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The St. Francis City Council voted 4-1 on March 2 to request inclusion in Anoka County’s hand-counted post-election review for the 2026 election, saying the move would help demonstrate the integrity of the city’s elections. Council Member Sarah Udvig cast the lone dissenting vote. Anoka County currently conducts post-election reviews in eight randomly selected precincts, although state statute requires only four. Mayor Mark Vogel said St. Francis is requesting inclusion in the process to further demonstrate confidence in how ballots are counted. ...

Doctors with Doctors Council SEIU at Allina Health have authorized a potential open-ended strike after 90% of members voted in favor amid stalled contract negotiations with the Minnesota and western Wisconsin-based provider. The union previously authorized a one-day strike in November 2025, citing concerns about staffing, health care benefits, retirement and sick leave. In previous reporting, Dr. Matt Hoffman, a family and travel medicine specialist at the Vadnais Heights clinic, also said Allina had been planning to cut wages for most primary care providers. ...

Ham Lake approved a conditional use permit for a flower farm despite residents raising concerns about noise from events featuring live music. The City Council voted 4-0 at its March 2 meeting to allow Branch and Bloom Flower Farm to operate at 13401 Radisson Road NE. The permit was requested by Kari Kearns of Cadillac Ranch LLC. Residents raised concerns about noise from events held at the property after the farm opened. ...

The Andover City Council on March 3 unanimously approved the vacation of drainage and utility easements and the final plat for the next phase of the Fields of Winslow Cove development. The approvals affect Outlots E and F in the development’s first addition. Community Development Director Joe Janish said the outlots were originally established with blanket drainage and utility easements to allow utilities and drainage across the property during earlier phases of development. ...

The Andover City Council on March 3 provided an update on the Alternative Urban Areawide Review for the proposed Fields of Andover development. The project, planned on just over 800 acres, could include either 80 or 1,545 housing units and about 30 acres of commercial development, according to previous reports. Community Development Director Joe Janish told the council the Alternative Urban Areawide Review environmental process is allowed under state statute when certain criteria are met. For the Fields project, the review was initiated by the developer. ...

The Blaine City Council on March 2 unanimously approved submitting a grant application to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for funding to build two segments of the Wetland Sanctuary Trail. Director of Engineering Daniel Schluender said staff first brought the trail project to the council in late 2025, when members discussed options to finance the first two segments. Since then, staff have reviewed grant opportunities to help fund the work. ...

The Blaine City Council on March 2 took the first step toward banning detached accessory dwelling units, advancing an ordinance amendment that would remove them from city zoning code. According to Community Development Director Sheila Sellman, the city approved a moratorium on accessory dwelling units, often called ADUs, in June 2025 while staff reviewed the regulations and intent behind them. The council discussed the issue at workshops June 16, 2025, and Jan. 5, 2026, when members directed staff to remove detached units from city code. ...

The Blaine City Council on March 2 advanced several routine items, including approval of a new bank project, a proposed land sale tied to Highway 65 improvements and a change to city code on hazardous tree enforcement. The council unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a new Magnifi Financial bank at 10903 Austin St. NE. Community Development Director Sheila Sellman said the permit allows construction of a building with a zero lot line along the north property line. The site is zoned development flex and is surrounded by similarly zoned parcels to the north, east and west, with the North Meadows development to the south in a planned business district. ...

The Blaine City Council voted 4-3 to advance a $7 million parking structure for the 105th development, approving a funding plan that relies on the Economic Development Authority levy. The split vote centered on funding, as money for the structure would come from the Economic Development Authority levy. In the past, the council has operated under a goal of avoiding taxpayer impact for the development. The 4-3 decision centers on financing, as the project would be funded through the Economic Development Authority levy. Council members have previously pledged to avoid taxpayer impact related to the development. ...

Estee Lauder announces layoff of 68 employees at Blaine Aveda facility Estee Lauder Companies, the owner of the brand Aveda, announced the layoff of 68 employees at their facility in Blaine at Pheasant Ridge Drive. The layoffs will start with a two-week period on April 24. The layoffs are expected to be permanent, according to a letter notifying the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The affected employees are not represented by a union, the letter states, nor do they have bumping rights. The affected jobs are scattered around Warehouse, Distribution and Processing roles. ...