CITY CASTTwin Cities
City Cast Twin Cities

City Cast Twin Cities

❤️‍🩹 A heavy start to lawmaking

February 20, 2026 · Anna Weggel and Sean McPherson edited the City Cast Twin Cities newsletter this week. Feedback? Email [email protected].

Good morning, Twin Cities! Tiffany here. I want to share this lovely message from our newest Neighbor, Jessica B.: "I was floored when City Cast finally came to the Twin Cities. And I was even more ecstatic when I found out Sean would be hosting. He's a Twin Cities gem of the music and radio scene (...and...he was the DJ at my wedding!). My only regret is that it took so long for me to join.”

Worry not Jessica, you’re just in time to join our first members-only event. Today is the last day to get in on mealpacking at Second Harvest Heartland with the City Cast Twin Cities team. You can sign up here.

Today’s Must-Know

A screenshot of a video call. On the left is a man in a suit and wearing glasses. There's a pride flag in the background. On the right there's a man wearing headphones and a red hoodie
Host Sean McPherson interviews Sen. Scott Dibble. (City Cast Twin Cities)

New legislative session leads with heavy issues

Lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Tuesday for the start of the 2026 legislative session, a yearly flurry of bills, arguing, and “across the aisle” attempts. But the start of this session was somber as politicians honored their colleague Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. We talked to DFL Sen. Scott Dibble about what to expect from the next three months, particularly in the shadow of Operation Metro Surge and the Annuciation school shooting. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

  • Campus safety: It’s a little harder to get into the Minnesota Capitol now. No weapons are allowed in the Senate or House, and security checkpoints have been installed. Dibble said the security upgrades are a good thing, “not so much for ourselves but for the staff and for the media,” who are often in the hallways.
  • Remembering Hortman: Dibble doorknocked for Hortman and worked with her to pass a "once in a lifetime” transportation bill. “Hopefully she sets a new template of decency, of kindness,” Dibble said. [Pioneer Press]
  • On the agenda: Gov. Tim Walz has proposed a $10 million relief bill for businesses impacted by ICE, which Republican Speaker Rep. Lisa Demuth has opposed. Dibble is doubtful Demuth will stick by her opposition, however, once she hears from constituents. [Minnesota Reformer]

What the Cities Are Talking About

No “secret agents”: The St. Paul City Council passed an ordinance banning law enforcement from wearing masks. Officers who “knowingly and willfully” violate the new city law will be charged with a misdemeanor. A similar mask ban was passed in California and overturned by a federal judge. [Pioneer Press]

A frog a day: Lynnhurst neighbor Bradley Scott Davis has painted a frog each day for 1,600 days straight. Davis’ Daily Frog Project draws attention to the vanishing species of frogs and the impact on human life. “We need to be paying much more careful attention to what frogs and other creatures in the natural world are trying to tell us,” Davis said to reporter Margie O’Loughlin. [Southwest Voices]

A large group of people walking down residential a street in protest
Protesters stage a march in Minneapolis on Jan. 31 to demand an eviction moratorium. (John Moore / Getty Images)

Rent relief: As local organizers look to garner support for a rent strike, Republicans voted down $50 million in emergency rental assistance for families impacted by Operation Metro Surge. Rep. Jim Nash criticized Democrats for pushing the bill before state revenue numbers were released and disagreed that people have been unable to work during the surge. [Minnesota Reformer / Common Dreams]

That’s a lot of money: While other downtown Minneapolis buildings are barely selling, the Sleep Number building netted a whopping $235 million. Cloud Capital and Arcapita bought the building to expand the data center already housed there. [Star Tribune]

“Streaming the siege”: Racket’s Jay Boller reports on the centrality of video footage during Operation Metro Surge. We’re a long way from the Arab Spring, now that livestreaming gives everyone from Unicorn Riot to Nick Shirley the ability to capture eyeballs. Is this good, bad, or a secret third thing? [Racket]

What to Do

Friday, Feb 20

Saturday, Feb 21

Sunday, Feb 22

More Twin Cities Events

Twin Cities Job Board

More Twin Cities Jobs

Big shout-out to our other new Neighbors: Melissa B., Suzanne H., Barry G., Manny M.R., Michelle M., Torsten C., Claudia J., Alison C., Brian M., Brandon H. ❤️

If you’re interested in the nationally evolving data centers story, tune in to City Cast’s newest podcast, Your City Could Be Better, on Sunday. CEO David Plotz will be talking to City Cast Madison’s host, Bianca Martin, all about these controversial developments.

— Tiffany

Free · Daily

More from City Cast Twin Cities

Read latest