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The St. Francis City Council approved a 2026 budget and levy increase on a narrow 3–2 vote following a lengthy Truth in Taxation hearing Dec. 1. Mayor Mark Vogel and Council Member Amy Faanes cast the two dissenting votes. Finance Director Darcy Mulvihill presented the city’s budget and levy, outlining the goals of maintaining high-quality and cost-effective public services, addressing council priorities and preserving a strong fiscal position. Mulvihill said the city’s preliminary levy of $7,180,000 includes a fiscal disparities deduction of $1,169,310, resulting in a spreadable levy of $6,010,690. With adjustments to the city’s 2025 tax capacity, St. Francis’ adjusted tax capacity for 2026 is $10,142,316. Dividing the spreadable levy by the adjusted tax capacity produces a proposed 2026 tax rate of 59.263%, she said. ...

Andover held its annual tree lighting at the city’s Community Center, with Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting families and White Rabbit serving hot cocoa, s’mores and other treats. Dozens of families took part in the festivities — roasting marshmallows at the fire pits, posing for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and building impressively large snow forts in the fresh snowfall. Mayor Jamie Barthel thanked attendees for coming out and joined the crowd for the countdown to the lighting. Rep. Peggy Scott and Council Members Rick Engelhardt and Jonathan Shafto were also present. ...

The Blaine City Council held its Truth in Taxation hearing to present and gather public feedback on a proposed 9.9% increase to the city’s overall levy in 2026. Several council members expressed frustration with ongoing levy growth, even as the increase is lower than last year’s — a goal the council had set for 2026. The city’s 2026 budget and tax levy will be considered for adoption Dec. 15. Finance Director Jason Zimmerman outlined the annual property tax timeline, beginning each January when property values are established for the following year’s taxes. Value notices are mailed in February, and current-year property tax statements are mailed in March. First-half taxes are due in May, proposed levies are set in September, and proposed tax statements are mailed in November. Final tax levies must be certified to the county auditor within five days of Dec. 20. ...

At its Dec. 2 meeting, the Andover City Council unanimously approved a reasonable accommodation request for a wheelchair ramp at 13981 Olive St. NW. Community Development Director Joe Janish said the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability, and requires reasonable modifications that allow individuals with disabilities full use of their homes. Janish said the ramp will be installed at the front of the house, extending to the side before descending toward the driveway. ...

A Blaine resident diagnosed with heart failure at age 28 plans to return to the Porcupine Mountains in 2026 for a snowmobiling trip he takes each year with friends. For that resident, Spencer Peka, the trip almost never would have happened. Peka said that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he began having increasing difficulty catching his breath. While at his family cabin north of Askov over Memorial Day weekend that year, he noticed trouble breathing, though not enough to raise concerns. ...

After going into closed session to discuss preliminary allegations, the Andover City Council unanimously voted to terminate the full-time building supervisor of the city’s Community Center. Council Member Scott Schue, making the motion to terminate the employee, said that it was based on relevant documentation that they had already received, as well as testimony from the individual. The termination was effective immediately. City Attorney Scott Baumgartner said that the Council had discussed testimony, and that Recreational Facilities Manager Erick Sutherland had been in the meeting along with human resources and City Administrator Sarah Cotton. He indicated that based on testimony and evidence he approved of the termination. ...

The Heights Theater in Columbia Heights will change ownership in early 2026, ending a 27-year run under owner Tom Letness. In a Facebook announcement, the theater said it will be acquired by Brody Sheldon and the Schopf family, who own and operate the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. They are partnering with Minnesota native Ryan Oestreich in the purchase. The Heights plans to close after its annual New Year’s Day screening of “Holiday Inn.” It will reopen Jan. 9 with a showing of Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother.” According to the announcement, reopening events will also include a Robert Redford retrospective and the theater’s 17th Film Noir festival in partnership with Trylon Cinema. ...

The Blaine City Council approved a resolution on Dec. 1 to receive a feasibility report and order improvements, along with the preparation of plans and specifications, for a rehabilitation project on South Lake Boulevard. The vote was 6-1, with Council Member Jess Robertson opposing. Director of Engineering Dan Schluender said the council had ordered the feasibility report in September. The project area runs along a segment of South Lake Boulevard from the west end at Lakes Parkway to a northeast end that also connects with Lakes Parkway. ...

The Fridley City Council voted 4-0 on Nov. 24 to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would raise fees for renting the city’s open-air park shelters. Mike Maher, the city’s parks and recreation director, told the council the city’s open-air shelters are available from May through October and were rented 96 times in 2025. Reservations for the 2026 season open on Jan. 5. The fees were last updated in 2023. Maher said the new fees aim to balance affordability and accountability. ...

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office received an unusual message from an Oak Grove resident this month after a deputy helped track down two runaway animals. According to the email, the resident was out of state when a security-camera alert showed a sheriff’s squad in the driveway. A mini horse and mini donkey had slipped out of their enclosure overnight while a family member was house-sitting. A passerby reported the pair after spotting them near the roadway and worrying they could be hit. ...