Columbia Heights Fire Captain Anthony “Tony” Cuzzuppe died unexpectedly on April 17, according to an April 18 announcement from the Columbia Heights Fire Department. Cuzzuppe began his fire service career as a reserve firefighter on June 17, 2002, according to a department Facebook post. He was appointed a paid on-call firefighter on July 1, 2003, hired full time on Sept. 13, 2005, and promoted to fire captain on Oct. 27, 2016. ...
The Columbia Heights City Council on April 13 unanimously approved a variance reducing the parking requirement at 999 50th Ave. NE, clearing the way for a possible cafe or restaurant at the site. City Planner Ursula Brandt said the property’s last tenant, a dental office, vacated the building in 2016, and it has remained empty since then. Staff have received multiple inquiries about redeveloping the site, she said, but none have moved forward. ...
The Columbia Heights Professional Firefighters wrote in a post to Facebook on the night of April 16 that they, the Fridley Fire Department, SBM Fire Department, St Anthony Fire Department and Minneapolis Fire Department responded to a multiple-vehicle fire at a salvage yard at CoPart at 3737 East River Road. The details of the response were confirmed as accurate by Fridley Fire Marshal Shelby Wolf. Damage was limited to nine vehicles. Due to the absence of nearby fire hydrants, fire apparatuses used 2,000 gallons of water to put the fire out. All departments worked well together, the firefighters wrote. ...
A Cedar Rapids Raptors punt return ended with Bomber Kershbaum racing toward the sideline to make a tackle that sent the returner twisting in midair to the ground. The physicality was on display in cold temperatures, wind and pouring rain in Spring Lake Park, enough to topple sideline tents. Professional women’s tackle football is back at Spring Lake Park High School, where the Minnesota Minx opened the 2026 season against the Cedar Rapids Raptors on April 11. ...
Doctors Council SEIU announced April 13 that its members ratified a first union contract with Allina Health, a three-year agreement covering more than 600 doctors, physician assistants and nurses in primary and urgent care. According to the union, the contract takes effect immediately and includes greater provider autonomy, safety improvements, fair pay, and protections for parental, medical and family leave. The agreement received more than 90% support during ratification, the union said. ...
The Fridley City Council voted 4-0 on April 13 to award the Safe Routes to School Improvement Project to JL Theis, with Council Member Luke Cardona absent. Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar said bids for the project were opened April 6, with JL Theis of Jordan submitting the low bid at $1,072,728.84, or 16.5% below the engineer’s estimate of $1,284,088. The resolution also included a 5% contingency. The project includes construction of a shared-use trail, ADA improvements and other miscellaneous work at three locations: 61st Avenue from University Avenue East Service Road to West Moore Lake Drive, Seventh Street from 61st Avenue to Mississippi Street, and Commons Park/Fridley Middle School from Seventh Street to Jackson Street. ...
The Fridley City Council voted 4-0 to approve a major street rehabilitation project that will include water-line work in streets surrounding the Madsen Park neighborhood. Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar said the city called for bids Nov. 10 and opened them April 7, receiving six. The lowest came in 19.6% below the final engineer’s estimate. The project was identified in Fridley’s 2026 Streets Resurfacing Plan and Capital Investment Program, which includes a budget of just more than $3 million. Work will include asphalt pavement rehabilitation, spot concrete curb-and-gutter replacement, water main improvements and related work. ...
According to multiple social media reports, a car drove into Tobacco Vape Center in Blaine at the intersection of 105th Lane and University Avenue. There was extensive building damage to the right corner of the structure, including a boarded-up hole in the building and rubble consisting of a door, bricks and metal beams. The city of Blaine has deemed it unsafe for human occupancy under MN State building code section 1300.0180, according to a note posted on the front of the building, This will continue until a Minnesota licensed structural engineer gives approval to occupy the building. ...
At their April 7 meeting, the Andover City Council unanimously voted to establish the Natural Resources Commission. Kameron Kytonen, the city’s Natural Resources Technician, said that the move came about from previous workshops over the last handful of months, and had ultimately stemmed from a joint meeting with the Andover Nature Preserve Commission and the Council at a previous workshop. At that meeting, they had discussed the future of the Nature Preserve Commission, with talk of evolving into a more broadened Natural Resources commission. Kytonen said that the former group had fulfilled their job obligations in pursuing and acquiring land from a bond referendum in 2006 and managing the land over the years, alongside other initiatives. ...
The Andover City Council on April 7 unanimously approved several street-project bids, including some that came in above estimates in the feasibility report, while also agreeing not to pass those added costs on to residents. Public Works Director David Berkowitz told the council the agenda covered about $3.3 million in roadway work. While bids are typically approved through the consent agenda, he said some of these projects were pulled for discussion because several came in higher than expected. ...