MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - For years, National Night Out has bonded communities throughout the Twin Cities.
"I think that feeling of neighborhood and community sometimes is missing today from neighbors and this gives us a chance to be neighbors together," said Minneapolis resident Josh Macomber.
It's an event that promotes police-community partnerships - a bond that in Minneapolis, some feel is strained.
Over the past year, Minneapolis has seen marches and protests in reaction to police-involved shootings. For Valerie Pruitt, events like this are key to bridging the divide.
"I think it's a concerted effort to make the community more safe if we can get families and police on the same page," Pruitt said.
"We need to have more moments where we can talk with police officers, the chief of police - in a more relaxed and transparent environment and meeting," Morales said.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said that on this National Night Out he made it a point to attend more events.
"I think you'll see more outreach, more cops and more prosecutors because we recognize the need for outreach, but we're still going to have fun," Freeman said.
Residents said overall, it's an evening of fun and tough conversations.
"I think that it makes it more important than ever for us to be able to come together," Macomber said.
Augsburg University will add Minnesota's first women's wrestling program, the university announced Wednesday.
The team will begin competition next school year and announced it has hired Max Mejia as its first head coach.
Augsburg is the first collegiate institution in Minnesota to sponsor a varsity women's wrestling program. Currently, 46 other colleges and universities nationwide sponsor women's wrestling and 13 other schools will join Augsburg in adding the sport in the next two years.
Police in Belle Plaine, Minnesota are asking for help finding a missing teen who was last seen Tuesday night, April 16 at the high school. According to a statewide missing person alert, 15-year-old Andrew Cunat was last seen leaving Belle Plaine High School around 9 p.m. Tuesday following a track meet in Le Sueur, Minn.
"Andrew is a straight A student and it is not like him to not return home or be late to school," said the alert from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Cunat did not return home on Tuesday night and did not show up at school Wednesday morning. Because this is very unusual behavior and family and authorities have been unable to locate or contact him, they are concerned for his welfare.