 237 units of the planned 425-unit apartment complex have been built (EPLN reached out to the developer for information on the second phase but did not receive a response.) “It’s all part of the toolbox,” City Planner Jeremy Barnhart said about the TOD ordinance and its influence in making Eden Prairie more transit-friendly At the time of the apartment project’s approval while proximity to the light-rail station is a factor in the project it is local demographics as well as the large adjoining wetland and other outdoor amenities that will likely make the project attractive to renters The Fox & The Grouse property is forecast to have a value of about $119 million when complete and will generate more than $4 million in property taxes – $1.3 million for the city alone because the city offered tax-increment financing (TIF) as a subsidy in order to ensure that 87 of the 425 units will be set aside for lower-income residents the property taxes generated by a fully developed property won’t begin flowing to the county tax “increments” are being used to finance the construction project and its 87 affordable units The city has seen other development near the Golden Triangle light-rail station that is also indirectly related to transit North Dakota-based company that manufactures critical nucleic acids and proteins used by scientists around the world to research cell and gene therapies 345,503-square-foot building at 7075 Flying Cloud Drive it received Eden Prairie City Council approval to build a 96,244-square-foot addition and remodel other portions to make the building move-in-ready It means approximately 500 new jobs in Eden Prairie opened its new headquarters and innovation center in Eden Prairie Barnhart noted that Eden Prairie also has a fair amount of office space near light rail stations “that might be prime for redevelopment.” The city has recently OK’d several redevelopment projects where vacant office buildings were torn down to make way for residential or industrial uses those and other companies will benefit from the concrete and asphalt work that has been contracted by the city Here are some details on projects mentioned above: celebrating the long-awaited re-release of his 1999 comedy Dogma The film has been notoriously hard to find due to conflicts with the Weinstein Company which held the rights and prevented it from arriving on streaming services or in a home video rerelease when Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape Smith cited the larger capacity of Southdale but said he had a similar thought and is considering bringing Mallrats back to Eden Prairie Center for a 30th anniversary screening this year Mallrats took place almost entirely inside the Eden Prairie mall Quint (Jeremy London) and Brodie (Jason Lee) as they slack around the mall after they were both dumped by their girlfriends It was also the second film to feature Smith and Jason Mewes as their recurring characters Gage Skidmore/Flickr While the idea of bringing Mallrats home is just an idea for the moment the Clerks director is still out on his Dogma tour For anyone who missed the Thursday screenings Dogma will be resurrected later this year when it gets a wide theatrical re-release Smith will be back in Minnesota with Mewes on June 19 for their "Jay & Silent Bob's Aural Sects Tour," which will make a stop at The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul and shops around the Twin Cities are celebrating and The Game Show Studio are among the new spaces taking up residence at Eden Prairie Center and questionable medical billing are among the striking details in newly unsealed federal search warrants tied to a years-long Eden Prairie-based sex trafficking investigation Federal investigators allege that Gabriel Adam Alexander Luthor, also known as Gabriel Langford, and Elizabeth Christine Brown operated a multi-state scheme involving sex trafficking and health care fraud. The two are charged in U.S. District Court when Eden Prairie police received multiple tips about Luthor and others allegedly involved in sex trafficking and related crimes The first tip came from a manager at a local hair salon who reported that two new clients arrived together on the morning of May 7 The women were dressed in revealing clothing and heavy makeup – attire the manager said resembled what someone might wear to a nightclub rather than a salon appeared to be in her 30s and spoke on behalf of the younger woman The salon manager told police that Brown made all decisions regarding the younger woman’s services and described the pair’s dynamic as controlling raising concerns about potential sex trafficking a city building inspector relayed a tip from a plumbing inspector about suspicious features inside a residence at 11631 Welters Way the basement included a large “grotto-style” hot tub a multi-user “gang shower,” and a glass-walled solarium with a door that he believed could be used to “view and pick women.” The inspector said he had never encountered a setup like it in a private home Affidavits filed in support of the search warrants included text messages between Luthor and several women a woman asked Luthor if she still needed permission to eat or drink anything other than water and instructed her to “step this up” and “start working out each day” because she had “a ways to go” to lose more weight.During the execution of a search warrant at the Welters Way property in January 2023 officers found several women living in the home Investigators noted that the women appeared to defer to Luthor who dictated when they would leave the house and whether one of them would wear a coat – despite the frigid January weather federal agents uncovered a pattern of extravagant personal spending Luthor’s personal Bank of America account received roughly $1.37 million in deposits and recorded $1.35 million in debits Among the expenses during that six-month period: Witnesses told investigators that Luthor regularly traveled to Las Vegas – weekly or biweekly – bringing with him around $20,000 in cash to pay women for sex He allegedly also paid women to provide sex