A fight between neighbors over a basketball hoop reflects society’s failure to support children having fun When I first stumbled onto a story about a St. Louis Park dispute between neighbors over a basketball hoop, I thought it was a joke. Then I read the GoFundMe post by Lilly Moeding, who says her family allegedly has been harassed and even sued by a neighbor who wants to stop her kids … from playing basketball. “My name is Lilly Moeding, and I’m a mom to two boys, ages 9 and 12. Our boys love basketball — cheering for the Timberwolves, playing for the Minneapolis Lakers, and especially enjoying time together shooting hoops in our driveway,” the post says. “As soon as we were made aware, we worked with the city’s zoning board to relocate the hoop to an approved location. The neighbors appealed the zoning board’s decision, and later the city council’s decision as well. Both appeals were denied. Despite these clear decisions in our favor, the dispute has continued.” According to the post, the neighbors are lawyers who’ve forced the family into an expensive legal dispute. They’ve even filed a restraining order against the family because Moeding’s husband had to retrieve a basketball on their property. They’ve also filed a temporary injunction to prevent her kids from using the hoop over the summer. And they’ve initiated a lawsuit against the family and the city. While this is an extreme case of a specific neighbor allegedly launching an expensive legal battle over a basketball hoop, it also speaks to a larger community issue: Too many of us have become the adults we resented when we were kids. People over 35 — especially in the Midwest — love to tell war stories about their childhoods. We had a freedom our children no longer enjoy. Growing up in Milwaukee, I lived through hot summer days with a basketball, football or baseball in my hands. My neighbors didn’t have their yards fenced so we used their grass as our own football and baseball fields. To be honest, I hit more foul balls than home runs. I could never figure out the timing in baseball the way I did in other sports. One afternoon, I sliced a fastball and hit the side of my neighbor’s house. It wasn’t an unusual event. We hit a lot of baseballs into the side of his house. On that day, however, he stormed through the back door. He was furious. “Listen, kids!” he said. “You all are going to pound out every single dent you put in the side of this house this summer.” But he also never followed through. We kept playing back there and, from time to time, he’d give us sodas and snacks. Although he had a real gripe with us, he also understood we meant no harm. We just wanted to have fun and get out of the house. And that’s what those boys in St. Louis Park want, too. You think a kid knows anything about zoning laws or property disputes? Nah, they just want to play ball. It appears that some disgruntled neighbors aim to prevent that from happening, not just because of legal concerns but perhaps because they’ve forgotten about the joy they once had when they were that same age. I do not know how our children can trust us while they can also see our collective hypocrisy. We blame them for staying inside too often and living their lives through a phone, a tablet or a computer. They play video games for hours and seem less interested in exploring the neighborhood compared to my generation. They also post constantly on social media and live off YouTube videos and an occasional snack. Yet, a multitude of rec centers have closed. There are no arcades. There are only a handful of roller-skating rinks left, too. Couple of bowling alleys still remain, but they’re usually not within walking distance. And when our kids hit the mall, they’re met by security personnel and gates that restrict where they can go. And there are parks that have removed hoops to prevent them from gathering together and having all of that fun we once had, too. So what the hell do we expect them to do all summer? Sure, this is a lawsuit about a specific disagreement between a pair of neighbors in St. Louis Park. But it’s more than that. It’s an extension of our collective choice to prevent our kids from living free from the burdens of adulthood. I don’t know how it all happened, but over time, a bunch of us decided to act like the same folks who made us feel like we couldn’t do the things we wanted to do as kids. For all of us, it’s an ongoing fight to provide structure, discipline and stability for this generation while also encouraging and supporting their adventures. But there is another issue at play, both in the St. Louis Park dispute and in others like it: Too many of us have become boring adults. Let’s hope our children don’t follow our lead. Myron Medcalf is a local columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune and recipient of the 2022 Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for general column writing. Stage & Arts Children’s Theatre Company, Penumbra and Ragamala are among the companies grappling with the loss of funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was as alluringly confessional as Joni Mitchell but not as musically intriguing. As the titular character, Sally Wingert is by turns gentle and caustic in a show that shows God is the ultimate entertainer. The Florida Tech commit has a state-high 52 points in seven games for the Orioles. The spring sports season’s first week of warm weather is here, but that sunshine brings only a taste of St. Louis Park senior Ailish Fitzpatrick’s lacrosse future. She’s committed to join Florida Tech’s lacrosse program, an hour southeast of Orlando, this fall. But first she’s bringing plenty of heat for the Orioles (4-3), who are on the hunt for their first trip to state. With six games left in the regular season, the midfielder has a state-high 40 goals along with 12 assists. Last week, Fitzpatrick netted seven goals in a 14-7 victory over Waconia and nine goals in a 16-7 win over Breck — giving her enough goals to surpass her team-high total of 38 goals last year. “Ailish is the quarterback of our team