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Columbia Heights

Your Community, More Completely.
October 22: Alumni Foundation dinnerOctober 24: Truck or TreatOctober 27: School Board meetingNovember 3: Election Day
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Today in Columbia Heights

The high school Alumni Foundation dinner is tonight, Thursday, October 22, at Banquets of Minnesota
Early voting is open at City Hall weekdays through November 2, with extra hours Saturday, October 24
Truck or Treat is Saturday, October 24, 1 to 4 p.m., at Huset Park East (unconfirmed)
Superintendent Zena Stenvik received the Humphrey Institute’s Civic Award, the Northeaster reported
40th Avenue crews are scheduled this week to finish gravel work and install concrete curb
Choir and band concerts and a Multi-Language Learner Night are on the district calendar October 28 and 29

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 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 Mondays and Wednesdays at the library

The Columbia Heights Public Library holds its Conversation Circle for adult English-language learners on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the History Room, Room 130, according to Anoka County Library event listings. The next sessions are Monday, October 26, and Wednesday, October 28. The listed Wednesday sessions run through November 25 and the Monday sessions through November 30.

The informal group gives learners a place to practice speaking with help from an English-speaking volunteer. Registration is not required.

ONGOINGUNCONFIRMED

Truck or Treat set for October 24 at Huset Park

Not confirmed against the source as of October 22, 2026: that the event is in the east section of Huset Park; the face painting and snowplow-blade painting; the Puppet Wagon show times; the food trucks; the Canine Coach as host of the pet costume contest; and the Police Department's collection for Alexandra House and its list of needed items. Check the source before relying on it.

Columbia Heights' Truck or Treat is Saturday, October 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Huset Park East, 3965 Jefferson St. NE, the City says. Families can explore trucks, vehicles and equipment, collect candy, get their faces painted and help paint a snowplow blade. Puppet Wagon performances are at 1:30 and 3 p.m., and Pronto Pups and D's Kitchen food trucks are scheduled.

A pet costume contest hosted by the Canine Coach is at 2:30 p.m. The Columbia Heights Police Department is also collecting supplies at the event for Alexandra House, which serves domestic violence survivors; its urgent needs include boxed cereal, canned fruit, canned tuna and chicken, and size 5 diapers. The Northeaster also lists the event.

BACKGROUND

SACA Food Shelf community market open four days a week

SACA Food Shelf, 3905 California St. NE, says its community market is open to all neighbors who need food assistance, with no paperwork or appointments required, and that people can pick up free groceries as often as needed.

Market hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, including today, October 22. Friday hours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., are by appointment only. Donations are accepted Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 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 covers the final 18 days before 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

High school Alumni Foundation dinner tonight honors 2026 Alumni of Distinction

The 18th annual Columbia Heights High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation Dinner is tonight, Thursday, October 22, at Banquets of Minnesota, Columbia Heights Public Schools said in its October 1 district update. The evening recognizes the 2026 Alumni of Distinction: Craig Larson, Dan Shuck, Michelle Radermacher, Matt Townsend and Michelle Douglas.

A silent auction and social hour begin at 5 p.m., with dinner and the program at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 a person or $700 for a table of 10. The Alumni Foundation is a nonprofit that raises money for scholarships for Columbia Heights High School graduates.

ONGOING

No school on Election Day; School Board meets October 27

Columbia Heights Public Schools has no school on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day, according to announcements on the School Board’s October 13 agenda. The next School Board meeting is Tuesday, October 27, in the district’s Community Room, according to the same announcements and the district calendar.

NEW

Superintendent Zena Stenvik receives Humphrey Institute Civic Award

Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik was recognized with the Humphrey Institute’s Civic Award in September, the Northeaster reported October 20. Imam Yusuf Abdulle, Edwin Torres DeSantiago, Natalie Ehret and Jesse Goldfarb also received the recognition.

A press release quoted by the Northeaster says the award honors Minnesotans who showed up for their neighbors when it mattered most, including people who supported families and students.