services to others he was trying to impress Records from the city and the Minnesota Secretary of State show a complex sequence of real estate transactions involving the Welters Way property Brown entered into a contract for deed with Flip Funding putting down $315,000 in cash toward a purchase price of $1.049 million She agreed to pay $6,429 per month for 61 months with a $342,531 balloon payment due in March 2024.Three years later LLC – managed by the same individual as Flip Funding – purchased the property for $1.7 million with a $595,000 down payment bought the property from Banken Holdings on a contract for deed for $1.883 million Brown is listed as Olympia’s registered agent and the business address is the Welters Way residence Investigators allege that the funds used to purchase the property – and much of Luthor and Brown’s personal wealth – came from Golden Victory Medical (GVM) a company they control.Bank of America and U.S Bank records show that from August 2018 to October 2022 about $14.7 million was deposited into GVM’s business accounts Roughly $9.6 million was then transferred into Luthor and Brown’s personal accounts personalized healthcare” at five locations across Florida Brown was listed as the company’s CEO and co-owner with a photo and biographical details displayed on the site Billing records show that GVM filed over $16 million in claims to Medicare and private insurers in 2019 – the company’s first full year of operation Brown and one other nurse were listed as the only rendering providers Brown alone was credited with more than 28,000 patient encounters – an average of 76 per day GVM and seven other providers submitted claims for over 776,000 patient visits Brown was listed as the provider in more than 591,000 of them she was credited with 164,791 encounters – an average of more than 450 per day Investigators also allege that some of these billings occurred during periods when Brown was vacationing she billed for 204 patient visits between Dec while simultaneously staying at a luxury resort in Vail A document recovered from her Google Drive account confirmed the trip and included details about a private chef Luthor and Brown have not yet responded to the charges filed against them it is unclear whether they are in custody or have retained legal counsel Both are scheduled to make their initial appearance in U.S District Court on April 30.Editor’s note: Contributor Frank Farrell is a member of the EPLN Board of Directors and a resident of Welters Way witnessed some of the events reported in EPLN’s 2023 coverage of the raid A 19-year-old Eden Prairie man was sentenced to 90 days in the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility (also known as the workhouse) and three years of probation after admitting to nonconsensual sexual penetration during an incident in 2024 Mark Thomas Derouin appeared Wednesday, April 9, in Hennepin County District Court before Judge Hilary Caligiuri, who followed a plea agreement reached in February Derouin pleaded guilty to felony fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct A more serious third-degree charge was dismissed as part of the agreement Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Natasha Yenina told the court the plea deal took Derouin’s age and lack of a criminal record into account But she emphasized the seriousness of the offense and urged the court to impose the full 90-day jail sentence and the state views it as such,” Yenina said “The impact on the victim is profound and lasting He instilled fear and betrayed her trust in a deeply personal and violating way.” She added that a sentence without any jail time would send the wrong message and undermine accountability the victim delivered a detailed and emotional impact statement describing the psychological physical and emotional toll of the assault “The betrayal of trust by someone I considered a friend has left me feeling like I lost a part of myself,” she said saying his client had already taken responsibility and was committed to rehabilitation “This was a very (trial-worthy) case,” Garry said I want to accept responsibility.’ Despite my assurances that I try and win a lot of cases I think what he did here – owning up to it – deserves some mitigating consideration.” said he was remorseful and determined to change and I’m truly sorry for the pain I’ve caused,” he said “This has been a heavy and difficult time for both me and my family Judge Caligiuri said the nature of the offense warranted jail time “I am going to impose the full 90 days in the workhouse and that is in light of the serious nature of this offense,” she said in court This is a serious crime that violated the victim in many ways Derouin will be eligible for work release and may leave the facility for job-seeking or treatment the felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor Caligiuri also ordered Derouin to complete a sex offender treatment program stay at least three blocks from the victim’s home Additional conditions include abstaining from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs maintaining full-time work or school enrollment and complying with restrictions on internet access and sexually explicit materials The judge also reserved restitution for 30 days giving prosecutors time to determine whether a financial claim for damages will be submitted Defense counsel noted that Derouin is currently unemployed and has no income Derouin is scheduled to report to the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility by 10 a.m After more than a week of community pressure Eden Prairie Schools has announced that it will retract the originally announced Class of 2025 graduation date and instead offer alternative dates that do not coincide with any major religious holidays The initial date of Saturday, June 7, conflicts with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha It’s estimated that about 20% of Eden Prairie High School’s students are Muslim according to the Muslim American Society of Minnesota meaning that many students would have to choose between observing the holiday