ByScores of Minnesotans are receiving packages of seeds in the mail, but they didn't order them.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture said it is not sure what the seeds are and requests anybody who gets a package of the unsolicited seeds not to plant them."We're uncertain what these seeds may be and why people are receiving these unsolicited packages," said Denise Thiede, the department's seed unit supervisor. "Until we know more, we encourage people to contact us because of the risk they may pose to Minnesota agriculture and our natural landscapes."Packages of the tiny, dark seeds are...…ByScores of Minnesotans are receiving packages of seeds in the mail, but they didn't order them.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture said it is not sure what the seeds are and requests anybody who gets a package of the unsolicited seeds not to plant them."We're uncertain what these seeds may be and why people are receiving these unsolicited packages," said Denise Thiede, the department's seed unit supervisor. "Until we know more, we encourage people to contact us because of the risk they may pose to Minnesota agriculture and our natural landscapes."Packages of the tiny, dark seeds are...WW…

ByThe city of Ramsey has voted to stop enforcing Gov. Tim Walz's mask mandate, arguing that the statewide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is infringing on individuals' constitutional rights.In 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the City Council approved the measure put forth by council members Ryan Heineman and Chelsee Howell stating that city resources "physical, financial or otherwise shall not be used to enforce any of Gov. Walz's Emergency Executive Orders."Loading...It was not immediately clear what liability the city might face as a result of the vote, which was discouraged by city...…ByThe city of Ramsey has voted to stop enforcing Gov. Tim Walz's mask mandate, arguing that the statewide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is infringing on individuals' constitutional rights.In 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the City Council approved the measure put forth by council members Ryan Heineman and Chelsee Howell stating that city resources "physical, financial or otherwise shall not be used to enforce any of Gov. Walz's Emergency Executive Orders."Loading...It was not immediately clear what liability the city might face as a result of the vote, which was discouraged by city...WW…

ByNothing is certain yet, but it's looking more promising that the Minnesota State Fair will be back in 2021 after taking a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Plans for "The Great Minnesota Get-Together" are moving forward, said fair general manager Jerry Hammer. But exactly what this year's rendition will look like, should it go on, hinges on how many Minnesotans get vaccinated and the state of the virus and rules governing crowd sizes that are in effect when summer rolls around.Loading...With COVID-19 cases dropping and more people getting vaccinations, "there is a positive...…ByNothing is certain yet, but it's looking more promising that the Minnesota State Fair will be back in 2021 after taking a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Plans for "The Great Minnesota Get-Together" are moving forward, said fair general manager Jerry Hammer. But exactly what this year's rendition will look like, should it go on, hinges on how many Minnesotans get vaccinated and the state of the virus and rules governing crowd sizes that are in effect when summer rolls around.Loading...With COVID-19 cases dropping and more people getting vaccinations, "there is a positive...WW…

ByThe U.S. Postal Service said it will rebuild Minneapolis' Minnehaha branch in the same spot it stood before it burned down during the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd in May.No timetable was offered for replacing the facility at 3033 S. 27th Av., which had served south Minneapolis for more than 50 years, the Postal Service said in its announcement Thursday.The USPS set up a mobile branch in the vacant Kmart store on Lake Street after the Minnehaha and Lake Street locations were closed because of irreparable damage.In November, services for both branches were shifted to a...…ByThe U.S. Postal Service said it will rebuild Minneapolis' Minnehaha branch in the same spot it stood before it burned down during the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd in May.No timetable was offered for replacing the facility at 3033 S. 27th Av., which had served south Minneapolis for more than 50 years, the Postal Service said in its announcement Thursday.The USPS set up a mobile branch in the vacant Kmart store on Lake Street after the Minnehaha and Lake Street locations were closed because of irreparable damage.In November, services for both branches were shifted to a...WW…

BySeveral additional months of inconvenience are ahead for the thousands of drivers who use County Road 81 each day to travel between north Minneapolis and Robbinsdale.Last week, the Hennepin County Department of Transportation closed the southbound bridge over Wirth Parkway and Lowry Avenue and shifted traffic onto the northbound bridge with one travel lane in each direction.That was not supposed to happen until spring, when the county plans to start rebuilding the two deteriorating spans that pass over Lowry Avenue and Wirth Parkway. But repeated weight limit violations raised safety...…BySeveral additional months of inconvenience are ahead for the thousands of drivers who use County Road 81 each day to travel between north Minneapolis and Robbinsdale.Last week, the Hennepin County Department of Transportation closed the southbound bridge over Wirth Parkway and Lowry Avenue and shifted traffic onto the northbound bridge with one travel lane in each direction.That was not supposed to happen until spring, when the county plans to start rebuilding the two deteriorating spans that pass over Lowry Avenue and Wirth Parkway. But repeated weight limit violations raised safety...WW…

