Stories from May 2, 2026

St. Paul’s Cinco de Mayo parade draws crowds after winter of fear
St. Paul’s Cinco de Mayo parade brought music, dancing and crowds back to the West Side on Saturday. The event brought Latino families outside after a winter shaped by fear around immigration enforcement during Operation Metro Surge.
Train derails outside Henderson in southern Minnesota
A train derailed early Saturday near Henderson, marking the state’s second derailment this spring, after eight Union Pacific cars carrying liquid methane, propane and grain left the tracks with no injuries or hazardous leaks reported.
The NHL playoffs feature a bunch of new blood in the second round
The second round of the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs has at least six teams who did not make it that far a year ago. Buffalo, Colorado, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Anaheim have already qualified. The winner Montreal-Tampa Bay first-round series will also deliver another newcomer.
Twins slump continues in 7-3 loss to Blue Jays
Kazuma Okamoto homered twice, Yohendrick Pinango had three hits in just his fifth career game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3.
Spirit Airlines ceases operations after escalating financial struggles
The low-cost carrier, which had been struggling for years, announced it will cease operations. Spirit had been seeking a $500 million lifeline from the White House, but talks failed to yield a deal.
Native American birding, cultural teachings along the Mississippi
A group of Native American bird enthusiasts will celebrate American Indian Month by leading a bird walk for their community at a sacred site in St. Paul on Sunday. They hope to inspire other Native American community members to think deeper about the world around them by drawing cultural connections to birds and their role in the environment.
Weekend warm-up with spotty rain, then cooler again
Warmer temperatures are expected for the weekend ahead, with just isolated rain shower chances developing by Saturday afternoon and early evening. A cooldown returns behind a frontal system for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Lilac People’ by Milo Todd
Sophia Terry of Bank Street Books in Mystic, CT, recommends “The Lilac People" by Milo Todd.
Photos: Minneapolis May Day rally and march
A May Day rally and march in Minneapolis comes as labor and immigrant rights groups say fear and disruption from recent enforcement actions are shaping how people show up this year.