and a major educational milestone and rite of passage Many members of the Eden Prairie Schools community, particularly the Muslim community, reacted with dismay to the June 7 date. Many held meetings with district leaders, sent messages and spoke at the school board business meeting on Jan. 27 to protest the decision and lobby for change the district said it would text a survey with three new potential dates to families of senior students so they could pick their top options “Over the last week since announcing our ceremony date we’ve heard feedback that we are not meeting our goal of a ceremony where all students can attend and we can celebrate together as a community,” said Superintendent Josh Swanson “No one should ever feel like they aren’t an important and valued member of our Eden Prairie Schools community our job is to bring our community together – it’s the reason we’re all Eagles “In a time when nearly everything is hyper-polarized I want to provide a full picture of what we knew as we were making decisions about this year’s ceremony and the ways in which we intentionally worked to gather and respond to community input after last year’s graduation.” he explained how and why the district chose the date and why it believed the date would suit the diverse Eden Prairie community The three options in the survey are listed below The full message can be read on the district’s website “I’m so relieved and grateful that the district agreed to change graduation to a day that doesn’t exclude students based on religion.” She said she also felt sad for families who were inconvenienced by the change or unhappy with the new date options and understood how they might feel 24 meeting for the district to communicate that the date was under review and could change and the district will recognize the need to set major holidays as days off because it prevents mistakes like this.” another Eden Prairie Schools parent who advocated for a new date “The EP district respects and honors its diverse students and staff and to recognize their mistake and correct it was the right thing to do.” Editor’s note: This story was updated April 14 to include court appearance details and the subject’s release from custody A 45-year-old Eden Prairie woman is facing a felony charge after allegedly firing a gun into the air outside her home Thursday afternoon Beulah Louise Underwood was charged Friday in Hennepin County District Court with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm within a municipality The incident occurred near the 15,000 block of Trillium Circle multiple witnesses told Eden Prairie officers that Underwood — identified as a family member — had fired a gun into the air while standing outside the front entrance of a residence Witnesses also reported that she had been drinking throughout the day Officers located a single spent shell casing near the front door of the home Underwood was arrested at the scene and booked into the Hennepin County Jail A police spokesperson said no one was injured Janzen granted her conditional release and reduced her bail from $20,000 to $10,000 abstaining from alcohol and controlled substances An omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 4 Eden Prairie police are investigating allegations that a preschool teacher at Jardin Spanish Immersion Academy gave gummies to children in her care without parental consent according to a search warrant filed Wednesday The investigation began after a March 28 report involving an employee at the academy located at 14200 Martin Drive in Eden Prairie “We take these allegations very seriously and immediately launched an internal investigation into the matter as soon as we learned of it,” the statement from the preschool read “We have also reported the issue to the Department of Health and are fully cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation.” The Eden Prairie Police Department confirmed the investigation remains ongoing officers responded to a call from the academy after parents reported their children had received gummies before nap time Several children described the gummies as bluish-purple The children told their parents they were instructed not to tell anyone the employee allegedly acknowledged giving gummies to the class but said it only happened once and claimed the gummies were Welch’s Fruit Snacks and did not contain melatonin Surveillance footage viewed by a police investigator and an academy administrator reportedly showed the employee on March 27 removing something from her pocket and handing it to a child The exchange occurred on the outdoor playground before nap time The warrant also states that providing consumable items to children without parental consent would violate the academy’s policies Investigators sought the school’s surveillance footage including any complaints or disciplinary actions In response to questions from Eden Prairie Local News the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) confirmed it is aware of the police investigation at Jardin Spanish Immersion Academy and is conducting a separate maltreatment inquiry Because of data privacy laws, the department declined to say whether the maltreatment investigation is connected to the incident described in the search warrant. The facility’s license remains active and is not under conditional or provisional status, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Licensing Lookup site the preschool emphasized its commitment to safety “The safety and care of our students is our absolute highest priority and any conduct that compromises that commitment is contrary to our values When we have reason to believe a member of our team is falling short of that standard we will take immediate and effective corrective action.” The Eden Prairie High School boys volleyball team swept Minnetonka 3-0 on Thursday evening improving to 3-0 in its historic first season as a Minnesota State High School League-sanctioned sport have been dominant this season with the Minnetonka victory a 3-0 win over Bloomington Jefferson in their opener and a 3-1 victory against defending