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AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER

20 AWARDS FOR TMC PUBLICATIONS IN 2023

TMC Publication's three newspapers earned a total of 20 awards at this year's Better Newspaper Contest. Congrats to the winners! NEWS1) First Place, Sports Story - Eric Erickson, “Unforgettable …
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From their Standpoint
Four ward 13 candidates face off
Theater mu reclaims genres for Asian artists in Minnesota
Little Mekong through eyes of artist Katie Ka Vang
Community members smiled as they tasted different dishes and snacks from local businesses of the Little Mekong cultural district on University Avenue on Sunday, July 2, 2023. The event was artist …
Positive energy meets canine energy
I think about energy a lot. I wonder: How much energy does it take to bark!? I mean, it kind of looks like it would take a lot of energy, if I were to suddenly yell that loud and urgently. . . I …
Local teen volunteers to help seniors with technology
Graham Bennett, 14, is a tech wizard who goes to The Kenwood Retirement Community once a week to help residents with their phones, iPads, laptops, and computers. His path to the Kenwood was a natural …
Knute Nelson, Walker Methodist to merge jan. 1
Faith-based, nonprofit healthcare and housing organizations look to expand options for customers, team members, and communities Knute Nelson, based in Alexandria, Minn., and Walker Methodist, based …
Summertime celebrations continued
It’s August 2023. A theme is emerging out of my life experiences to date. The theme can be captured in two words: self care. My life as it is unfolding in 2023 is revolving around self care. I …
Take time for self-care essentials
The cornerstone of wellbeing, for yourself, your family, and your community is self-care. Staying in balance, vibrant, rested, nourished, connected and strong requires daily attending and …
WACSO: Old Car
Saw this old dude jump off his bike to grab a photo of a cool old vintage car driving around Lake Harriet. (Illustration by WACSO)
Business briefs
Picnic moving to former Clancy’s spot A women-owned neighborhood bar is coming this winter to the former Clancy’s location in Linden Hills (4307 Upton Ave. S). Picnic is owned by …
Hennepin-dunwoody Bikeway Project
PROJECT GOALS   • Build a two-way, multi-use trail on Dunwoody Boulevard and Hennepin Ave. The trail will run from Linden Avenue to the west of 17th St. The trail will be above the …
City briefs - September 21
New Community Safety Commissioner On Sept. 11, Mayor Jacob Frey nominated Hennepin County Chief Judge Todd Barnette to serve as the city’s next Community Safety Commissioner. If his …
Neighborhood news - September 21
MPLS For a Better Police Contract The organizations and individuals involved with MPLS for a Better Police Contract spent the spring and summer reviewing the Minneapolis Police Federation …
Elections: how they work
How do our elections work and why are they are fair and accurate? Skim this resource or dig into specific aspects/issues for a deeper dive. Go to Elections 411  

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September 21, 2023 Connector

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BEGINNING A NEWSPAPER

Welcome, readers of the new Southwest Connector. We’re glad you’ve picked up a copy of our inaugural edition. It’s an exciting time for neighborhood journalism. Thanks for coming …

Voices Against Violence
 CAUGHT BETWEEN
She lived in Minnesota for only five months and her daughter was born in Iowa, but Dani* has been dragged into family court in Minnesota nearly every one of the past 11 years by her ex-boyfriend. …
Colorado becomes the first state to limit court use of family reunification camps
A bill signed into law this week in Colorado prohibits family courts from ordering children to participate in reunification programs that isolate them from a trusted caregiver. Many of these programs …
A court ordered siblings to a reunification camp with their estranged father. The children say it was abusive.
One Thursday afternoon in December, a father and two of his estranged children boarded a flight from Salt Lake City to Texas, beginning an effort to repair their fractured relationship. A family …
Judge pauses order to return siblings to father they say abused them
After two months barricaded in a bedroom to defy a court order directing them to be returned to the custody of their father, who they say abused them, Utah siblings Ty and Brynlee Larson emerged …
Colorado suspends one family court custody expert, reviews all custody evaluators following ProPublica investigation
The Colorado courts have suspended a well-known custody evaluator and launched a review of the entire state-approved roster, following a ProPublica investigation that found some evaluators had …

