City Cast Twin Cities
🏖️ Best beaches in the Twin Cities
July 16, 2026 · — Adam
Take a deep breath, Twin Cities! It’s Adam today. I naively thought we had escaped the smoky summer days of last year, but here we are again. When our air quality is in the red "Unhealthy" range, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recommends everyone limit prolonged exertion or time spent outdoors.
Don't make the same mistake I did – I ignored guidance to go for a run on a smoky day last summer, and I was sick for several days after.
What the Cities Are Talking About
Funding a fresh start: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Council Member Pearll Warren are asking the city to spend $2.5 million to help residents of the dilapidated Heritage Park housing development in North Minneapolis. The funds would go toward "support services" including relocation assistance for residents while the city figures out next steps to make the units livable again. The managing director of the court-appointed receiver now overseeing the property said it would take tens of millions of dollars to fully restore Heritage Park. [Star Tribune / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]
"Pillow Man": President Donald Trump endorsed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell for governor of Minnesota ahead of the August 11 Republican primary. In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that "Nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country." Lindell is running against current Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and retired healthcare executive Kendall Qualls, who won the GOP endorsement at the state convention in May. [Minnesota Reformer]
Problem solved? The northwest suburb of Champlin, which previously decided to fly the old Minnesota state flag, has now decided to fly no Minnesota state flag. Speaking about the debate over the new vs. old state flag design, Champlin Mayor Ryan Sabas said, "if this is the reason neighbors are fighting with each other … then let's just take it away." [Star Tribune]
Midnight meals: We're not exactly known for our late-night dining options in the Twin Cities, but there are some real gems if you know where to look. Check out our roundup of Top 5 Late-Night Eats to see where you can get a 1 a.m. breakfast burrito, 24-hour falafel, late-night Korean comfort food, and more. [City Cast Twin Cities]
More than water: In a Tuesday meeting filled with about 100 protesters on both sides, the St. Paul Board of Water Commissioners voted to continue its contract with Israeli cybersecurity company Waterfall Security Solutions. One activist urged commissioners to "keep our tax money free of genocide," while counter protesters with the group Keep Politics Out of Water advocated that the company was the best option to address cybersecurity concerns. [Pioneer Press]
Livestream backlash: Following a livestream from Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher focused on "Somali gang crime," Somali leaders are criticizing Fletcher's approach. They say that the Sheriff's office should have brought the issue to community leaders first instead of hosting a livestream about it and "stigmatizing an entire community." The chat on the livestream was unsurprisingly littered with many hateful and xenophobic comments. Fletcher invited parents and Somali community leaders to join a meeting at 6 p.m. on July 21 at the Arden Hills Sheriff's Patrol Station. [MPR News / Pioneer Press]
Today’s Must-Know
Top 5 Twin Cities Beaches
One day soon the air quality will be good enough that it's fun to go to the beach again, and we have you covered when you're ready to go. On today's episode of the podcast, we ran down our list of Top 5 beaches in the Twin Cities area.
- Hidden Beach (aka Cedar Lake East Beach, if you're a dork) has something for everyone: a sauna, ample sand space, and the Andrew J. Foss Memorial Mudhole. It's a welcoming, countercultural place where you'll see folks from all types of backgrounds and you can just show up as you are.
- White Sands Beach along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis is a great place to go to feel like you've completely left the city for a moment of peace in nature. After a quarter mile-ish hike down from West River Road through the woods, you'll be greeted by a serene beach that's rarely crowded.
- Square Lake near Stillwater is not at all shaped like a square, but it's known for its clear, clean water. It's worth the drive out for some really enjoyable swimming if you're planning a beach day soon.
What to Do
Thursday, July 16
- 🆓 Zero Waste Fest 2026 | Como Midway Picnic Pavilion
- 🆓 LAAMAR & Friends | California Street Farm
- 🎬 Do The Right Thing | The Parkway Theater
- 🪩 Hired Goons w/ Sean McPherson (DJ Set) | Berlin
- 😂 Comedy Night! | Gatherings at Station 10
- 🎸 Minnesota Yacht Club Presents: Semisonic | Varsity Theater
- 🌅 Sunset Yoga | Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Friday, July 17
- ⚓️ Minnesota Yacht Club Festival | Harriet Island Regional Park (through July 19)
- 🆓 Minnehaha Falls Art Fair | Minnehaha Regional Park (through July 19)
- 🚲 Twilight Relays | Thomas Beach, Bde Maka Ska
- 🎤 Chastity Brown | The Hook and Ladder
- 😂 The Oldest Profession LIVE | Phoenix Theater
- 🎭 Last Seen: A Long Time Ago | Mixed Blood Theatre
- 🪩 Miss Jackson If You're Nasty: Janet Jackson Dance Night | First Avenue
Twin Cities Job Board
- Director, Premium & Guest Experience at Minnesota Vikings | $105k – $115k per year
- Director of Volleyball Operations at University of St. Thomas | $44k – $58k per year
- Advancement Communication Specialist at UMN Bell Museum | $31 – $33 per hour
- Meteorologist - On-Call at American Public Media Group | $34 – $40 per hour (PT)
- Organizational Communications Specialist/Senior at Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis | $100k – $120k per year
Before I go, I want to give a shout out to our newest City Cast Neighbor, Mitchell M. Thank you so much for supporting the work we do every day!
If you want access to ad-free listening on the podcast, bonus content, and invites to members-only events, you can sign up to become a City Cast Neighbor today.
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