state champion Shakopee “We were excited and honored to be ranked No 1 (in preseason polls),” said head coach Steph Chapek “Our players worked hard in the offseason playing club volleyball It’s been fun to have the recognition but we focus on just getting a little better each day and not think about what’s in front of us or where we are ranked.” a former All-American middle blocker at the University of Minnesota who competed professionally in Europe and on the AVP beach tour has led the program since its club beginnings in 2019 This spring marks boys volleyball’s first season as a sanctioned sport following a May 2023 vote by the Minnesota State High School League approving the addition for 2024-25 The transition from club to sanctioned sport status has brought significant changes to the program “Having the support of EPHS as a sanctioned sport has been the biggest difference,” Chapek said and the overall administrative and financial support has been huge for our program.” The Eagles’ success stems from both exceptional talent and team chemistry With 16 varsity players – including 10 seniors who have developed together for years – the team has the versatility to adapt to different challenges and we talk a lot about our options,” Chapek said “We can move players around and set up offense and defense based on our opponent.” This adaptability is evident in the team’s balanced performance statistics several players have emerged as key contributors: senior right-side hitter Avi Kommalapati leads in kills sophomore striker Khatvik Kommalapati in service aces junior libero Ghauthamasanker Padmanaban in perfect passes and digs and senior captain and setter Deion Lange in assists The strong performances reflect years of teamwork and camaraderie among the players “Our players know each other well and have a strong bond on and off the court,” Chapek explained “They have created a team culture that keeps each other accountable while celebrating everyone We have been able to start at a high level because the players already know what to expect and are ready to compete.” The Eagles will face Edina at home on Wednesday Police are investigating a preschool in Eden Prairie over concerns that a teacher gave kids gummies that made them sleepier than usual The Eden Prairie Police Department began looking into Jardín Spanish Immersion Academy after receiving a report on March 28 that a female employee had given out gummies before naptime Parents told police the gummies their children received were “gum drop shaped and turn their tongue blue,” the filing states The employee told the kids not to tell anyone about the gummies “Parents had reported their children feeling sleepier and napping during the day when they normally wouldn’t,” the filing states the employee said she had given Welch’s fruit snacks after class time once and that they did not contain melatonin An officer reviewed surveillance footage from March 27 with the preschool’s vice president — who has since been promoted to president — and saw the employee get something from her pocket and hold it out with her hand The filing describes a child taking the item and putting it in their mouth Giving children consumable items was against the preschool’s policy due to the possibility of an allergic reaction or adverse side effects the officer obtained a copy of the Jardin policy handbook and surveillance footage of the playground and pre-K classroom to investigate whether the employee “is engaged in ongoing concerning and potentially negligent behavior.” Jardín said the employee has been placed on administrative leave “We take these allegations very seriously and immediately launched an internal investigation into the matter as soon as we learned of it,” Jardín said The preschool said it notified the Minnesota Department of Health and is “fully cooperating” with police “The safety and care of our students is our absolute highest priority and any conduct that compromises that commitment is contrary to our values our policies and our community,” Jardín said “When we have reason to believe a member of our team is falling short of that standard we will take immediate and effective corrective action.” the employee has not been arrested or charged Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 Crew Carwash has opened its latest location in Eden Prairie on a site that once housed a Burger King restaurant which operates more than 50 locations across the Midwest has expanded its Minnesota footprint to five locations with this latest opening at 16345 Terrey Pine Drive just southeast of the intersection of Highway 5 and Eden Prairie Road replacing another long-vacant fast-food site To mark the opening, Crew Carwash is offering free Ultimate Washes for a limited time and will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 17 in partnership with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. As part of the celebration, the company is hosting a fundraiser from April 17-19 to benefit PROP Food Shelf The car wash features high-tech wash equipment and a water reclamation system designed to reduce waste It also introduces the company’s Interior Clean service allowing customers to have their vehicles vacuumed and wiped down in less than 10 minutes “We’re excited to bring our new Interior Clean service to Eden Prairie,” said Sally Grant we take pride in offering a world-class car wash experience and providing great job opportunities for our team members.” The mystery surrounding the raid at 11633 Welters Way in Eden Prairie last January is beginning to come into focus detailing the raid and raising questions about the ongoing federal investigation federal prosecutors have unsealed a 24-page indictment charging Gabriel Adam Alexander Luthor – also known as Gabriel Adam Alexander Langford – and Elizabeth Christine Brown with six counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering are described in court documents as Minnesota residents The indictment alleges that Luthor and Brown operated a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare and other insurers of more