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Mall of America Previews Artistry's 'In the Heights' at the Artful Arches
Updated 22h ago

Mall of America Previews Artistry's 'In the Heights' at the Artful Arches

A new listing on Mall of America's events calendar pairs the mall's colorful Artful Arches art installation with a sneak peek at Artistry's upcoming production of "In the Heights."

Dance into the Night Brings Free Pop-Up Shows to Mall of America
Updated 22h ago

Dance into the Night Brings Free Pop-Up Shows to Mall of America

Live dancers take over the south entrance of Nickelodeon Universe on Friday and Saturday nights through mid-August, closing out the mall's evenings with a free show.

L'Occitane's 'Taste of Provence' Pops Up on MOA's Event Calendar — Details Still Thin
Updated 22h ago

L'Occitane's 'Taste of Provence' Pops Up on MOA's Event Calendar — Details Still Thin

Mall of America has added L'Occitane's Taste of Provence to its events calendar, but the retailer hasn't published a date, time or price yet.

Capital One Café Adds a Kaleidoscope Photo Booth at Mall of America
Updated 22h ago

Capital One Café Adds a Kaleidoscope Photo Booth at Mall of America

A new pop-up called the Capital One Café Kaleidoscope Photo Booth has landed on Mall of America's events calendar, though the mall hasn't published dates or a price tag yet.

Chanel's 'Bleu de Chanel Discovery' Lands on Mall of America's Event Calendar
Updated 22h ago

Chanel's 'Bleu de Chanel Discovery' Lands on Mall of America's Event Calendar

A scent-consultation event tied to Chanel's men's fragrance line is now listed on Mall of America's calendar, hosted at the mall's Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutique.

Four DFL Candidates, No Incumbent: Senate District 50 Primary Set for Aug. 11
Updated 23h ago

Four DFL Candidates, No Incumbent: Senate District 50 Primary Set for Aug. 11

With Sen. Alice Mann stepping aside, four DFL candidates — a journalist, a healthcare organizer, a longtime school board member and a retired firefighter — are asking western Bloomington and Edina voters to send them to the general election.

On the One Music Festival Brings Grammy-Nominated Headliner to South Loop Aug. 8
Updated 1d ago

On the One Music Festival Brings Grammy-Nominated Headliner to South Loop Aug. 8

Bloomington's free R&B and soul festival turns 5 this Saturday with its first-ever national headliner, Carl Thomas, at Central Station Park.

Bloomington Plants New Tree Species, Restores Oak Savanna Along Nine Mile Creek
Updated 1d ago

Bloomington Plants New Tree Species, Restores Oak Savanna Along Nine Mile Creek

Public works crews added three southern-adapted tree species downtown this spring, while parks staff are clearing invasive growth along Nine Mile Creek to bring back one of Minnesota's rarest ecosystems.

Bloomington Spells Out the Rules Before Yard Signs Start Sprouting
Updated 1d ago

Bloomington Spells Out the Rules Before Yard Signs Start Sprouting

With the state primary a few days off on August 11, the city laid out what's actually legal when it comes to lawn signs, garage sale placards, and the campaign signs about to line every corner.

Bloomington Parks & Rec Wants You Off the Couch All Year, Not Just Summer
Updated 1d ago

Bloomington Parks & Rec Wants You Off the Couch All Year, Not Just Summer

The city's parks department is pointing residents toward its full lineup of skating lessons, trails, naturalist programs and adult sports leagues — a reminder that staying active in Bloomington doesn't stop when the pools close.

Bloomington Residents Have Until Aug. 31 to Book a Free Home Energy Checkup
Updated 1d ago

Bloomington Residents Have Until Aug. 31 to Book a Free Home Energy Checkup

The city's Sustainability Department is covering the cost of a Home Energy Squad visit — normally $70 to $100 — for residents who schedule one before the end of the month.

Kouba Gallery Open House Puts the Mississippi's Urban Stretch on Display Aug. 9
Updated 1d ago

Kouba Gallery Open House Puts the Mississippi's Urban Stretch on Display Aug. 9

The Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League opens its monthly gallery hours to show off David Wheaton's photography of the Mississippi River as it cuts through downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Cedar Valley Church Grills Free Lunch at Cedarcrest Park Every Thursday This Summer
Updated 1d ago

Cedar Valley Church Grills Free Lunch at Cedarcrest Park Every Thursday This Summer

For a fifth straight summer, volunteers from Cedar Valley Church are hauling grills to Cedarcrest Park each Thursday to serve free hot dogs to anyone who shows up.

