Mac-Groveland

The Choker. The Full Closure. The Neckdown. What do these descriptions have in common? No, they’re not extreme wrestling moves. They’re actually three of the many “traffic-calming” techniques used throughout Minnesota.

According to the Local Road Research Board, city officials are receiving increasing requests by residents to “calm” traffic in their communities. Meanwhile, elected officials and citizens can’t help but question the effectiveness of the techniques already in place. Speed limit signs often seem to serve as mere suggestions, and even the large speedometers (speed trailers) set up on streets such as North Dale and Snelling Avenue only seem to slow drivers down for the few seconds it takes to pass by. City engineers are working to come up with traffic slowing solutions that are affordable, have minimal drawbacks, and work in the long term. MORE »

St. Paul police report a rash of armed robberies in the western district in the past two months. The robberies have some common elements: they take place at gunpoint, on the street, and after dark. Suspects are described as two or three young black men, one usually wearing a hoodie. Victims are usually young (21 and up). They have included three single male pedestrians, four male/female couples, and two groups of three. MORE »

Mississippi Market, one of the oldest natural foods co-ops in the Twin Cities metro area, recently announced plans to build a new store at the Victoria Park development, located at the intersection of West 7th and Otto Streets in Saint Paul. The new store will replace the Mississippi Market store at 1810 Randolph Avenue. MORE »

A look into the world of marbles at a toy store in Saint Paul. MORE »