than $15 million through their company The charges stem from what prosecutors describe as systematic overbilling for neurofeedback therapy and other services that were either inflated or never provided Luthor and Brown allegedly used billing codes – including the government’s authorized Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes – to falsely bill insurers for services their company either exaggerated or never performed They submitted claims that misrepresented the duration of services used incompatible or inapplicable billing combinations and continued these practices even after warnings from insurers and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Prosecutors say the two used the proceeds from the scheme to finance an extravagant lifestyle that included the purchase of a 9,000-square-foot Eden Prairie mansion in 2019 as well as covering living expenses for themselves and several of Luthor’s girlfriends who lived with them The indictment alleges that Luthor and Brown were in a relationship and living together in Nevada when they founded Golden Victory Medical in 2018 who held bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing obtained a Nevada license as an advanced practice registered nurse and accepted a contract with a local family medical practice serving elderly patients the practice hired another of Luthor’s girlfriends – referred to in court documents as Individual A –to assist her Luthor and Brown had incorporated Golden Victory Medical and began running their services through the new business entity After the medical practice ended its relationship with them in 2019 Brown purchased the Welters Way property that same year for $1.05 million Joining them in the home were Individual A another woman described by prosecutors as one of Luthor’s girlfriends Golden Victory Medical expanded rapidly in 2020 and 2021 and administrative staff to provide mental health services the business employed about 45 people nationwide The criminal investigation became public on Jan when law enforcement served a federal search warrant at the Welters Way residence told neighbors the search posed no public safety threat The search was part of a larger investigation led by the U.S Postal Inspection Service and supported by multiple federal agencies Golden Victory Medical shut down shortly afterward Luthor and Brown made their initial appearances in U.S Editor’s note: Contributor Frank Farrell is a member of the EPLN Board of Directors and a resident of Welters Way A family has sued the city of Eden Prairie in federal court claiming a verbal-abuse policy at the city’s recreation center is unconstitutional Thomas and Jennifer Styczinski allege their First Amendment free-speech rights and their 14th Amendment due-process rights under the U.S Constitution were violated when the Eden Prairie Community Center (EPCC) used the policy to suspend and then ban them from the facility’s aquatics center after verbal encounters with recreation center staff Both sides have requested a jury trial in U.S also names the EPCC manager and the city’s parks and recreation director as defendants The Styczinskis want the policy rewritten or eliminated and are asking for nominal damages in the amount of $1 At issue are the recreation center behavior guidelines, a verbal abuse policy that initiates progressive consequences – a warning membership cancellation for one year – for patrons “speaking with the intent to demean or threaten.” The policy’s stated purpose is to ensure the safety of staff and patrons were banned from the city’s aquatics center after two incidents with city staff – one on April 5 The first encounter between the Styczinskis and recreation center staff occurred after a family member who is a minor was alleged to have worn wet or improper shoes in the center’s treadmill area followed by a conversation between Thomas Styczinski and an unnamed recreation center manager the city sent the family an email that “threatened the Styczinski family’s membership.” conversations between the Styczinskis and recreation center staff regarding behavior in the swimming pool area resulted in a city email to Jennifer Styczinski “announcing that the Styczinski family were permanently prohibited from access to the aquatics area and further threatening their EPCC membership,” the suit says The second incident involved the use of a pool diving board by one of the family’s children and a friend with the complaint detailing a conversation between Thomas Styczinski and a lifeguard in which Styczinski asked why the lifeguard was repeatedly blowing her whistle as the children used the diving board is an incident minutes earlier between recreation center staff and a group of young men whom the Styczinskis claim were asked by lifeguards to leave the pool spoke to a lifeguard and “vouched for the conduct of the young men as having done nothing wrong.” Jenny realized that the … exodus demanded by the lifeguards might have been racially motivated,” according to the complaint The family maintains in the complaint that they were banned from the aquatics center “when they voiced concerns about EPCC staff misconduct.” The city’s response alleges that video of the incident shows Jennifer Styczinski interfering with lifeguards as they attempt to enforce community center rules The encounters with staff and the subsequent aquatics center ban led to a meeting in August 2022 between the Styczinskis and then-city parks director Jay Lotthammer The complaint says that about a year later the city invited the family to rejoin EPCC But the Styczinskis say in the complaint that they are concerned the policy will be used against them if they rejoin the Styczinskis allege the recreation center’s verbal abuse policy is ‘irrational and vague’ and ‘regulates them from pointing out EPCC staff or officials’ misconduct the family contends the city should have provided an appeals process allowing them to challenge the decision to ban them “The Styczinskis are not alleging any instances of verbal abuse or policy violations,” reads a statement provided by one of their attorneys they