and the most talented student-athlete I have ever had the privilege of coaching,” Orioles coach Kate Pearson said. “She worked really hard in the offseason to continue to improve her game and stick skills.” Fitzpatrick is also a state-level Nordic skier for St. Louis Park and picked up lacrosse five years ago, saying she loves the “pace of the game and how quick and crucial every moment on the field feels.” “Whether it’s in the locker room, during a tough game or in a moment where the team needs a spark, she’s the one everyone turns to,” Pearson said. The Storm senior is among the state’s best sprinters. Woods won the 100-meter dash and anchored Chanhassen‘s 4x100 relay team’s victory in the Hamline Elite Meet on April 25. He owns the state’s fastest time in the 100 at 10.61 seconds, breaking his own school record. The relay team also owns the state’s fastest time at 41.66 seconds. “Myles is such a unique and special athlete and person,” Chanhassen coach Nick Redman said. “He has such natural talent and a coachable, mild demeanor. Add this to his drive and unbelievable resilience and that is a recipe for what has proven to be a historic season.” A varsity catcher since seventh grade, the Roosevelt freshman went 10-for-11 at the plate in three games last week, scoring five runs and driving in another eight. In addition to her team-best .667 batting average, Lysne picked off three would-be base stealers. And when Lysne sent a home run sailing over the fence, she made sure to congratulate each player on the bases in front of her, Roosevelt coach Jacki Wincek said. “Her positive attitude and work ethic is a coach’s dream,” Wincek said. “She is the most humble person I have ever coached.” Campbell, a senior committed to Xavier University, entered the week as the second-ranked boys tennis player in the state after finishing last spring as the Class 2A, Section 6 singles champion. The Jaguars beat Minneapolis Washburn and Orono last week, with Campbell playing on the team’s top singles line — as he has done since eighth grade. “Bode is an exceptional athlete,” coach Tom McNutt said. “As a team captain, he has provided outstanding leadership, both through his actions and his words.” Before the senior and North Dakota commit won two meets last week, Cook was already ranked seventh in the state by the Minnesota Golf Association. At a Section 8 preview invitational, she shot a 76 to beat the next closest golfer by nine strokes. “She’s a natural leader who lifts up everyone around her with her kindness and compassion,” coach Ben Gunkelman said. “People genuinely enjoy being around her because she’s thoughtful, dependable and always willing to help.” The junior pitcher was key in the Panthers’ 2-0 victory over Rogers, the 2024 Class 4A state champion, allowing just two hits in seven innings while striking out four. That’s not rare for Xiong. In the same week, she picked up 14 strikeouts against Moorhead and eight against Monticello, totaling 19⅓ innings with zero runs allowed and 26 total strikeouts. “Ariel is a fantastic leader, a junior captain that leads by example,“ coach Chris Bangle said. “She also plays shortstop when not pitching and excels in the classroom.” At the Hamline Elite Meet, Leuer showed off his 1,600-meter speed, running a personal best and what’s now the fastest time in the event this season (4:12.71), according to MileSplit. “Jack has been a standout member of our team since he started in middle school,” coach Todd Trutna said. “Jack runs with a rare blend of speed and intuition, rising to the occasion in big moments. His success is a result of the miles, sweat and dedication he has put into the sport.” Nominate an athlete: Send an email with supporting information to preps@startribune.com. Include a photo and a link, if available, to video. Cassidy Hettesheimer is a high school sports reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune. High Schools Minnesota high school scores and results for all sports from around the state Owen Marsolek struck out 17 to lead the Hilltoppers to a 3-0 victory Monday at Siebert Field has a state-high 40 goals in seven games for St An 18-year-old Hopkins man has been charged in connection with a string of sexual assaults in St Jeremiah Sirellis Rice was charged Wednesday with two counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of fifth-degree assault Louis Park law enforcement responded to three separate reports of an assault on Cedar Lake Trail between Highway 100 and Cedar Lake Parkway RELATED: St. Louis Park police looking for info about man who reportedly ‘grabbed’ multiple people on walking trail A criminal complaint states that one of the victims told police she saw Rice almost every day on her runs and he was usually sitting on a bench under the footbridge grabbed her and groped her before she ran away Another victim reported being assaulted the same day grabbed her and assaulted her for about 10 seconds before she screamed and ran away A third victim reported that she was running on Cedar Lake Trail on Nov 12 when Rice came up behind her and “bear-hugged” her Court documents added that police had taken reports of similar assaults in the area between Oct in which the suspect matched Rice’s description one of the victims was running on Cedar Lake Trail again when she saw Rice riding an electric scooter She called law enforcement and Rice was arrested Rice admitted to assaulting one of the victims adding that he was “excited to hit [the] victim … and then get away.” Rice was in court on Wednesday for a first appearance He is due back in court on May 8 for an omnibus hearing 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 M&A Seminar on Preparing Your Company for Sale Presented by Maslon LLP and Northborne Partners Louis Park properties have a wide array of tenants including Steel Toe Brewing at 4838 35th St Louis Park industrial sites sell for $10 million will break ground this summer on The Dorian a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo after buying[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a major