Ellison-Fields Clash at KFAI Radio Debate: #3 Story of the Year

An Oct. 18 debate between Rep. Keith Ellison and challenger Chris Fields devolved into name-calling and raised voices.

Hennepin County Reports High Voter Turnout at 84 Percent

Many precincts in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Golden Valley, Greenwood, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Plymouth and St. Louis Park had turnouts of more than 90 percent.

OPINION: Chambers’ Light Rail Goals Remain the Same After Election

The chambers promised to work with new and returning legislators to see the Southwest LRT project through.

  Editor’s Note: In the lead-up to the 2012 election, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Edina Chamber of Commerce, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and TwinWest Chamber of Commerce talked with candidates and voters about the need for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project. The election brought in numerous legislators who support the project and transferred control to the DFL, which has historically been more supporting of light rail than their Republican opponents. TwinWest Chamber Director of Government Affairs Judy Johnson issued the following statement on behalf of the five chambers. “Discussions before the election were a great opportunity for us to educate voters and policymakers …

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Controversial Quilt, Bad Bus Driver Decision and Frankenstein: Pick of Our Patches

This week's selection includes a new gallery/gift shop, a levy rejected, school boundaries issue, DFL wins and good news for Southwest Light Rail Transit.

Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Michael. District 281 Bus Driver Asks Student to Pick Up Gun A Robbinsdale Area Schools spokesperson said a bus driver asked a seventh-grade boy to pick up a gun he spotted along the road. The district is shocked by the incident and has communicated with parents and students. Bus Driver Fired After Asking ISD 281 Student to Pick Up Gun The incident occurred on Nov. 8 around 8 a.m. The district immediately took action after the driver notified school employees about the weapon. A Hillary-…

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OPINION: Election Changes Minnesota’s Transit Dialogue

‘Major opponents of transit lost their 2012 re-election bids, particularly in the areas representing the Southwest Light Rail Transit Corridor.’

  Editor’s Note: The Counties Transit Improvement Board, a five-county agency that invests in transit using a quarter-cent sales tax and $20 a motor vehicle sales tax, published this article Thursday.   The election results make it clear the dialogue about transit in the State of Minnesota has changed. “Voters throughout the State of Minnesota expressed the desire to shift the state’s focus to fundamental questions about how we can best invest in our communities to achieve a prosperous and thriving future,” said Counties Transit Improvement Board Chair Peter McLaughlin. “Transit is part of the solution that will make our region competitive.” Major opponents of transit lost their 2012 re-election bids, particularly in the areas representing…

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DFL Wins Mean Good News for Southwest Light Rail Transit

Election Day is bringing in a Legislature that should be more supportive of LRT.

For the past couple years, the road ahead for the Southwest Light Rail Transit was uncertain. It faced steeped opposition from leaders in the Republican-controlled Legislature who oversaw key transportation committees. Shakopee Rep. Michael Beard, the former Transportation Policy and Finance Committee chairman, once even said he wanted to stop the project "in its tracks." But all that changed Tuesday night when the DFL took control of both the House and Senate—sweeping in more light rail supporters and handing the reins to a party that’s historically been a bigger backer of public transit. “The bottom line is we didn’t get anywhere (before), so it’s pretty significant to us,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, chairwoman of …

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