Alice Smith Elementary Celebrates 60th Anniversary

School organizing big-band jazz concert for Saturday as part of festivities.

Joe Coleman Asks to be Released from Gophers

The former Hopkins basketball star’s plans are not known.

Former Hopkins High School basketball star Joe Coleman on Tuesday asked University of Minnesota Coach Richard Pitino to be released from the team, the Pioneer Press reported. The Pioneer story does say what plans Coleman has if he’s released. Coleman was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in 2011 and helped the Royals to three straight Class AAAA title championships. Coleman kicked off his time with the Gophers by winning the university’s annual dunk contest in his freshman year. And in January of that season, he was named the Big 10 freshman of the week. He’s scored 516 total points—averaging 7.2 points per game and shooting .467, according to the University of Minnesota. Click here to read the full story.

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Search Continues, Child Porn Conviction and 'Civil Marriage': Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Buddhist monastery, 100-meter dash record, Southdale Center on TV, hospital milestone and a record-breaking betting day.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Police Release Maps in Search for Mandy Matula Eden Prairie police have released maps of the areas where Mandy Matula, the missing Eden Prairie woman, might be located. The areas are in Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.  3 Years, 3 Months Behind Bars for Ex-City Staffer on Child Porn Conviction Scott Andrew Bradley of Oakdale, who once worked as communications coordinator for the City of Richfield, got the maximum sentence. MN Same-Sex Marriage…

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Jaycees and Aquafina Sponsoring Pitch Hit & Run on Wednesday

Sectional winners will advance to the state competition at Target Field, with state advancees earning a trip MLB All Star Weekend in Kansas City, Mo.

Cosgriff: Rough Coaching Climate Makes it Hard for Coaches to Stick Around

The Hopkins girls’ basketball coach was one of 11 coaches and activity directors who sat down for a panel discussion about the climate of coaching.

The Minnesota Legislature is considering a change to state law that would bar school districts from using parent complaints as the sole reason for letting a coach go. The proposal would add the following sentence to the omnibus policy and finance bill: The existence of parent complaints must not be the sole reason for a board to not renew a coaching contract. The legislation is in response to increasing non-renewals of coaches' contracts, with as many as 35 percent in one sport (boys' hockey) involving parent complaints, according to a Star Tribune report. Hopkins girls’ basketball coach Brian Cosgriff was one of 11 coaches and activity directors who sat down with KARE 11 for a panel discussion about the climate of coaching. He said the …

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WATCH: Eisenhower Student Makes Half-Court Buzzer Beater

Dlayla Chakolis made the shot during the state AAU qualifying tournament at Bloomington Jefferson High School.

Move over Blake Hoffarber. Hopkins has a new buzzer beater in town. An Eisenhower Elementary School sixth grader Dlayla Chakolis sank a half-court shot Sunday during the state AAU qualifying tournament at Bloomington Jefferson High School, the Pioneer Press reported. The efforts of Chakolis, a North Minneapolis resident who’s nicknamed "Lay-bron," didn’t keep her team, the Stars, from losing to Crossfire. But they’re scheduled to go up against each other again during the state sixth-grade championship at the end of May. Watch the highlight, uploaded by her father, in the video above.

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Should Minnesotans Do More to Support Cycling?

The state dropped two spots in the League of American Bicyclists’ annual rankings.

(Editor's Note: The map above was created by the League of American Bicyclists.)  Minnesota is still among the top states in “bike friendliness,” but its ranking fell a couple notches in 2013, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The state was ranked fourth this year, down from second in 2012. It ranked high in legislation and enforcement, policies and programs and education and encouragement. But it was middle of the pack in infrastructure and funding and lower tier in evaluation and planning. Minnesota was also missing three of the league’s “Top 10 Signs of Success: Use the map above to see how Minnesota compares to other states in the various categories. Do you think Minnesota needs to do more to support cycling? Share your …

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Watts

3:39 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

Has anybody else received the following when trying to reply in this thread: "This comment has been rejected." I received this as an immediate response from the Patch site, for a completely innocuous reply to somebody that was me actually agreeing with them and the post contained no foul language or anything that could be interpreted to violate any rules of the site. In fact, the reply came back …   more ›

Going Golfing: Four Courses in the Three Rivers Park District

There are also five driving ranges.

Throughout the Three Rivers Park District, there are 63 holes and five driving range in the Twin Cities area. Equipment rental is available at each course. Baker National Golf Course in Medina Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center in Minnetonka Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center in Plymouth Cleary Lake Golf Course in Prior Lake For mini-golfers Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center in Plymouth Due to varying weather circumstances, be sure to contact the golf course for hours, dates of operation. Share: Do you have a favorite golf course? Share your go to golfing destination in comments below. 

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