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Home & Garden
 Nicollet Pollinator Pathway for Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
There’s a new pathway in southwest Minneapolis, but it’s not for people.  The Nicollet Avenue Pollinator Pathway is a series of 50 native plant gardens along and around Nicollet …
No mow May helps pollinators
Stumbling over bicycles and skateboards in the back of the garage, your fall is broken by the lawn mower handle. Wrestling your new turf terrorizer out of its winter hold, a vague memory forms of the …
Spring cleaning tips and tricks
Here are some tips that can help anyone master spring cleaning.• Create a plan. Make a checklist and establish a cleaning plan of attack. Focus on areas that are not regularly cleaned, as they …
Why throw away a house when parts can be reused?
From early 20th Century thrift to building cabins from contractor cast-offs, building materials reuse had long been an informal norm. But in a more recent world, entire houses have been thrown in the …
Spring yard Cleanup in a word: WAIT!
Especially this spring, after what feels like an endless winter with February weather in March, most gardeners are understandably impatient for the snow to melt and clear the way for yard work. But …

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Mindful Creativity
 Parks for all
Kao Lee Thao and Ash Kubesh spent 66 hours over 10 days painting two new murals that represent Thao’s Hmong heritage at Boom Island Park. The artwork is part of the Minneapolis Parks and …
WACSO: Patio season
Patio season. Book Club. because it’s winter near 6 months a year, we hit patio season hard and enjoy it more than just about anyone else I imagine. (Illustration by WACSO)
Washburn high school band from 1970s reunites
Acclaimed artist and composer Billy McLaughin’s first band at Washburn High School (WHS) in south Minneapolis, an 11-piece group – counting the roadies -- called Paradox, with a gifted …
Drawing in the moment
Anita White, age 70, “draws in the moment.” Anywhere, any time, the artist has blank sheets of paper, a pencil and sometimes even watercolor paint ready to capture the moments of daily …
Creative and curious @ Art on the Edge

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Rebuild Repair Recycle
Hennepin County is working to build a Lyndale Avenue for today and tomorrow. The county is partnering with the city of Minneapolis, Metro Transit and others to continue improving safety for all users …
The reduction of traffic lanes on Lyndale Ave from 31st St. to Franklin Ave. has improved safety and will remain in place.   Called the “4-3 Lane Pilot Project,” Hennepin …
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area ranks 24th nationally for EV-friendliness, mainly prompted by a strong EV ownership mindset, the overall favorable infrastructure, the growing …

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Facebook
Aging Well
Thirty-five years ago, at Thanksgiving, I moved to Minnesota from my Philadelphia home. I relocated back to my hometown in time for Passover and Easter. In November 1988, the Twin Cities were cold …
Some time ago, after suffering the shocking and unexpected loss of my still young husband, Martijn, while we were living in Europe, I experienced what is called traumatic grief. In addition to a year …
Ever been accused of having a thin skin? When it comes to maintaining proper body temperature, this old adage is no joke. As we age, our metabolic rate decreases and our skin literally thins. Often, …

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HENNEPIN AVENUE
 Hennepin Ave design: Helpful or hurtful?
If the proposed reconstruction plan for Hennepin Ave. passes, Kristin Traynor says The Corner Balloon Shoppe will be moving from 2455 Hennepin Ave. “I have an extremely diverse group of …
Hennepin for People supports city’s proposed plan for Hennepin Ave. South
As woman of color, Wedge resident Chandra Lalla says she knows how “our streets don’t serve everyone well.“For generations, city streets were built solely with car travel in mind, …
True progress on Hennepin requires a business plan
Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community. They provide distinctive character to a neighborhood and are the engine that drives a local economy. Without local businesses, there is no local …
COMPETITION FOR SPACE ALONG S. HENNEPIN
By Tesha M. Christensen In a one-way presentation on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, city staff acknowledged that there are competing desires for E. Hennepin Ave., and they can’t all be addressed …
BUSINESSES SUBMIT LETTER TO CITY
Opinion
 How We Win: Organizing for Environmental and Climate Justice
Do you care deeply about issues of environmental justice and want to get connected to local organizing efforts? Do you feel panicked, paralyzed or numbed by the enormity of the climate crisis and …
Rediscover the power of reading books
Read any good books lately? If you’re like many Americans, the answer is no. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, Americans are reading fewer books than in the past. The average number of books …
After Kansas newspaper raid: good people showing up
If you’re reading this right now, we have won. Every week, our newspapers struggles to cover local issues. We are limited by staffing, time and newsprint space, and we struggle to pay bills to …
Calling all lifelong learners back to school
Learn something new every day. This isn't a new concept. Many smart people have espoused the virtues of learning. "Education begins at the level of the learner," said Aristotle, who believed …
After Kansas newspaper raid: good people showing up
If you’re reading this right now, we have won. Every week, our newspapers struggles to cover local issues. We are limited by staffing, time and newsprint space, and we struggle to pay bills to …