are claiming that the verbal abuse policy itself is an unconstitutional shield from legitimate criticism of EPCC employees it’s easy to forget that local public places of course we want those public spaces to be pleasant for patrons and employees alike,” the statement from the attorney continues “But a government facility comes with an obligation to consider everyone’s constitutional rights which categorically includes the right to criticize government staff when something is believed to be wrong and requires some sort of due process before depriving someone of use of that facility A policy that allows staff to take away someone’s access based on accusation of verbal abuse alone doesn’t cut it denies many of the allegations and the family’s claim that their constitutional rights were violated the city offered the following when asked about the city’s liability in the case:  “The city asserts that its actions regarding the plaintiffs were legal and constitutional in all respects The Eden Prairie Community Center (EPCC) has rules governing members’ behavior when they’re at the center The lifeguards are responsible for safety and proper order to interfere with lifeguards’ performance of their duties including the enforcement of pool rules and watching what’s happening in the water and on the deck It’s also a problem to ignore their directions The plaintiffs were informed they would not be allowed to use the aquatics center they were invited by the city to once again become members of the aquatics center if they wished The Styczinskis maintain the lawsuit was “a last resort” after their efforts to change the city policy were unsuccessful The new Qamaria Coffee location in Eden Prairie is open late into the night with hours extended even further during Ramadan Mohamed Hagi, managing partner and co-owner of the Minnesota Qamaria locations, was inspired to bring Yemeni coffee culture to Minnesota after visiting a Yemeni coffee shop in New York in 2021. He and Ibrahim Haji-Said, his cousin and business partner, looked at a few options for brand partnerships, but they landed on Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. after visiting the company’s headquarters in Michigan The pair opened their first location in Little Canada last year and they’ve quickly expanded with shops in Blaine “We’ve been opening at a very fast pace and scaling large in 2025,” Hagi said. “Each month so far we’ve opened a different location, so we opened Blaine in January, this location in February It’s been the most stressful time of their lives largely due to the success of the shops so far The first location in Little Canada had two- to three-hour wait times when it opened due to the sheer volume of customers Social media and word of mouth are behind much of the hype The decision to open an Eden Prairie location came They were looking for locations near highways in densely populated areas as well as storefronts that required minimal construction They also wanted to bring their brand closer to many of their frequent visitors “The need for the south metro really came from our customers,” Hagi said “A lot of customers were driving from Eden Prairie and they were coming almost every other day and they were making the drive out to Little Canada.” The closing of the Starbucks that used to inhabit their space on Prairie Center Drive made it perfect for Qamaria Since the shop was already set up for coffee and food service the cousins knew it would be a good fit and an easy transition.  They implemented the classic Qamaria décor with bright white walls and the classic portrait of a woman that adorns the walls of each of their shops Hagi said they try to include unique touches at each location one wall features a floor-to-ceiling depiction of historic buildings in Sanaa The demand for their products confirmed Hagi’s suspicion that Minnesota was an untapped market They wanted to bring the type of gathering place that Muslims and others in Arab and African communities were missing while also spreading the word about the history and culture behind the tradition “We knew that the broader-scale Muslim community knew about this type of coffee shop “A lot of people don’t necessarily know about that so we wanted to make sure we introduced this concept to other communities.” Coffee culture in Yemen and nearby countries is more about the connections with other people than the food or drink itself It gives Muslim people a place to gather outside of their homes in an alcohol-free environment with hours that suit their prayer schedule Hagi recalls growing up in San Diego with seven sisters and two brothers The Adeni chai remains his favorite item on the menu because it helps him conjure a feeling of nostalgia for time spent with friends and family over a cup of tea after visits to the mosque “I grew up where I started drinking tea at the age of 8 to me … just feels like home,” he said “It feels like every time I have a cup of tea or just hang out with someone it feels welcoming and that’s something where I want to have people feel an extension of my family.” Hagi hopes Qamaria will give customers a similar opportunity to build memories of their own He said many Muslim customers have already expressed gratitude for providing a place that feels safe Qamaria Coffee’s EP location is usually open from 8 a.m they’ve extended the closing time until 2 a.m it’s a really spiritual and religious time where not only are you the most religious but you’re in tune and try to be in touch with your family and friends and whatnot,” Hagi said they’ll drink tea or coffee at home and congregate and hang out where now they have another place to go to.” Hagi said Qamaria emphasizes the quality of its food and drinks Many of the shops’ ingredients are imported from Yemen and neighboring countries They do test runs for each pastry before launching and partner with Marc Heu Patisserie Paris The recipes and ingredients they use also provide an opportunity to highlight what’s beautiful about Yemen and places like it Though it’s a nation heavily impacted by poverty it also has a rich heritage