News | Southwest Connector

Drew Kerr, a Linden Hills resident who works for Met Transit, stands near the closed main intersection at Upton and 43rd. It will be fully closed for about 10 weeks as the city completes a water and sewer project at the same time as Met Transit does work on the E Line. After the city’s work is finished, the intersection will be partially closed. Local businesses have maps available to show where customers can park.

Street projects on Hennepin Avenue from Lake to 26th, West Lake, France and Upton mean that getting around southwest Minneapolis is challenging right now, but traveling by bus will get faster when … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 5/15/24

Drew (at left) and Jacob Wesson explored public safety in Minneapolis in their award-winning documentary.

Washburn twins earn film award

By Tesha M. Christensen Creating a five-minute documentary about public safety in Minneapolis was “eye-opening” for a pair of 18-year-old twins from Washburn High School. … more

5/15/24

Lisa Sayles-Adams, Minneapolis Public School Superintendent

Rising costs, declining revenue bring trouble to public school budget

Lisa Sayles-Adams, the new Minneapolis Public School (MPS) Superintendent, has been on the job for less than three months and has already participated in two major contract negotiations. Plus, she is … more

By Cam Gordon | 5/15/24 | 1 comment

Talking lawn care with U of M

People are getting back into our yards and gardens, with pent-up demand following a long winter. University of Minnesota Extension Educator Jon Trappe has tips for yards that accomplish multiple … more

5/15/24

A rain barrel collects roof runoff so you can save the rainwater for later use. Reroute downspouts away from pavement and onto grass, a rain barrel or a rain garden. (Photo courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension)

A watershed moment

What is a watershed? What is our local watershed called? Where does it begin and end? What is the largest watershed in the U.S.? According to board chair of the League of … more

By Margie O’Loughlin | 5/15/24

The co-directors debate about what films to show, and other times field suggestions from their audiences. The films can range from current top movies such as “Past Lives” and “Oppenheimer” to a 2015 film about the Amazon, “Embrace of the Serpent?” which featured up to 10 different languages. “Every event is an ongoing experiment, and we keep evolving our theory of what people want to see and what works,” said Geordie Flantz. (Photo submitted)

Trilingual Cinema offers indoor and outdoor shows

Trilingua Cinema is about bringing together lots of different kinds of people who maybe wouldn’t mingle in their everyday lives. And they are brought together to share the experience of film. … more

By Jan Willms | 5/15/24

Lake Harriet Bandshell Construction progress as of March 21, 2024

New blue paint at Lake Harriet Bandshell

The Lake Harriet Bandshell roof was repaired in sections over the fall and winter. Other first phase repairs included remodeled bathrooms, upgraded electrical systems, and a new blue color for … more

5/15/24

Running for Special Olympics

Two Southwest runners are making a difference one step at a time. On May 19, 2024, Jake Lepak and Patrick Larson will run 50 miles around Lake Harriet to raise money and awareness for Special … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 5/15/24

Clare Housing helps house vulnerable community members

Beginning in fall of 2023, Clare Housing has been helping people living with HIV and experiencing homelessness move off the streets quickly, thanks to new, more flexible funding from Hennepin County. … more

5/15/24

City briefs - May 2024

New Public Works Director Timothy Sexton has been approved by the city council as the new Public Works Director. His term ends in January 2026. Mount Curve … more

5/15/24

Lowry Hills East

Valerie Blomberg is the new Wedge Neighborhood Coordinator. She moved to Lowry Hill East (the Wedge) in 2019. She started volunteering with LHENA soon after, supporting the neighborhood potlucks that … more

By Valerie Blomberg | 5/15/24

West Maka Ska

For the West Maka Ska Neighborhood’s third Neighborhood Talk, we are thrilled to host Kate Beane, PH.D! Join us on May 23 from 5-7 p.m. at the Bakken Museum (3537 Zenith Ave. S) as … more

By Dylan Ohm | 5/15/24

Neighborhood news - May 2024

GRAMMY RIDES ACROSS AMERICA Come laugh and learn with 66-year-old Donna Minter (aka Grammy) to discover her Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) to bicycle 3200 miles in Fall 2024 on the GRAMMY Ride … more

5/15/24

Business news - May 2024

Everett & Charlie’s 6th Anniversary Suzie Marty, one of Minneapolis’ most prolific local-artist advocates, is celebrating the 6th year of Everett & Charlie Art Gallery. She is hosting a … more

5/15/24

‘‘Thresholds’ is supposed to explain to multiple audiences how the autistic brain comprehends and takes in sight, sound, smell and touch as opposed to the non-autistic brain,” said Michael Wolfe.

Show combines neurodiversity, art and science

Anxiety, restlessness, being a superpower and feeling free and unchained are some of the emotions Saint Paul actor Michael Wolfe experiences while waiting for a bus. Wolfe, who identifies as a … more

By Jan Willms | 5/8/24

The spice of life

I’ve been traveling a lot lately. Over the last nine months, I’ve been on an airplane more times than I have in the previous 15 years. The trips I’m taking typically involve … more

By J.D. Fratzke | 4/17/24

Karen Binkowski of the Southwest Business Association (left) and Gina Rautenberg of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council are excited about plans to reinvigorate local businesses and get people out more to boost the local economy.

PARTNERING & SHARING

With many organizational budgets being slashed, businesses and residents need to band together to thrive. Gina Rautenberg and Karen Binkowski are leading by example. Rautenberg is the executive … more

By Eric Ortiz | 4/17/24

‘Oppressive’ experience:’ 57 hearings, 80 court orders, 12 parenting time schedules

What do you do when 11 judges and referees, 20 therapists, 12 mediators, two parenting consultants (with 37 directives), one custody evaluator, and one guardian ad litem haven’t been able to … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 4/17/24

Spring brings celebration of neighborhoods

People throughout Southwest Minneapolis will be celebrating Neighborhood Day on May 11 this spring to connect residents and business owners to the work of neighborhood organizations in the … more

By Cam Gordon | 4/17/24

City briefs - Apr 2024

Hennepin Ave. construction The reconstruction of Hennepin Ave. between W. Lake St. and Douglas Ave. Construction began in April. It will take two years to complete. This year Lake St. W to 26th … more

Briefs compiled by Cam Gordon | 4/17/24