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Jerome Johnson: A Rondo bypass not to pass by

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

A half-mile long lid over Interstate 94 has been proposed to reunite St. Paul’s freeway-bisected Rondo community by placing 20 acres of residential, recreational and commercial development astride the freeway.But 20 acres seems more commemorative than restorative, given the hundreds of acres and thousands of lives actually impacted by the invasive 1962 freeway project.And the $450 million price tag seems high for a maintenance-intensive contrivance that does little to improve mobility options for either motorists or the transit dependent of Rondo and nothing to improve community air quality conditions.The freeway, in other words, will still be there.But should it?I-94 west of downtown St. Paul is also at the end of its service life and, based on comparable metro area projects, will require at least $100 million to simply rebuild in-place through the greater Rondo area. That means a whopping $550 million could be spent on just 20 lane miles of renewed freeway and 20 acres of co...

John Angelos eyes Atlanta’s ‘The Battery’ as a model for Camden Yards. Here’s what Braves fans think about the ballpark district.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

Crea Petty is a little embarrassed about how often she’s been to The Battery.“Like, a lot. A lot,” the 31-year-old Atlanta Braves fan said. “Probably 100-plus times.”Petty, who lives in nearby Smyrna, said going to The Battery, the ballpark district that surrounds the Braves’ stadium, is the hip thing to do, not just to see the local nine, but also to go out to dinner, shop, celebrate birthdays and, even, attend a wedding.“There’s something for everyone,” said Petty, who was spending Saturday afternoon there before the Braves’ game against the Orioles. “It’s such a good environment.”The Battery, which debuted alongside the stadium in 2017, is 10 miles outside downtown Atlanta, drawing an eclectic mix of people from the metropolitan area — from diehard Braves fans to families to young people like Petty.The success of The Battery — 10 million visitors in 2022, according to the Braves — has ...

Skywatch: Faint but beautiful heavenly hair

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

Believe it or not, there are still a few winter constellations, most notably Gemini the Twins and Auriga the Charioteer, hanging out in the western evening sky.The spring constellations have taken over across the rest of the heavenly dome, but honestly, they’re not as flashy as the winter shiners. There are still many celestial treasures to find though. You just need to dig for them a little visually, but that can be a lot of fun, especially if you can stargaze in the darker countryside skies.(Mike Lynch)A good example is the faint constellation Coma Berenices or Berenice’s Hair. In darker skies you can really appreciate its beauty. The constellation actually resembles faint flowing hair. I think the best way to find it is to face southeast as darkness sets in and look for the brightest and highest star you can see. That’s Arcturus, a star with a definite orange-reddish glow. Just hold your fist at arm’s length, and about two and a half of your fist-widths to the upper right o...

Readers and writers: A journal’s belated birthday bash and a genre-jumping novel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

Rain Taxi Review, edited by Eric Lorberer, was 25 years old in 2020, but the pandemic shut down celebrations. So the Minneapolis-based, nonprofit literary journal is throwing a belated silver anniversary party at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (May 10) at Granada Theater, located at 3022 Hennepin Ave.“We’ve got a good cast for the celebration and we’re delighted to have a sort-of old-fashioned, in-person night of words and music, almost a variety show, in a beautiful theater. It will be a panoramic look at a lot of exciting things happening in our Twin Cities,” Lorberer said in a phone conversation on Monday.Among the cast will be musicians Colin Bracewell, Dosh, Adam and Ava Levy, Allie McIntosh and Mason-Hicks Party Supplies. Writers taking the stage include Michael Bazzett, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Tish Jones, Mary Lucia, Benjamin Percy and Sun Yung Shin.Rain Taxi Review published its Twin Cities Independent Bookstores Passport for Independent Bookstore Day on April 29,...

Loosen zoning regulations to allow for more multi-family dwellings in St. Paul? Six views.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

In St. Paul’s neighborhoods, most streets are lined by single-family homes. In fact, 72% of the city’s residential land mass is zoned single-family, and much of the rest is zoned for sizable multi-unit apartment buildings.Some see ample opportunity to court more duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, the “missing middle” or “neighborhood scale” housing that makes up about 11% of the city’s housing stock.A raft of proposed changes to the city’s zoning code would condense at least six of the city’s residential zoning districts into three districts — H1, H2 and H3 — with the goal of both simplifying zoning and allowing more density.Developers would still have the opportunity to build single-family homes, but no street would be zoned exclusively for single-family housing. An H1 district, for instance, would allow a maximum of three units on an interior lot, or a maximum of four units on corner lots, with up to 40% lot coverage.In additi...