aero[...] Medical office buildings in the Twin Cities are in high demand as investors seek stable assets amid tariffs BioMADE has bought a Maple Grove site for $16.5M to build a $132M biomanufacturing facility backed by the DoD [...] Twin Cities apartment vacancies fall to 7.03% as rent rises and construction slows Wellington Management has purchased the air rights for a building in the Ventura Village neighborhood of Minne[...] Sign up for your daily digest of Minnesota News Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parkin[...] a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo af[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a [...] The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged despite political pressure from Pre[...] The Trump administration is swiftly remaking housing policy as the U.S Department of Housing and Ur[...] construction job openings dropped by 38,000 in March signaling slowing labor demand amid tarif[...] Trump's trade demands stretch beyond tariffs Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs is now an official city after a local vote Milwaukee Mitchell Airport will start a $95.2M international terminal project this summer after dela[...] Listen here analysis and commentary on Minnesota business We are the only independent daily newspaper dedicated to business reporting Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions An investigation is underway after a man was found dead during a house fire during the overnight hours in St crews were called to a home on the 7400 block of North Street at 11:53 p.m When police and firefighters went inside the home Officials haven’t said if the man died as a result of the fire or if he had died prior to when the fire started but did say “nothing immediately appeared suspicious.” His name and age haven’t been released The man’s death will be investigated by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office Officials add no one else was inside the home at the time of the fire and flames were extinguished after crews broke windows to spray water inside A city spokesperson couldn’t confirm if the home had working smoke detectors inside saying that will be part of the investigation done by the fire department and the Fire Marshal to protest recent federal immigration arrests of workers at the company.Regina Medina | MPR NewsGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories Louis Park aluminum finishing facility Wednesday night to protest recent federal immigration arrests at the company Seven people were arrested at HardCoat Inc. according to advocacy organizations working with the families of the people arrested Ryan Perez is the organizing director at COPAL He gave the crowd an account of the arrests which he said a company employee shared with him “She reported that there were vehicles on all sides and she even reported that she believed ICE agents had been on the roof,” Perez said “Then ICE entered and dragged out basically one employee at a time.”  MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all Employees said the company recently audited the staff’s immigration documents Employees received a notice two weeks before the raid of an I-9 audit which they shared with advocates and reporters The note told employees to prepare residency documents Perez said he’s familiar with the audit process “Usually what would happen is… employees who don’t have the right paperwork you would just terminate them,” Perez said to protest recent federal immigration arrests of workers at the company.Regina Medina | MPR NewsU.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests shortly after the audit The woman who worked at the company told Perez that the atmosphere was tense in the days after the audit leading up to the arrests Perez said additional HardCoat employees who were not arrested were fired including the woman who recounted the story of the arrests didn’t want to appear at the protest out of fear of further ICE enforcement Advocates and employees said they aren’t sure why ICE made arrests at HardCoat The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment The identities of the people arrested have not been released He read a statement from the nephew of a man who was arrested I had to go pick up his car from his workplace,” the person said “Driving home alone in his car felt very surreal When I opened up the glove compartment and saw his photos in there I felt like maybe I’ll never see him again.” Huynh urged businesses to do what they can to protect employees “I want businesses and workers to think really seriously about what is the protocol they have when ICE enters,” Huynh said Advocates noted other recent ICE arrests at workplaces in Rochester and Duluth. They said that’s caused anxiety for workers and customers. In the Twin Cities, Latino business owners say business has slowed since President Donald Trump’s inauguration amid worry about executive orders calling for tightened immigration enforcement Perez said this is the biggest ICE arrest he’s heard of in the Twin Cities area since Trump’s inauguration this is not good for immigrants and this is not good for the families impacted,” Perez said A woman and one of her adult children have been sentenced for their roles in one of the fights that caused St. Louis Park High School to cancel classes and extracurricular activities last year. but currently has a warrant out for his arrest Milon was convicted of one count of third-degree riot and another charge of fourth-degree assault motivated by bias She was ordered to spend 30 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring starting Feb with one year of probation as well as three days of community service to be served within 180 days for one count of third-degree riot She also had a fourth-degree assault motivated by bias charge dismissed As reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS last year, prosecutors alleged the three adults were targeting Somali students as they left school for the day on Jan claimed she was “jumped” by a group of Somali girls Video