The demise of the Twin Cities’ streetcar system

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The years soon after World War II were especially challenging for transit systems across the country. Ridership peaked in the 1920s and began declining with increasing competition from the automobile. During the depression, little money was available for expansion or even maintenance. When WWII started, the Twin Cities’ newest streetcars were already 24 years old. Ridership exploded during the war, but shortages of labor and materials meant little maintenance took place. Continue Reading

OPINION | U of M administrative leaders should take pay cut

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Pending unallotment announcements, University of Minnesota funding may be reduced an estimated $177 million over the next biennium, and as a result President Robert Bruininks has announced the need for some excruciating budgetary decisions. Most recently, he revealed the reduction of more than 1,200 paid positions at the University. Many of these will come in the form of natural employee attrition, whereby open positions go unfilled or early retirement incentives sweeten the pot for those soon to retire. Unfortunately for hundreds of University employees, attrition alone won’t bring solvency. That means layoffs. Continue Reading

Texas firm “stonewalling” suit that names Coleman, lawyer says

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The U.S. Senate contest between Norm Coleman and Al Franken appears to be nearing an end. But a Texas legal battle that could also have grave political consequences for Coleman doesn’t seem likely to be resolved any time soon. Just days before the November election, Paul McKim filed an incendiary lawsuit against longtime Coleman patron Nasser Kazeminy in Harris County District Court. It accused Kazeminy and his business associates of financially sabotaging the company that McKim founded, Deep Marine Technology. It also accused Kazeminy of trying to funnel $100,000 to Coleman through a Minneapolis insurance firm where his wife worked. Continue Reading

CAIR-MN defend against accusations of obstructing justice

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Supporters of the family of Burhan Hassan, who was killed in Somalia two weeks ago, accused the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations of obstructing justice in the FBI investigation of the missing Somali men. CAIR-MN officials strongly denied the accusations and denounced the leaders of the protest held in Minneapolis last week. KFAI News Director Ahndi Fridell reports. Continue Reading

Abra Palabra opens door to Spanish and Mercado Central

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A group of teenagers on a field trip order a tamal from La Loma and strike up conversations with music vendors at Mercado Central. Columbian Cumbias and Mexican Rancheros float overhead and mute sounds of chopping onions and frying chicken. A child pushes tamarind candy out of porous plastic cartons below a mass of fluorescent colored piñatas. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Diversity, integration, segregation in Minneapolis Public Schools

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Minneapolis Public Schools administration has proposed shifting away from citywide busing and towards community schools, beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. The administration is still revising details of the Changing School Options plan in the upcoming months, however the plan will most likely make major changes to citywide busing and magnet schools. The push towards zoning and community schools brings up major questions about segregation and diversity in Minneapolis public schools.This is the last in a series of TCDP forum articles on the implications of the Changing School Options plan, including on citywide busing and on magnet schools.  WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Which of these opinions do you agree/disagree with? Why? • The Story• Keep citywide busing for integration• Integration is not the answer• Integration can’t be left to schools aloneChanging School OptionsMinneapolis Public Schools is facing both budgetary and educational challenges. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Demagnetizing Minneapolis schools?

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Minneapolis Public Schools administration has proposed major shifts in the way that schools are organized, beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. Along with a push to cut transportation and busing, Minneapolis Public Schools would like to reduce the number of magnet schools. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Should Minneapolis have fewer magnet schools? Why? • The Story• The case for reducing the number of magnet schools• The case for retaining Minneapolis magnets

Changing School Options
Minneapolis Public Schools is facing both budgetary and educational challenges. Continue Reading

Cecilia Martinez brings low-income communities into green debate in St. Paul, Minneapolis

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Dr. Cecilia Martinez keeps popping up on the West Side of St. Paul. She has been giving energy workshops, speaking at seminars for high school science teachers and meeting with community organizers. Armed with dry-erase markers and PowerPoint presentations-one of which connects Native American environmental perspectives to arsenic contamination in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis-Martinez is on a mission. “Building relationships and bringing people together from various communities is so, so important. Continue Reading

YOUR TURN | Should Minneapolis stop busing students all over the city?

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Minneapolis Public Schools has proposed major shifts in the way that elementary schools are organized, beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. Under the new proposal the city would be divided into three major areas: North/Northeast, South/Southeast and Southwest, less busing would be provided, and most students would go to their designated community school. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Is moving to community schools a good or bad option? Why? • The Story• What’s at stake• The case for community schools and less busing• The case for citywide choice and citywide busing

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Continue Reading