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Minneapolis, MN

Northstar line’s farewell ride departs downtown Minneapolis after Vikings’ season-closing win

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Northstar line’s farewell ride departs downtown Minneapolis after Vikings’ season-closing win


Sixteen years of commuting came to a close on Sunday afternoon. 

The Northstar Commuter Rail made its final ride after the Vikings-Packers game to get fans home safely to the northern Twin Cities suburbs.

“Last time I was on it, people were so sad. So many people were sad this was not going to continue,” Patty Fernandez, a regular Northstar rider, said.

It was Meghan Gause’s first time taking the Northstar line to a Vikings game from Coon Rapids, and she’s disappointed it won’t be an option going forward. 

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“I think it’s kind of crazy because it’s really convenient for people to take this and not drive through the traffic along with all the other people,” Gause said. 

As a Vikings season ticket holder, Fernandez captured the grand finale departure with her granddaughter.

“This is the only way I get to the games. If it’s not with my son, it’s the train,” Fernandez said.

The Northstar first launched in 2009 as a 40-mile-long rail line between Target Field in downtown Minneapolis to Big Lake with stops throughout the northern suburbs. 

In 2018, annual ridership peaked at more than 780,000 passengers. There was a dramatic drop during the pandemic, with an all-time low of just over 50,000 riders in 2021. That number didn’t improve enough in 2024 (approx. 127,000 riders) and 2025 (approx. 113,400 riders) to keep operating efficiently.

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“The subsidy, or what it costs us to support each one of the rides, was more recently over $100 per rider,” said Brian Funk, the chief operating officer for Metro Transit. 

Funk says plans for the future of this infrastructure are still being determined, but they will work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and BNSF Railway over the next year to figure out what parts can be repurposed.

“We’re going to hold onto this, at least for the short term,” Funk said. “It’s a great location right next to the ballpark.”

In the meantime, public transit riders are left to rely on bus routes to downtown. 

“I have to. I will not drive over here, it’s ridiculous and the parking is ridiculous,” Fernandez said.

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Minneapolis, MN

United flight from Chicago to Minneapolis diverted to Wisconsin due to unruly passenger: officials

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United flight from Chicago to Minneapolis diverted to Wisconsin due to unruly passenger: officials


ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Saturday, May 30, 2026 3:58AM

ABC7 Chicago 24/7 Stream

CHICAGO (WLS) — A United Airlines flight that left Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Friday was diverted due to an unruly passenger, officials said.

United flight 2005 from Chicago was headed to Minneapolis but landed in Madison, Wisconsin.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

“United flight 2005 from Chicago to Minneapolis landed safely in Madison, Wisconsin to address a security concern with an unruly passenger,” the airline said in a statement. “The flight is expected to continue to Minneapolis later on Friday.”

No injuries were reported, United said.

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No further information was immediately available.

This is a developing story.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Minneapolis, MN

ICE agent charged with assault in shooting during Minneapolis immigration crackdown is arrested in Texas | CNN

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ICE agent charged with assault in shooting during Minneapolis immigration crackdown is arrested in Texas | CNN


An ICE agent facing several assault charges in connection with a January shooting involving two Venezuelan people in Minnesota has been arrested in Texas, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.

Christian Castro was charged earlier this month with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime.

CNN is working to determine whether Castro has an attorney and has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.

Castro faces those charges in connection with the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan man shot in the leg through the front door of a Minneapolis home. The incident took place during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement blitz in the Twin Cities.

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Originally, Sosa-Celis and his cousin Alfredo A. Aljorna were facing federal charges after DHS said they had attacked an agent, prompting him to fire a defensive shot.

But the Justice Department dropped the charges in February, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement said two of its agents, who made false statements about the incident under oath, were placed on administrative leave.

This is a developing story and will be updated.



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Minneapolis, MN

Air quality alert issued for Friday in Twin Cities

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Air quality alert issued for Friday in Twin Cities


The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for the Twin Cities starting Friday. 

Air quality alert in Twin Cities

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What we know:

MPCA says that ground-level ozone will be at unhealthy levels in the Twin Cities on Friday. An air quality will be in place from noon to 9 p.m. 

An air quality alert in the Twin Cities. Graphic courtesy of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.  (Supplied)

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Sunny skies, low humidity and warm temperatures make for favorable conditions pollutants to react with sunlight to make ground-level ozone. MPCA says the ozone will subside as the sun sets. 

Who is most affected by poor air quality?

Dig deeper:

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People with asthma or other breathing conditions like COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema will be affected by poor quality. They can experience symptoms like difficulty deep breathing, shortness of breath, throat soreness, wheezing, coughing and unusual fatigue. 

Additionally, children, teenagers and people of all ages who are doing heavy physical activity outside. 

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What you can do:

MPCA recommends taking it easy while outside and limiting physical activity.

To help reduce pollution, use public transit or carpool when possible, fill up your car’s tank at dawn or dusk and avoid backyard fires.

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The Source: A press release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 

WeatherMinnesota



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