MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Metro Transit is taking extra steps to ensure safe and reliable transit services for several upcoming events in the Twin Cities and is making new changes to light rail and bus services starting on Saturday.

Every quarter, Metro Transit introduces changes to transit services throughout the Twin Cities metro area. These changes adjust the services based on current and projected ridership, available resources, and driver workforce, according to a press release. 

With several upcoming events in the Twin Cities metro and a general increase in ridership, here is what you need to know about the changes starting on Saturday. 

Changes to light rail, bus scheduling

Beginning on Aug. 17, Metro Transit says the light rail will run more frequently, and several bus route services will also have improvements as part of the quarterly service change. 

Here are a few quarterly changes implemented by Metro Transit: 

• On the METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line, trains will run every 12 minutes between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day. Currently, trains run every 15 minutes.
• Routes 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 21, 22, 32, 46 and METRO C Line will have trip and schedule adjustments to accommodate new school end times for Minneapolis Public Schools.
• On weekdays, METRO Orange Line buses will run every 10 minutes between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. northbound and between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. southbound, up from the 15-minute service currently provided during these times. On Sundays, trips will run every 15 minutes.

To see additional changes, click here. 

Upcoming events

The busy stretch of events starts with a Metallica concert at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 18, a Green Day concert at Target Field on Saturday, and a Def Leppard concert at Target Field on Monday. 

The Minnesota State Fair begins on Thursday, Aug. 22, and runs through Labor Day on Sept. 2. Metro Transit provides up to 87 express buses to transport fairgoers from several park-and-ride locations to the fairgrounds. 

In a press release, Metro Transit said there are plans in place for a busy Aug. 24. Minnesota sports teams, including the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota United, and St. Paul Saints, are each hosting home games on Saturday. Zach Bryan is also performing at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the Open Streets event is happening on Lyndale Avenue.

Officials said that before and after large events in the city, additional police officers and staff will help direct fans. Additionally, three-car trains will be used to accommodate an increase in riders.  

Crime down, ridership up 

While additional staff and police officers are present during large events, Metro Transit said that reported crime is down 17.5% when comparing the second quarter of 2024 to the previous year. 

Additionally, ridership has increased 9% for the first half of 2024 when compared to the previous year. 

“Across the organization, there has been a sustained and deliberate effort to make our system safer and more welcoming to riders and frontline transit workers,” General Manager Lesley Kandaras said in a statement earlier this month. “We hear clearly that there is more work to be done but are encouraged by the progress we’re making.”

To learn more about Metro Transit’s progress, visit their website here.

MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly two days after an apartment fire tore through a downtown Minneapolis building, two people were found dead inside.

It wasn’t until Thursday morning when David Hollmon, the property manager,  realized he hadn’t seen one of his tenants since the fire.

“I went to the fire department and told them, ‘Hey I think one of my tenants is still in there.’” Hollmon said.

He said fire officials told him that was impossible and that they swept through the building twice.

But fire crews searched inside the charred building Thursday afternoon and discovered an elderly man in a fourth-floor apartment under piles of the collapsed roof.

“Mr. Kerry was a good dude, a jokester real cool laid-back type of old man,” Hollmon said.

Hours later, firefighters found another body. Hollmon believes it was Kerry’s girlfriend.

“Let’s talk about these people that didn’t make it and how is it they didn’t make it when the man (fire official) said they swept the apartment twice,” Hollmon said.

Both victims have not been identified as of Thursday night.

On Tuesday night, the fire department said they thought everyone got out safe.

“All residents were stated to be accounted, we didn’t hear anyone say that they were missing anyone,” said Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker on Tuesday.

WCCO called again Thursday to ask how firefighters missed two people but haven’t heard back.

The search will continue Friday this time with cadaver dogs. 

Arson investigators continue their search for how this fire started.

“Whoever did this if somebody did this intentionally purposefully, they need to pay, pay,” Hollmon said.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The archive room at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is filled with thousands of headlines going back nearly a century.

But one in particular chronicles a remarkable achievement of its own.

“I’m overwhelmed with joy and happiness, and it just feels phenomenal. That’s all I can say. To know that my family’s legacy has made it 90 years through the rough times and the tough times, and we’re still here despite it all.” said owner Tracy Williams-Dillard.

Her grandfather, Cecil E. Newman, started the weekly newspaper 90 years ago to give a voice to the voiceless.

When the first issue came out on August 10, 1934, it cost 5 cents and carried a front page promise from Newman to “speak out fearlessly and unceasingly against injustices, discrimination, and all imposed inequalities”.

“Our focus is making sure that the African American community is being treated with respect and in the way that they should be. and if you’re not, we hold you accountable,” said Williams-Dillard.

For nine decades, the paper has provided a snapshot of the Black experience in Minnesota and covered stories that directly affect the African American community, from the election of Barack Obama to the murder of George Floyd, which happened just a few blocks from its office in South Minneapolis.

It has also employed talent like renowned photographer Gordon Parks and carved out its own niche in the community.

“We are both the oldest African American newspaper in Minnesota. We are the oldest Black-owned business in Minnesota and we are one of the oldest African American newspapers in the country. So we’re proud,” said Williams-Dillard.

Just like she inherited the paper from her grandparents, Williams-Dillard plans to pass it on to her daughter one day, in hopes of keeping their family’s legacy alive for another 90 years.

“The community needs the Spokesman-Recorder now more than ever,” said Williams-Dillard.

The Spokesman-Recorder will celebrate its 90th anniversary with a yacht cruise on the St Croix River on Friday night followed by a gala at the Depot in Downtown Minneapolis on Saturday night.