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🌱 Patch AM: Will a new therapist finally ease pediatric mental health gridlock in ERs?

Make time for The Glory of Christmas - Exultate Chamber Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert on the Minneapolis Patch calendar

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Morning Minneapolis! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will a new therapist finally ease pediatric mental health gridlock in ERs?
  • Why Twin Cities grocers are struggling even as prices start to ease
  • How a Minneapolis power firm won a $500 million Army deal

Also on today's calendar: The Glory of Christmas - Exultate Chamber Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Partly sunny and cold, with a high of 7 and low of -1 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Monday: Periods of sun; not as cold, temps: high: 27, low: 18.
  • Tuesday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 42 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Minn. program targets pediatric psych patients ‘boarded' on ED beds (ems1.com) — Children in mental health crisis who end up in Minneapolis ERs could soon get home sooner, thanks to a new therapist position serving Children’s Minnesota hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minneapolis-based Washburn Center for Children will provide in-ER counseling and follow-up support for three to six months, aiming to cut long ER stays and repeat visits for struggling families.
   

2. Oxendale's Market in West St. Paul to close, Burrito Mercado to limit hours (twincities.com) — Grocery options around the Twin Cities are tightening, with a Cub Foods in Uptown Minneapolis only recently reopening after renovations while an Oxendale’s in West St. Paul prepares to close and El Burrito Mercado cuts hours. Independent grocers cite inflation, labor shortages, immigration fears and policy changes as major pressures. Industry leaders say stabilizing food prices and tariff relief may offer some hope heading into 2026.
   

3. U.S. Army awards Cummins $500M contract for mobile power systems (defence-blog.com) — A Minneapolis-based division of Cummins just landed a $500 million U.S. Army contract to build 500-kilowatt mobile generator systems, underscoring the city’s role in defense-related manufacturing. Work will run through December 2025 and support power needs for military bases and field operations worldwide, potentially sustaining local jobs and technical expertise in power generation.
   

4. The art of ‘Place-Keepers': How Latina cultural workers are preserving community space ‘with or without funding' (startribune.com) — Minnesota’s image as a well-funded arts haven looks very different from the perspective of communities of color in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities. A University of Minnesota scholar’s new book spotlights Latina “place-keepers” and uses the state’s snowy “whiteout” metaphor to critique how public arts funding and historic narratives have marginalized Black, Indigenous and Latino artists. The piece highlights funding disparities and reframes past portrayals of Minneapolis’s racial history.
   

📸 Around Minneapolis

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Room Parties 101: How AniMinneapolis Keeps the Night Alive —Victoria Russell Read on Patch
  • There is a medium sized black and white dog running on 54 & Ewing.
    I tried to catch them but they are very skittish. I hope someone finds this sweet boy. (Nextdoor Fulton)
  • My cat Cecil (pronounced See-soul) appears to have gotten out last night.
    He is friendly towards other humans. If you can, bring him inside and let me know so we can get him back. (Nextdoor Minnehaha)
  • ServiceMaster Clean posted a job opening for Commercial Cleaner in Minneapolis. Apply here.
  • Harvard Maintenance, Inc. posted a job opening for Cleaner - Janitorial Services - Empleado de limpieza - GENERAL - Part Time (Minneapolis, MN) in Minneapolis. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Minneapolis here.

Ok Minneapolis! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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