Minnesota edition
CogniLocal

Columbia Heights

Your Community, More Completely.
November 16: Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m.; Conversation Circle, 5:30 p.m.November 17: Criminal expungement clinic at the library; School Board work session, 5:30 p.m.November 18: Library Book Club, 10:30 a.m.; school conferences, 3 p.m.November 24: LEGO Brick Builders, 4:30 p.m.November 26 and 27: Library closed for Thanksgiving
Weather at a glance · Columbia Heights
Loading weather...
Weather data: Open-Meteo

Today in Columbia Heights

Conversation Circle for English-language learners meets today from 2 to 3 p.m. at the library
Unofficial results show Rachel James elected mayor and Brie LaPlante and Tom Kaiser elected to the City Council
Unofficial results show voters approved the Columbia Heights schools operating levy
The City Council approved rezoning of several Central Avenue properties on November 9, ABC Newspapers reported
A walk-in criminal expungement clinic is Tuesday, November 17, at the library
SACA Food Shelf’s community market has no Saturday hours; the next walk-in hours are Monday, November 16, from 2 to 6 p.m.

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.

Community & Culture

ONGOING

English-language learners’ Conversation Circle meets today and Monday at the library

The Columbia Heights Public Library’s Conversation Circle for adult English-language learners meets today, Saturday, November 14, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the History Room (Room 130), according to Anoka County Library event listings. The next sessions are Monday, November 16, and Wednesday, November 18, both from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the same room.

The Wednesday group continues through November 25. The informal group gives learners a place to practice speaking with help from an English-speaking volunteer. Registration is not required.

BACKGROUND

SACA Food Shelf community market open four days a week

SACA Food Shelf, 3905 California St. NE, lists community market hours of 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays by appointment only. No Saturday hours are listed, and the market is closed Wednesdays.

SACA says no paperwork or appointments are required to shop the community market. The next walk-in hours are Monday, November 16, from 2 to 6 p.m.

ONGOING

Columbia Heights library closes November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving

The Columbia Heights Public Library, 3939 Central Ave. NE, is closed Thursday, November 26, for Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 27, for Thanksgiving Friday, according to its holiday schedule.

ONGOING

Walk-in criminal expungement clinic at the library November 17

Anoka County Library lists a walk-in criminal expungement clinic at the Columbia Heights Public Library, 3939 Central Ave. NE, on Tuesday, November 17, from 12:30 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room (Room 100). The clinic is supported by Central Minnesota Legal Services, and no pre-registration is necessary.

Attendees are asked to arrive by noon, because late arrival may prevent a person from meeting with an attorney. The Anoka County Law Library director is also at the library 1 to 5 p.m. the same day in the Meeting Room (Room 132) to answer legal reference questions; staff are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice.

Schools & Youth

ONGOING

Voters approve Columbia Heights schools operating levy, unofficial results show

Voters approved the Columbia Heights Public Schools operating-levy referendum November 3, according to unofficial results posted by the Minnesota Secretary of State. The question received 5,982 “Yes” votes (56.14%) and 4,673 “No” votes (43.86%), with all 12 precincts reporting.

The Secretary of State’s page describes the question as a referendum revenue authorization, which it says is a property tax increase.

ABC Newspapers reported November 12 that the School Board canvassed the November 3 unofficial results at its November 10 meeting.

ONGOING

Craig, Medearis and Palmer win School Board seats, unofficial results show

Cristin Craig, Jessica Medearis and Laura Jean Palmer were elected to the Columbia Heights School Board November 3, according to unofficial results posted by the Minnesota Secretary of State. Medearis received 5,578 votes (28.88%), Palmer 5,300 (27.44%) and Craig 4,588 (23.75%); Adam Davis received 3,759 (19.46%).

ABC Newspapers reported November 12 that the School Board canvassed the November 3 unofficial results at its November 10 meeting.

NEW

School Board work session November 17; conferences November 18; Valley View Multilingual Night November 19

The Columbia Heights Public Schools calendar lists a Board of Education Work Session Tuesday, November 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the CHPS Community Room.

