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Uber and Lyft are quitting Minneapolis over a driver pay increase

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Uber and Lyft are quitting Minneapolis over a driver pay increase


and plan to end operations in after the city council voted to increase driver pay. The council passed an ordinance on the issue last week. On Thursday, it voted to overrule a mayoral veto of the measure.

The new rules stipulate that ridesharing companies need to pay drivers at least $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute (or $5 a ride, whichever is higher) whenever they’re ferrying a passenger. Tips are on top of the minimum pay. According to the , the council passed the ordinance to bring driver pay closer to the local minimum wage of $15.57 an hour.

However, Uber and Lyft say they’ll end services in the city before the pay rise takes effect on May 1. Lyft says the increase is “deeply flawed,” citing a Minnesota indicating that drivers could meet the minimum wage and still cover health insurance, paid leave and retirement savings at lower rates of $1.21 per mile and 49 cents per minute. “We support a minimum earning standard for drivers, but it should be done in an honest way that keeps the service affordable for riders,” spokesperson CJ Macklin told

An Uber spokesperson told the publication that the company was disappointed by the council’s choice to “ignore the data and kick Uber out of the Twin Cities,” putting around 10,000 drivers out of work. They noted Uber’s confidence that by working with drivers, drivers and legislators, “we can achieve comprehensive statewide legislation that guarantees drivers a fair minimum wage, protects their independence and keeps rideshare affordable.”

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However, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz last year to boost wages for Uber and Lyft drivers, citing concern over the state becoming one of the most expensive places in the country for ridesharing. Other jurisdictions have mandated minimum driver pay for ridesharing services, including New York City, where the rate starts at about $18 per hour.

If Uber and Lyft follow through on their threat to quit Minneapolis, that could make it harder for people (particularly folks with disabilities and those who can’t afford a car of their own) to get around. The rise of ridesharing has upended the taxi industry over the last decade or so. As such, a Minneapolis official there are now just 39 licensed cab drivers in the city, a significant drop from 1,948 licensed drivers in January 2014.

Meanwhile, some upstart ridesharing companies and take over from Lyft and Uber. and , for instance, have shown interest in starting operations in Minneapolis. Both companies ask drivers to pay a monthly subscription fee to use their platforms and find riders. In return, drivers keep the entire fare.



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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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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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