From KSTP: The latest flood predictions for the Mississippi River near Hastings show a crest level lower than previously predicted. The National Weather Service predicts the river will rise to about 18 feet by Thursday, March 31 and then start falling. Early last week, the river was predicted to hit the 20-foot level.
The NWS says river level will be lower than previous predictions due to colder temperatures and the slow snow melt along the upper Mississippi.
By 6 a.m. Monday, the river was at 16.8 feet, with minor flooding occurring. Flood stage is 15 feet.
The First Street railroad underpass is flooded and East Fourth Street in the river bottoms area will likely overtop Monday night as the river rises above 17 feet, says Tom Montgomery, Hastings Public Works Director.
On Saturday, volunteers filled 20,000 sandbags and sandbagged around two homes on East First Street. Montgomery says there are no plans to do more sandbagging at this time.
This year’s crest compares to a previous crest of 17.2 feet on March 25, 2010.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome new fabric roof has arrived and replacing the torn roof will begin on Friday.
Consultants recommended a full replacement of the roof and insurance is picking up almost the whole tab.
Crews from Birdair, Inc. will work Monday through Saturday each week and the installation should be wrapped up in August, just in time for the Vikings preseason games.
A massive unexpected fire erupted out of a 20 inch gas main, Thursday morning at 8:30am. It was visible more then 4 miles away!
The explosion on 60th Street just east of Nicollet Avenue, forced the evacuation of nearby buildings – including a church, child care facility, and a school and homes — but no injuries have been reported. In a statement released Thursday morning, Houston-based CenterPoint Energy said it has crews on site and is investigating, but the cause of the explosion isn’t yet known. As a precaution, CenterPoint noted, emergency responders shut down Highway 62 and Interstate 35W. “It was a small explosion and then just a big ‘woomph,’” Solem said. “The flames shot a good eight stories tall, instantly. We were two blocks away and you could feel the heat instantly on your face.”
From KARE 11 MINNEAPOLIS -- Fire crews spent the early morning hours of Tuesday working a stubborn fire that destroyed a business and apartment building in south Minneapolis.
A 911 call brought firefighters to the Cedar Food and Grill at 2600 Cedar Avenue South just after 1:30 a.m.. When crews arrived flames were leaping through the ceiling of the structure. Two upper apartments were quickly searched, and it was determined that residents had safely escaped.
Eventually the main floor of the business collapsed, chasing firefighters from the structure. They spent hours fighting the stubborn blaze, trying to extinguish flames that were trapped between the collapsed rubble of the first and second floors.
Mohd Wadi had owned the business for the past five years. He tells KARE 11 that he got a call from his security company around 1:30 a.m. reporting a break-in. Shortly after that he received another call telling him the building was on fire.
Wadi says his business had 6 employees, people who will now be looking for work.
The good news from the scene is that no one was hurt. The Red Cross is helping residents of one of the apartments with shelter, food and clothing.
At this point investigators aren't sure about the cause of the fire.
Here we go again. Just a few days ago 55 degree weather had melted most of the snow and tricked us into faux spring fever. But last night we got almost another FOOT of snow dumped on us in Minneapolis. Well I had fun walking Nicolette Mall in some of the heaviest flurries. I even got the Weather Channel reporter girl to smile at me :)
As monday morning dawns, we will probably find people stuck in ditches, having not endured last nights trecherious drives.
This Winter's Snowfall Totals and Rankings
As of 12:00am on February 21st, this winter season is guaranteed to be at least the 11th snowiest on record in the Twin Cities. The current seasonal snowfall total stands at an impressive 72.9 inches, a whopping 33.0 inches above the normal value of 39.9 inches through February 20th. The average seasonal snowfall in the Twin Cities is 55.9 inches. The following graphs were both updated shortly after midnight on February 21st.
Congratulations to Tom Leader Studio of Berkeley, Calif., and Kennedy & Violich Architecture of Boston. The future looks amazing. I'm fairly excited about the FarVIew Park Land Bridge. Very cool.
Minneapolis was treated to a look at possible futures last night at the Walker Art Center, as 4 teams of urban landscape designers presented their proposals. They had each been paid $30,000 to compete against each other. For almost 3 hours the teams basically walked the audience through their PDF files. You can head over to www.minneapolisriverfrontdesigncompetition.com and download the proposals for yourself. You can also see videos there.
For as innovative, imaginative and down right cool as these proposals are, there are things to love and things not so desirable in each one. It would be great if the public could pick and choose elements from each one, instead of "choosing the winner". And frankly that is supposed to be decided today (and by who?) not really giving citizens much time at all to consider each proposed development.
I hope to create some GoogleEarth content from these PDF files, so please bookmark this page and visit again later. :)
I felt like contributing a new building model for a Minneapolis arts institution, the Stevens Square Center for the Arts.
