Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis music teacher recognized by GMA

A special teacher in Minneapolis was recognized for his efforts in and out of the classroom on live television on Monday morning.
Good Morning America is shining a light on exceptional educators who go the extra mile as classes begin wrapping up for the school year.
On Monday morning, they gave Edward Barlow – a Minneapolis music teacher – an incredible surprise. Over the decades, thousands of students have called him Mr. Barlow, but some like to call him The Music Man.
“He has a marching band that goes around the neighborhood, and they play for the neighborhood,” said one person familiar with Barlow.
Barlow has been teaching music for nearly 40 years, but his impact goes far beyond Anwatin Middle School.
“Everybody always goes to Mr. Barlow for any advice or support that they need. He’s really engrained in Minneapolis Public Schools culture,” said one student.
“He gives me a lot of motivation speeches. He doesn’t give up on anyone,” said another student.
That’s why GMA hand-picked him for a live surprise on national television on Monday.
When asked what keeps him coming back to the classroom despite being able to retire, Barlow kept the reason simple.
“Well, it’s purpose. There’s purpose in meaning in what we do as teachers,” he said.
Cheers rang out from students, staff, and his wife – a fellow teacher – as Barlow was given two checks for $35,000.
“I was totally unprepared; I had no idea. People can keep really good secrets,” he said.
Coworkers think a big chunk of the money may go toward repairing the school’s broken piano.

Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis on alert as millions across the Midwest brace for severe weather

Severe weather is forecast to impact the U.S. Midwest on Monday, April 28, with the City of Minneapolis urging residents to prepare for two rounds of severe weather expected throughout the day.
Minnesota will begin experiencing impacts early on Monday. The first round of storms is expected to continue through the morning hours, producing large hail and strong winds across the region.
A second, potentially more impactful, round of storms is forecast to develop during the afternoon after a brief lull and continue into the evening. This second round carries the potential for EF2+ tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds across affected areas.
Frequent lightning associated with supercells is expected as the storms pass through the region.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), there is some uncertainty regarding the evolution of convection across the warm sector. If storms are able to remain semi-discrete, long-track strong tornadoes will be possible across Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest. Weaker tornadoes could also develop within bowing segments of the anticipated squall line.
Tornado risk will be highest during Monday evening, while the threat of damaging winds along the squall line is expected to peak from late afternoon into early evening.
The City of Minneapolis has advised residents to be weather aware and take necessary precautions ahead of the approaching severe weather.
Residents are urged to ensure they have multiple reliable ways to receive severe weather alerts, prepare for possible power outages by charging their essential electronic devices, and have a flashlight readily available. If an alert is issued, take immediate shelter in a basement or an interior room on the lowest level of a building.
Outdoor furniture and loose objects should be secured to reduce the risk of wind-borne debris during strong winds. To minimize the potential for localized street flooding, clear leaves and debris in front of catch basins to allow proper water drainage.


While the focus is on southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin, isolated severe storms are also possible farther south into Kansas and Missouri.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Minneapolis along with parts of southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa under a Moderate Risk (level 4/5) of severe thunderstorms through Monday.
A larger area of Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) covers much of the surrounding region, including the remaining parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and much of Minnesota. Meanwhile, a larger region of Slight Risk (level 2/5) extends from the Great Lakes to the Southern Plains through Monday.
References:
1 Day 1 Convective Outlook – SPC – April 28, 2025
2 City asks residents to prepare for severe storms Monday – Minneapolism.gov – April 27, 2025
Minneapolis, MN
Mpls stabbing outside Target Center not connected to concert, 1 arrested

Police lights. (FOX 9 / FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis police say they arrested a man suspected of stabbing another man in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday night.
Minneapolis stabbing
What we know:
Police say the stabbing happened just before 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of 6th Street and Hennepin Avenue.
The victim reportedly fled his attacker on foot after he was stabbed in the neck and collapsed in front of Target Center, where police say he was found by traffic control officers. He was then taken to the hospital and stabilized.
The suspect was tracked by officers using cameras in the area. Police say they arrested the suspect without incident near the intersection of 5th Street and Hennepin Avenue shortly after the stabbing.
That suspect is now facing assault charges.
Police say they believe the stabbing has no connection to the Charli XCX concert that was happening inside Target Center at the time of the incident.
What we don’t know:
Details on what may have led to the stabbing have not been shared by law enforcement.
The Source: This story used information shared by the Minneapolis Police Department.
Minneapolis, MN
Northeast Minneapolis restaurant makes another world’s best list
Chef Yia Vang’s restaurant Vinai is getting even more time in the sun: The northeast Minneapolis eatery has been named among the world’s best new restaurants by a global publication.
This week Condé Nast Travel released the Best New Restaurants in the World: 2025 Hot List, which spotlights 34 restaurants around the world from Bolivia to Sydney and Kenya to Paris.
“Named after the Thai refugee camp where chef Yia Vang was born, Vinai serves up authentic Hmong food in a way most Americans have never tasted. There’s fried catfish, grilled lamb heart, and his signature Hill Tribe chicken, all paired with fresh produce (often from his parents’ Minnesota garden) and family-recipe hot sauces,” according to the write-up.
“Those unapologetic flavors pay homage to both his heritage and America’s largest Hmong population, which is based in the Twin Cities … Every dish and cocktail on the menu—which features both Hmong and English languages — has a backstory, and Yang is often on hand to tell the tales.”
Vinai’s popular double-cut pork chop is served with a tamarind-lemongrass glaze.
The design of chef Yia Vang’s Hmong restaurant Vinai has received national acclaim.
Reservations at the restaurant, 1300 NE. 2nd St., Mpls., remain a hot commodity, but the bar and lounge are both first come, first served.
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