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COLUMNISTS
 It was fantastic. you should go, too.
I cannot recall in my lifetime having more instances of friends telling me: “You have to go see the Walker Exhibit.” Word on the street was, “Oh my god, it’s fantastic.” …
Summertime celebrations continued
It's August 2023. A theme is emerging out of my life experiences to date. The theme can be captured in two words: self care. My life as it is unfolding in 2023 is revolving around self care. I …
Everyone deserves a good education
Youth need more positive opportunities than ever. The opportunity gap is increasing, especially in public schools and marginalized communities across the United States. While some youth are thriving, …
Check out Scott Zosel’s latest album
So, I’m not an album reviewer. (As some of you know, I’m not really a reporter either, I just kind of... talk). When I heard that Kingfield resident Scott Zosel had another album coming …
Travel inspires local jewelry artist
Tell me a little about who Amy Sabatier of Amy Sabatier Designs is… Let’s start with where you are from… Excelsio, Minn. Tell us about your career as jewelry designer… …

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George Floyd Memorial Square

RISE & REMEMBER

Embracing the community-centered theme “Ubuntu,” a term from South Africa that loosely means “I am because we are,” family, friends and supporters gathered May 25-27, 2023 for …

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VOTERS GUIDE
Judicial candidates in Minnesota: What to know before you head to the polls
LWVMN does not invite judicial candidates to participate in the Vote411 Voter’s Guide due to the number of candidates across the state and associated administrative costs. This combined with …
Pledge to vote - nuts and bolts
Election Day in Minneapolis is November 7, 2023. Let’s make a plan to vote! Because of the 2022 redistricting process every Minneapolis City Council member is up for election to a 2-year term. …
Who is on the ballot in 2023?
Aug. 15 was the last day for candidates for any of the 13 city council wards to file to be on the Nov. 7 municipal ballot.  The following candidates listed by ward and in order of filing date, …
Right to vote restored to 55,000 paroled felons
On March 3, 2023 Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation that restores the vote to more than 55,000 formerly incarcerated Minnesotans. In the largest expansion of voting since 18-year-olds won …
Who’s really the boss at Minneapolis City Hall
If you're willing to take on the job, you are! Claim your rightful power in the running of our city by voting in local elections. And there's a significant one coming up this Nov. 7. Due to …

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Neighborhood organizations
 Neighborhood news - September 7
CEDAR LAKE CHANNEL REOPENS The Cedar Lake (Kenilworth) Channel has reopened to recreational use. As part of the Green Line Extension (GLE) LRT Project, three new concrete bridges have been …
Neighborhood News
MINNEAPOLIS INTERVIEW PROJECT SEPT. 14 The Minneapolis Interview Project in partnership with Hennepin History Museum will present an evening of real-life stories about social justice in Minneapolis. …
Biking with purpose
Patrick Stephenson, a Minneapolis resident, peddled on his electric cargo bike from the Minnesota State Capitol, cheering as music blasted from DJ Eric on Saturday, June 17, 2023. The Joyful Riders …
Friends of Minnehaha park group forms
Richard Kronick (far right) discusses the seven flour mills that used to be located on Minnehaha Creek during a presentation on June 10, 2023 at Washburn Library.   It was the first event …
Neighborhood news - July 20
GIVE INPUT ON KMART/NICOLLET PROJECT The project team has recently launched Phase II of engagement for the New Nicollet Redevelopment project (the former Kmart site). They are asking for …

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Web Extras - Contact us to sponsor this content
3 ways business executives can benefit from yoga and meditation
(BPT) - The business world can be a stressful place. When working as a business executive, you can feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of being a leader in a world that requires relentless …
One man's transformative journey losing 100-plus pounds
(BPT) - Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and for Brad Roberts, Chief Operating Officer of LifeMD, one such twist was his unexpected weight gain after the loss of his father. However, his …
What the end of the student loan pause means for teachers
After a three-year pause, student loan repayments will resume. TeacherCertification.com explored how existing forgiveness programs affect teachers.
2021 was a record year for hit-and-runs—here's what to do if you're a victim
The General used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to compare how rates of hit and runs in 2021 compare to previous years.
2021 was a record year for hit-and-runs—here's what to do if you're a victim
The General used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to compare how rates of hit and runs in 2021 compare to previous years.
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