News Flash

Football, Volleyball Returning to Fall Sports Schedule

A reversal this week from the Minnesota State High School League.  On Monday, the league's Board of Directors voted to move football and volleyball from the spring back to the fall.CTN's Steve Antus has reaction from Coon Rapids...

Coon Rapids Veteran Receives Donation of New Roof

Another veteran in Coon Rapids has a new roof this week thanks to some special volunteers.Stephanie Vanderbijl, who served in the Air Force for more than nine years, received a new roof Wednesday as part of the Owens Corning National Roof Deployment Proje...

Local Woman Launches Philanthropy-based Pageant Company

You could call it a pageant with a purpose.  A Coon Rapids mom and business owner recently launched a philanthropy-based pageant company, Gloss Pageantry. 

Founder Amy Ann Dixon held Gloss's very first pageant in August. Each par...

Early Voting Begins for General Election

With just a month and a half to go until Election Day the focus on the 2020 Vote is heating up. Today marks the first day Minnesotans can cast a ballot in the General Election.There were people waiting in line on Friday at Coon Rapids City Hall, when the ...

Elementary Schools Start Hybrid Learning

Elementary students returned to all Anoka-Hennepin Schools this week, including Sand Creek Elementary. For now, the schools will follow a hybrid learning model, which puts fewer kids in the school buildings each day. Planning for a safe return to school d...

Seniors Take Part in Parking Lot Bingo

Here’s something you don’t see everyday.  A drive-in bingo session!On Monday, local seniors took part in Parking Lot Bingo at the Coon Rapids Soccer Complex.  They tuned into a special FM station to hear the bingo cal...

Coon Rapids High School Holds Orientation Week

It’s back-to-school for students - but not the return to classes that families are used to.  This week students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District stepped back inside school buildings for the first time in nearly six months. It was o...

Federal Grant Secured for New Rum River Bridge

A local construction project has secured a big federal grant of its own.  On Thursday, Governor Tim Walz announced that the state is receiving $15 million for the Highway 10 Rum River bridge replacement project.  Beginning in 2022, MnDOT...

A Tribute to the Victims of the 9/11 Attacks

Today marks a somber anniversary in our country. 19 years ago, terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 Americans in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. And to this day those victims are not being forgotten.On top of the Main Street Bridge, as truck...

CARES Act Funding for Election Safety

The city is receiving some money to help administer a safe election in the era of COVID.

The money comes from the federal CARES Act which is being funneled through the Secretary of State’s Office.  Coon Rapids is getting about $31,000. &...

Resurfacing Project on Coon Rapids Blvd.

Expect some delays if you travel Coon Rapids Boulevard in the coming weeks.Starting September 8, Anoka County will begin a mill and overlay project from 111th Avenue to just east of Hanson Boulevard.  Traffic will be reduced to just one lane in e...

CTN Wins 16 National Awards

A record haul for CTN at a national video awards ceremony this week.  On Thursday night, CTN took home 16 awards at the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors annual conference.  Here’s a list of the w...

Teachers' Rally as School Board Approves Plans for Fall

Dozens of Anoka-Hennepin teachers rallied before Monday night’s School Board meeting demanding more of a voice in the discussions surrounding Back to School plans this fall.Nearly 200 teachers stood, socially distant, around the block of the San...

Community Mural Unveiled at ARCC

We have an update now on a story we brought you back in March involving a one-thousand square foot community mural at Anoka Ramsey Community College.The college posted these photos on Facebook Thursday night showing off the finished product.  Doz...

Remembering Officer Greg Koss

Coon Rapids Police are mourning the loss of one of their own this week after the sudden death of a 30-year member of the department. Officer Greg Koss, 53, passed away of natural causes at his home on Monday morning. This week, Coon Rapids flags flew at h...

Teachers Share Concern Over Back-to-School Plans

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is pushing back the start of classes by one week. The week of Labor Day will now be used for orientation for students. Meanwhile, as preparations for the new school year kick into high gear teachers still have some conce...

Hanson Blvd./121st Ave. Intersection Reopens

Some good news for commuters who use the intersection of 121st Avenue and Hanson Boulevard.  Earlier this week, crews activated the new traffic signal at that corner, once again allowing all turning movements at the intersection.  New tu...

New Program to Help Parents of School-Aged Children

Parents who need to work during the coming school year face challenges to keep their kids busy while making time for shifting school models. Now there’s help for families with children who will be learning virtually this fall.Summer fun is in fu...