Bloomington Gymnastics Club Slashes Trash by 75% With Bin Overhaul
Updated 1d ago

Bloomington Gymnastics Club Slashes Trash by 75% With Bin Overhaul

Rebels Gymnastics swapped confusing trash cans for color-coded, clearly labeled bins and added organics recycling — and cut what it sends to the landfill by three-quarters.

City Names Nine Mile Creek Watershed District an Earth Action Hero
Updated 1d ago

City Names Nine Mile Creek Watershed District an Earth Action Hero

Bloomington singled out the watershed district for its decades of work on flood control, water quality and creek restoration — including a $1 million streambank overhaul now underway.

New Six-Week Workshop at The Works Museum Invites Bloomington Artists to Cross Disciplines
Updated 1d ago

New Six-Week Workshop at The Works Museum Invites Bloomington Artists to Cross Disciplines

"One Thousand and One Thresholds" pairs writers, dancers, musicians and visual artists for six Tuesday nights this fall, led by Bloomington artist Rupa Shenoy-Thadhani.

Port Authority Wants Your Input on Bloomington's Next 20 Years of Economic Growth
Updated 1d ago

Port Authority Wants Your Input on Bloomington's Next 20 Years of Economic Growth

The Bloomington Port Authority is asking residents and business owners to help set the city's economic development priorities for the next two decades at a free forum this October.

Bloomington Lays New Sewer Line to Keep Up With Penn American Growth
Updated 1d ago

Bloomington Lays New Sewer Line to Keep Up With Penn American Growth

The city is building 13,330 feet of new sanitary sewer pipe under north central Bloomington, using a $4 million state bonding award to keep up with growth in the Penn American District.

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit Draws Nearly 300 to Bloomington
Updated 1d ago

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit Draws Nearly 300 to Bloomington

The first Bloomington edition of the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit brought together almost 300 business owners, partners and community leaders at the Masonic Heritage Center in June.

Council Rejects New Environmental Review, Clears Way for Nine Mile Creek Restoration
Updated 2d ago

Council Rejects New Environmental Review, Clears Way for Nine Mile Creek Restoration

After nearly two hours of public comment, the Bloomington City Council voted 5-1 to deny a resident petition demanding a fresh environmental study of the Nine Mile Creek project and awarded contracts to begin oak savanna restoration.

Mayor Proclaims Aug. 4 National Night Out as Bloomington Plans About 250 Block Parties
Updated 2d ago

Mayor Proclaims Aug. 4 National Night Out as Bloomington Plans About 250 Block Parties

The Mayor made it official at Monday's council meeting, and Police Chief Hargis is urging residents to walk down the block and join a neighborhood party tonight.

Bloomington Asks Residents to Cut Back on Water as Moderate Drought Sets In
Updated 2d ago

Bloomington Asks Residents to Cut Back on Water as Moderate Drought Sets In

The city says Bloomington is now in moderate drought and one of its drinking-water sources, the Mississippi Headwaters, is in severe drought — and it's asking residents to conserve before formal restrictions become necessary.

Mall of America Turns 34 With a Free Party in the Rotunda
Updated 2d ago

Mall of America Turns 34 With a Free Party in the Rotunda

The mall is marking its birthday on August 11 with free snacks, a DJ set and a SpongeBob meet-and-greet in the Huntington Bank Rotunda.

Mall of America Turns 34 With a Toddler-Sized Birthday Bash
Updated 2d ago

Mall of America Turns 34 With a Toddler-Sized Birthday Bash

PAW Patrol, cake and dino-themed crafts hit the Huntington Bank Rotunda August 11 as MOA marks its 34th anniversary with a free Toddler Tuesdays celebration.

From 100° to 1.53 Inches of Rain: Bloomington's Week of Extremes Cools Off
Updated 4d ago

From 100° to 1.53 Inches of Rain: Bloomington's Week of Extremes Cools Off

The week opened with a 100-degree scorcher and closed with a soaking storm — now the city gets a stretch of more reasonable summer weather, with just a chance of thunder to break it up.

Street Dance Battle Takes Over the Mall of America Rotunda Aug. 8
Updated 5d ago

Street Dance Battle Takes Over the Mall of America Rotunda Aug. 8

Cypher Rotunda, billed as the largest street dance battle in Minnesota, brings breaking, popping and krumping crews into the Huntington Bank Rotunda for a full afternoon of competition.