and multifaceted culture in a different light than people see on social media or their local news and national news,” Hagi said which is part of what brought him to Minnesota He feels that “no matter where you live in the world you always have a family member.” The large Somali population along with the entrepreneurial opportunities in the state Hagi is focused on engaging with the community The shops have done many pop-up events during Ramadan “We just really want to tell the story of what Qamaria is about,” he said “We want to make sure the community understands what we offer It’s not just a latte (or) cappuccino Their biggest sellers include the iced pistachio latte iced Qamaria latte and the Dubai chocolate strawberries cup which can be adjusted to the guest’s preferred level of sweetness The Dubai chocolate strawberries cup layers Belgian chocolate pistachio spread and crunchy kunafa – shredded pieces of pastry The staff is also a big part of what defines the business Hagi said he wants employees to feel welcome and proud of where they work He wants everyone who visits the shop to get a dose of warmth Assistant manager Ahmad Afanhe quickly rose through the ranks after starting as a barista last month He went from barista to lead to supervisor giving him insight into the Eden Prairie location’s inner workings from the start Afanhe has lived in Minnesota only a short time after moving from his home country of Jordan about eight months ago Qamaria Coffee is his first job in the United States The shop has been consistently busy thanks to the recent opening and extended Ramadan hours He has plans to improve the shop but is waiting until the busy Ramadan period is over to implement them While Hagi and his cousin have slowed their scaling efforts they still have big plans for the future of Qamaria in Minnesota Their Blaine location will soon share space with Baba Saj a Mediterranean restaurant originally based in Chicago Hagi said they hope to have the restaurant open next month.  They also have a Burnsville location in the works set to open toward the end of this year or early next year The newest shop is expected to partner with a brunch restaurant serving American classics like French toast and waffles as well as Arab-style breakfasts like shakshuka – an egg-and-tomato dish with an array of spices It’s been important for the business partners to diversify and spread out and Eden Prairie has been an important piece of the puzzle “The EP community has really embraced us,” Hagi said “We didn’t know that there was really a need for something like this out here to this extent so we’re definitely proud to be out here The Eden Prairie community has been great.” Alyssa Brix has been named the new head coach of the Eden Prairie High School Dance Team the school’s Student Activities Office announced Tuesday who resigned this winter after coaching the program for the past three seasons “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Coach Brix,” said Eden Prairie Activities Director Joe Perkl in the announcement combined with her ability to create and model high-level choreography makes her a standout addition to our dance program Her natural leadership will inspire and ignite our dancers to reach new heights.” began dancing competitively through the St Cloud School of Dance and was a four-year member and senior captain of the Sartell Sabre Dance Team she helped earn two state high kick titles and contributed to the growth of the program’s jazz division She went on to dance at the University of St where she competed in both hip hop and jazz at the national level motivate her to provide similar opportunities to her athletes “Humbled is a word that comes to mind when thinking about becoming head coach of this program,” Brix said in the release “I am elated and honored to have been chosen and will give the Eden Prairie families my best every day Brix previously served as an assistant coach for Eden Prairie’s varsity team for two seasons and has also led workshops and private lessons for young dancers she works as a certified public accountant at Medtronic and enjoys spending time outdoors with her rescue dog An open house for fifth- through 11th-grade dance families to meet Brix and the fall Eden Prairie Performance Team coaches will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m Eden Prairie High School boys hockey coach Mike Terwilliger has stepped down after three seasons ending a tenure that saw the Eagles post a 47-29-5 record and two consecutive 17-win campaigns previously served as head coach at Bloomington Jefferson and was an assistant at both Eden Prairie and Edina Lawrence University before returning to Minnesota to coach “I sincerely thank Coach Terwilliger for his dedication and effort in leading this program for the past three years as our head coach and am grateful for all he’s brought to this program,” said Joe Perkl Eden Prairie’s director of student activities “Our focus now is on finding the next great leader for this program and we will be asking our athletes and parents to give input on the skills and attributes they hope for in our next head coach.” is a fourth-grade teacher at Cedar Ridge Elementary in Eden Prairie the Flying Red Horse is back in the saddle over Eden Prairie a subcontractor installed the 12.1-foot-tall 16-foot-wide Flying Red Horse sign – now a de facto monument – at Flying Cloud Drive and Town Center Place just north of where it once stood atop the Wye Café and Mobil gas station mounted on a base inscribed with “Eden Prairie Town Center,” marks its new role as a community landmark the glowing horse wasn’t just an advertisement Pilots flying into Flying Cloud Airport used it as a beacon and travelers from greater Minnesota knew they were approaching the Twin Cities when they spotted it Drivers on Highway 212 saw it as a familiar marker of Eden Prairie But the moment she started talking about what the sign meant “There’s something about this … you don’t even know how to feel,” she said the Schwartz family was tied to the Mobil station beneath the Flying Red Horse arrived at the