REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK | Frustrated parents turn to social networking site to fight MPS re-organization plans

By |

Here’s a story we are working on. We invite you to add to the story – facts, leads, opinions, suggestions of people we should talk to. The story The story has changed over the past week, as a dispute between school board member Chris Stewart and Burroughs Elementary School Principal Tim Cadotte led to Cadotte’s suspension. What’s going on in Southwest Minneapolis public schools? On April 15, here’s how the story looked: Upset that proposals for their local school would kick out an ELL program and city-wide autism program, and enroll more student than the Lyndale building could handle, 10 parents from Minneapolis’ Kingfield, Lyndale, and East Harriet neighborhoods have come together, using a neighborhood-based social networking website, to propose an alternative solution to Minneapolis schools’ restructuring needs. Continue Reading

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK | New Saints stadium?

By |

Here’s a story we are working on. We invite you to add to the story – facts, leads, opinions, suggestions of people we should talk to. The story There are plans afoot for a new — or renovated — stadium for the St. Paul Saints. Three sites have been discussed:1. Continue Reading

Slippery slope: What will more budget cuts mean for snow, ice removal?

By |

A lack of state funding is trickling down to the Twin Cities streets, meaning that it could take longer to remove snow and ice build-up this winter. Recent cuts to staff and hours in Minneapolis, teamed with increases in salt prices, affect snow removal. City officials say they are forming plans to work around the inevitable budget crisis and its fallout. Mike Kennedy, who heads snow removal operations at Minneapolis Public Works, said that while there have been reductions to staff and funding for snow and ice removal in recent years, that largely hasn’t affected the level of city services. However, he said he’s waiting until January 27, when Gov. Tim Pawlenty is expected to announce state budget cuts in 2009-10. Continue Reading