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CogniLocal

Columbia Heights

Your Community, More Completely.
October 3: HeightsNEXT fall cleanupOctober 8: Eureka Recycling facility tourOctober 12: Teen Academy registration deadlineNovember 3: Election Day
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Today in Columbia Heights

HeightsNEXT fall cleanup starts at 9 a.m. today at the library
Heights Theater centennial series shows Pinocchio, Holy Grail and The Matrix today
Conversation Circle for English learners meets Wednesday, October 7, at the library
Free Eureka Recycling facility tour Thursday, October 8; registration required
Police Teen Academy registration closes Monday, October 12
One district operating-levy question is on the November 3 ballot

NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Central Daylight Time.

Public Safety & Courts

ONGOING

Investigators described the landfill search for Manny Collins in week three of murder trial

FOX 9 reported that prosecutors questioned investigators on Monday, September 28, about the search of the Elk River landfill for the remains of 16-year-old Manny Collins. His father, Jordan Collins Sr., is charged with second-degree murder and is representing himself. ABC Newspapers also identified Elk River as the landfill and reported the charge.

FOX 9 reported that Collins Sr. cross-examined investigators and was holding his opening statement until after the state rests its case. No verdict has been reported.

  • Latest confirmed status: The murder trial remained underway as of the evening of September 28.
  • Publication date: September 28, 2026, 6:55 p.m. CDT (FOX 9)
  • Event date: September 28, 2026
  • Sources: FOX 9 trial report; ABC Newspapers trial report

Community & Culture

ONGOING

Free Eureka Recycling facility tour set for October 8

Columbia Heights Public Schools Community Education and the City’s Refuse Department are offering a free tour of Eureka Recycling’s Minneapolis facility on Thursday, October 8. The adult program meets at Murzyn Hall, 530 Mill St. NE, and runs from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Transportation is provided but limited to 16 participants, so registration is required.

ONGOING

HeightsNEXT fall cleanup is this morning at the library

HeightsNEXT holds its fall street cleanup today, Saturday, October 3, starting at 9 a.m. at Columbia Heights Public Library, 3939 Central Ave. NE. The Northeaster lists the event as 9 to 11 a.m., rain or shine unless the weather is dangerous.

Bring gloves and sturdy footwear. HeightsNEXT provides safety vests, reaching tools and collection bags.

ONGOING

English-language learners’ Conversation Circle meets Wednesdays at the library

The Columbia Heights Public Library holds its Conversation Circle for adult English-language learners on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the History Room, Room 130. The next session is Wednesday, October 7. The informal group gives learners a place to practice speaking with help from an English-speaking volunteer. Registration is not required.

Schools & Youth

ONGOING

District operating-levy question goes to voters November 3

Columbia Heights Public Schools lists one operating-levy referendum question on the November 3 ballot. The district provides a referendum information sheet in English and Spanish.

The district’s referendum page links to its official resolution, tax-impact information and voting resources. Absentee voting began September 18 at the Anoka County Government Center, and direct balloting starts October 16. The election outcome remains pending.

ONGOING

Four candidates seek 3 School Board seats

Three at-large seats, each carrying a four-year term, are on the November 3 ballot. Columbia Heights Public Schools lists four filed candidates: Cristin Craig, Adam Davis, Jessica Medearis and Laura Palmer.

ONGOING

Police Teen Academy registration open for MEA break

Columbia Heights Police’s free Teen Academy for grades 9 through 12 runs Thursday, October 15, and Friday, October 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with breakfast and lunch included. The two-day program is for students interested in learning about law enforcement. The listed registration deadline is Monday, October 12.

Arts, Culture & Events

ONGOING

October adult programs now listed for Medicare, Frankenstein, and local climate topics

The Northeaster’s listing of Columbia Heights Library adult programs points residents to three October sessions at 3939 Central Avenue NE: an Annual Medicare Update presented by the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging on Thursday, October 8, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; “Finding Frankenstein” with the Bakken Museum on Wednesday, October 14, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.; and “Climate Change in Our Own Backyard” on Monday, October 19, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Registration is required for most programs and opens four weeks in advance. Call 763-706-3690 for details.