The calendar also lists Columbia Academy and Highland Elementary conferences Wednesday, November 18, from 3 to 6:30 p.m., and a Valley View Multilingual Night Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

  • Board work session: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Conferences: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 3 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Valley View Multilingual Night: Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Source: Columbia Heights Public Schools calendar

Arts, Culture & Events

ONGOING

Family Storytime continues Mondays; LEGO Brick Builders returns November 24

Family Storytime, designed for children ages 2 to 5, meets Mondays from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Columbia Heights Public Library’s Community Room (Room 100) through December 14, according to Anoka County Library listings. The next session is Monday, November 16.

LEGO Brick Builders, for ages 6 and up, returns Tuesday, November 24, with building from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the same room. The library’s monthly adult Book Club next meets Wednesday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. in the same room;.

ONGOING

Library schedules winter yoga class November 30, teen card writing December 1 and clay snow people December 12

The Columbia Heights Public Library, 3939 Central Ave. NE, hosts Winter Pause & Reflect, a gentle restorative yoga and guided reflection class, Monday, November 30, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Community Room (Room 100). Registration is required, and the event is open to adults and teens.

On Tuesday, December 1, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., teens can make handmade cards for clients of the Anoka County Community Action Program’s Senior Kinship Program; registration is required. The yoga and card-writing listings also mention an emailed online link, so check the format with the library.

On Saturday, December 12, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., a family program has participants sculpt snow people from clay; it is drop-in, first come, first served for the first 60 attendees.

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 mobile cameras and covering fixed-location cameras with black trash bags, and the seven cameras installed by Flock remain in place until their removal can be scheduled. Taxpayers still bear $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 City Council meeting materials 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 and that vehicle owner and driver information is not available on Flock or Axon. They say, “We do not currently share any ALPR information captured by Axon.” The materials give a 30-day automatic deletion period for data on Flock’s cloud service; they do not state a deletion period for Axon plate-reader data.

The presentation establishes the equipment and rules at the time it was prepared. 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.

No committee members, first meeting date, decision on whether meetings will be public or description of the members’ role over existing Axon equipment or future proposals has been announced.

ONGOING

Council packet includes resolution opposing Anoka County drone program without city consent

Resolution 2026-071, in the City Council’s October 26 meeting packet, expresses the Council’s opposition to a county-wide Drone First Responder program implemented without meaningful consultation and consent from affected cities. It also asks Anoka County not to establish a drone dock in Columbia Heights.

The packet copy does not show whether the Council adopted the resolution.

ONGOING

Draft minutes record IT director’s answers on City AI plans, including on-premise “Coeus”

Draft minutes of the City Council’s October 5 work session, included in the packet for the Council’s November 9 meeting, say Council Member Laurel Deneen asked whether there were concerns about AI and City data. IT Director Jesse Hauf replied that the City uses City network logins to access AI and has a separate business account.

The IT division’s budget presentation for that session listed “Support City-wide adoption of AI” and “Develop on-premise AI ‘Coeus’” among its 2027 technology projects, with a proposed 2027 IT operating budget of $1,077,200. The projects are part of a proposed budget, not an adopted one.

The Sustainability Commission’s agenda for its Tuesday, November 10, meeting listed a discussion of sustainable practices in the City’s IT department, presented by Hauf. Minutes of that meeting have not been published.

ONGOING

Library moves ahead with two new self-checkout stations

The Columbia Heights Library Board voted unanimously October 7 to move forward with a bid from Bibliotheca for two new self-check stations, according to draft minutes in the packet for the board’s November 4 meeting. The minutes list bids of $19,699 from Bibliotheca and $19,325 from TechLogic.

A self-checkout station update was on the agenda for the board’s November 4 meeting; minutes of that meeting have not been published.

ONGOING

City’s list of paid bills includes $24,718 for DJI Matrice drones

The list of claims in the packet for the City Council’s November 9 meeting includes a check dated October 22 to Vertex Unmanned Solutions for DJI Matrice drones, batteries, lights, speakers and controllers, in two line items of $12,359 each, totaling $24,718.

The entries are charged to the General Fund; the list does not describe how the drones will be used. The full list of claims, totaling $1,509,419.82, was on the Council’s November 9 consent agenda; the packet does not show the Council’s action.

City, Roads & Planning

ONGOING

Rachel James elected mayor; Brie LaPlante and Tom Kaiser win council seats, unofficial results show

Council Member Rachel James was elected mayor of Columbia Heights November 3 with 5,546 votes (69.86%), defeating Mark Miernicki, who received 2,361 votes (29.74%), according to unofficial results posted by the Minnesota Secretary of State, with all eight precincts reporting.