of the incident allegedly shows Milon yelling “I’ll fight any Somali that comes down those stairs,” a criminal complaint stated Officers who responded to the fight talked with four Somali students who said they were attacked One boy — who had suffered multiple cuts on his legs and wrist along with a swollen eye and nose — said he feared he was going to “black out” while the suspects assaulted him Surveillance video allegedly shows Jerome Smith throwing the boy to the ground before he stomps and kicks him and the mother and son grabbed him and threw him back down when he tried to get away Abreeha Smith is seen kicking him the second time he falls to the ground A girl told police Jerome Smith choked her with both hands for several seconds and when the victim tried to help another girl who had been knocked down When Nadia Mohamed thinks about her journey to becoming mayor of Saint Louis Park when Donald Trump was elected president for the first time after seeing the election results she propelled herself into political action and community organizing She also traces her journey ten years earlier when she started making monthly visits to Saint Louis Park City Hall to drop off her family’s rent check for subsidized housing “Somewhere inside me [today] is a 10-year-old girl who wanted her face on the wall of mayors,” she says She noticed that all of the city’s mayors were white Mohamed longed for a sense of belonging in her city She says part of her role as mayor is to inspire young residents who look like her where she “watched in real time as the students tried to compute how someone who looks like me could be the mayor.” One girl wearing a hijab told her that the two of them are probably cousins After four years serving on the Saint Louis Park City Council she is acutely aware of the systemic barriers that reinforce underrepresentation in elected office — starting with the steep cost of running a campaign Her city council campaign was financially draining “Most people in my network did not have the disposable income to make even a small contribution,” she says Mohamed was able to tap into new connections and resources Today she promotes mixed-income communities where “those in million-dollar homes live next to those in Section 8 housing.” Another financial barrier to holding elected office is the salary spending her 9-to-5 at a state agency doing child advocacy work She and parents and siblings rent their home in Saint Louis Park — an experience that sets her apart from former mayors and city council members Mohamed’s commitment to affordable housing was central in her city council campaign and remains at the top of her priority list as mayor with some [indicating that renters’ status means] they are not invested in the community,” she explains She is working to provide pathways for renters in her city Since her election to city council at age 23 Mohamed has developed much more confidence about her age “I used to worry about my age and play it down,” she says She says that most Saint Louis Park residents are excited to see someone young in the mayor’s office She’s also found power in sharing openly about not knowing something pushing back on the expectation that “women in public office must reach for total perfection.” One point of Mohamed’s identity that has not wavered is her faith The national attention in the wake of her election — as the first Somali mayor in the United States and the first Muslim mayor of Saint Louis Park — has died down but the questions about her relationship to Jewish constituents persist these questions overlook the complexity and diversity of her city and they often think of the history of the Jewish people here,” she says indicating that growing Thai and Somali communities are changing the city’s demographics Mohamed says she builds trust with all residents in a simple straightforward way: “I just show up with my values And I do what I can to provide the things that residents need.” The accomplishment she is most proud of so far is powerful but simple: she passed her first budget for 2025 “I’ve been reiterating and reaffirming that I am for Saint Louis Park If you appreciate our unique coverage focused on the power of Minnesota women: Our 2025 Minnesota Newspaper Awards Winner of three photography and two writing state media awards in 2024 including  coverage about housing and mental health we also won two national awards related to our gender-based violence coverage Minnesota Women’s Press has been sharing the authentic voice and powerful vision of women since 1985, as one of the longest running feminist platforms (print and digital) in the U.S. Please donate to support our story sharing and free distribution to hundreds of locations. Kam Talebi is the restauranteur behind CRAVE, UNION, and The Butcher’s Tale, and I confess to being skeptical about Boketto, saying the marketing around it “sounds like a pile of nonsense” in one of my recent email newsletters The website describes the experience as “transcendent” (transcendent!) “where “upscale & intimate combine with trendy vibrant” and “Boketto is more than a restaurant; it’s the daydream Talebi told me he was inspired by the Mediter-Asian steakhouses he sees all over south Florida It’s all the Mediterranean/Asian flavors—think sushi Beats me—this was a private event with tastes of all sorts of things on the menu But if they can execute during a busy dinner service like they did during a full-house event Edamame swimming in almost a broth of fish sauce and fried capers had a great silky texture The Boketto Salad featured beautiful warm tofu and lots of tomatoes and cucumbers—in a sesame dressing Lots of tableside touches (this is a growing trend right now—they’ve added some tableside flourishes at Mara in Four Seasons Minneapolis including a tableside Salt Baked Branzino) I suspect you’ll see a lot of the Signature Boketto Roll—which is toro fatty tuna wrapped in nori and sushi rice while the cocktailer explained what he was doing: 3/4 ounce of a vodka/gin mix; 3/4 ounce of vodka; now I’ve got this gun For $30—but you’re