Search Continues, Child Porn Conviction and 'Civil Marriage': Pick of Our Patches

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael.

Police Release Maps in Search for Mandy Matula

Eden Prairie police have released maps of the areas where Mandy Matula, the missing Eden Prairie woman, might be located. The areas are in Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties. 

Scott Andrew Bradley of Oakdale, who once worked as communications coordinator for the City of Richfield, got the maximum sentence.

MN Same-Sex Marriage Bill: House OKs FitzSimmons' 'Civil Marriage' Amendment

The freshman state representative for St. Michael and Albertville proposed adding the word 'civil' before the word 'marriage' wherever it appears in Minnesota law.

Buddhist Monastery Planned for South Savage

This week Savage Planning Commission will consider an application from Tay Phuong, an organization which hopes to convert a single-family home into a Buddhist worship space and monastery.

Odell Howard Sets New Fridley High School Record in 100-Meter Dash

The FHS junior led the preliminaries then came in second in the final at the 2013 Hamline Elite Meet, according to the Star Tribune.

PBS Special Featuring Southdale Center Airing Sunday

'10 Buildings That Changed America' will air at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 12, on Twin Cities Public Television.

Maple Grove Hospital hosted a Birthday Open House to honor the 10,000 babies delivered at the hospital.

Canterbury Park Reports Record-Breaking Betting on Kentucky Derby Day

Over 10,000 people flooded into Canterbury Park to sip mint juleps and bet on the "The Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs.

SLP High Principal Robert Metz Selected as New Superintendent

The SLP School Board unanimously selected Metz to become the district's new superintendent on Thursday, May 9.

Minnetonka High School Welcomes a Familiar Leader to Replace Principal Adney

It was a year ago when Assistant Principal Jeff Erickson left Minnetonka to become principal at Mounds View High School—a bitter-sweet decision, leaving a school culture he had been instrumental in creating during his 20-year career at MHS. Now he's coming back.

District Asks for Help in Picking Next Washburn Principal

Carol Markham-Cousins was removed from the position in April.

What Could Happen to the Begin Farmland For Sale in Plymouth?

This week the Plymouth City Council discussed the farmland property for sale by the Begin Family in the northwest area of the city at a closed meeting. Part of the discussion was to be to see if the city can present a competitive bid to buy the property and create a 10th playfield.

Metropolitan Council Selects Light Rail as Preferred Bottineau Option

The Metropolitan Council voted Wednesday to include the 13-mile-long Bottineau Transitway light rail transit project in its 2030 Transportation Policy Plan.

Hopkins Fights Back Against Southwest LRT Maintenance Facility

City leaders are upset about potential loss of tax base and redevelopment opportunities.