The Fridley City Council unanimously approved a request for a Community Development Block Grant to fund improvements at Flannery Park during its Jan. 26 meeting. Construction is planned for summer and fall 2026. Parks and Recreation Director Mike Maher said the Community Development Block Grant program is the federal government’s primary tool for promoting community revitalization and provides annual, formula-based grants to Anoka County. Applications are submitted to the county by Jan. 29 and must meet objectives that include benefiting low- and moderate-income residents, preventing or eliminating slum or blight conditions, or addressing community needs that pose a serious or immediate threat to public health or welfare. ...

The Fridley City Council unanimously approved a bid from Mineral Services Plus for work on four city wells during its Jan. 26 meeting. Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar said bids were opened Jan. 20 for Well Rehabilitation Project No. 26-448. Four bids were received, with the lowest submitted by Mineral Services Plus of Green Isle. The company’s base bid totaled $175,203. That amount was about 11.8% below the final engineer’s estimate of $198,605, Kosluchar said. ...

For nearly three hours, members of the Columbia Heights community packed Murzyn Hall for a community listening session with city officials, including the City Council, Police Chief Matt Markham, City Manager Aaron Chirpich and Fire Chief Dan O’Brien. Throughout the meeting, residents described an inadequate response from the Columbia Heights Police Department to their concerns over heightened federal immigration enforcement in the city. Speakers repeatedly criticized what they viewed as city inaction in what they said was federal law enforcement overreach. ...

The open forum at Fridley’s Jan. 26 City Council meeting drew an estimated 100 attendees, many expressing fear, anger and frustration over heightened federal immigration enforcement in the city and what they described as continued inaction by city leaders. Residents from across Fridley — including homeowners, manufactured home park residents, educators, school board members and former political candidates — spoke at length, describing a city they said no longer felt safe or recognizable. ...

A network of businesses and organizations around downtown Anoka has sprung up to assemble food and supplies for immigrant families that are fearful to go in public due to recent immigration enforcement activity around the area. ...

Andover’s new Engine 1 was pushed in during a ceremony on the night of Jan. 14, according a Facebook post from the department. The event is a tradition dating back to when firefighters physically pushed horse-drawn engines into their stations. ...

The Andover City Council unanimously approved plans and specifications for three forthcoming street projects. Each vote was 4-0, with Council Member Karen Godfrey absent. Public Works Director Dave Berkowitz outlined the first project, a full reconstruction in Creekridge Estates involving Kerry Street, Jonquil Street and 145th Avenue. The roads are rated a three on Andover’s pavement condition scale, which ranges from one to 10. At that rating, reconstruction is necessary to bring streets back to city standards. ...

Community members stand shoulder to shoulder along Main Street in downtown Anoka on Jan. 24 during a candlelight vigil for Alex Jeffrey Pretti, part of a statewide “Shine a Light for Minnesota” event. Original Article ...

Candles surround a sign honoring Alex Jeffrey Pretti during a candlelight vigil in downtown Anoka on Jan. 24. Community members gathered along Main Street as part of a statewide “Shine a Light for Minnesota” event following Pretti’s death earlier that… ...

Participants warm up inside Metta Coffee in downtown Anoka on Jan. 24, where coffee and hot cocoa were provided during a candlelight vigil honoring Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Original Article