This week’s edition covers stories
from August 28th to September 3rd, 2025.
Today’s issue is 766 words, a 6-minute read
Hey folks, NewPrensa here.
The air has cooled and the State Fair has wrapped, marking the shift from summer to fall in Minnesota. Nearly 1.94 million people passed through the fairgrounds this year—including me, twice, which felt like just the right amount—but as we settle into a new season, the grief from last week’s tragedy at Annunciation Church still lingers. Families, neighbors, and leaders continue to mourn while calling for meaningful action, even as daily life presses forward with traditions like the Fair and fresh beginnings like tonight’s Vikings season opener. From reflection to renewal, it feels like Minnesota is standing at a turning point, carrying both sorrow and hope into the season ahead.
One Week Later: Grief,
Anger, and Calls for Action
A week after the fatal shooting at Annunciation Church shook Minneapolis, the grief remains raw, and so does the frustration. Yesterday, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance visited the site of the tragedy to meet privately with families of victims and lay flowers at the memorial outside the church. While some welcomed the gesture, many in this progressive city viewed it as another example of “thoughts and prayers” without action. Across the street, demonstrators held signs demanding bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. One read: “When you pray, move your feet.”
📸 Alex Wroblewski/Pool via AP
That tension reflects a deeper anger that has been building for years. Parents like Kacie Sharpe, whose son was seated near one of the children killed, told reporters that nothing seems to change after each shooting: “It keeps happening over and over — and nothing changes.” Even Pope Leo XIV weighed in, calling the crisis a global “pandemic of arms” and urging leaders to beat “swords into plowshares.” His remarks underscored a growing sense that the problem is not confined to Minneapolis, or even the U.S., but the urgency here feels personal.
📸 Star Tribune
Local leaders, led by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and joined by mayors across the metro, are pushing for immediate reforms. They’re demanding either state-level bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, or the authority for cities to pass their own protections. “Our communities are hurting,” said Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse. “This isn’t a big city problem. This is a Minnesota problem.” For families of victims, however, change cannot come fast enough. As vigils continue and classes remain paused, residents are rallying around the Annunciation Hope and Healing Fund to support those directly impacted. But many say the most meaningful support would be action: laws to ensure that no more Minnesota children are killed.
1.94 Million Strong at the State Fair
After two trips to the Minnesota State Fair this year, I think I’ve found the sweet spot: just enough time to enjoy the classics and try some new flavors without overdoing it. A few standouts from my visits included the shrimp and pork toast on a stick from Union Hmong Kitchen, the Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha from Holy Land, and the refreshing Baja Breeze Slushie from Shanghai Henry’s.
I wasn’t the only one making the rounds. Nearly 1.94 million people came through the gates over the 12-day run, the most since before the pandemic, though still shy of the record-breaking 2.1 million set in 2019. Thanks to mild weather and steady crowds, this year’s fair felt lively without the extremes of past years.
📸 Foodie Finds
Now that the Great Minnesota Get-Together is wrapped up until August 2026, I’m curious: Did you make it out this year? How many times do you think is just right? And what was your favorite bite?
NFL Season Kicks Off Today
The Minnesota Vikings open their season in primetime on Monday night, facing off against division rival Chicago Bears. It’s a fitting stage for quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s long-awaited debut. Drafted in 2024, the former Michigan national champion spent last season sidelined with a knee injury, watching the Vikings go 14-3 and make a playoff run. Now, he steps into the spotlight as the leader of the offense.
He won’t have every weapon at his disposal. Wideout Jordan Addison begins the year serving a suspension—but McCarthy can lean on familiar stars. Justin Jefferson remains one of the league’s most dangerous receivers, with Harrison Smith and T.J. Hockenson returning as anchors on both sides of the ball.
The challenge ahead is steep. The NFC North has become one of football’s most competitive divisions, only strengthened by the Packers’ headline-making trade for Micah Parsons, who immediately signed the richest non-QB deal in NFL history. With rivals reloading, the Vikings will need both veteran consistency and rookie spark to keep pace.
Stay informed, stay connected.
See you next week!
–
Mateo and the NewPrensa team
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Hi, friend: Mateo here!
I’m a Communications Specialist by day and
resting from the fair by night.
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