After doing the exterior, Clarence and I went to see the exhibition. It was closing, so this is the last documentation done for the show "Off Center". I think it turned out great. I like doing synths of art shows. It's always funny how I get false registrations from the gallery postcards due to the art reproductions. See if you can find the guest book and postcard as you explore.
Artists in this exhibition include: Amber Janey Edie Overturf Kurt Hippauf Matt Wells Erik Farseth J. M. Culver Faye Buffington-Howell Terrance Davis Jesse Green Will Dinski Don Loegering Barb Saunders Joy Kim Jon Raether
My latest batch of building models for Google earth, have been approved for prime time.
The artist destination 13th Avenue is looking great. Up until recently, I was the only person building models in this area. But I see some upcoming stuff from fellow model maker "Fitz66".
Also, look for another great bridge by Beryl. The Lake Street Bridge!
I've been meaning to create this photosynth. I finaly uploaded the photos and this is what turned out. Pretty neat I'd say. I made a quick video for those who are just cavemen (your world frightens and confuses me).
It's Tuesday night and all I can say, is at least we're not in North Dakota. With an all time record low pressure system somehow manifesting, we (in Minnesota) are experiencing high winds and cold rain, while N.DAK is fully under BLIZZARD warning. They expect 8+ inches of snow in 55mph winds! Here in the Twin Cities we can expect cold sleet, while northern lakes area will get a good few inches of SNOW. Oh no! The pictures tell the story folks. Time to bundle up! Rock those layers.
Meteorologists know this is an intense storm due to lowest central pressure of the low in Minnesota bottoming out in the neighborhood of 955-960 mb.
This is a storm stronger than the infamous "Edmund Fitzgerald" storm in Nov. 1975 and an even stronger version almost exactly 23 years after that in Nov. 1998.
In fact, its central pressure is now a record low pressure for a U.S. non-tropical land-based system! The central pressure not only beat the infamous Superstorm of 1993, but also nudged by the "Cleveland Superbomb of 1978"! Its pressure is also lower (stronger) than the last 4 hurricanes of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.
I've returned from the "Field House" where President Obama, Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar, [and others] spoke in support of a Minnesota Governed by Mark Dayton. It was a Democratic love festival. I took lots of photos and a few videos. Suppose I'll post those in a minute. In the intrest of this blog being more geo-locational then political, here's a screwed up visual on our U of M Field House.
And here is a photosynth of the interior of said "Field House". Just install the SilverLight plug in, if you haven't already. Most modern computer users have..
MINNEAPOLIS - The debate over a recommendation to close North Community High School in Minneapolis is about to get a little more heated. A community meeting on this action will start Monday night October 18 from 6:30-8:30 in the auditorium at North Community High School.
This is another chance for people to speak their minds publicly. The final decision is coming early November. Supporters of North High school have really rallied to save the Minneapolis institution. The Minneapolis superintendent has announced her plans to phase out north over the next few years.
The district says it has to close North because there's hardly anybody left in it. Six years ago, enrollment was over 1,100 students. Today, there are just 265. That 75 percent decrease comes despite reform and recruitment efforts to try and draw in more families.
In addition, because of math, the cost to operate the school per student is nearly $4,000 compared to the Minneapolis high school average of $1,555 per student.
This comes at a time when The Minneapolis School District will spend almost $37 million for construction and design of a new Educational Service Center on the city's North Side!
An almost $10 million gap exists between what school board members approved in the spring and the larger amount they agreed to pay out in contracts! The school board awarded a $35.6 million contract to Mortenson Development Inc. to build the new district headquarters at 1250 W. Broadway.
Board members also approved paying $1.26 million to UrbanWorks Architecture to design the facility, bringing the total cost to almost $37 million.
On the same night that school board members discussed plans to shut down North High School, the vote to relocate district headquarters drew jeers and boos from crowd members.
In defiance of Minneapolis' 2009 "Plan for Sustainable Growth", the plan calls for a vast 587-car surface parking lot next to its new suburban-style headquarters building planned for West Broadway. The lot would cover nearly two city blocks and requires demolishing an outstanding amount of currently existing buildings, including a historic Church. It would offer more than enough parking spaces for each of the system's 530 employees.
UPDATE: The criminal actions of this school board have continued unabated, and the entire two block area has been demolished.
As a rapper and lyricist, we may say “Eyedea”, whose real name was Michael Larsen, was a genius. He passed away this morning at the age of 29, just a month shy of his birthday, and with a performance scheduled for next week.
Eyedea was found by his mother. She posted the following statement on his Facebook page: ”It is with great pain and sadness that I tell you my son Mikey (Eyedea) has passed away. At this time we kindly request your respect and our privacy as we process this devastating loss. On behalf of Mikey’s family, close friends and fans, thank you.”
With a location listed as "Your Computer" a virtual memorial event has been set up by Kathy Averill, Eyedeas mother. Reading all the comments has been heart breaking. I've personally been overcome with emotions so many times over this. Everyone really loved and respected the guy. All are shocked. So many praises of his talent. And true, if you watch only one video (and you won't, you'll keep digging) you can determine his level of perspective is far beyond being simply talented. Eyedea was spitting miracles.
