Hennepin County Attorney Voter Guide, DIY Air Filters, and Retro Boats on Lake Harriet

Hennepin County Attorney Voter Guide, DIY Air Filters, and Retro Boats on Lake Harriet

It's bad out there, folks. With wildfire smoke from Canada and northern Minnesota blanketing the Twin Cities at unprecedented levels, Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota's Climate Adaptation Partnership Seth Spencer is on the show today to give us all some advice on how to stay safe and healthy. Later the team runs down the candidates that you need to know about for the upcoming Hennepin County Attorney primary and celebrates some Twin Cities Wins from the week. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: ⁠Wildfire smoke concentration is now record-setting. Air quality alerts cover most of Minnesota.⁠ [https://www.startribune.com/wildfire-smoke-concentration-is-now-record-setting-air-quality-alerts-cover-most-of-minnesota/601868649] (Star Tribune) ⁠Hazardous air quality forecast for much of Minnesota Thursday⁠ [https://www.mprnews.org/minnesota-wildfires-live-updates] (MPR News) ⁠Smoke Floating Far From Canada’s Wildfires Will Darken Skies Again on Thursday⁠ [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/weather/canada-wildfire-smoke-us.html] (NYT) ⁠Stay safe and healthy during bad air days with these DIY air purifiers⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTRDZZddcXI] (UMN Climate Adaptation Partnership) ⁠Meet Your Hennepin County Attorney⁠ [https://projects.sahanjournal.com/meet-your-hennepin-county-attorney-candidates-election-quiz/] (Sahan Journal) Quiz ⁠Frazier claims labor backing in wide-open Hennepin County Attorney race⁠ [https://www.insightnews.com/news/frazier-claims-labor-backing-in-wide-open-hennepin-county-attorney-race/article_3ff13450-925d-496e-b801-12ee2ee046ab.html] (insightnews.com) ⁠Political lawyer Matt Pelikan is third candidate to announce run for Hennepin County Attorney⁠ [https://www.startribune.com/touting-political-bona-fides-matt-pelikan-is-third-candidate-to-run-for-hennepin-county-attorney/601483663] (Star Tribune) ⁠Twin Cities Retro Boats on Lake Harriet⁠ [https://kstp.com/tcl/today-on-twin-cities-live/twin-cities-retro-boats-on-lake-harriet/] (KSTP) ⁠Rondo Days⁠ [https://www.rondodays.net/] ⁠Recovery Bike Shop⁠ [https://recovery.bike/] ⁠Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor⁠ [https://account.citycast.fm/become-a-neighbor/twincities?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=pod_promo] Learn more about the sponsors of this July 17th episode: ⁠The Cedar Cultural Center⁠ [https://www.thecedar.org/] ⁠Studio J-Bo⁠ [https://www.studioj-bo.com/] ⁠Twin Cities PBS⁠ [https://tpt.org/] ⁠Minnehaha Falls Art Fair⁠ [https://www.homespunevents.com/minnehahafallsartfair] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/citycasttwincities/], or email us at ⁠twincities@citycast.fm⁠ [https://twincities@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠ [https://citycast.fm/advertise/].

Minneapolis Failed Heritage Park Residents. Plus, Eating Sea Salt at Home and Top 5 Beaches

Neighbors of Heritage Park have experienced the worst – black mold, rats, squatters, and so much more. The city of Minneapolis is looking to spend $2.5 million to fix some of the issues and even relocate some residents. We talk about how the city’s attempt to fix segregation only led to more broken promises. In response to the heat dome hovering above us we rattle off our top five favorite beaches. Plus, skip the line at Sea Salt Eatery and try making po’boys at home with their new cookbook. “Sea Salt Eatery: Recipes to Enjoy Year-Round” is a labor of love between co-owner Kait Ziemer-Davis and her mother-in-law/former Star Tribune editor Gail Rosenblum. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: ⁠Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor⁠ [https://account.citycast.fm/become-a-neighbor/twincities?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=pod_promo] ⁠Minneapolis mayor and council member want $2.5M to help relocate Heritage Park residents⁠ [https://account.citycast.fm/become-a-neighbor/twincities?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=pod_promo] (Star Tribune) ⁠The broken Hollman promise⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2034449977457061] (Peall Warren) ⁠'The Cruelty of Nice Folks' in Minneapolis, Minnehaha Art Fair Tips, and Remembering Harry Singh⁠ [https://twincities.citycast.fm/podcasts/the-cruelty-of-nice-folks-in-minneapolis-minnehaha-art-fair-tips-and-remembering-harry-singh] (City Cast Twin Cities) ⁠Sea Salt Eatery⁠ [https://www.upress.umn.edu/9781517920388/sea-salt-eatery/] (University of Minnesota Press) Learn more about the sponsors of this July 16th episode: ⁠The Cedar Cultural Center⁠ [https://www.thecedar.org/] ⁠Studio J-Bo⁠ [https://www.studioj-bo.com/] ⁠Twin Cities PBS⁠ [https://tpt.org/] ⁠Minnehaha Falls Art Fair⁠ [https://www.homespunevents.com/minnehahafallsartfair] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/citycasttwincities/], or email us at ⁠twincities@citycast.fm⁠ [twincities@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠ [https://citycast.fm/advertise/].

