During the month of Ramadan, Saint Stephen’s Shelter served catered meals every weekday evening after sundown. The program, which benefited the 44 men staying at the homeless shelter, was sponsored by the Zakat Foundation of America, an Islamic charity based in Chicago. MORE »

As if to underscore what an erratic year it’s been in political polling, the latest Minnesota numbers in the presidential and US Senate races come sporting a gap like none I can remember in any past contest here. Last week SurveyUSA and KSTP released numbers indicating adead heat between John McCain (47 percent) and Barack Obama (46) and a 10-point lead for Norm Coleman (43 percent) in his race with Al Franken (33) and Dean Barkley (19). Over the weekend, the Star Tribune/Princeton Survey Research Associates poll produced an almost diametrically opposed portrait of those races:Obama 55-37 over McCain, Franken (43) up by 9 over Coleman (34) and 25 over Barkley (18). SUSA/KSTP was conducted on 9/30 and 10/1; PSRA/Strib on those two days plus 10/2. MORE »

Seven people meet by the entrance of the Brian Coyle Center in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood Tuesday.

As they cross the street in the approaching dusk, the red sign for Mixed Blood Theatre, a former firehouse, reflects off their bright yellow vests and the two plastic bags they carry — one for garbage and one for recyclables. MORE »

One would have to have an MBA from Harvard to comprehend fully the complexities and nuisances involved in this Wall Street-federal government debacle during the past fortnight that is so rapidly changing our entire monetary system. MORE »

Some shorter stories from around the Twin Cities metro area describe a new block club sparked by a rash of burglaries in St. Paul, and two October 11 events: the Linden Hills Good Energy fair and Oktoberfest in St. Paul bringing everything from bratwurst and beer to bed races. MORE »