AMC Coon Rapids Reopening August 20

Starting next week, the world’s largest movie theater chain will begin reopening locations across the US that have been shuttered since the start of the pandemic.The AMC here in Coon Rapids will be one of the first to reopen on August 20. &n...

Bunker Hills Hosts 'Tee It Up for the Troops'

It isn’t about making par when Tee It Up for the Troops comes to Bunker Hills Golf Club. The annual charity tournament, which raises money for veterans’ causes, celebrated its tenth anniversary in Coon Rapids on Friday. Each year at th...

Celebrating the Completion of Hanson Blvd. Overpass Project

Local and state officials gathered this week on top of the new railroad overpass on Hanson Boulevard to mark the completion of the project which has been years in the making.It took two construction seasons to complete all of the work on what can be descr...

New Traffic Signal for Busy Roadway in Riverdale

Another busy area of town is about to get some safety improvements.On Tuesday night, the City Council approved plans and specifications and ordered advertisement of bids for a new traffic signal in the Riverdale area.  The signal will be installe...

Families Consider Hybrid vs. Distance Learning

Families with school-age children are debating whether or not to send their students back to the classroom. The Anoka-Hennepin School District would like parents to share their intentions for fall by next week. The options before parents right now are to ...

Anoka-Hennepin Schools Opt for Hybrid Model for Fall

UPDATE AT 5 P.M. ON JULY 31: The Anoka-Hennepin School District announced late Friday afternoon that they will use a hybrid model for fall.  Students in grades K-12 will go to school two days a week and do distance learning three days a week. &am...

Splash Pad at Boulevard Plaza Reopens

Exciting news for families in the area.  The splash pad at Boulevard Plaza is now open.  But there are some changes due to the coronavirus.  Splash pad users must take turns and observe social distancing, staying within family g...

'Home for Generations II' Program Helping Local Homeowners

Homeowners looking to take on a remodeling project have a leg up in Coon Rapids. The City offers a variety of incentives to help get the job done, including the Home for Generations II program.  

CTN’s Jennifer Anderson met with a partic...

CRPD Welcomes 2 New Police Officers

Coon Rapids has two new police officers patrolling the streets of the city.  On Tuesday night, Officers Andrew Olson and John Ormston were given the oath of office by Mayor Jerry Koch.  The two were hired as trainees earlier this year an...

Bunker Beach Getting New Wave Pool, Other Improvements

If you’re a fan of waterparks, you’ve no doubt heard Bunker Beach is closed due to COVID-19. Now, the popular summertime destination is getting a major construction upgrade, courtesy of Anoka County.

“They are under constructi...

Local Woman Named 'ATV Safety Instructor of the Year'

A Coon Rapids woman has been named the 2019 ATV Safety Instructor of the Year.  The announcement was made by the DNR on Monday.  Janelle Secord has taught two classes per year for the past 12 years.  She’s also an acti...

Coon Rapids Farmers Market Opens for Season

As we hit the middle of summer, fresh food is being harvested from gardens across the region.On Wednesday, the Coon Rapids Farmers Market opened for the season.  It’s located in the parking lot of the Coon Rapids Ice Center.  C...

Food Distribution at Coon Rapids Middle School

Distance learning this past spring brought the issue of hungry families to the forefront. Now during the summer school break, Coon Rapids Middle School continues to help its hungry families in need. Monthly food distributions from the school food shelf ha...

Reflections on George Floyd, Unrest, and History-in-the-Making

The Anoka County Historical Society spends much of their time reflecting on the past.  But now their eyes are turned to the present as part of a new online survey, History Gather. The latest survey is focused on the death of George Floyd and the ...

ARCC Planning Some In-Person Classes This Fall

Anoka-Ramsey Community College and the Anoka Technical College are both preparing for a partial return to campus this fall.At ARCC, just 20 percent of classes will be held on-campus for the fall semester with the rest being conducted online.  And...

Coon Rapids Veteran Receives New Roof

A Coon Rapids veteran has a new roof over his head thanks to some special volunteers.Scott Favilla, a U.S. Army veteran wounded in the Gulf War, received a new roof today as part of the Owens Corning National Roof Deployment Project.  Through a p...

11-year-old's Experiment Destined for the Edge of Space

Imagine launching an experiment into space on a real NASA sounding rocket... or reaching the edge of space with a NASA high-altitude balloon.

Imagine conducting that experiment at just 11 years of age. 

That is Ruby Demmer’s current reali...