intersection in 1933 and took over managing the station after the death of founder W He later co-owned the business under The W remained involved in the business until his death in 1997 at age 83 ran the station for decades before the family sold it in 2008 and she remained devoted to it for decades A pillar of both the business and the community She passed away in February 2018 at age 99 “She meant so much to the community,” Schwartz said this sign will kind of do the same thing.” Schwartz grew up at the station – stocking shelves as a child and eventually managing it in its later years she knew how to change oil before she even learned to drive People passing through knew they were halfway to Mankato from the Twin Cities my grandma and grandpa actually met at the Wye Café That’s why I say love is part of this,” Schwartz said The city declared the Flying Red Horse a landmark in 1977 When the Mobil station closed in early 2008 the site at 8061 Flying Cloud Drive houses a Davanni’s restaurant adjacent to a Holiday Stationstore at 8051 Flying Cloud Drive The Schwartz family stored the sign in Farmington “I thought about selling it,” Schwartz admitted donated the sign to the city with the understanding that it would remain in Eden Prairie and brought it to the city,” Schwartz said of her pitch to the Eden Prairie City Council “They agreed and took it on as a project.” City leaders debated where to put it – Miller Park “They considered putting it near Miller Park because my grandfather was heavily involved in developing the baseball program in Eden Prairie in the 1930s and ‘40s,” Schwartz said so that location would have been a tribute to him But unless people read the story behind it they wouldn’t have known that connection.” The answer became clear when the Metropolitan Council returned a small piece of excess land at the northwest corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Town Center Place “It just checked all the boxes,” said Mayor Ron Case and it serves as a welcoming landmark for the LRT station.” Restoring a 90-year-old sign wasn’t simple president of the Eden Prairie Historical Society said the Mobil branding was covered to keep the sign historically intact without turning it into an ad while the lettering in the base is illuminated by LEDs “It’s the real Flying Red Horse,” Case said “It had been in storage for a long time and needed a lot of restoration but we’re very happy with how it turned out.” In June 2024, the Eden Prairie City Council approved the project awarding a $209,409 contract to Construction Results Corporation Funded through the city’s Capital Improvement Fund the restoration also received a state grant to cover interpretive signage The city said the project remained largely on budget with just a $1,200 change order for additional electrical work “It’s just great to see this project come to fruition,” Mayor Case said I hope most Eden Prairie residents appreciate that we have a rich heritage and history worth celebrating it’s grounding to connect with our past – it reminds us where we came from.” the sign’s return is about more than history “People would stop in and tell me stories about my grandfather Schwartz worked closely with designer Katie Qualey to create three interpretive panels that will stand alongside the monument preserving its place in the city’s history with Katie and Jill contributing most of the information plans to return for the city’s ribbon-cutting ceremony this spring when the panels and landscaping are complete “But I just want my grandparents and my dad to be proud.” Mayor Ron Case believes the restored landmark will connect generations—those who remember the sign and those seeing it for the first time people would say you knew you were in Eden Prairie when you saw the Flying Red Horse,” he said intergenerational piece for Eden Prairie,” she said “Longtime residents remember seeing the Flying Red Horse when they came into town it’ll be a great marker of our community.” The number of retail sellers of cannabis in Eden Prairie would be limited to five and each would need to be at least 1,000 feet from schools under an ordinance to be considered Tuesday Cannabis retailers would also need to be at least 200 feet apart Regulations are being considered by the city before the state begins licensing cannabis businesses within the next few months The recreational use of cannabis was legalized by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 Local governments have limited authority to regulate cannabis sales but state law allows “buffer zones” around retailers as one of the few permitted restrictions The City Council has discussed the regulations at several informal workshops but Tuesday’s agenda item marks the first formal action State law sets a minimum for the number of local cannabis retailers at one per 12,500 residents and Eden Prairie is poised to stick to its required minimum: five retail businesses Tuesday’s City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m in the council chambers at the Eden Prairie City Center Meetings are also broadcast live and recorded Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The fourth annual Eden Prairie ECO EXPO will take place from 10 a.m family-friendly event features a wide range of activities and attractions with eco-friendly vendors and booths Tim Conners, ECO EXPO event chair for Eden Prairie AM Rotary said its goal is to inspire residents of Eden Prairie and surrounding communities to live sustainably and contribute to their city’s sustainability goals “We are so excited to partner with our sponsors, and exhibitors to bring this inspiring, informative, and fun event to our community,” said Conners, who added that the focus of the event was motivated by Rotary International’s efforts to protect the environment. More information on their initiative can be found via this “Protecting the Environment” link event exhibitors will offer practical steps people can take that together can make a huge impact for the community and the world Students are may also talk with experts about eco-based internships and careers