🌱 Patch AM: Why Fridley’s Flock cameras sparked a major privacy and policing fight

Hey there, Fridley! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Fridley's Flock cameras sparked a major privacy and policing fight
• Fridley resident prosecutor's charges trigger sweeping review of past cases

Today's riddle: What did the Buffalo say when his son left? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 79 and low of 58 degrees.
• Monday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 82, low: 67.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a t-storm, with a high of 86 and low of 63 degrees. 🌶 Hot!

📰 News we're reading

• Minnesota cities and counties split over Flock cameras as privacy backlash grows (thecooldown.com) — Fridley is at the center of Minnesota's growing debate over Flock license-plate cameras, after hundreds of immigration-related searches were linked to data from local devices and the city moved to restrict access. The story explains how other Minnesota communities are weighing privacy, public safety, and data-sharing limits as they decide whether to keep or cancel Flock contracts.
   

• Anoka County Attorney Orders Review of Andrea Sampson's Past Casework (town.news) — A Fridley resident, former Anoka County prosecutor Andrea Sampson, faces serious prostitution-related charges in Hennepin County while her past county casework undergoes internal review for any impact on family-law and civil matters. Authorities stress no county cases are known to be compromised, and separate Medicaid-fraud and assisted-living investigations are also unfolding across the Twin Cities.
   

📸 Around Fridley

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Fridley

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday August 24
• Library Advisory Board Meeting →
  Anoka County, MN Calendar, 12461 Oak Park Blvd., Blaine
  5:30 pm
Tuesday August 25
• Management →
  Anoka County, MN Calendar, 2100 3rd Ave N, Anoka
  8:15 am
• Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting →
  Anoka County, MN Calendar, 2100 3rd Ave N, Anoka
  9:30 am
• DATE CHANGE Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority Board Meeting →
  Anoka County, MN Calendar, 2100 3rd Ave N, Anoka
  10:00 am
• Board of Commissioners Public Comment Period →
  Anoka County, MN Calendar, 2100 3rd Ave N, Anoka
  10:00 am
Wednesday August 26
• WC: Meet and Greet
  Woodcrest Elementary Spanish Immersion Minneapolis, MN 55432
  4:00 pm
• PT: Meet and Greet
  Park Terrace Elementary
  4:00 pm
• EC: Preschool Meet & Greet
  Early Childhood Family Center Northpoint, Centerview, Park Terrace & Woodcrest
  4:00 pm

📣 Fridley Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Monday August 24
• Job Search and Career Help
  Brookdale Library 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
  1:00 pm
• Brookdale Library Chess Club
  Brookdale Library 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
  4:30 pm
• City Council Work Session →
  Arden Hills, MN Calendar, 1245 West Highway 96, Arden Hills
  5:00 pm
• Regular City Council Meeting →
  Arden Hills, MN Calendar, 1245 West Highway 96, Arden Hills
  7:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hi, I'm looking for someone who is real easy going to help me with some data entry filing.
  Fair compensation. You need to be pretty savy with Microsoft Word and AI, like GeminiNotebookLM. (Nextdoor Black Forest)

🗞 Nearby News

Columbia Heights

• From heart patient to heart pioneer (bethel.edu)

Blaine

• Things to Do Across the Twin Cities, August 21–23, 2026 (town.news)
• Documents show Fleet Farm ignored employee's warning about Twin Cities straw buyer (bringmethenews.com)

Coon Rapids

• Amid anger at Trump, a moderate Republican in the suburbs tries to hold on (minnpost.com)
• 4 Things I'm Watching For in Vikings' Preseason Game vs. Ravens (Demond Claiborne Among Must-See Players) (yardbarker.com)

Ok Fridley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Bison! (Thank you Judy M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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