doing it for the ‘gram or TikTok We were quite impressed by the Chilean Sea Bass—perfectly cooked (silky just a touch past rare) with a ginger coconut sauce ($44) I also really enjoyed the grilled Colorado Lamb Chops ($59) Nice bright chimichurri with pickled pomegranates—lamb can sometimes be tough but this was incredibly tender and flavorful although it reminds more more of a Porzana-style steakhouse The steak menu is separated into Angus Beef Prime Prices are in line with other top-end steakhouses today: 16-ounce ribeye ($65) or an 8-ounce filet ($55) I love that you can get an ounce of luscious Japanese A5 Wagyu—it’s priced by the ounce I found the vibe to be fun—the DJ gives more of a lounge feel than a club Boketto clears out the dinner tables and creates a dance floor and if you look at Boketto’s Instagram feed Are the beautiful people looking for a spot next to CRAVE and the movie theaters Los Angeles—now feels like the time when so many people are choosing to spend less time in the urban core to experiment with this feel in the ‘burbs Boketto, 1607 West End Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-204-3171, bokettorestaurant.com Computers and their parts are among the major imports the U.S said that he spent tens of thousands of dollars on laptops and computer parts months ago to try to avoid tariffs on the items His shop sells computers and does computer repairs with 95% of the items at the store coming from China Aleshire says that he hopes President Trump’s possible easing of tariffs will restore customer confidence he says that sales at Twice Computers are down about 30% even though he hasn’t raised prices due to his stockpile My business has been slowed because people don’t want to open up their wallets because of fear of economic uncertainty They don’t know what the prices are going to be they don’t know if they’re going to have a job Some of my customers are federal government employees,” said Aleshire and so far the Wisconsin-based department store has not been renewed a 60-year-old major outdoor retail center in St and its listing contained a surprise: It may be losing its Kohl’s The Kohl’s currently occupies 48,000 square feet of space But the listing by commercial brokerage CBRE shows that space vacant a CBRE executive vice president based in Chicago said the department store’s lease on the property is ending next year and the department-store chain has not at this time renewed the lease “Because they don’t have a contractual right for the space after the lease matures or Kohl’s could negotiate to stay,” Williams said A Kohl’s spokesperson declined to comment on the company’s Knollwood plans Wis.,-based Kohl’s announced it would close 27 “underperforming stores” of its 1,150 locations None of the targeted stores were in Minnesota Other big-box retailers have expressed interest in the Kohl’s location ”It’s a number of big-box users that are not currently in that area," he said bought Knollwood in 2015 (then under the name Heitman Capital Management) for about $107 million Hennepin County assessed Knollwood’s 2024 value at about $53 million Williams said the sale price would likely be “somewhere in between.” The potential Kohl’s closure is not what motivated the Knollwood sale it’s being sold because of a change in a broader real-estate investment strategy for a municipal employees’ pension fund that Heitman manages The center sits on about 40 acres, the listing said. Karen Barton, St. Louis Park’s community development director, said she’s confident that Knollwood would continue to perform well, with or without Kohl’s. “Knollwood is a hugely successful shopping center in St. Louis Park and it draws from a wide market area,” Barton said. “Even if Kohl’s is deciding to shutter that store and move out ... I have no doubt that there will be a lineup of interested parties moving into that space.” Knollwood has a history of repositioning itself to the times, she said. The center was built in 1955. One of the earliest Target stores opened in 1962 about one-third of a mile to the west. Their parking lots are connected. “Knollwood has got a lot of history and a lot of people have great memories,” Barton said. Katy Read writes for the Minnesota Star Tribune's Inspired section. She previously covered Carver County and western Hennepin County as well as aging, workplace issues and other topics since she began at the paper in 2011. Minneapolis Hennepin County is highlighting salvage businesses in May to encourage residents to reuse construction materials and limit what gets sent to landfills This season is often the most competitive for prospective homebuyers and most lucrative for sellers Here’s how to beat the opposition without busting your budget one of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy companies A network of immigration advocacy groups reported that three of the seven detained have been identified Seven workers were detained after agents from U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday morning raided a manufacturing facility in St according to a network of immigrant advocacy groups Those detained worked at HardCoat Inc. Louis Park company that produces anodized aluminum parts for the medical Messages left with ICE, HardCoat and the Immigrant Defense Network for additional information were not immediately returned Thursday. Elliot Hughes is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. News & Politics Minnesota’s kindergartners have been below the recommended 95% threshold for years and more parents are getting exemptions for the MMR vaccine Where are children most vulnerable to infectious spread Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula prompting criticism from the teachers union As part of our commitment to expanding high school sports coverage we are livestreaming prep basketball and hockey games from some of the best Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota teams this season Click here an hour before the game begins to see the livestream feed on startribune.com/live To watch the Class 4A, Section 6 boys