Whatever Happened to Lizzo? Plus, Feds Release ICE Shooting Evidence, and You All Have a Lot to Say

What happens to a pop star when the world moves on? Andrea Swensson and Denzel Belin join the show today to talk about the rise and fall of Lizzo, who used to call Minneapolis home. Then, we break down the latest in the state's investigation into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and we open up a spicy hot mailbag which is filled to the brim with positivity and filled to at least the half brim with negativity about bike lanes! Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor [https://account.citycast.fm/become-a-neighbor/twincities?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=pod_promo] How Lizzo Became One of Pop Culture’s Great Flops [https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/07/music-flop-era/687785/?gift=YiNZDuwtqTFoVHcm-1T940Iu4PB9txVKlwDhr75kqNw&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&_bhlid=38dc4619efa014900cb23820851a139e962fab66] (The Atlantic) An Oral History of Lizzo's Rise to Fame from Minneapolis [https://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/oral-history-lizzo-minneapolis/] (Mpls.St.Paul Magazine) Feds share evidence in Good, Pretti shootings with state investigators months after stonewalling [https://sahanjournal.com/public-safety/feds-share-evidence-good-pretti-shootings-hennepin-county-attorney/] (Sahan Journal) Feds turn over evidence in killings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti by immigration agents [https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/07/13/feds-turns-over-evidence-in-killings-of-renee-good-alex-pretti-by-federal-immigration-agents/] (Minnesota Reformer) ICE Agent Charged in Minnesota Shooting Does Not Agree to Leave Texas [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/ice-agent-minnesota-shooting-extradition.html] (New York Times) Learn more about the sponsors of this July 15th episode: The Cedar Cultural Center [https://www.thecedar.org/] Studio J-Bo [https://www.studioj-bo.com/] Twin Cities PBS [https://tpt.org/] Minnehaha Falls Art Fair [https://www.homespunevents.com/minnehahafallsartfair] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycasttwincities/], or email us at twincities@citycast.fm [twincities@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [https://citycast.fm/advertise/].

How Did the Feds Get Private DMs? Plus, Bike Lane Fight Gets Heated

Lyndale Avenue needs a facelift, but the issue has been overshadowed by a fight over whether to install bike lanes. Star Tribune columnist Eric Roper says while the plan (bike lane and all) is all but set in place, local government should focus on keeping small businesses afloat during construction. The feds are relying on Signal messages to indict 15 protesters on conspiracy charges but reporter Clint Combs asks: how did they get those secure, private chats? Plus, local TikTok influencers called out a homebuilder for allegedly botching their $1 million home. The company tried to silence them. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor [https://account.citycast.fm/become-a-neighbor/twincities?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=pod_promo] Roper: Lyndale Avenue bike lane fight misses the real problem [https://www.startribune.com/lyndale-avenue-bicycle-lane-hennepin-county/601853630] (Star Tribune) Lyndale Avenue reconstruction public meeting [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZEXVk7xs9G/] (Taylor Dahlin) Government Says Terabytes of Signal Chats are Central to the Case Against Minnesota 15 [https://unicornriot.ninja/2026/government-says-terabytes-of-signal-chats-are-central-to-the-case-against-minnesota-15/] (Unicorn Riot) Minnesota Social Media Stars’ Legal fight with local homebuilder goes viral [https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-social-media-stars-legal-fight-with-local-homebuilder-goes-viral/601859266] (Star Tribune) @momchats [https://www.tiktok.com/@momchats/video/7641789089355713823] (Tik Tok) Learn more about the sponsors of this July 14th episode: The Cedar Cultural Center [https://www.thecedar.org/] Studio J-Bo [https://www.studioj-bo.com/] Twin Cities PBS [https://tpt.org/] Minnehaha Falls Art Fair [https://www.homespunevents.com/minnehahafallsartfair] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycasttwincities/], or email us at twincities@citycast.fm [twincities@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [https://citycast.fm/advertise/].

'Unionbusting' at a Punk Merch Warehouse, and the Aquatennial's Ugly History

Workers at the Northeast Minneapolis Kings Road Merch warehouse have provided merch for some of the biggest names in punk music. But after they voted to unionize, parent company Sony Music announced plans to close their warehouse for good. Tim Lunning, a representative from the Kings Road Merch Union, joins the podcast to talk about why he believes Sony's actions amount to unionbusting, and how the workers are fighting back. Later, legendary musician and producer Gary Hines joins the conversation to talk about why he made the decision to pull his Black drum corp, the Sabathanites, out of the Aquatennial parade in the 1960's – and why he eventually returned to the festival in 2010. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: minneapolis punks voted to unionize a merch warehouse. sony music plans to shut it down. [https://see-saw.fun/minneapolis-punks-voted-to-unionize-a-merch-warehouse-sony-music-plans-to-shut-it-down/] (see/saw) Paradox: Echoes of Reform & the Minneapolis Police [https://www.pbs.org/show/paradox-echoes-of-reform-the-minneapolis-police/] (PBS) Sabathanites return to Aquatennial [https://www.insightnews.com/news/local/sabathanites-return-to-aquatennial/article_7cfd9f37-d0b0-522c-9441-bda102a7e250.html] (Insight News) Sabathanites Drum Corps [https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/sabathanites-drum-corps] (MNopedia) Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor [https://account.citycast.fm/become-a-neighbor/twincities?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=pod_promo] Learn more about the sponsors of this July 13th episode: The Cedar Cultural Center [https://www.thecedar.org/] Studio J-Bo [https://www.studioj-bo.com/] Twin Cities PBS [https://tpt.org/] Minnehaha Falls Art Fair [https://www.homespunevents.com/minnehahafallsartfair] Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycasttwincities/], or email us at twincities@citycast.fm [twincities@citycast.fm]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise [https://citycast.fm/advertise/].