Anoka County Libraries Reopen to the Public

All Anoka County libraries, except for the Mississippi Library in Fridley, reopened to the public this week after being shut down for the past three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Anoka County is the first library system in the metro area to reopen w...

More Development Coming to Gateway Commerce Center

More development is planned in the Gateway Commerce Center off Highway 10 and Hanson Boulevard.The Planning Commission recently approved a site plan for a 7,900 square foot multi-tenant commercial building on property just to the north of the Taco Bell. &...

Grant Funds Two Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Two new electric vehicle charging stations will put Coon Rapids on the map. This week, Coon Rapids installed charging stations in the parking lot of the Coon Rapids Ice Center and at the City Hall campus, outside the Civic Center.

Locally-based Cedar Creek...

Construction Resumes at CRHS

The impressive new entrance completed at Coon Rapids High School last year was just the beginning. A second phase of construction is underway thanks to the Fit for the Future referendum voters approved in the Anoka-Hennepin School District in 2017. This r...

Students Design Logo for CRPD Drone

Police work in Coon Rapids is getting a lift thanks to the department’s latest tool. The city bought a unmanned aircraft system, or what’s more commonly known as a drone, to help with police work.“Anytime that the UAS is flyi...

No Spectators Allowed at 3M Open

The 3M Open returns to Blaine next month but due to the pandemic fans won’t be allowed at the tournament.Tournament officials, who made the announcement on Monday, say the decision was made in accordance with current Minnesota guidelines which l...

Restaurants Reopen for Outdoor Dining

A welcome sight at restaurants across the state this week after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz loosened restrictions to allow for outdoor dining as of June 1. But some business owners are getting creative to stay competitive.On the outdoor patio at Chanticle...

J.C. Penney Closing Coon Rapids Location

We learned late this week that a major retailer in Coon Rapids is closing its doors as it restructures after filing bankruptcy last month.On Thursday, J.C. Penney announced that it is shuttering 154 stores across the nation including four here in Minnesot...

CRHS Seniors Honored with Signs on Northdale Blvd.

The Class of 2020 officially bids farewell to Coon Rapids High School this weekend.  And they are being recognized in a unique way due to the unusual circumstances of their senior year.For the last week, signs have lined Northdale Boulevard in fr...

Small Retail Businesses Begin Reopening

Many small retail businesses started reopening this week after being closed for nearly two months due to the coronavirus.CTN’s Steve Antus visited shops in downtown Anoka where owners are happy to be back in business.

ARCC Students Participate in Drive Thru Graduation Celebration

Covid-19 may have cancelled their in person graduation ceremony but students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College still received special recognition for their achievements.  On Friday, the college hosted a drive up recognition event for graduates. &...

Surprise Wedding Parade for Local Couple

A lot of plans are being altered by the coronavirus including wedding ceremonies.  But that didn’t stop a local couple from tying the knot at home this week.And they got a few surprise guests in the form of a wedding parade on Thursday ...

Mercy Hospital Prepares for Restart of Elective Surgeries

Governor Tim Walz is allowing elective surgeries to resume in Minnesota next week.  The new order covers hospitals and surgery centers along with dental and veterinary clinics.Mercy Hospital officials say they are prepared for elective surgeries ...

Demand Up at ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka

Local food shelves are seeing spikes in demand amid the pandemic but there’s also a bright spot: more donations.The ACBC Food Shelf has switched to a drive-up model of service.  Families pop the trunk and staff members load up their car...

Saturday Night Cruise on Coon Rapids Blvd.

For the past few weekends, Coon Rapids Boulevard has been filled with more traffic than usual.  Car enthusiasts have been taking part in a "Saturday Night Cruise."  CTN’s Steve Antus takes us there.

Bunker Hills Golf Club Reopens

Golfers are excited to once again be hitting the greens.  Late last week, Governor Tim Walz lifted restrictions on golf courses in Minnesota, allowing them to reopen while keeping social distancing guidelines in mind.  And it didn&rs...

Distance Learning Ordered for Rest of School Year

It’s not the news students and parents wanted to hear but this week Governor Tim Walz confirmed students won’t be returning to the classroom this school year.  His announcement Thursday is an especially difficult one for this ...

Construction Crews Busy on Hanson Boulevard

Construction crews have been busy in recent weeks working to make Hanson Boulevard safer and better for commuters.The $4.6 million project is happening north of Highway 10 between Northdale Boulevard and Main Street.  This week, grading crews hav...