This week’s edition covers stories
from June 19th to June 25th, 2025.
Today’s issue is 1175 words, a 10-minute read
Hey folks, Mateo here.
I am back from a two-week adventure out of the country and ready to deliver the latest updates from the past week. Since I have been back, the weather has been strange, to say the least. On Sunday it reached the 90s, and then it has been either gloomy or raining since. Normally, we would say something about it aiding the drought, but, Minnesota is actually doing fine right now. In other weather news, we are hoping for the best up in Bemidji, where they experienced Category 3 hurricane winds and damaging tornadoes this past weekend.
This week we are covering stories from across the globe, starting with an update on the Israel-Iran conflict that the U.S. has been increasingly involved with. Then, we cover the temporary closing of a staple grocery store in Uptown, and how residents are working to bring the energy back to their beloved neighborhood. And finally, the Timberwolves and Lynx officially have new owners, what that could mean for the team and more, in this week’s edition of NewPrensa.
U.S. Strikes Iranian
Nuclear Sites as Local
Protests Erupt in Minneapolis
Last weekend, the U.S. launched airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, using B-2 stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles. President Donald Trump called it a “spectacular military success,” asserting that the strikes “completely obliterated” Iran’s enrichment capabilities and warning Tehran that any retaliation would provoke even greater force. Iran did retaliate. Days after the strikes, it fired dozens of missiles at U.S. military targets in Iraq, after issuing a formal warning. The attack caused limited damage and no U.S. casualties, but it marked a dramatic escalation in what many fear could become a wider regional war.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials maintain the strikes caused “extremely severe damage” to Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure. But intelligence sources, including a classified assessment reported by CBS and AP, suggest the facilities may have only been temporarily disabled, potentially setting Iran’s nuclear program back by mere months. As of print time, independent verification of the full extent of the damage remains limited.
But back in Minneapolis, the mood was anything but triumphant. On Juneteenth (June 19th), roughly 100 protestors marched through downtown, chanting “No U.S. War on Iran.” Among them were Iranian Minnesotans filled with anxiety, anger, and heartbreak. Sima Shakhsari, a professor at the University of Minnesota and longtime anti-war organizer, described the wave of fear felt by Iranian families with loved ones back home. “As someone who has lived through war, I don’t want that life for my nieces and their children,” they said. The protests were marked not just by opposition to U.S. military involvement, but by deep frustration over what many see as continued foreign interference in Iran.
Uptown Cub Foods
Closes Temporarily
The only full-service grocery store in the heart of Uptown has closed, at least for now. Cub Foods confirmed this week that its location on Lagoon Avenue has been “temporarily closed for repairs and other proactive measures.” A sign posted at the store promises more updates once a reopening timeline is determined. While Cub emphasized that this isn’t a permanent shutdown, many residents remain skeptical. This isn’t the first time a Cub location has closed in the Twin Cities as its Brooklyn Park South store closed permanently just last fall. And with mourning concerns about safety, accessibility, and economic viability in Uptown, some worry whether the store will return at all. The closure brings renewed attention to broader challenges in Uptown, which has seen high-profile business exits, slower foot traffic, and lingering questions about public safety and their identity.
These concerns, and potential solutions, were front and center last night at the Uptown Futures Forum, hosted at the Granada Theater. The event brought together neighborhood residents, business owners, developers, and civic leaders to discuss how to revitalize and reimagine Uptown. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from two panels, including voices like Jimmy Tidmore of Mosaic Café, Peter Remes of Granada Theater, and local artists, business leaders, and educators. Councilmember Aisha Chughtai, State Reps. Katie Jones & Jamie Long, and State Senator Scott Dibble were also present and voiced their thoughts. The forum was organized in partnership with local neighborhood associations, including groups from South Uptown, the Wedge, East Bde Maka Ska, and East Isles. Their message is clear: it’s time to get the energy back.
Timberwolves & Lynx
Officially Sold
After Years of Negotiations
📸 NBA.com
After more than four years of negotiations, disputes, and delays, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx officially have new leadership. On Tuesday, the NBA unanimously approved the $1.5 billion sale of both teams to an ownership group led by e-commerce entrepreneur Marc Lore and former MLB star Alex Rodriguez, ending Glen Taylor’s 31-year tenure as owner.
The sale marks a major transition for Minnesota basketball and brings renewed focus to what could be an even bigger change: the future of the Target Center. Built in 1990, the downtown Minneapolis arena is the NBA’s second-oldest and has long been seen as a limiting factor in the Wolves’ revenue potential and fan experience. Lore and Rodriguez haven’t been shy about their desire to build a new arena–potentially outside of downtown.
That “vision” includes anchoring a modern entertainment district, something the current facility, despite a $145 million renovation in 2017, can’t fully offer. The building has limited premium seating, outdated structural features, and concourses much smaller in comparison to newer NBA arenas. Still, the Target Center continues to generate millions in city revenue and is supported by local sales and entertainment taxes. As of now, the Wolves are under contract there until 2035, with a $50 million penalty for early departure.
For longtime fans, the thought of leaving downtown hits hard. I grew up going to games at the Target Center, and still go to games every year. I like the Target Center, not because it’s flashy or new, but because it’s home. And its place in the heart of downtown Minneapolis is a part of that identity. I hope that any arena decision not only keeps the teams in Minnesota, as Lore and A-Rod have promised, but keeps them rooted in Minneapolis, and ideally downtown.
To their credit, Lore and Rodriguez haven’t just operated from behind closed doors. Over the last few seasons, they’ve made it a point to be present, frequently sitting courtside, engaging with fans, supporting the players, and becoming visible figures in the Wolves community. Still, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Lore and Rodriguez say they are open to financing a new arena privately, which could spare taxpayers at a time when state funds for pro sports venues are in short supply. And civic leaders, like the Minneapolis Downtown Council, believe a new arena, if done right, could spark the same kind of neighborhood revitalization seen around Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium.
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
recovering from jet lag by night!
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