ONGOING

Heights Theater centennial series continues with Pinocchio, Holy Grail and The Matrix today

The Heights Theater’s centennial film series, running October 1 through 8, continues today, Saturday, October 3, with Pinocchio at 11 a.m. with Edward Copeland on organ, Monty Python and the Holy Grail at 4:15 p.m. with Alec Watson on organ, and The Matrix in 35mm at 6:30 p.m. (with Alec Watson on organ) and 9:30 p.m.

The schedule includes Safety Last! with a live score at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, October 4, and Parasite at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 7. The series closes Thursday, October 8, with Babylon in 70mm at 7 p.m. The theater says a limited number of $85 series passes allow entry to any screening.

MPR News spoke with co-owner Ryan Oestreich about the theater’s 100 years ahead of the series.

AI in Your Community

CogniLocal tracks where artificial intelligence and related automated systems are already entering the institutions that serve this community, who is deploying them, what they are being used for and what changes next.

BACKGROUND

Columbia Heights ended its Flock camera network after privacy and data-sharing concerns

The Northeaster reported in June that the Columbia Heights City Council voted unanimously not to renew the city’s contract with Flock Safety. At a June work session, the Council directed staff to end all services with Flock and cancel its contracts with the company as soon as possible, the Northeaster reported.

According to the Northeaster, the City removed its flexible-location cameras and covered fixed-location cameras with black trash bags, and the seven cameras installed by Flock were to stay in place until Flock could schedule their removal. Taxpayers were still carrying $45,000 in camera operation, installation and data-management costs, and Council Member Connie Buesgens said the City’s request for reimbursement from Flock was denied.

BACKGROUND

Separate Axon plate readers remain documented in 12 police squad cars

A Police Department presentation in the packet for the City Council’s May 4 work session documents 12 Columbia Heights squad cars equipped with Axon Fleet 3 cameras and automated license-plate recognition, installed as of late 2025. The mobile system scans plates while officers drive and can issue alerts for stolen vehicles or active warrants; officers verify an alert with dispatch before acting.

The same materials say the plate readers do not perform facial recognition, vehicle owner and driver information is not available on Flock or Axon, and ALPR information captured by Axon was not being shared. The 30-day retention period in the presentation is listed for Flock’s cloud service; the materials do not list a separate retention period for Axon data.

The May 4 materials establish the equipment and rules at that time. Whether all 12 units remain active, whether access rules have changed and whether the City will publish a separate Axon audit remain unconfirmed.

ONGOING

Police Technology Advisory Committee awaits public appointments

The Columbia Heights Police Department’s new Technology Advisory Committee is meant to offer structured community insight into the planning, implementation and evaluation of police technology, MinneapoliMedia reported in August. Applications were accepted through September 20.

The City has not publicly announced committee members, a first meeting date, whether meetings will be public or what role members will have over existing Axon equipment or future proposals.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPEN

September 14 Madison Street shooting

Police previously reported that two people drove themselves to a hospital after gunfire near the 4100 block of Madison Street NE. No arrest, suspect description or updated condition report has been made public.

Still unresolved: Subsequent police findings and case status.

Next checkpoint: A police or court update.

AWAITING RECORDSUNCONFIRMED

Business microloan recipients

Not confirmed against the source as of October 3, 2026: the September 16 date given for the latest reported movement (the Northeaster page is dated September 15). Check the source before relying on it.

The latest application round had closed. Eligible businesses could seek zero-interest loans of up to $10,000.

Still unresolved: Who received funding and how much was distributed.

Next checkpoint: A city announcement of awards or disbursements.

Latest reported movement: September 16.

AWAITING RECORDSUNCONFIRMED

4510 Taylor Street Habitat proposal

Not confirmed against the source as of October 3, 2026: all details, because the September 8 EDA agenda could not be opened and no other source was found. Check the source before relying on it.

The EDA agenda called for a sale and development agreement with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and an associated forgivable loan.

Still unresolved: Final public confirmation of the EDA's action on the two Habitat resolutions.

Next checkpoint: Approved EDA minutes or a development-agreement record.

EDA agenda dated September 8.

