Staff Directory 6370647

David Peterson

Reporter | East Metro and Demographics
Recent content from David Peterson
Pete Buttigieg smiles as he is cheered by supporters at a primary night gathering in Nashua, N.H., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Buttigieg finished secon

Yes, Buttigieg could win the nomination. And the presidency. If …

With forthright discussion of a mayoral mistake, a pledge to seek an African-American woman as running mate and even a bit of personal imperfection, he can overcome the obstacles.
Whiskey glass and cigar. Isolated on white background

Fewer deaths from cancer, more from alcohol

Concurrent reports should prompt wider perspective on the epidemic of consumption.
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019 file photo, Navy midshipmen march onto field ahead of an NCAA college football game between the Army and the Navy in Phil

End the arms race or end the human race?

It's tough to imagine peace when you put numbers to the world's war fancy.
UAW President Walter Reuther in 1958.

The American economy: Buttigieg is wrong to say we can't go back

At one time it was understood that workers would share the rewards of increased productivity. Why not now?
Some chose to view the fair from the Sky Ride on the last day of the Minnesota State Fair, Monday, September 4, 2017 in Falcon Heights, MN.

Falcon Heights wants to hit State Fair, U campus with franchise fee

Tax-exempt entities could add about $130,000 to its cash-strapped budget.
Terry Nyblom; Vadnais Heights City Council member, shown in 2012.

Vadnais Heights council member admits to disorderly conduct

Terry Nyblom of Vadnais Heights feels vindicated despite disorderly conduct admission.
Skaters enjoy the ice during an open skate at the National Sports Center's Ramsey County Arena inside the Schwan Super Rink Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, i

Sports Center has a $250 million plan – and concerns about whether it will pay off

A sudden surge of sprawling suburban sports behemoths nationwide is creating a tricky competitive environment.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul campus, in suburban Ramsey County. The college is mulling expansion.

'Town-and-gown' tensions are hitting Roseville, too

After Arden Hills, neighboring suburb is next to resist expansion of a Christian college.

New faces ready to take over in Falcon Heights

In this 2014 Star Tribune file photo, White Bear Lake plummeted to a record low water level due to a drought and large amount of groundwater pumping.

Deep wells in nearby suburbs linked to lower White Bear Lake

Tapping by a few cities around White Bear Lake accounted for much of the drop in the lake's level, the DNR says; lawn watering is less of a culprit.
In this 2014 Star Tribune file photo, White Bear Lake plummeted to a record low water level due to a drought and large amount of groundwater pumping.

Attack on water waste in east metro yielding early results

Experts are pioneering strategies to zero in on who's wasting the most water and how to throttle back cheaply and efficiently.
Irondale High School students walked through a section call "four corners" area during lunch hour Thursday October 26,2017 in New Brighton, MN. ]

Twin Cities school districts seeking millions from voters

Districts want to go on building spree to meet growing enrollment and replace outdated facilities.

New Ramsey Co. portal gives public easy access to data

Even the bad news gets an airing, with the help of a simple, user-friendly web surf.
New Brighton Mayor Val Johnson adds to discussion during a work session held at New Brighton City Hall on Tuesday.

Factions square off in volatile New Brighton lineup

After a yearlong delay, election exposes the heated conflicts at City Hall.

Falcon Heights candidates face a transition period

Council candidates confront shooting aftermath, tax hike.
Ann Dickey

Ann Dickey, 47, dies shortly before Edina Athletic Hall of Fame induction

She won seven letters as a member of state championship soccer and golf teams. But she was involved with getting girls involved in sports to the end.
Taggers have gotten to one of the few remaining buildings on the TCAAP site, which may become a welcome center that tells the story of the area's hist

Ramsey County's bid for new Amazon HQ is more about being noticed

County leaders would love to win the headquarters prize. But if that doesn't happen, their sites still are sure to draw attention.
The north side of White Bear Lake, showing water beneath a dock that was extended far out onto the lake when it was at its lower stage.

Minnesota to appeal landmark White Bear Lake ruling

DNR questions the science and warns of dire consequences from court's decision, including years of watering bans.
The Roseville McDonald's celebrated 60 years of business with sixty cents hamburgers and free cake on Monday, September 25, 2017, in Roseville, Minn.

