Daily Breakdown

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025

Author

Sam Hill
December 09, 2025

Good morning everyone,

No jokes this morning — it’s finals day for me too, baby. Godspeed with your finals. For some sweet Rudolphian respite, check out our “winter break activities” article.

For sports, Gopher volleyball heads to the NCAA Sweet 16 and Women’s Basketball loses to the Terrapins. For city, an Israeli company is getting removed from the city budget, and an autonomous taxi company is testing winter driving in Minneapolis. Also, check out an A&E story on those winter break activities.

Read some news. Free Chicken.

Very Respectfully,

Sam Hill | Managing Editor | [email protected]

Top Story

Jewish Voices for Peace protest the Zen City contract in Minneapolis City Hall. | Photo by Lars Kommienezuspadt

Community advocates and city council members ask to remove Zencity partnership

by Sam Hill | Managing Editor | Published Dec. 9, 2025

Minneapolis City Council members want to see Zencity, an Israeli survey company, removed from the city budget and an end to a $500,000 contract between the company and the Minneapolis Police Department.​

Zencity is a global tech company that helps clients with public safety and community engagement, and is drawing criticism from advocacy groups and city council members during city budget discussions. 

A Minneapolis Police Department and Zencity contract was first introduced in 2023, after findings from the federal consent decree found misconduct in the Minneapolis Police Department, which the City Council approved in a three-year contract.

 

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City

Waymo begins testing in Minneapolis for its new expansion

By Jingyuan Liu | City Reporter

With human drivers still behind the wheel, the autonomous taxi company enters one of its first cold-weather markets, raising questions about snow and state regulations.

 

More from City

Sports

Gophers volleyball sweeps its way to the Sweet 16

By Sarah Cunniffe | Sports Reporter

A three-set win over Iowa State sends Minnesota to the next round.

 

More from Sports

Arts & Entertainment

Take a break from finals with these Twin Cities winter events

By Emma Vasa | A&E Reporter

Trade in the textbooks and step away from campus for local artisan markets, holiday shows and exercise events throughout the Twin Cities.

 

More from Arts & Entertainment

 

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Sports

Opinion: The University should be more transparent about its property

By Matthew Jagers | Columnist

Honesty is the best policy when it comes to the UMN’s thousands of acres of land.

 

More from Opinions

Podcasts

Gophers keep the Axe and hockey delivers in overtime

A football season recap, top Gopher highlights, Max Brosmer’s misstep and the Wild’s resurgence.