Boot Barn at Mall of America Throws Grand Reopening Party Aug. 7-9
Updated 6d ago

Boot Barn at Mall of America Throws Grand Reopening Party Aug. 7-9

The western wear retailer is marking a renovation with three days of live country music, giveaways and deals.

120 High School Robotics Teams Descend on Mall of America in August
Updated 7d ago

120 High School Robotics Teams Descend on Mall of America in August

The University of North Dakota's College of Engineering and Mines is bringing its VEX Robotics Signature Event back to the MOA atrium — free to watch, three days of matches, and a shot at Worlds.

MNSE Golden Ticket Raffle Lands at Mall of America This Fall
Updated 7d ago

MNSE Golden Ticket Raffle Lands at Mall of America This Fall

Minnesota Sports and Events is running a booth at Mall of America where visitors can enter to win pairs of tickets to more than 50 Minnesota sporting events next season.

Lakeville Teen Robbed at Gunpoint During Video Game Sale Meetup in Bloomington
Updated 7d ago

Lakeville Teen Robbed at Gunpoint During Video Game Sale Meetup in Bloomington

A 17-year-old showed up to buy a video game console off Instagram and instead ran into four masked men with guns.

A Sun Current Column Says Bloomington's Neighborhoods Need More Protection From Development
Updated 9d ago

A Sun Current Column Says Bloomington's Neighborhoods Need More Protection From Development

Longtime East Bloomington resident Pam Pommer says a wave of teardowns and rezonings — including a 33-unit townhouse project set for a City Council vote on August 3 — shows the city isn't doing enough to shield existing neighborhoods.

Bloomington Spa Company Employee Accused of Writing $767K in Checks to Herself
Updated 9d ago

Bloomington Spa Company Employee Accused of Writing $767K in Checks to Herself

Keo Xiong is accused of writing more than 100 checks to herself on the Bloomington spa maker's account, forging her boss's signature to cover it and using the money to fund casino trips.

SEA LIFE at Mall of America Offers Teachers Free Admission All August
Updated 9d ago

SEA LIFE at Mall of America Offers Teachers Free Admission All August

Bring an ID badge or pay stub and get in free — plus a discount for up to six guests you drag along.

Next Stretch of Riverside Trail Needs a Council Vote Over Wetland Tradeoff
Updated 9d ago

Next Stretch of Riverside Trail Needs a Council Vote Over Wetland Tradeoff

The DNR's Phase Two extension of the Minnesota River Valley trail hinges on a wetland replacement plan that Bloomington's City Council still has to approve.

Extreme Heat Watch Upgraded to Warning as Bloomington Braces for Weekend Scorcher
Updated 10d ago

Extreme Heat Watch Upgraded to Warning as Bloomington Braces for Weekend Scorcher

The National Weather Service moved from watch to warning as dangerously hot, humid air settles over Bloomington through Sunday night — the latest in a summer that's already seen heat advisories stack up.

Kwik Trip Buys Land for Its First Bloomington Store, Off I-35W at 94th Street
Updated 10d ago

Kwik Trip Buys Land for Its First Bloomington Store, Off I-35W at 94th Street

Kwik Trip has purchased two commercial properties east of I-35W near 94th Street, with a 7,300-square-foot store, gas canopy and 31 parking stalls planned to open in 2027.

Bloomington Legion Team Rides Top-10 Ranking to Sub-State Battle, Ends Season 17-11
Updated 11d ago

Bloomington Legion Team Rides Top-10 Ranking to Sub-State Battle, Ends Season 17-11

Post 550 climbed into the top 10 of the state Legion poll, then went toe-to-toe with the eventual state qualifiers before its season ended in Minnetonka.

NWS Escalates to Extreme Heat Warning for Bloomington Through Monday
Updated 11d ago

NWS Escalates to Extreme Heat Warning for Bloomington Through Monday

The National Weather Service upgraded its heat watch to a full Extreme Heat Warning for the Bloomington area.

2,000 Ryans Descend on Mall of America to Ride the 'Ryan-Coaster'
Updated 11d ago

2,000 Ryans Descend on Mall of America to Ride the 'Ryan-Coaster'

An estimated 2,000 people named Ryan packed the Mall of America's rotunda Friday, renamed the coaster in their honor, and tried to set a Guinness World Record along the way.

West Old Shakopee Road Closing for a Week as Crews Rebuild Railroad Crossing
Updated 11d ago

West Old Shakopee Road Closing for a Week as Crews Rebuild Railroad Crossing

Hennepin County is shutting down a stretch of West Old Shakopee Road near Hampshire Avenue starting July 27 so crews can rebuild the railroad crossing.