First McDonald's to open in Minnesota celebrates 60th birthday

Baker recalls 1957, when restaurant opened on Snelling Av. in Roseville.
The view along the Mississippi River in St. Paul from the site added to Ramsey County's bid for the new Amazon headquarters.

Ramsey County's Amazon HQ bid adds St. Paul riverfront to ammo site

Riverfront site in downtown St. Paul is added to proposal.
Minneapolis developer Alatus was chosen to lead the redevelopment of the biggest empty property available in the Twin Cities: the former site of the T

Race for new Amazon HQ is altering TCAAP plans in Arden Hills

Opportunity to get the huge employer has TCAAP team "working 24/7."
The preservation and restoration of the Miller Barn, on Woodbury park property, is a project being pushed by the city's Heritage Society, with mostly

As it turns out, Woodbury does have a history — on display soon

A self-guided tour takes place next weekend as part of the city's 50th anniversary celebrations.
In a Thursday, May 7, 2015 photo, former St. Paul Mayor Larry Cohen, 1972-1976, listens to other mayors as they speak during the annual Saint Paul Fou

Plaza in St. Paul to honor Larry Cohen, former judge and politician

The project represents a reboot for what is now a flagpole-and-flowers public space outside the combined St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse.
Janice Rettman worked alone in the council chambers before the Ramsey County board meeting, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 in St. Paul, MN.

Local Minnesota officials who often cast the lone dissenting vote talk of 'life on an island'

They agreed the majority is eager for agreement and to avoid a public fuss.

Roseville adopts sanctuary policy, if not name

Officials stressed that they want all living within the city limits to feel free to seek police protection without worrying about what their immigration status is.
Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan on her last day is hanging up her robe as she is forced to retire after turning 70. "I'm not retiring,

Ramsey County's retiring Judge Margaret Marrinan left her mark on and off the bench

She will be remembered for her style, work ethic and humor.
Receding lake levels on White Bear Lake has created a large green space and required lengthy docks to get to water along Lake Ave. near downtown Thurs

Judge rules state failed to protect White Bear Lake, aquifer

A Ramsey County district judge ruled in favor of White Bear Lake homeowners, who argued that the state was at fault for the unsustainable aquifer use.
Town Center rendering

Hiccups are weighing on Arden Hills' Rice Creek Commons project

Leaders remain hopeful that solar energy for the 427-acre Rice Creek Commons 'can still happen.'

Ramsey County Board braces for 'sticker shock' on proposed taxes

In some poorer areas, rising home values could mean bumps of 10 to 20 percent.

Arden Hills will allow organic waste site

City rejected the proposal when approached in 2014.
Roseville is one of the cities around the metro crafting a 10-year plan that grapples with affordable housing.

League of Women voters pushing for affordable housing in metro suburbs

Roseville got a pitch last week as it ramps up toward a new long-range plan.
Dust from insulation in a ceiling being torn down obscures Josh Stewart, crew-chief-in-training for Better Homes Minnesota, a non-profits that assists

Disassembled Roseville house feeds a market for timber with a story

Rather than raze the residence, Roseville chose to take apart a small home piece by piece and sell off the components — many a century old.

Arden Hills neighbors raise stink over garbage idea for park

City Council may decide the issue later this month.

Arden Hills edges closer to battle with expanding colleges

Officials concerned over colleges' weaker economic punch, loss of tax base to tax-exempt institutions.
Marine-on-St. Croix's Jackson Meadows is popping up in lifestyle magazines thanks to its open space, community features and design.

Minnesota subdivisions designed for the Instagram age

Developments in Lake Elmo, Rochester and Medina stress great design, communal features and vast stretches of protected nature.
Dr. Joseph Garamella

Joseph J. Garamella, pioneer in open-heart surgery, dies

Grandmas-after

Makeover with a twist for a junk space in White Bear Lake

Statewide award goes to city for effort to clean up key civic space, save money and recycle waste.
Nepalese immigrant Purna Gurungap stayed cool under her umbrella as husband Tul Bahadur Gurung watered their plot at the Roseville community garden. P

Long No. 2, Ramsey County now grows at rate equal to Hennepin

Forecasts call for that to continue for decades to come, thanks to immigrants making the east metro home.

Ramsey County doubles tax aimed at attacking road decay

The proceeds will help fix decaying pavement and pay for other road work.
Marleen Odahlen- Hinz sits in her tree stand in the Tammarack Nature Center. GENERAL INFORMATION: White Bear Lake,MN. Wednesday 10/22/2003 A small tea

Ramsey County approves new deer cull to curb overpopulation

Archers will be authorized to take up to 115 deer to bring population down.

