Author: Jim Bayer

The Eden Prairie School Board will discuss the district’s five-year financial forecast and a possible 2022 levy referendum at a workshop following its annual organizational meeting Jan. 3. Earlier in 2021, the board discussed and eventually dismissed pursuing a levy referendum in 2021, but most directors acknowledged that one might be needed in 2022 to maintain the district’s financial condition. Superintendent Josh Swanson told the board that long-term financial stability of the district might require such action. The district is currently in the eighth year of its last referendum that voters approved in 2014. Projected 2.23% tax levy increase The…

All Eden Prairie Schools students and staff will be required to wear face coverings from Jan. 3 to 27 in an attempt to mitigate the rapidly spreading COVID-19 omicron variant, according to a communication that was sent to all district parents just after noon Dec. 31. Until winter break began Dec. 23, only students in pre-K through 6th grade were required to wear face coverings indoors. “The omicron variant can spread rapidly, although symptoms may not be as severe,” the message from the district’s Community Relations and Communications Department said. “The issue we face is ensuring employees and students can…

Fifteen months ago, Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) sprouted from the ashes of a COVID-19 infected world to begin providing hyperlocal news to this community of more than 65,000 people. The city had been without a local newspaper for nearly a year and a half, after the venerable Eden Prairie News was purchased by a New York-based hedge fund and unceremoniously shuttered after 50 years of publication. They are not alone. More than 100 newspapers have closed during COVID, according to Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Another 100 more are in danger of shutting down in 2022. Fifty local…

An Apple Valley man has been arrested and charged with two criminal counts, including felony robbery, in the Oct. 14 hold-up of BMO Harris Bank in Eden Prairie. Steven Lamarre Holbrook, 59, was arrested Dec. 8 by Shakopee Police after they stopped him in a stolen vehicle. A purse belonging to a female passenger in Holbrook’s car contained a note that said, “Give me all the money! No dye packs and nobody gets hurt.” Beneath that was written, “NOW.” That note closely resembled the contents of a note shown to a bank teller during the robbery, according to charging documents.…

No incidents were reported Friday in Eden Prairie schools after a nationwide viral Tik Tok video post earlier this week appeared to vaguely threaten school violence on Dec. 17. A few schools in Minnesota and elsewhere in the country closed for the day as a result of the potential threat. Eden Prairie schools remained open Friday. Neither Eden Prairie Police nor the school district found any evidence of a direct threat in Eden Prairie. “We investigated the video but found no connection to Eden Prairie and no credible threat,” an Eden Prairie Police Department spokesperson told EPLN Friday. “We are…

A viral video on the social media platform TikTok that made references to possible school violence has been deemed not to be credible, according to Eden Prairie Police and school administrators. Central Middle School (CMS) Principal Nate Swenson sent an email to parents of students Dec. 15 confirming that the district had contacted police about a post that had districts locally and in other states concerned, as well. “News reports from other states have also reported about this particular post, which makes a vague reference to school violence on Dec. 17,” Swenson told parents. The postings had social media platforms…

Eden Prairie Police arrested a suspect in a Dec. 5 burglary of a local bike shop – while he was still in the building. Police were called to Free Wheel Bike, 12910 Plaza Drive at around 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 to respond to an alarm. Upon arrival, officers spotted a damaged garage door and discovered the suspect still on the premises, according to a police spokesperson. Damage to the property was estimated at $1,200.   Police arrested the 43-year-old male suspect without incident. EPLN does not generally name crime suspects before they are formally charged. Police said the burglary…

The victim of a fentanyl overdose in Eden Prairie that is now the subject of a 3rd degree murder charge has been identified by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office. Amy Portillo, 23, of Edina, was found dead by her fiancé in his home on Kara Drive the morning of Aug. 13. An autopsy performed by the Medical Examiner’s office determined that Portillo’s death was due to a mix of fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl, alprazolam (Xanax), and ethanol toxicity. Monica Jo Gould, 32, of South St. Paul is charged with 3rd degree murder in Portillo’s death. She is accused of felony selling, giving or…

Eden Prairie residents woke up to more than 9 inches of snow Saturday morning, and many of them wasted no time getting outside. Sledders of all ages converged on one of Eden Prairie’s favorite sledding hills at Staring Lake Park. Given that it was the first significant snowfall of the season, folks were ready to play. Temperatures hovered around 30, making for a pleasant day of fun in the white stuff. Eden Prairie declared a snow emergency that ended at noon on Saturday, and most heavily traveled streets were clear from curb to curb by late morning. Don’t waste this…

A South St. Paul woman has been charged with third-degree murder following the Aug. 13 drug overdose of a woman found dead in an Eden Prairie home. Monica Jo Gould, 32, is accused of felony selling, giving or distributing a Schedule 1 and 2 controlled substance resulting in the death of Amy Portillo, 23, of Edina. Portillo was visiting the resident of a home on Kara Drive in Eden Prairie, the complaint said. Eden Prairie police were called to the home just before 10 a.m. Aug. 13 by the home’s resident who found Portillo upon returning home after spending the…