For the two at-large City Council seats, Brie LaPlante received 4,815 votes (39.51%) and Tom Kaiser 4,128 (33.87%). Judah Scharnhorst received 1,663 votes and Robert Rogne 1,492.

The City Council’s special meeting packet for Monday, November 9, includes Resolution 2026-076 to canvass the returns; the packet does not show the Council’s action.

ONGOING

Amáda Márquez Simula wins House District 39B, unofficial results show

DFL candidate Amáda Márquez Simula defeated Republican KT Jacobs for Minnesota House District 39B, according to unofficial results posted by the Minnesota Secretary of State. Márquez Simula received 14,638 votes (75.95%) to Jacobs’ 4,595 (23.84%), with all 14 precincts reporting.

NEW

Council approves rezoning of several Central Avenue properties

The City Council unanimously approved rezoning several Central Avenue properties from Limited Business to General Business on November 9, ABC Newspapers reported, allowing a wider range of businesses.

ABC Newspapers reported that a residential parcel at 937 42nd Ave. NE moves from Limited Business to Two-Family Residential, and that the changes align with the City’s 2040 comprehensive plan.

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

Draft minutes of the Economic Development Authority’s September 8 meeting record the sale of 4510 Taylor St. NE to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for $1 and a $35,000 forgivable loan for a new single-family home. The agreement sets a substantial-completion deadline of December 31, 2027. The Planning Commission’s November 4 packet includes a draft resolution finding that the sale is consistent with the City’s comprehensive plan; the Commission’s action has not been published.

Still unresolved: The Planning Commission’s action on the consistency finding and any City Council action on the sale have not been published.

Next checkpoint: Published minutes of the Planning Commission’s November 4 review and any Council action.

Planning Commission packet dated November 4.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

Police technology oversight

Not confirmed against the source as of November 14, 2026: the May 4 date of the work-session materials describing the Axon plate readers. Check the source before relying on it.

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.

OPEN

2027 city budget and levy

The City Council voted 5-0 on September 28 to adopt a proposed 2027 budget and city levy that includes a 5.3% increase in the City’s gross tax levy, according to the meeting minutes. The minutes say that combines a 4.1% increase in local taxpayers’ share of the levy with a 9.6% increase in the share paid by the metro Fiscal Disparities subsidy. The Council holds a public hearing on the budget and final levy at its December 14 meeting; MinneapoliMedia reported that the Council may lower the levy before final adoption but may not raise it above the September maximum.

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

Next checkpoint: The final budget and levy decision.

Proposed budget and levy adopted 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.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

800 53rd Ave. NE former Medtronic property

Not confirmed against the source as of November 14, 2026: the October 30 posting date of the EDA packet. Check the source before relying on it.

The Economic Development Authority’s November 2 agenda included developer Yellow Tree’s draft redevelopment concept for the roughly 12-acre former Medtronic campus at 800 53rd Ave. NE; the staff report says no EDA approvals were needed at that stage. Staff say Yellow Tree intended to submit a Planned Unit Development application for the Planning Commission’s December 1 meeting, with a Council first reading December 14 and a second reading January 11, and also intends to submit a tax increment financing application.

Still unresolved: Whether the application has been filed, and the EDA’s November 2 discussion, have not been published.

Next checkpoint: Published minutes of the November 2 EDA discussion and the December 1 Planning Commission hearing.

EDA packet posted October 30.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

4300 Central Ave. redevelopment

Not confirmed against the source as of November 14, 2026: all details, because the source page 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

Columbia Heights Public Schools has 3,275 students enrolled this fall, a 176-student decline from 3,451 last fall, ABC Newspapers reported October 6; Superintendent Zena Stenvik told the paper the decline equates to more than $2.5 million in lost state funding and linked it to Operation Metro Surge. The Northeaster reported in September that enrollment is back to about 3,300, compared with 3,400 before the ICE raids, and described 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: October 6.

OPENUNCONFIRMED

3923 Jackson Street NE foreclosure

Not confirmed against the source as of November 14, 2026: all details, because the source page 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.

About CogniLocal

CogniLocal is human-led community information supported by AI-assisted research, source discovery, verification and story tracking. Editorial judgment and final publication decisions remain human. Meet the publisher and read the editorial standards.

News tips and corrections: editor@cognilocal.com.