OPEN

Police technology oversight

Applications for the Technology Advisory Committee closed September 20, but appointments and a first meeting have not been announced. The continuing technical question is whether the City’s Axon squad-car plate readers remain active under the configuration described in the May 4 work-session materials after the separate Flock shutdown.

Still unresolved: Committee appointments and the first meeting date.

Next checkpoint: A city announcement of membership or meetings.

AWAITING RECORDS

September 22 School Board actions

The agenda included a Youth Outreach Officer contract, insurance renewal, a clerical agreement and the preliminary 2026-payable-2027 levy.

Still unresolved: The Board’s final actions on the agenda items.

Next checkpoint: Approved minutes or another official meeting record.

Board meeting September 22.

OPEN

Manny Collins murder trial

The latest published report is the September 28 investigator testimony detailing the landfill search for Manny’s remains. The trial was still underway, and no verdict had been reported as of October 2.

Still unresolved: A verdict and final disposition.

Next checkpoint: A later court report or verdict.

OPEN

September 5 Central Avenue shooting

The latest confirmed public account still says three bystanders were wounded, one alleged shooter was in custody and a second shooter remained at large. No newer arrest, charging announcement or victim-status update has been made public.

Still unresolved: Identification of the second alleged shooter, charging decisions and any later victim-status update.

Next checkpoint: A police or court update.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

2027 city budget and levy

Not confirmed against the source as of October 3, 2026: the $61 million budget and $21.65 million levy figures, that they were approved, and the November Anoka County notices (the City announcement could not be opened; the available report predates the vote). Check the source before relying on it.

The preliminary $61 million budget and $21.65 million levy are now approved. The next public checkpoint is the December 14 hearing and final vote. Property-specific notices are expected from Anoka County in November.

Still unresolved: Final levy and budget adoption after the December 14 hearing.

Next checkpoint: The final budget and levy decision.

OPEN

Highway 65 reconstruction

ABC Newspapers reported that the City Council unanimously approved MnDOT’s proposed redesign of Central Avenue (Highway 65) between 37th and 53rd avenues NE on September 14. Under the design, much of the corridor south of 49th Avenue would have one general traffic lane in each direction, with roundabouts planned at 46½, 47th, 49th, 51st and 53rd avenues.

Still unresolved: Additional project details are to be negotiated through a memorandum of understanding, and approved September 14 Council minutes have not been posted.

Next checkpoint: Approved September 14 minutes or a memorandum of understanding with MnDOT.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

800 53rd Ave. NE former Medtronic property

Not confirmed against the source as of October 3, 2026: all details, because the September 14 Council agenda could not be opened. Check the source before relying on it.

A comprehensive-plan amendment for the former Medtronic property appeared on the September 14 Council agenda.

Still unresolved: Approval, denial or conditions have not been confirmed in the available meeting record.

Next checkpoint: Published minutes or a later city development record.

A comprehensive-plan amendment was on the September 14 agenda.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

4300 Central Ave. redevelopment

Not confirmed against the source as of October 3, 2026: all details, because the September 14 Council agenda could not be opened. Check the source before relying on it.

A comprehensive-plan amendment affecting 4300 Central Ave. was scheduled for Council action September 14.

Still unresolved: The final disposition remains unconfirmed in the available meeting record.

Next checkpoint: Published minutes or a later city development record.

A comprehensive-plan amendment was on the September 14 agenda.

OPEN

Columbia Heights schools and enrollment

Superintendent Zena Stenvik told the Northeaster that enrollment had recovered to roughly 3,300 students, compared with about 3,400 before federal immigration-enforcement activity affected the district. The report also describes geothermal heating and cooling wells at Valley View Elementary.

Still unresolved: Later enrollment figures, continuing effects on families and the geothermal project’s progress.

Next checkpoint: District enrollment and facilities updates.

Latest substantive local report: September 15.

Source: Northeaster
OPENUNCONFIRMED

3923 Jackson Street NE foreclosure

Not confirmed against the source as of October 3, 2026: all details, because the foreclosure notice is no longer available online. Check the source before relying on it.

The public notice scheduled a sheriff’s sale for September 29. No sale result or postponement has been published, so the outcome should not yet be treated as complete.

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News tips and corrections: editor@cognilocal.com.