basketball semifinal featuring Edina vs. Wayzata at 7 p.m., visit startribune.com/live2 The section championship game on March 11 will be livestreamed exclusively on startribune.com/live Upcoming livestreams: To watch these livestreams, visit startribune.com/live on the scheduled game date A full replay from this game will be available on startribune.com/preps shortly after the event ends. Previous livestreams: To watch a replay, tap a game from the list below. and Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon speak during the iftar dinner at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St The two mayors wanted to bring together community members for the breaking of the daily Ramadan fast with a meal called iftar in an effort to build community and celebrate diversity “We have to have each other’s back!” said Mayor Harmon.Tom Baker for MPR NewsGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories a young Somali man stands at a podium and recites the “athan,” the Islamic call to prayer the meal Muslims around the world share to break their fast at sunset during Ramadan — the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the holy month in which Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Quran The gathering on Friday was hosted by the mayors of Golden Valley and St Louis Park at the Westwood Hills Nature Center in St Ilhan Omar and other state and city leaders speaks during the iftar dinner at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St on Friday.Tom Baker for MPR NewsDates and water were placed at each table which Muslims traditionally eat first to break their fast Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed said this iftar gathering was meant to foster understanding during a divisive time Fullscreen SlideshowPrevious Slide8 of 8.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}A man opens a package of dates Dates and water are traditionally eaten when breaking fast during Ramadan.Tom Baker for MPR News1 of 8.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}People arrive at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St for the First Annual Iftar Dinner hosted by St Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed and Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon on Friday.Tom Baker for MPR News2 of 8.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}Lt Peggy Flanagan speaks at the iftar dinner.Tom Baker for MPR NewsNext SlideMohamed is the city’s first Somali and Muslim mayor and though she has hosted Ramadan iftar gatherings in the past this year’s gathering is her first as mayor “There’s hurt and harm everywhere,” Mohamed said “And I really wanted to build community bonding around my residents It’s the first iftar gathering for Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon She highlighted the significance of sharing a meal together and echoed the importance of it during a “challenging political climate.” Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed speaks during the iftar dinner at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St on Friday.Tom Baker for MPR News“We have to come together A long line formed around the room as people waited to fill their plates from a buffet Among them was Minnetonka Mayor Brad Wiersum who was invited to the iftar and said he gained a deeper understanding about Ramadan and its significance the spiritual aspect of life draws us closer together and I think that's important for building community,” Wiersum said Mohamed said the iftar is one of many to be held in the future Watch only on startribune.com: Augustana commit Eva Taybior leads the Orioles against the Eagles and Emily Spencer the program’s all-time leader in home runs we are livestreaming prep softball and baseball games from some of the best Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota teams this season Upcoming livestreams: To watch these livestreams, visit startribune.com/live on the scheduled game date A full replay from this game will be available on this page shortly after the event ends For results from this game and others played across the state, visit the MN Softball Hub — the premier online source for Minnesota high school softball scores, schedules, stats, rankings, recruiting news, livestreams, video highlights and more. The Oklahoma smash burger has entered the chat Onions fried in the juices of a smash burger Get to know it—you’re going to love it at the new Wells Roadside I popped in Saturday night when the Craft & Crew team was doing a soft opening for the neighborhood near Highway 7 in St a neighborhood that’s been irritated with the traffic from the old Galaxy Drive-In then the blight of a shuttered restaurant when that closed down C&C dropped invitations at the doors of nearby residents Good friends of ours live in the neighborhood and they were absolutely stoked to have Wells Roadside open year-round (Hi The menu is simple and affordable: $6 smash burger Choose a traditional (Wells) smash burger or the aforementioned fried onion Oklahoma smash burger great beefy flavor (25% American Wagyu in the blend) with a nice sweetness from the onions fried in the juices of the burger Add a small bag of fries for $3 (enough for two to share)—they’re hand-cut freshly in the kitchen which is sliced in half and also smashed on that griddle ($11) There’s also a sneaky delicious smashed breakfast sandwich with Jimmy Dean sausage they just turn it inside out and toast it—so it gives sort of an English muffin vibe ($6) A salad and a salad with salmon round out the menu There’s a custom IPA from neighbor Steel Toe Brewing (reminds me of one of my favorite beers in the state and four tapped cocktails from the team at Earl Giles The cocktails are fun—root beer old fashioned and a cherry cola smash so the total process with adding cheese and spatula-ing the beef onto buns is under two minutes They’ll do a ton of takeout here for the neighborhood which will have the ability to be closed in with overhead heaters for the winter In the style of all the Craft & Crew Restaurants (The Howe