Bloomington Startup's Bridge911 App Debuts With Robbinsdale Police
Updated 14d ago

Bloomington Startup's Bridge911 App Debuts With Robbinsdale Police

Guardian4D, a Bloomington public safety tech company co-founded by a former police officer, has its first live customer: Robbinsdale police just swapped their old tip line for the company's Bridge911 app.

Hatch Bloomington Loves Local Names Top 10 Businesses Vying for $100,000
Updated 14d ago

Hatch Bloomington Loves Local Names Top 10 Businesses Vying for $100,000

Ten established Bloomington businesses, from an auto body shop to a nutrition store, will pitch a judge panel next week for a share of the city's revamped small-business fund.

Two Republicans Vying for a Shot at Kelly Morrison in the 3rd District
Updated 15d ago

Two Republicans Vying for a Shot at Kelly Morrison in the 3rd District

Bloomington voters will help settle a Republican primary for the 3rd Congressional District on Aug. 11, with attorney Quentin Wittrock and small-business owner Tyler Bass on the ballot.

Penn Lake Library Hosts Health and Sustainability Fair Today
Updated 15d ago

Penn Lake Library Hosts Health and Sustainability Fair Today

Bloomington's Public Health, Solid Waste and Sustainability divisions set up shop at Penn Lake Library this afternoon with free compost bins, energy advice and health resources — one stop in a three-park summer series.

Oak Grove Presbyterian to Screen 'My Omaha' as Part of Racial Justice Film Series
Updated 15d ago

Oak Grove Presbyterian to Screen 'My Omaha' as Part of Racial Justice Film Series

Oak Grove Presbyterian Church hosts the documentary 'My Omaha' Thursday evening, the latest entry in its third annual Better Together Film Festival.

The World's Largest Bounce House Is Taking Over Mall of America's East Lot
Updated 15d ago

The World's Largest Bounce House Is Taking Over Mall of America's East Lot

The Big Bounce America pitches its 24,000-square-foot inflatable centerpiece in the mall's East Lot for two weekends this summer, July 25-26 and August 1-2.

Volunteers Build Soil This Weekend for Pond House Indigenous Arboretum
Updated 15d ago

Volunteers Build Soil This Weekend for Pond House Indigenous Arboretum

A soil rejuvenation workshop and prep session Sunday marks the next step toward an Indigenous arboretum and botanical garden taking shape at Pond-Dakota Mission Park.

Nine Candidates, One August Primary: A Voters Guide to U.S. House District 5
Updated 15d ago

Nine Candidates, One August Primary: A Voters Guide to U.S. House District 5

Ilhan Omar faces four DFL primary challengers and four Republicans are competing for their party's nomination, with an August 11 primary set to trim the field before November.

Port Authority Takes Stock of Programs Easing Sewer Fees for Small Businesses
Updated 15d ago

Port Authority Takes Stock of Programs Easing Sewer Fees for Small Businesses

Assistant Port Authority Administrator Barb Wolf briefed commissioners on two programs that help small businesses cover the sewer availability charge, a one-time fee that can run steep for new or growing operations.

Dick's House of Sport at Southtown Will Skip City Tax Break; Seagate Weighs a Second Bloomington Expansion
Updated 15d ago

Dick's House of Sport at Southtown Will Skip City Tax Break; Seagate Weighs a Second Bloomington Expansion

Port Authority staff told commissioners the Southtown redevelopment's first phase will move forward without tax increment financing, while Seagate is weighing a second local expansion against two competing sites.

Bloomington Council Backs Seagate Chip Plant Expansion, $5M State Loan
Updated 16d ago

Bloomington Council Backs Seagate Chip Plant Expansion, $5M State Loan

The city council approved an addition to Seagate's semiconductor plant and agreed to pass along a zero-interest state loan to help pay for it.

Bloomington Police: Woman Charged After Fake Cashier's Check Buys $9,500 Infiniti — and Maybe a Fleet of Cars
Updated 16d ago

Bloomington Police: Woman Charged After Fake Cashier's Check Buys $9,500 Infiniti — and Maybe a Fleet of Cars

A 25-year-old Minneapolis woman is facing theft by swindle and check forgery charges after police say she used a fraudulent cashier's check to drive off with a used Infiniti — and investigators think this wasn't her first car.

Port Authority Gives Mall of America Water Park Project Two More Years
Updated 16d ago

Port Authority Gives Mall of America Water Park Project Two More Years

Commissioners voted 4-2 to push back performance deadlines on the decade-old master redevelopment deal with MOA and Triple Five, citing pandemic-era delays to the long-planned water park.