On the defensive, Ramsey County Board votes to raise pay by nearly 3 percent

But commissioners say they are being transparent.
Bethel University is seeking to expand.

Northwestern, Bethel University growth plans have Arden Hills concerned

City fears for its bottom line as the colleges seek to expand.
The Washington County Historic Courthouse. ] XAVIER WANG • xavier.wtian@gmail.com To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the state's oldest publ

For just a day, gavel echoes again in 150-year-old Stillwater courtroom

Minnesota's oldest standing courthouse came back to life, if only briefly.
Fireworks shot from the roof of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) in Arden Hills during a ground-breaking ceremony in 2013.

Arden Hills megaproject delayed by underground pollution

New town center on 427 acres may be pushed back as far as 2019.
Ninety-four people took the oath of allegiance from Judge William J. Fisher and became new U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony on Wednesday

Fuse is lit for Roseville being state's first 'sanctuary suburb'

The City Council has agreed to take up the subject this summer, the result of a citizen engagement effort focused on issues of race and ethnicity that produced a strong turnout and a forceful push to support immigrants.
The north side of White Bear Lake, showing water beneath a dock that was extended far out onto the lake when it was at its lower stage.

Once shrinking White Bear Lake is on the verge of overflowing

White Bear Lake, the most dire of mudholes within vivid memory, is now rising so high that it's threatening to stream out through overflow pipes. Legal issues still remain, but locals are hopeful that they will finally have their beaches back.
BRUCE BISPING • bbisping@startribune.com White Bear Lake, MN., Thursday, 11/5/2009] (left to right) Acqua co-owners Daron Close and Chris Whale

Fine dining keeps expanding in a onetime 'desert' of White Bear Lake

Mizu, in White Bear Lake, arrives in June as the latest entry.
Annika Sorenstam right ,and Thad Layton golf course architect looked over a fairway at the newly designed The Royal Golf Club Thursday September 29, 2

New subdivision at Lake Elmo golf course raises questions of affordability

Bump in sheriff's staff spurs Ramsey County debate

Before granting $1.3 million, the Ramsey County Board questions impact on taxpayers, use of county jail.
Some experts have said that there are too many deer in some jurisdictions.

Minnesota jurisdictions struggle over how many deer are enough

Sickly animals raise questions about culling as DNR studies issue.
Update on major Roseville school bond issue. Photo by David Peterson

Roseville's $250 million plan to upgrade schools nears final decision

School officials say maintenance needs can be bonded, but building additions require a referendum.
White Bear Lake, an icon of the east metro, dropped as low as 919 feet above sea level before recovering to 923 feet lately — but only after record

Homeowners' water use on the line in White Bear Lake case

During the March trial over who or what is to blame for White Bear Lake's radical drop in elevation, lawyers for lakeshore owners and their allies laid out a case which, if they win, threatens to create years of turmoil and anger and cost huge sums to fix.
Students read last year at Marine Elementary in Marine on St. Croix, one of the sites the district decided to close. The others are in Hugo and Stillw

Appeals court won't intervene to stop Stillwater school closings

Judges ruled district was free to shutter three elementary sites despite community opposition.
Bishop John J. McRaith of the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky.

Obituary: Bishop John J. McRaith, Minnesota native, voice for farmers in church

White Bear Lake Sunday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com Astonishing amounts of water from troubled White Bear Lake are be

White Bear Lake water trial ends in acrimony over elevation drop

Judge's ruling over cause of elevation drop is not expected for months.
Fireworks shot from the roof of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) in Arden Hills during a ground-breaking ceremony in 2013.

Housing advocates accuse Met Council of laxity in affordable housing

At issue is the 427-acre TCAAP megaproject in Arden Hills.
Halfbreed Lake, in Forest Lake and Scandia, also known as Sylvan Lake, is bordered by Keewahtin Avenue, which once also was called Halfbreed. Some fol

Sensitivities over Indian issues delay renaming of Washington County lake

A popular move to change the name of Halfbreed Lake in Washington County is being deferred so locals can seek consensus on a new name, with some residents calling for a moniker that takes account of the area's Indian heritage.
Imam Jasmin Suljkanovic left and Enes Gluhic posed for a portrait at the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Minnesota Wednesday January 18, 2017 in Minn

Chisago County Board approves permit for Muslim cemetery

Facing a likely legal battle, the board voted unanimously to reverse an earlier decision.
Nate Vo and Mari Gavino held some of the dogs for sale at Roseville Pet Store in the HarMar Mall.