Wells Roadside will be open from 10:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Benowitz and Derheim would love to open more of them Wells Roadside, 3712 Quebec Ave. S., St. Louis Park, wellsroadside.com The Labor Day crash into the crowded Park Tavern patio in St Louis Park last year could prompt tougher DWI laws aimed at repeat offenders “His horrific decision has left a gaping hole in our community He’s the author of a House bill that would double the amount of time a repeat offender has to use ignition interlock devices An interlock is a type of breathalyzer installed onto a car which requires the driver to blow a 0.0 on a breathalyzer before the car is started “The bill itself will lengthen the required time to use the interlock for all repeat offenders,” says Sen The two lawmakers held a news conference at Park Tavern Friday afternoon to announce details of their bills there’s a complicated formula for repeat offenders who’ve had one to three offenses that can require one to four years of having to use an ignition interlock There would be requirements of six years of ignition interlock for two offenses and 10 years for anyone with three or more offenses “Nobody in the restaurant bar industry wants these people on the road had five previous DWIs in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin He is charged with two counts of third-degree murder as well as two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and nine counts of criminal vehicular operation Bailey is currently in a residential treatment facility for alcohol addiction after posting on a $500,000 conditional bail. He has pleaded not guilty and a jury trial is scheduled to begin on May 12 Prosecutors say his blood-alcohol level was 0.325%, four times the legal limit of 0.08% RELATED: Community remembers victims killed when man drove into Park Tavern patio I Park Tavern victims: How to help them and their families The crash killed Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey and Park Tavern Employee Kristina Folkerts including other employees of nearby Methodist Hospital Park Tavern has often provided meals to health care workers at Methodist since the COVID pandemic “We appreciate the work that has gone into this bill in the hopes that others will be spared from the tragedy and the grief that impacted our Methodist colleagues,” said Methodist Hospital President Jennifer Myster ”Gabe and his family and loved ones and Kristina The bills will get hearings in the House and Senate in the next couple of weeks RELATED: ‘Without regard for human life’: Prosecutors add murder charges against driver in deadly Park Tavern crash The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office dismissed a Dec. 30 vehicular homicide case last week due to the defendant’s death The attorney’s office dismissed charges against Jeremy Ryan Sherman who was accused of striking two pedestrians and killing one while driving high on cocaine in St Louis Park a day before New Year’s Eve A witness told police Sherman’s vehicle was “traveling very fast” and made no attempt to slow down or stop after striking the two pedestrians Moriarty dismissed the case a day after the court issued a warrant for Sherman’s arrest with bail posted at $300,000. Sherman allegedly violated a condition of his release relating to random substance testing, according to court documents The filing to dismiss Sherman’s case did not specify how he died Sherman hit Manes Thach, 51, and her 60-year-old coworker while the two were crossing the street from their Japs-Olson workplace to a parking lot Thach was pronounced dead at the scene and her coworker was severely injured Thach’s daughter, Jenny, said her mother immigrated from Vietnam in 1991 and worked for Japs-Olson for over 25 years Thach was killed the day before her 52nd birthday Louis Park police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who allegedly grabbed several people on the North Cedar Lake Regional Trail between Oct Law enforcement states that at least five women have reported incidents where the suspect described as a Black man around 5’7″ with a thin build ranging in age from late teens to early 20s approached them on an electric scooter and either tried to or did grab them over the clothing The incidents have taken place on the trail from the Dakota Park area in St Louis Park to the Cedar Lake area in Minneapolis If you’ve been a victim of one of these incidents or have information about the suspect Louis Park police at 952-924-2165 or email info@stlouisparkmn.gov As part of the Star Tribune's commitment to expanding high school sports coverage, it will be livestreaming high school basketball and hockey games from across the state for the remainder of the winter sports season on startribune.com Keep an eye out for our Star Tribune Games of the Week Click here an hour before tonight’s game begins to see the livestream feed The Star Tribune is partnering with Neighborhood Sports Network TV to bring you games from some of the best Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota teams this season Upcoming livestreams: To watch these livestreams, visit startribune.com/nspn on the scheduled game date A full replay from today’s Game of the Week can be found on this article page and will be available shortly after the end of the event The organization formerly known as Discover St. Louis Park has given itself a new identity that is designed to more clearly define the inner-ring suburbs that sit just west of Minneapolis along I-394 Louis Park also assumed responsibility for marketing Golden Valley in 2017 and is now renaming itself as "Westopolis" to reflect the area's "energy and cosmopolitan spirit" while emphasizing its proximity to Minneapolis and accessibility to the metro region Louis Park and Golden Valley will retain their actual city names Westopolis will be used to market the area's various cultural "Westopolis perfectly represents the vibrancy of our community and its proximity to downtown Minneapolis," Becky Bakken, President and CEO of Westopolis, said in a press release. "This name change is more than just a new identity; it's a powerful statement about our destination's strategic location and compelling offerings." According to the organization, extensive research and collaboration with community stakeholders, including input from both St. Louis Park and Golden Valley, went into the name change.  "We're excited to introduce Westopolis as a destination with a wealth of experiences," Bakken said. "With its thriving arts scene, diverse culinary experiences, and abundant outdoor adventures, Westopolis offers visitors a memorable getaway." a screening of the movie Sight and Sound says is the best movie ever made saying he'd killed the mother of his child JLL Capital Markets facilitates multifamily refinance loan in Minneapolis suburb Your browser doesn't support speech synthesis MINNEAPOLIS, Mar. 3, 2025 –  JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has secured a $42.9 million bridge loan refinancing to takeout the construction loan for Risor of St 55+ apartment community completed in November 2023 in St The community is situated in one of the most affluent suburbs in the metro with an average household income of $150,191 Its location appeals to active adults aged 55 and up seeking high-quality suburban living with connections to major employers Paul metro area continues to be a thriving region with a strong economy highly educated workforce and exceptional quality of life has seen significant growth and development in recent years a six-story residential complex built in 2023 offers a contemporary living experience featuring 170 units including 18 affordable apartment units for income-restricted renters all designed with high-end finishes including white cabinetry pickleball court and a top-floor sky lounge and sky deck JLL Capital Market’s Debt Advisory team representing the borrower was led by Managing Director Scott Loving Vice President Gary Marchiori and Associate William Hintz "The successful arrangement of bridge financing for Risor of St Louis Park demonstrates the continued strength of the Twin Cities multifamily market particularly in the growing 55+ segment," said Loving Louis Park and its high-quality amenities make it an attractive investment opportunity in today's market." JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients — whether investment sales and advisory The firm has more than 3,000 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL’s newsroom Roers Companies is a national multifamily real estate firm powered by in-house development the company’s development portfolio includes more than 14,000 apartments nationwide insights and opportunities from global commercial real estate markets straight to your inbox Louis Park soar to a 90-67 win over Park Center at the Breakdown Big Stage Classic combined for 59 points in the commanding win Micah Curtis scored a game-high 32 points and his brother Marley added 27 by Micah Curtis’s strong 15 points battling through contact around the rim Louis Park blew the Pirates away in the second half outscoring them 55-35 in the final 18 minutes Xavier Frelix left his mark on the game for the Pirates with 20 points to lead Park Center The Curtis crew continued to dominate and have Arsenio Richardson’s St The Orioles are undefeated heading into two big tests in No A woman is dead and a man is recovering after a pedestrian-involved crash Monday evening in St Police responded to reports of a vehicle crash involving multiple pedestrians around 6 p.m Court documents state that officers arrived on scene and found two people lying unconscious in the street A 51-year-old woman was pronounced dead on scene and a 60-year-old man was brought to the hospital where he is receiving medical care for serious injuries Officers spoke with witnesses and learned that the two pedestrians were crossing the street in the crosswalk when a vehicle driven by Jeremy Ryan Sherman A witness told authorities Sherman’s vehicle was “traveling very fast” and didn’t appear to slow down or brake before hitting the pedestrians officers on the scene smelt a strong odor of alcohol coming from Sherman’s breath but he denied drinking any alcohol and said he had just gotten off of work Sherman agreed to a field sobriety test but was said he was “freaking out right now just hit two people with my car.” He also refused to provide a breath test and was placed under arrest by police Sherman was charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol and one count of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday A spokesperson for commercial printing company Japs-Olson confirmed the people who were hit were employees She declined to go on camera on Tuesday but said it’s been an incredibly tough day for all who work here Several flower bouquets were laid near the crosswalk where it happened The spokesperson released the following statement via email: “We are devastated by the tragic incident involving members of our JO team Our thoughts are with those directly affected and our entire JO community during this difficult time Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and to allow for the appropriate investigations to take place we are unable to provide any further comment at this time.” Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information to call St Watch only on startribune.com: The top-seeded Royals face the upset-minded Orioles in the Class 4A Come back to this article page an hour before the game begins to see the livestream feed To watch the Class 4A, Section 6 boys basketball semifinal featuring Edina vs. Wayzata at 7 p.m., visit startribune.com/live2 The section championship game on March 11 will be livestreamed exclusively on startribune.com/live Upcoming livestreams: To watch these livestreams visit startribune.com/live on the scheduled game date For results from this game and others played across the state, visit the MN Boys Basketball Hub — the premier online source for Minnesota high school boys basketball scores, schedules, stats, rankings, recruiting news, livestreams, video highlights and more.