From one Minneapolis artist to another, live forever buddy. Thank you for existing. Rest In Paradise.
Charlize Theron stars in screenwriter Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitmans new production, "Young Adult", about a thritysomething, divorced, young-adult fiction writer who returns to her hometown in Minnesota to chase an ex-boyfriend.
The majority of the movie, which also stars Patton Oswalt and Patrick Wilson, will be shot in New York City this fall but first, they’ll be filming in Minneapolis.
Young Adult will be shooting in Minneapolis from Tuesday, 10.5 to Saturday 10.9!
Update:(10.5) they are filming in a Skyway downtown and on Friday (10.8), they are filming at Denny’s.
Update: Fancy Hollywood Crew spotted filming near Downtown Post office this evening (10.7).
Another completely wonderful work from artist Beryl Reid has been created. The 3rd avenue (Central ave, if you're from Northeast) bridge will soon be in Google Earths 3d buildings layer. But if you can't wait for Google to review it, you can load it manually from 3d warehouse.
AWESOME! The Minnesota Twins are the 2010 ALC CHAMPIONS! And we set an all time season attendance record.
The Twins not only have the hottest ball park in the league now they have the hottest team in all of major league baseball. Fans say the victory, and Chicago's loss, early Wednesday morning is just the beginning of what they say is shaping up to be a magical season.
Now active at MSP Airport, 1 full body scanner. If you are against this non-popular method of conditioning normal people into full submission to the TSA, to bad. Minneapolis/Saint Paul has just, for you, become a no-fly-zone. The full body scanners are now being rolled out at our airport, despite opposition by a majority of civically minded folks.
While a corner of Martian Luther King Park may seem to be an ideal location for a new dog park in Minneapolis, many residents find the proposal insulting and racist. The debate has sparked passionate civic engagement, on both sides of the issue. Urban South Minneapolis could this amenity, but this location strikes a sensitive nerve. Here is a birds eye look, perhaps from the perspective of a disembodied MLK Jr, checking in on our conduct, all these years later.
Star Tribune says "The discussion was generally calm, with numerous white speakers praising King, but saying they believed that he would have embraced a park that included a dog run. They said a dog park would increase park use, help pets socialize, and help diverse neighbors socialize as well."
I have earned my Badge for 50 models in GE! Here is my 50th addition to the Minneapolis GE skyline. The City of Lakes school in the historic Waldorf building on Nicollet ave.
In the news today, a major settlement of 52 million dollars will be paid by URS, to the victim families of the 2007 I35W Bridge Collapse.
Recently, a model of the new bridge has finally made it into Google Earth. It's a very good model and raises the quality of our whole Google Minneapolis experience. Thanks to Beryl Reid, the creator of this model.
I'm going to start posting a few of the Minneapolis buildings I've created in Building Maker/ SketchUp, Google Earth. Here is the Hexagon Bar in south Minneapolis.
Click the picture to download or view it at Googles 3D warehouse!
Art A Whirl 2010 is HERE! Whooo Hooo! It promises to be the BEST EVER! Very quickly, for this blog, I will put up a Google Earth overlay of the Gallery/Studio map. But I think I'm going to have to put up a whole new blog for all the photos and photo-synths I plan to capture while I'm out.
Here is the regular PDF file of the AAW2010 map. It includes both the whole map, and the Arts District detail.
Here is my overlay for the arts district. Download
And here is the entire AAW2010 map for Google Earth! Download.
Please stay tuned for Photosynths FROM THE GALLERIES!
New blog to be announced!
WCCO, the greatest Minneapolis radio and television broadcasting station, is experiencing big changes. Just as T.D Mischke reclaims a 50,000 watt microphone, the legendary newscaster Don Shelby has announced he is to retire at the end of this year.
WCCO TV has perhaps one of the richest histories of any broadcasting station in America. You can read more here.
Don Shelby has been broadcasting there since 1978. Longer then I have been alive!
Twins Win May 4, 2010 Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run homer last night as The Minnesota Twins snapped the Detroit Tigers' five-game winning streak with a 10-4 victory in Minneapolis.
Scott Baker pitched seven innings for the Twins, allowing three Runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
The man called up to replace injured catcher Joe Mauer is making an Impression. Wilson Ramos had two doubles and an R-B-I last night against Detroit. He's 7-for-9 with three doubles since Being called up on Sunday.
The following PhotoSynths of Target Field can give you a great idea of what it's like to be in Minneapolis for a baseball game!
People who like to cross the river, say from Columbia Heights to Robinsdale, can deal with it by crossing the river at Broadway. Well now they're closing 94 so you can't go north either, whitey!
The Camden Bridge in Minneapolis was a vital link.
The detours take you WAY out of your way. I've taken the pdf file from the City website, and made a Google Earth overlay.
