Participants lean and fall into the water at the Anoka County Polar Plunge at Lakeside Commons Park on Saturday, Feb. 28. Original Article

The Fridley City Council has issued a statement criticizing recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the city, saying federal actions moved forward without local input or authority during what officials described as a surge in enforcement under Operation Metro Surge. In the statement, the council said the level of immigration enforcement created challenges beyond the city’s control and pledged to advocate to state and federal leaders to prevent similar disruptions in the future. ...

Mayor Jerry Koch hears residents speak during public forum on Feb. 17 Original Article

The Oak Grove City Council approved a $92,848 change order for the new City Hall and fire station Feb. 23 to meet Minnesota requirements, but not without criticism over the cost and the number of project revisions brought forward. City Engineer Chuck Schwartz said the changes were needed to comply with state law. The order includes modifications to water filtration, installation of a corrugated metal pipe beneath the concrete driveway serving the fire station and the addition of a hydrant on the south side of the driveway. ...

Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is home to about 2,900 people in the state’s northern panhandle, where mountains and lakes stretch across a quiet rural landscape. A sign near the edge of town, Holly Pennington said, welcomes visitors to “Trump Country.” But in early February, Pennington and about 25 friends in that small community gathered around tables with paper, markers and glue, determined to send a different message — one of solidarity. ...

Cards can be seen hanging from the front table at Heights Coffee Bar. Original Article

Heights Coffee Bar at work the morning of February 25. Original Article

In the city of Coon Rapids, while a council meeting was being held on the evening of February 17th, the city hall was also host to a vigil at which residents could come together and grieve the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Victor Diaz. The vigil was hosted by Transformative Circle, who earlier in June 2025 had done something similar for the shooting death of Rep. Melissa Hortman in the same location. ...

The Fridley City Council on Feb. 23 unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment establishing rental fees for new facilities at Commons Park. Parks and Recreation Director Mike Maher said the updated fee schedule will cover activity rooms in the park’s new recreation building, open-air shelters and a large-group bus permit program. The recreation building will include three activity rooms with a capacity of about 25 people each. Two rooms can be combined to accommodate up to 50 people. Maher said the spaces are suited for youth birthday parties, business meetings and small gatherings. ...

More cards that were hung at Heights Coffee Bar. Original Article