Bruno, a Wild Serval Found Chillin’ Out East, Is Comin’ to MN

Welcome back to The Flyover, your daily 1 p.m.(ish) digest of what local media outlets and Twitter-ers are gabbing about.

We DO Talk About Bruno

Of all the things someone living on the East Coast might expect to see frolicking in their backyard, a wild serval from Africa is probably not one. But that’s exactly what residents of Lincoln, Massachusetts, saw last week. Why? Some assholes like to keep illegal wild animals as pets, and all hell breaks loose when they escape the domestic bullshit they have been forced into. Folks called the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA-Angell), who were able to capture the sickly, wounded cat with a severely broken leg. "We've never encountered a serval before," a spokesperson told Newsweek. "This is the first time a truly wild African cat has crossed our threshold." Earlier this week, they announced that the wild kitty, now named Bruno, will be traveling even further, as the Wildcat Sanctuary (TWS) in Sandstone, Minnesota, will be giving him a forever home. After a neuter and a leg amputation, he'll be able to run free and make friends with other servals. Welcome to Minnesota, wild buddy!

Meatballs and Art is Coming to the Former Rojo Mexican Grill Space

While suburbanites and boomers wring their hands about downtown Minneapolis’s downfall, businesses in the area continue to launch new projects and try spruce things up. Case in point: Ties Lounge and Rooftop just announced that it’s moving into the old Rojo Mexican Grill space at 921 Nicollet Mall. “The noticeable unrest and social separation that took place nationwide in 2020 not only resonated with us but inspired us to bring back unity, opportunity, and happiness through entertainment,” says their online mission statement. What does that mean? Well, the venue will feature a kitchen run by Joshua Hedquist of Joey Meatballs, there will be a bar, and there are plans to host art events, local entrepreneurs, and entertainment. Their crew is diverse and young–they’re all twentysomethings–but not inexperienced: As Mpls Ties, team members promoted popular happenings at Crave, Union, and Pourhouse. At the very least, it sounds like they spend time in downtown and are familiar with the scene, which is an improvement. When Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal asked Rojo owner Michael McDermott about his restaurant closing, he responded “I’m in the suburbs, and I don’t know anybody who goes downtown.”

Job Openings at the State Capitol

The Great Resignation—it’s not just for disgruntled teachers, nurses, and service workers anymore. It’s retirement season over at the ol’ Minnesota legislature, where each day seems to bring news that another longtime rep is ready to step off the political treadmill. Earlier this week, Paul Marquart, who has represented *Butthead voice* Dilworth since 2001, announced he won’t be running for reelection in District 4B, which puts the DFL in quite a hole given that district’s Republican leanings. Today Carlos Mariani of St. Paul, who has represented 65B since 1991, said he’s dunzo. Axios has a cool little graph so that huge nerds like you can keep up with the comings and goings of the leg’s incumbents. Or, I guess, just goings.  

Animal Crossing IRL Up North

Folks, we love our pals at the Voyageurs Wolf Project, don’t we? The northern Minnesota research team warns of the horrors of wolf poaching one moment, yet provides aww-inducing clips of wildlife the next. Today, VWP supplied the latter with the following supercut from its trail cam–we’ve heard of Animal Crossing, but this is ridiculous! “The amount of wolf and bear activity on this trail during a single month (mid-Sept. to mid-Oct. 2021) was pretty extraordinary!” the group wrote Friday via Twitter. “Lots of other wildlife used this trail during this time too, including several moose, a lynx, fisher, marten, and others.” Does a massive moose even lick the damn camera? You better believe it. Anyway, TGIF and enjoy the furry parade.