Port Authority's Books Get a Clean Bill of Health for 2025
Updated 16d ago

Port Authority's Books Get a Clean Bill of Health for 2025

An outside auditor found no red flags in the Bloomington Port Authority's 2025 finances, with tax increment revenue up about $1.4 million even as investment income slipped on falling interest rates.

Bloomington's Emergency Grant Program Wraps: 25 of 195 Businesses Got Help After ICE Surge
Updated 16d ago

Bloomington's Emergency Grant Program Wraps: 25 of 195 Businesses Got Help After ICE Surge

The Port Authority's up-to-$400,000 emergency grant fund for businesses hit by Operation Metro Surge closed out having funded just 25 of 195 applicants, city staff reported.

Park-and-Fly, Park-and-Go Lots Get Green Light to Go Permanent for Up to 30 Years
Updated 16d ago

Park-and-Fly, Park-and-Go Lots Get Green Light to Go Permanent for Up to 30 Years

The City Council has converted the long-standing Park and Fly and Park and Go lots near the airport from temporary to permanent uses, ending decades of interim permits with a deal that still carves out land for future development.

Xcel Energy Crews Are Digging Up Utility Poles Around Bloomington — Here's Why
Updated 16d ago

Xcel Energy Crews Are Digging Up Utility Poles Around Bloomington — Here's Why

Contractors are hand-digging around wooden power poles across the city as part of Xcel Energy's routine statewide inspection program.

Bloomington Parks & Rec Takes Home Four State Awards of Excellence
Updated 16d ago

Bloomington Parks & Rec Takes Home Four State Awards of Excellence

The Minnesota Recreation and Park Association honored Bloomington's data-driven maintenance planning, its Logan Lodge senior center pivot, and its Indigenous Arts & Crafts Fair among four 2025 Awards of Excellence.

Firemen's Softball Tournament Wraps 68th Year With 66 Teams at Valley View
Updated 16d ago

Firemen's Softball Tournament Wraps 68th Year With 66 Teams at Valley View

Bloomington's biggest slow-pitch weekend closed out with Fire besting Police 5-0 to open the tournament, then six division champions crowned across Valley View Playfields.

Council Clears Amstel Ridge Drive Plat After Twice Tabling It Over Zoning Questions
Updated 16d ago

Council Clears Amstel Ridge Drive Plat After Twice Tabling It Over Zoning Questions

The Bloomington City Council approved a preliminary/final plat for 8350 Amstel Ridge Drive on July 20, settling a neighborhood dispute over a garage and setbacks near Olive Isle that had stalled the request twice before.

Bloomington Volleyball Club Trades Gym Floor for Sand This Summer
Updated 17d ago

Bloomington Volleyball Club Trades Gym Floor for Sand This Summer

Sixteen years after starting indoors, Bloomington Volleyball Club has built a summer sand program that's helping its 22 teams grow the game year-round.

Neighbor's Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Prompts Complaint to Bloomington Council
Updated 17d ago

Neighbor's Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Prompts Complaint to Bloomington Council

A Bloomington resident raised concerns with the City Council about a neighbor's high-frequency pest deterrent, using a listening session set aside for topics that don't fit a regular meeting agenda.

Bloomington Finishes Two-Year Rewrite of Zoning Rules to Allow More Duplexes, Fourplexes
Updated 18d ago

Bloomington Finishes Two-Year Rewrite of Zoning Rules to Allow More Duplexes, Fourplexes

The city adopted a second round of 'missing middle' housing rules in March, joining Richfield, St. Louis Park and now Golden Valley in loosening zoning to allow more duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on lots long reserved for single-family homes.

Dakota Language Camp at Pond-Dakota Mission Park Turns a River Bluff Into a Classroom
Updated 19d ago

Dakota Language Camp at Pond-Dakota Mission Park Turns a River Bluff Into a Classroom

For three days in June, about 30 kids and adults gathered above the Minnesota River Valley to practice Dakota vocabulary, walk the bluffs, and learn a language through the land it comes from.

Wildfire Smoke Alert Shuts Down Bloomington's Pool, Cancels Metro Events
Updated 20d ago

Wildfire Smoke Alert Shuts Down Bloomington's Pool, Cancels Metro Events

A statewide air quality alert driven by wildfire smoke from northern Minnesota and Canada closed the Bloomington Family Aquatic Center and knocked out pools and programs across Richfield and Edina.