Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, St. Louis Park and St. Michael

Minnetonka Schools Top on State Tests
Minnetonka students continue to excel academically by scoring among the top districts in the state on the MCA-II (Minnesota Comprehension Assessment) reading test and the MCA-III math test.
Overall, 92 percent of Minnetonka students are proficient in reading and 85 percent are proficient in math. In Metro area rankings, Minnetonka students are #1 in math and a close second to Edina in reading. Scores exceeded the state totals of 76 percent proficiency in reading and 62 percent proficiency in math.

Random Richfield Act of Kindness Fills Belly, Warms Heart
An unknown woman makes the "Drive Thru Difference" to inspire another to commit a random act of kindness and make a difference in someone's day.

Plymouth Man Indicted in Cocaine Case
William Elijah Carter, 27, of Plymouth is one of seven men indicted for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was also charged with one count of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, each defendant faces a potential penalty of life in prison. Carter also faces a potential penalty of five years in prison if convicted for carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

(VIDEO) Al Franken Grabs a Hammer for Habitat for Humanity in St. Louis Park
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) came home and helped build a home Wednesday in St. Louis Park. Returning to the city where he grew up, the senator helped celebrate Habitat for Humanity's 2,000th home in Minnesota, which is going up in the 3300 block of Texas Avenue and should be finished by October.

FBI Links Maple Grove Bank Robber to Four Other Area Holdups
The well-dressed man is believed to have robbed five local grocery store banks since late March. 

Man Torches Box of Cheerios Outside General Mills' Golden Valley Headquarters
In an act to protest General Mills' support of same-sex marriage, Michael Leisner took a blowtorch to a box of Cheerios in front of the cereal maker's Golden Valley campus.

Shakopee Mdewakanton – Nation's Richest Tribe
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is the nation's richest tribe, according to a story in The New York Times. Each adult, according to court records and confirmed by one tribal member, receives a monthly payment of around $84,000, or $1.08 million a year.

Minnesota Sikhs in State of 'Confusion' After Temple Shooting
Members of the group, which has ties to Fridley, are worried about a racial dimension to the fatal shooting in Wisconsin.

Coyote Invades Block Party In Linden Hills 
National Night Out got a little more exciting for some residents of Minneapolis' Linden Hills neighborhood when a coyote wandered through. Find out what happened, plus get coyote safety tips, and add your sightings to our map! 

Edina's Countryside Park Getting $1 Million Makeover
Edina's Countryside Park is set to undergo massive renovations early next year to bring it in line with its master plan, thanks largely to a $695,000 fee paid as part of the Waters Senior Living Development. The renovations at the park will include a new 165-foot hockey rink, a wetland overlook and much more. 

Attitude is Everything in St. Michael Woman's Cancer Fight
When Tammy Evans’ cancer came back, she didn't let it get her down, her and her best friend Pam Pitman formed the Rad Pack instead.