More from the HomepageBy Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:A battle over on-street parking is underway in the Uptown area of south Minneapolis, where the city plans to give Hennepin Avenue its first major makeover since 1957.The city is exploring two options for upgrading Hennepin from just south of the Walker Art Center to Lake Street. Both designs would slim the bustling corridor to one travel lane in each direction and bring amenities such as wider sidewalks, dedicated bus lanes and possibly room for bikes. To fit it all in, the city would eliminate about 90% of curbside parking spots."It...…More from the HomepageBy Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:A battle over on-street parking is underway in the Uptown area of south Minneapolis, where the city plans to give Hennepin Avenue its first major makeover since 1957.The city is exploring two options for upgrading Hennepin from just south of the Walker Art Center to Lake Street. Both designs would slim the bustling corridor to one travel lane in each direction and bring amenities such as wider sidewalks, dedicated bus lanes and possibly room for bikes. To fit it all in, the city would eliminate about 90% of curbside parking spots."It...WW…

More from the HomepageRamsey officials said order infringes on individuals' constitutional rights. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:The city of Ramsey has voted to stop enforcing Gov. Tim Walz's mask mandate, arguing that the statewide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is infringing on individuals' constitutional rights.In 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the City Council approved the measure put forth by council members Ryan Heineman and Chelsee Howell stating that city resources "physical, financial or otherwise shall not be used to enforce any of Gov. Walz's Emergency Executive...…More from the HomepageRamsey officials said order infringes on individuals' constitutional rights. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:The city of Ramsey has voted to stop enforcing Gov. Tim Walz's mask mandate, arguing that the statewide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is infringing on individuals' constitutional rights.In 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the City Council approved the measure put forth by council members Ryan Heineman and Chelsee Howell stating that city resources "physical, financial or otherwise shall not be used to enforce any of Gov. Walz's Emergency Executive...WW…

More from the HomepageVictims and police are appealing to the Legislature for help. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:On quiet neighborhood streets and in busy retail parking lots, thieves are sliding under cars undetected, sawing off catalytic converters in minutes and making off with the emission-control devices that contain precious metals more valuable than gold.In more brazen moves, criminals are using stolen tow trucks with no markings to haul vehicles down the street, where they carry out their crime and then leave the cars behind.Catalytic converter thefts are fast and easy,...…More from the HomepageVictims and police are appealing to the Legislature for help. By Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:On quiet neighborhood streets and in busy retail parking lots, thieves are sliding under cars undetected, sawing off catalytic converters in minutes and making off with the emission-control devices that contain precious metals more valuable than gold.In more brazen moves, criminals are using stolen tow trucks with no markings to haul vehicles down the street, where they carry out their crime and then leave the cars behind.Catalytic converter thefts are fast and easy,...WW…

More from the HomepageBy Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:The 3rd Ave. bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis is closing to all traffic – cars, buses, pedestrians and bicyclists – for nearly two years, starting Monday.The historic structure with its distinctive S-curve just north of St. Anthony Falls is closing to all traffic Jan. 4 as the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) continues with the bridge's first in more than 40 years.Vehicles, transit and pedestrians will be detoured to Hennepin and 1st avenues N. until the bridge, which connects southeast...…More from the HomepageBy Star TribunemoreCopy shortlink:The 3rd Ave. bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis is closing to all traffic – cars, buses, pedestrians and bicyclists – for nearly two years, starting Monday.The historic structure with its distinctive S-curve just north of St. Anthony Falls is closing to all traffic Jan. 4 as the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) continues with the bridge's first in more than 40 years.Vehicles, transit and pedestrians will be detoured to Hennepin and 1st avenues N. until the bridge, which connects southeast...WW…

More from the HomepageMetro Transit says the measure will save money. By Star TribunemoreMetro Transit is swapping out padded cloth seats on its light-rail trains in favor of plastic seats in a move that is expected to save thousands of dollars in cleaning costs each year.Crews have finished switching out the fabric seats on two Blue Line trains, and Metro Transit expects to have all 91 of its vehicles retrofitted with the new plastic seats by spring, said Jay Wesely, light-rail maintenance program manager.The agency, which was one of the few transit agencies in the country that still...…More from the HomepageMetro Transit says the measure will save money. By Star TribunemoreMetro Transit is swapping out padded cloth seats on its light-rail trains in favor of plastic seats in a move that is expected to save thousands of dollars in cleaning costs each year.Crews have finished switching out the fabric seats on two Blue Line trains, and Metro Transit expects to have all 91 of its vehicles retrofitted with the new plastic seats by spring, said Jay Wesely, light-rail maintenance program manager.The agency, which was one of the few transit agencies in the country that still...WW…