Universal paid leave is on track at the Legislature; workers and businesses remain divided

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

Minnesota is on track to become the first Midwestern state to provide nearly all workers with paid family and medical leave, a benefit that’s relatively rare in the U.S. but common worldwide.The Minnesota House passed legislation Tuesday creating a universal leave program on a 68-64 vote after six hours of debate. The Senate is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks.If it becomes law, Minnesota would be the 12th state to have a mandatory leave program that would provide workers with a portion of their salary while they take up to 12 weeks off to care for themselves or a loved one. New parents also would be eligible for up to 12 weeks to recover from birth or bond with a new child.“My goal is to strengthen the safety net,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, the primary sponsor of the House bill, emphasizing Democrats’ motivation for pushing the legislation this session.“We all get sick. We all, at some point, will need to care for o...

Ask Amy: A woman with wheels wants to pay for travel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

Dear Amy: I have traveled to meet a wonderful man that I am really anxious to get to know better. I paid for the first trip to visit him.He sent me a check for the upcoming second trip to visit him.I am so excited to see him on this next trip, but I’m hesitant to cash the check.I am leaning toward not cashing the check and just paying for this second trip on my own.The check is from his and his wife’s joint account, which they still share.I am a very independent woman. I work hard and have been a very private person since my divorce 18 years ago.I have no regrets in life, but feel if I cash this check, I will have one.I have no drama in my life. I worry that this ex will make drama.I do not need her in my business.How can I express myself and return this check on my next visit?— StumpedRelated ArticlesAsk Amy | Ask Amy: Vacation times are affected by interlopers Ask Amy | Ask Amy: A new diagnosis inspires important questions Ask Amy | ...

Word Game: May 7, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — BOLDFACE (BOLDFACE: BOLD-face: A heavy-faced type.)Average mark 45 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 57 or more words in BOLDFACE?TODAY’S WORD — BOLDFACE bade bald bale bead blade bled bloc bode bola bold lace lade lead leaf load loaf lobe lode dale deaf deal decaf decal doable dole fable face fade fecal flab flea fled floc floe foal focal fold abed able abode aced adobe aloe cable cade cafe calf clad clef clod coal coda code coed cola cold coleTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words ...

Horoscopes May 7, 2023: Sydney Leroux, a leadership position will enhance your reputation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Alexander Ludwig, 31; Sydney Leroux, 33; Breckin Meyer, 49; Amy Heckerling, 69.Happy Birthday: Take pride in what you do and say, and reach out to those who can help strengthen your chance to achieve your goals this year. A change at home geared toward activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle will motivate you to become the poster child for your circle of friends. Striving for perfection and a leadership position will enhance your reputation. Your numbers are 7, 16, 22, 29, 35, 44, 47.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Look at the facts, consider what’s available and head in a direction that encourages you to offer positive suggestions instead of criticism. How you approach others will determine what you receive in return. Set high standards and stellar motives, and you’ll avoid interference. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Speak up, share your ideas and put together a schedule that will ensure you finish what you start. Pay attention to y...

Biden to deliver Howard University commencement speech later this month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:15 GMT

President Joe Biden is expected to deliver the commencement speech at Howard University this month, a historically Black university in Washington. The commencement is scheduled for May 13.The White House confirmed to CNN that Biden will also give the keynote address at the United States Air Force Academy’s commencement in El Paso County, Colorado, on June 1. He disclosed that appearance last month at the White House when he presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Air Force’s football team, the Falcons.“In a few weeks, I’ll be headed to your home turf for commencement,” the president joked at the time. “You’re going to get stuck with me being your commencement speaker.”Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris’ alma mater, has received an ample amount of focus from the Biden administration since the pair took office in 2021. Last month, Harris delivered a fiery speech on abortion rights during a rally on the H...