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🏠‘Housing First’ in jeopardy

November 19, 2025

Morning Twin Cities! Tiffany here. Did you know you can chop down your own Christmas tree from the Superior National Forest? Permits cost $5 a tree. It’s an 8-ish hour round-trip, but imagine the smell of balsam! 🎄

What the Cities Are Talking About

A man laying on the bottom bunk in a room full of bunk beds
A man sleeps at a pay-to-stay shelter run by Catholic Charities Twin Cities in downtown Minneapolis. (Marlin Levison / Getty Images)

Homelessness could double due to federal housing cuts

The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) put new conditions on its grants last week. This could halve the amount of money Minnesota gets to house people experiencing homelessness. Chris LaTondresse at Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative told reporter Fred Melo the cuts could put 170,000 previously homeless people back on the streets. [Pioneer Press]

  • Ideological battle: The new conditions are the Trump administration’s way of tearing down the “Housing First” strategy of the Biden era, also used by housing nonprofits in Minnesota. “Housing First” means moving people from encampments into homes, without conditions on entry. A HUD press release said this strategy fails to address the “root causes” of homelessness, like “illicit drugs and mental illness.” [Pioneer Press / HUD]
  • Services still needed: Melo also reports this transition can be difficult; 65% of chronically homeless residents of Beacon will return to the streets if placed in housing without services. But if they receive permanent supportive housing, that rate drops to 15%. [Pioneer Press]

Also Worth Your Time

Federal raid in St. Paul: Protestors confronted federal agents raiding Bro-Tex, a St. Paul manufacturer, on Tuesday morning. At least two people were arrested. St. Paul police say they were not involved in the federal investigation. [Bring Me The News / Sahan Journal]

Southern hospitality in Midtown: You may have seen Rollin Nolen’s food truck and its giant smoker around town. Now they’re settling into a new storefront inside Midtown Global Market. Expect a deliciously smoky grand opening on Nov. 21. [Minnesota Monthly]

The health insurance market shrinks: UCare, one of the largest health insurance providers for seniors, is shutting down next year. I’m no expert, but it seems their downfall is the result of an ill-timed expansion and overreliance on government programs. [Star Tribune]

A digital render of a lush park with industrial buildings in the background
Rendering of Owámniyomni/St. Anthony falls restoration. (Courtesy of GGN)

A lush St. Anthony Falls: A Dakota-led group released a redesign of Owámniyomni, the Dakota name for the area around St. Anthony Falls. The project will restore 5.2 acres of land, and includes a 25-water cascade. I’ve always thought there was way too much concrete there, so I can’t wait to see how it looks. [Owámniyomni Okhódayapi]

Hangry at the airport: Don’t count on getting a meal at MSP during the holiday rush. Hospitality workers set Nov. 24 as their strike date if they can’t come to an agreement with employer HMSHost. The union is pushing for higher wages and employer contributions to dependent health coverage. [MPR]

Mamma Mia: Palace Theatre is suing Wrecktangle Pizza for breach of contract and $1.6 million. The restaurant’s partnership with Palace was much celebrated, but the business closed after two years. The lawsuit alleges Wrecktangle owes the music venue money for construction and operation costs. [Star Tribune]

Top 5 Twin Cities Movie Theaters

On Tuesday’s show, we hashed out the best movie theaters. Criteria included comfy seats and tasty popcorn, with bonus points for nice bathrooms. If you have objections, reply to this email and let your voice be heard.

Grandview

The Grandview is a neighborhood gem with a history going back almost 100 years. They do plenty of late-night screenings of cult classics, work in lots of first-run flicks, and make sure there’s something for the kids most weekends. On top of their programming, this two-screen house packs a punch with a well-appointed concession stand and old-school urinals that harken back to a better time for lavish lavatory design.

AMC Eden Prairie 18

It’s easy to lose a lot of personality when you head to a mall to take in a film. What you lose in personality, you often gain in convenience and options. But AMC Eden Prairie 18 bridges the gap and provides one of the finest experiences in mall movie viewing. AMC Eden Prairie 18 sits next to a well-appointed food court with tons of options, plus a truly cozy fireplace to relax in front of. Inside the theater area, you can find a functional bar, a nursing station, and a bevy of state-of-the-art screens with great sound and comfy seats.

See The Full List

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If you’re already holiday shopping, why not check out Antique Alley on Selby Avenue? Sean and I visited Betty’s Antiques, which has a charming plate wall for mixing and matching.

— Tiffany

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