Minnesota

Minneapolis bookstore devastated by water main break

Published

1 year ago

February 17, 2025

Minneapolis bookstore devastated by water main break

A beloved local bookstore, the Paperback Exchange, is facing an unimaginable loss after a water main break flooded their South Minneapolis store early last Thursday morning.

The store, which was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary this spring, now finds itself in the midst of a crisis.

“It was so colorful and bright and just a warm place to be, and now, it’s just empty, you know,” said Rachel Pedersen, Manager of the bookstore.

Pedersen said they rushed to salvage as many books as they could, saving a majority of the ones upstairs. But downstairs, the situation was much worse.

“The back wall is where the water main burst. There was about a four-by-five-foot hole in the wall where the main burst and just completely flooded,” Pedersen said.

Thankfully, no one was working in the basement at the time. The water submerged the entire basement from floor to ceiling, leaving books in piles of mud and debris.

“Unfortunately, the basement is where we put rare, valuable stuff that was hard to sell upstairs — overstock. One-in-a-million type of stuff, stuff you’ll never see again… 50 years worth of collecting stuff, you know, and stuff that’s irreplaceable, really,” Pedersen said.

In total, Pedersen estimates that over 100,000 books were lost in the basement alone. She said the owners, who have managed the bookstore for 30 years, are now dealing with the loss of their business, as well as personal losses. The same water main break that devastated the store also affected their home.

“They lost their car, their whole basement, and they’re struggling with insurance too,” Pedersen said.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, the community has rallied together in support. Local schools have shown their compassion by leaving Valentine’s cards on the doors of businesses impacted by the flood.

“It was one bright spot, you know, in a really hard time for us, and we’re so happy to see that,” Pedersen said.

Though the future remains uncertain, Pedersen stays hopeful.

“It’s been hard, but, you know, just gotta keep going forward, and we’re so thankful to everyone who’s been helping us,” Pedersen said.

Paperback Exchange will be hosting a book fair at Fat Pants Brewing Company in Eden Prairie on March 2nd, from 12 PM to 5 PM. This event will serve as a way for the community to support the store during this challenging time.

Kirsten Mitchell

Kirsten Mitchell joined the WCCO team as a reporter in November of 2021. A Saint Paul native, Kirsten is proud to tell stories in her home state. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Go Gophs!) and interned at WCCO during her time there.

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Minnesota

AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026

Published

10 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

AJR Brings Their Catchy Pop Hits To The Minnesota State Fair in 2026

ST. PAUL (WJON News) — A multiplatinum indie pop trio will grace the stage of the Great Minnesota Get Together this summer. AJR will hit the stage at the Minnesota State Fair on Wednesday, September 2nd. The trio has generated billions of streams and four platinum singles, along with being one of the 500 most listened to artists on Spotify.

AJR will be joined by Quinn XCII (92) and Avery Cochrane. Quinn XCII (92) blends pop, alternative, and genre-bending storytelling and has garnered multiple platinum singles like “Straightjacket.” Tickets for AJR go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.

9 grandstand shows have now been announced for the 2026 state fair.

AJR joins Bonnie Raitt, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Sierra Ferrell, Tommy James & The Shondells with special guest Herman Hermit’s Peter Noone, Rod Stewart with Richard Marx, Brad Paisley, and the It’s Iconic tour with TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue as acts announced for the 2026 state fair.

Minnesota State Fair

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2025 Minnesota State Fair

The Great Minnesota Get Together is a rite of passage, and the first sign that summer is coming to an end. 2025 saw perfect weather for the entire 12-day run of the Minnesota State Fair.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

Kansas and Jefferson Starship at The Ledge

Two classic rock legends in Kansas and Jefferson Starship brought down the house at the Ledge Amphitheater in 2025.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

Turnpike Troubadours at the Ledge

The American Country Band Turnpike Troubadours took the stage at the Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park with their “Wild America” tour and special guest Old Crow Medicine Show.

Gallery Credit: Paul Habstritt

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Minnesota

What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration

Published

22 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

What a University of Minnesota grad has done for space exploration

The successful Artemis II mission around the moon is a reminder that space exploration is built on decades of groundwork. Photojournalist Joe Van Ryn and Frankie McLister show how a University of Minnesota graduate helped pave the way for spaceflight.

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Minnesota

Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Minnesota county is investigating potential kidnapping and false imprisonment by federal officers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are planning to investigate the actions of federal law enforcement officers in one county, potentially including a kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Sheriff Bob Fletcher said they planned to release more details about the investigation at a news conference later Monday. Ramsey County includes the state capital of St. Paul.

Choi and Fletcher said they will pursue information they need for the investigation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department has refused so far to cooperate with other state and local investigations into the killings by federal officers of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The news conference announcement did not specify which incident is being investigated, but the county’s chief prosecutor and sheriff said they would ask the public for information about this and other incidents.

The state and the chief prosecutor in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, sued the Trump administration last month to gain access to evidence they say they need to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.

Minnesota and Hennepin County have also appealed to the public to share information about federal officers’ potentially illegal activities, given the refusal by federal authorities to provide evidence.

The Trump administration has suggested Minnesota officials don’t have jurisdiction to investigate those cases. State and county prosecutors say they need to conduct their own inquiries because they don’t trust the federal government.

The Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, and two officers have been placed on leave, but the agency said a similar federal probe was not warranted in Good’s death.

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