NEW

Choir and band concerts and a Multi-Language Learner Night on the district calendar

The Columbia Heights High School choir concert is Wednesday, October 28, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the high school, 1400 49th Ave. NE, according to the Columbia Heights Public Schools calendar. The fall band concert for seventh and eighth graders and the high school band is Thursday, October 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the high school.

Highland Elementary holds a Multi-Language Learner Night on Thursday, October 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the school, 1500 49th Ave. NE. The calendar also lists the Valley View Elementary book fair today, October 22, and a Columbia Academy PTO meeting Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m.

Arts, Culture & Events

NEW

Family Storytime and LEGO Brick Builders at the library next week

The Columbia Heights Public Library holds Family Storytime on Monday, October 26, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Community Room (Room 100), according to Anoka County Library listings. The storytime is designed for children ages 2 to 5, siblings are welcome and no registration is required. It repeats on Mondays through December 14.

LEGO Brick Builders, for ages 6 and up, is Tuesday, October 27, with drop-in building from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the same room; the library provides the bricks. The library’s Adult Book Club next meets Wednesday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss “The Mighty Red” by Louise Erdrich.

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 remain in place until their removal could be scheduled. 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 general slide says ALPR data is stored for 30 days and then deleted automatically, and a retention slide says data is kept for 30 days on Flock’s cloud service before it is deleted automatically.

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

ONGOING

40th Avenue crews scheduled to finish gravel and install concrete curb this week

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. That work is described in the county’s Construction Weekly report for the week ending October 16.

This week, the contractor is scheduled to finish installing the gravel and install concrete curb throughout the project, the county says. The county has not posted a newer weekly report since the one for the week ending October 16.

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.

ONGOINGUNCONFIRMED

Early voting open at City Hall through November 2

Not confirmed against the source as of October 22, 2026: City Hall's regular weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the free City Hall parking garage entered from 40th Avenue NE. Check the source before relying on it.

In-person early voting for the November 3 general election is open at Columbia Heights City Hall, 3989 Central Ave. NE, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Monday, November 2, the City says. Early voting there began Friday, October 16.

City Hall also has extended hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 24; until 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 27; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1; and until 5 p.m. Monday, November 2. Voters may park in the free City Hall parking garage, entered from 40th Avenue NE on the north side of the building.

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.

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.

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.

OPEN

September 22 School Board actions

Minutes of the September 22 School Board meeting, approved October 13, show the Board approved the 2026-27 Youth Outreach Officer contract with the Columbia Heights Police Department, renewed its property and liability insurance package (total premium $362,306.22), approved the clerical master agreement for 2026-27 and 2027-28 and approved the 2026-payable-2027 preliminary levy at the maximum. Each motion passed with all members in favor.

Still unresolved: The final 2026-payable-2027 levy the Board adopts.

Next checkpoint: The Board’s final levy action.

Minutes approved October 13.

OPEN

Manny Collins murder trial

An Anoka County jury found Jordan Collins Sr. guilty of second-degree 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.

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.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

2027 city budget and levy

Not confirmed against the source as of October 22, 2026: the Council's September 28 approval, the $61 million budget and $21.65 million levy figures, and the November mailing of county tax notices. Check the source before relying on it.

The City Council on September 28 approved a preliminary 2027 budget of $61 million and a preliminary gross property-tax levy of $21.65 million, a 5.3% increase from 2026, the City says; with the metro Fiscal Disparities subsidy, property owners will see a 4.1% increase in City taxes. Anoka County will mail property-specific notices of proposed 2027 taxes in November, and the Council holds a public hearing on the budget and final levy at its December 14 meeting.

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

Next checkpoint: The final budget and levy decision.

Preliminary budget and levy approved September 28.

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.

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.

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.

OPEN

Columbia Heights schools and enrollment

Enrollment is back to about 3,300 students, compared with 3,400 before the ICE raids, the Northeaster reported; Superintendent Zena Stenvik told the paper that enrollment "has rebounded to a great degree." 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 22, 2026: all details, including the September 29 sheriff's sale date, because the public notice could not be opened. 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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