Zach White

Residents of North Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Park are being called to the virtual discussion table by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to voice their thoughts on the future of Hwy 252/I-94. On January 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., MnDOT will hold a virtual community table talk accessible via Zoom, focusing specifically on environmental justice as it relates to proposed highway upgrades.

Attention Minneapolis residents and community members: Make your voice heard at the 2025 Community Connections Conference, where your insights could shape the future city policies. This annual free event, set for February 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Hall E, offers a platform for dialogue, networking, and collaboration with local government, and the broader community.

Mankato's main thoroughfare will experience some disruptions starting tomorrow as demolition crews make way for progress, or at least, that's the hope. In a heads-up to local commuters, the City of Mankato posted a reminder on their social media: starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, a stretch of Main Street's eastbound lanes will be closing to accommodate demolition work. The specifics of the closure, laid out in a Facebook post by the City's government, confirm it will span from Riverfront Drive to Second Street.

In a move that's part public service and part sobering wakeup call, the City of Duluth is hosting yet another Car Seat Check Event meant to lower the startling misuse rate of 88% identified at last year's checks. Set for January 30 at the Duluth Fire Station 7, from 4 PM to 6 PM, families are encouraged to swing by with their car seats to ensure they're using them correctly, according to a social media post from the City of Duluth, MN Government.

If you're looking to engage with nature in more ways than just a walk in the woods, the Wargo Nature Center has a lineup of creative and educational activities to fit a variety of interests and age groups. According to their

Amidst swirling uncertainty and the abrupt halt of federal grant and loan programs declared by the White House Budget Office, there's a smidge of clarity for folks reliant on SNAP and MA in Wright County. These vital assistance programs, contrary to the panic that's been lighting up phone lines at the Wright County Health & Human Services, are not taking a breather. The office confirmed that these lifelines—that put food on the table and healthcare within reach—aren't stuck in the quagmire of paused programs. Instead, they march on providing their essential services to individuals and families in need.

The Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD) and the Disability Services Division (DSD) have released their latest weekly digest, updating the community on initiatives and policy changes. Among the highlights, the divisions have announced an increase in the Environmental Accessibility Adaptations (EAA) service limit for Alternative Care (AC) and Elderly Waiver (EW). This update, which took effect from January 1, raised the service limit to $21,199, expanding support for individuals in need of home modifications to enable safer, more accessible living environments.

The City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is issuing a call to action for its residents to start February with environmental mindfulness— specifically, by accepting the "Plastic-Free Challenge." In a recent social media post that champions sustainability, the city highlighted the often confusing world of plastics and encouraged citizens to opt for lifestyles that demand less of this material which has so profoundly inundated our lives and ecosystems. The post shed light on the existence of seven types of plastics, some recyclable, some not, and the greater benefits of reducing plastic use over recycling.

For those living in Bloomington, the city's Community Development department has launched an interactive development map that serves as a digital window into the new development projects taking Bloomington by storm. This handy tool offers up-to-date information on projects in various stages, whether they're under review, approved, still raising dust under construction, or have recently wrapped up and ready to forge their place in the cityscape.

The Metropolitan Council is stepping up its game in the fight against polluted lands, having recently awarded $2.26 million in grants aimed at cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated sites across three cities. These investments are not only about scrubbing the grime from these lands but are expected to bring tangible benefits, creating and retaining jobs while also yielding affordable housing solutions. As reported on Wednesday by the Metropolitan Council's news release, this sweep of funding is just part of an ongoing effort to revive underused properties and bolster local economies.