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Columbia Heights

Your Community, More Completely.
Sunday, October 18, 2026 · Permanent link to this edition
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October 19: Climate change program at the libraryOctober 21: School fall festivalOctober 24: Truck or TreatNovember 3: Election Day
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Today in Columbia Heights

A jury found Jordan Collins Sr. guilty October 7 of murdering his son Manny; sentencing is set for December 2
Direct balloting for the November 3 election is underway; the ballot includes a school levy question and races for mayor and School Board
40th Avenue crews replaced the clay base with sand; finishing the gravel and installing concrete curb are scheduled this week.
Library program on Minnesota climate change is Monday, October 19
School fall festival is Wednesday, October 21, 5 to 7 p.m.
Truck or Treat is Saturday, October 24, at Huset Park

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

Jury finds Jordan Collins Sr. guilty of murder in son Manny’s death

An Anoka County jury on Wednesday, October 7, found Jordan Collins Sr. of Columbia Heights guilty of second-degree intentional murder in the death of his 16-year-old son, Manny Collins, FOX 9, MPR News and the Elk River Star News reported. FOX 9 reported that the jury deliberated about three and a half hours.

Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, FOX 9 reported; the conviction carries a sentence of up to 40 years. The jury also answered 10 additional questions about the facts of the case that could bear on the sentence, the Elk River Star News reported.

Collins Sr., who represented himself, called four witnesses and did not testify in his own defense, FOX 9 reported.

Community & Culture

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 21, and the listed sessions run through November 25. The informal group gives learners a place to practice speaking with help from an English-speaking volunteer. Registration is not required.

ONGOING

Truck or Treat set for October 24 at Huset Park

Columbia Heights' Truck or Treat is Saturday, October 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Huset Park, 3965 Jefferson St. NE, according to the Northeaster’s event listing. Families can explore Columbia Heights’ trucks and get a Halloween treat, and a pet costume contest is set for 2:30 p.m.

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, in which voters put their ballots directly into a machine, began Friday, October 16, and runs through the election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

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

Fall festival, picture retakes on this week’s school calendar

Columbia Heights Public Schools’ calendar lists a Columbia Academy and Valley View fall festival on Wednesday, October 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. The calendar lists the festival under both schools, at Columbia Academy, 900 49th Ave. NE, and Valley View Elementary, 800 49th Ave. NE.

Picture retakes are Monday, October 19, at North Park School for Innovation and Wednesday, October 21, at Columbia Heights High School. The calendar also lists a Valley View book fair on October 21 and 22 and a Columbia Heights High School National Honor Society ceremony at 6 p.m. October 21.

Arts, Culture & Events

ONGOING

Library program on Minnesota climate change set for Monday

The Columbia Heights Library, 3939 Central Ave. NE, hosts “Climate Change in Our Own Backyard” on Monday, October 19, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., according to the Northeaster’s listing of the library’s adult programs. The presentation covers evidence of climate change in Minnesota, its consequences and local adaptation efforts.

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

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 stopped using the cameras by removing flexible-location cameras and covering 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. 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. A retention slide says data is kept for 30 days on Flock’s cloud service before it is deleted automatically; the materials do not spell out an Axon-specific retention policy.

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.

City, Roads & Planning

UPDATE

40th Avenue crews replace clay base with sand; gravel and concrete curb are next

Anoka County says the contractor on the 40th Avenue (County Highway 2) reconstruction, between Main Street and University Avenue (Highway 47), removed the existing clay sub-base and replaced it with sand, then installed class 5 gravel in preparation for concrete curb. The update is the county’s Construction Weekly report for the week ending October 16.

This coming week, the contractor is scheduled to finish installing the gravel and install concrete curb throughout the project, the county says.

ONGOING

Rachel James and Mark Miernicki on the ballot for mayor

Council President Rachel James and Mark Miernicki are running for the open mayor’s seat on the November 3 ballot, the Northeaster reported in coverage of a September 17 candidate forum at City Hall hosted by the League of Women Voters of New Brighton Area.

James has served four years on the City Council, the last two as council president. Miernicki, a longtime resident and professional musician, worked 18 years managing school buildings and construction for Minneapolis Public Schools, the Northeaster reported.

At the forum the candidates differed on the Central Avenue redesign and on the former Rainbow Foods site at 4300 Central Ave. NE; both said they oppose Flock license-plate cameras, according to the Northeaster. A recording of the forum is available on the City’s Channel 16 website.

Still Developing

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

OPEN

September 14 Madison Street shooting

Police previously reported responding around 6 a.m. September 14 to a report of possible gunshots in the 4100 block of Madison Street NE. They found no victims there but later learned that two people who might have been involved had driven themselves to a local hospital, FOX 9 reported. No arrest, suspect description or condition update has been made public.

Still unresolved: Subsequent police findings and case status.

Next checkpoint: A police or court update.

Source: FOX 9
AWAITING RECORDS

Business microloan recipients

The latest application round had closed. Eligible businesses could seek zero-interest loans of up to $10,000. At a September 17 candidate forum, Council President Rachel James said the forgivable microloan program has supported 30 businesses, the Northeaster reported October 6; the City has not published a list of recipients or amounts.

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

Next checkpoint: A city announcement of awards or disbursements.

Latest reported movement: October 6.

Sources: MyNortheaster; City EDA materials; Northeaster report on the mayoral forum
AWAITING RECORDS

4510 Taylor Street Habitat proposal

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.

Source: Sept. 8 EDA agenda
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.

Source: MinneapoliMedia
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.

Sources: September 22 agenda; Board minutes
OPEN

Manny Collins murder trial

An Anoka County jury found Jordan Collins Sr. guilty of second-degree intentional murder on October 7 in the death of his son, Manny Collins, FOX 9 and MPR News reported. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2.

Still unresolved: The sentence.

Next checkpoint: The December 2 sentencing hearing.

Sources: FOX 9 report on the verdict; MPR News report on the verdict
OPEN

Early-September 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.

Source: Source document
OPEN

2027 city budget and levy

MinneapoliMedia reported the City's proposed 2027 budget and property-tax levy. A public hearing is scheduled for December 14, and the Council is expected to adopt the final budget and levy after receiving public comment.

Still unresolved: The final levy and budget the Council adopts after the December 14 hearing.

Next checkpoint: The final budget and levy decision.

Public hearing scheduled December 14, MinneapoliMedia reported.

Source: MinneapoliMedia
OPENUNCONFIRMED

Highway 65 reconstruction

Not confirmed against the source as of October 18, 2026: whether approved September 14 City Council minutes have been posted; the city's meeting portal could not be opened. Check the source before relying on it.

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.

Sources: September 14 City Council agenda; ABC Newspapers report on municipal consent
OPEN

800 53rd Ave. NE former Medtronic property

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.

Source: City Council agenda
OPEN

4300 Central Ave. redevelopment

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.

Source: City Council 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 18, 2026: all details, because the source notice could not be opened; this continuing story is shown as it was last published. 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.

Source: Source document

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