Our top stories
Now that the Olympics have kicked off (Team USA's women's hockey team just STOMPED Finland!), we published a fun story from neighborhood historian Kathleen Kullberg about curling's roots in Minneapolis. It's a story about of how the Scottish sport came to Minnesota in the 1870s and thrived in Minneapolis via a clubhouse built on Portland Ave. S. (originally located on Pillsbury). A great read!
The city is finally getting a new Public Works Director. Margaret Anderson Kelliher will have her first hearing before the City Council today at 1:30. It's open to the public, and information on how to join is here. You can sign up to speak if you fill out this form by 10:30 (Select "Council" and "Public Works" in the "Meeting Type" dropdown).
In addition to finishing the Hennepin Ave S. redesign project, one of her first tasks will be developing a plan to fix the lighting in Stevens Square. We published a story this morning about the neighborhood's long-running efforts to get functioning street lights across their neighborhood. The neighbors are understandably very frustrated about it, and want more people to know about their plight and Public Works to fix the problem.
LINK ROUNDUP
We've clearly got an incurable case of Olympic fever over here, and this will only make things worse. Here's a chronicle of Minnesota's Olympics history and a list of Minnesotans competing in this year's Olympics. Oh, and Minnesota curling legend John Shuster will be carrying the flag at the opening ceremony. (Mpls.St. Paul.Magazine and Star Tribune)
Eight Southwest athletes committed to play college sports at national signing day yesterday. (Twitter)
The Public Health and Safety Committee meeting yesterday offered a number of clues about how the new Council may approach policing. (Star Tribune)
Gov. Walz announced his support for an independent audit of spending on the Southwest Light Rail project. (Star Tribune)
Congratulations to the Southwest Boys Nordic Ski team on winning the City Championship. (Twitter)
COMMUNITY ACTION
Have a complaint or grievance? The City of Minneapolis has a pretty helpful page to cover everything you need, from abandoned vehicles to wage theft to bike path maintenance to cable service complaints and everything in between.
OUT & ABOUT
Today for the Great Northern, there are a few neat virtual events.
Join environmentalist/composer Gabriela Lena Frank and writer/birder/conservationist J. Drew Lanham for a conversation on collaboration, sustainability, birds, and music at 12:30, The Science Museum Symposium on Sustainable Buildings from 1:00 - 5:00, and join a conversation about collaborative interdisciplinary installation Thermal at 5:30 ahead of its month-long premiere at American Swedish Institute in March 2022