Roseville bans dog, cat sales at pet stores; first Minn. city to do so

Proponents of the ban said it was needed to protect consumers from unknowingly purchasing troubled animals reared in poor conditions.
Jaylani Hussein of CAIR-MN has a new headquarters at Bethany Lutheran Church where the organization enjoys the support of the congregation.

Under pressure from feds, Chisago County Board set to reconsider Muslim cemetery

All sides reticent about what's coming, especially in wake of injuries to one county commissioner.
Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton, shown in 2011, will leave his job this spring to become executive director of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Associati

Washington County sheriff departs for statewide post

Bill Hutton will tackle issues of guns, court security and mentally ill jail inmates as executive director of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association.
Brian McGoldrick, who owns Admiral D's Waterfront Tavern and the adjacent marina, The Docks of White Bear Lake, is grateful the water levels of White

Was state to blame in White Bear Lake's decline?

An oblivious state government was behind the slow-motion disaster that struck White Bear Lake, the recreational jewel of the east metro area, a legal team representing lakefront owners alleges.
Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh and other officials announced that light rail green line service will start Saturday June 14th between Minneapo

All aboard from the east? Wisconsinites plot rail to Twin Cities

A push is on for privately financed passenger rail service from Eau Claire to St. Paul's Union Depot, with a stop in Stillwater.
Bob Andresen(cq), a tech staffer at Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul, an alternative school in the inner city, said that few students need mobile

Metro libraries hesitate to lend internet hot spots

Take-home internet has extra costs, wait times.
A presentationTuesday to the Washington County Board on the proposed Gold Line busway compared the number of riders who can travel on a single bus wit

Gold Line busway gets millions toward a 2024 opening

Ramsey, Washington counties pitch in several million each, pushing past start-up phase.

'No, don't:' Roseville cancels contract for 'Speak Up'

A digital involvement tool that cities and counties are using fell flat in the suburb, the City Council agreed.
Evening commuters along Stillwater Blvd pass by North Star Farm at the edge of Lake Elmo.

Lake Elmo: New council majority, same uproar

Staffer's firing has two members "appalled," mayor talking of colleague's "silliness."
Taggers have gotten to one of the few remaining buildings on the TCAAP site, which may become a welcome center that tells the story of the area's hist

Megaproject in Arden Hills: Environmental model, or hazard?

Transformation of old ammo plant site includes environment, and image.
In July 2013, friends and family at the Roseville Armory welcomed 24 soldiers from the 147th Financial Management Support Company after they returned

Roseville Armory controversy: Council aims for homes on site

Rather than preserving the building, it appears likely the armory will come down and the site redeveloped for housing.
A new A Line bus on Ford Parkway. ] GLEN STUBBE * gstubbe@startribune.com Wednesday, February 10, 2016 We get a tour of the new Arterial Bus-Rapid Tra

Snelling busway gets strong start; don't count on extension soon

Unlike the south metro's Red Line, at least so far, the A Line from south Minneapolis to Roseville is reporting solid ridership results.
The new library in Brooklyn Park's artist-designed bike rack.

In a glitzy era for libraries, core mission shows signs of decline

In an era of extensive building and remodeling, the state Department of Education reports drops in the number of visits, registered users and loans of material.
Jill Boldenow, left, Ramsey County library system chief, and Jackson showcased the Star Trek command chairs in the teen area.

Shoreview library, soon to open, completes its master plan

Since 2005, the Ramsey system has been renewing, expanding, building: Now there's one more.
Excess salt from trucks returning from their routes is pushed back on top of the main salt pile with a wheel loader at the Arden Hills Truck Station.

Low-salt diet for roads aims at keeping drinking water from tasting briny

Minnesota cities want to prevent drinking water from tasting briny.
Passengers board the Empire Builder to Chicago at St. Paul's Union Station on Friday. After a drop in 2015, ridership on Amtrak's Minnesota route surg

Twin Cities passenger rail traffic climbs back on track

Advocates of a second daily train to Chicago say the turnaround reinforces their case that there's a demand out there for rail service.