‍In our most recent public safety piece, Charlie combs through local news coverage of cities where crime is decreasing to highlight solutions they say are working. Charlie writes, "Through the local news coverage, I noted some specific strategies that community leaders, public officials, and law enforcement credited with the reduction in homicides. There isn’t any one simple solution."

Have you been trying to keep up with the Southwest Light Rail/Green Line Extension project but feel a bit...lost? Cool, not just me. Thankfully, Henry Pan wrote an insightful and detailed article about the overall project and why the project has hit another bump. "Because of the challenges building the tunnel, which will be the last portion of the project to be complete when construction wraps in 2025, the Met Council sought to extend an already-planned closure of Cedar Lake Parkway," Pan writes.  

Are there unsafe intersections in your neighborhood?
The City wants you to call 311 and let them know about traffic safety issues and request traffic calming. Hold off on the engineering though. "We ask that you explain the issues using as much detail as possible, instead of just asking for a specific solution, so that we can evaluate the issue and propose possible solutions," the traffic calming webpage reads.  
If you are a longtime caller of 311 and have some feelings about traffic calming reporting, then take the survey about the traffic calming reporting process. Today is the last day to take the survey!

LINK ROUNDUP 🔗

Market Bucks, a version of EBT/food stamps at farmer's markets, is expanding this spring thanks to a federal grant. Republican legislators tried to remove the program from the State budget last year. (Star Tribune)‍

The Minneapolis Police Department has a training on the Antifa and Boogaloo movements. (Unicorn Riot)

A year into its COVID-19 vaccination program, Minnesota has made progress on racial disparities. (MinnPost)

COMMUNITY ACTION 💪

If you need help paying for your internet, check your eligibility and sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program. You can receive up to $30 per month towards internet services.

Plan ahead for Wednesday's Winter Walk Day hosted by Minnesota Safe Routes to School. If you go to school or have kids in your life that do, try walking to or from school (or least some of the way!).

OUT & ABOUT 🛵

At noon today, The Great Northern is hosting "Talking Climate Impacts and Solutions in Minnesota with Katharine Hayhoe." The talk is virtual! And free!

At The Parkway Theater at 7 p.m. is "Invisible Cities" and it sounds beyond cool. "Choreographer/dancer Ashwini Ramaswam reinterprets Italo Calvino’s metaphysical/philosophical novel through interwoven cultural perspectives, with interactive projections created by internationally renowned artist Kevork Mourad." Hosted by The Great Northern. Free.

Starting tomorrow, the Walker Art Museum's is hosting three weeks of films nominated for Film Independent’s Spirit Awards. The film screenings are for Walker members only.

"It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth."
Fred Rogers
-Melody

‍