Recent content from Greta Kaul
Here's what's behind the roundabout-ification of Minnesota roads
Roundabouts have gone from a relative obscurity to a fixture of Minnesota roads in the last 30 years. Traffic engineers love them, but residents are divided.
This Bloomington landmark will become a bicycle park — for now
Bloomington officials say the bike skills park would keep the site, which previously was a Ramada, tax-exempt temporarily while searching for a developer.
This Twin Cities suburb may cut back on sidewalk snow removal
Bloomington and other suburbs began clearing residential sidewalks when they had fewer of them. As they add walkways, snow removal has become more challenging.
What's a 'detached townhome,' and why are they growing in popularity in the Twin Cities?
From Chanhassen to Roseville, the popularity of these homes is driven by seniors looking to downsize, and they could be a way to add density in suburbs.
Remote BWCA wildfire sparked by lightning
The 9-acre fire broke out east of the Horse River. Firefighters rappelled in, and more are expected to arrive by canoe.
Sleepless in St. Louis Park: With more night train traffic, city explores whistle quiet zone
Residents have been complaining since the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad started running more overnight trains on the Dan Patch Line.
![Hundreds of trees stand after being charred by the Camp House wildfire in Brimson, Minn. on Thursday, May 15, 2025. ]
ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/REGDNXOI4BAUHMNSNQGSM3CQTQ.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
'Ready, set, go' for residents as crews battle fires in northeastern Minnesota
The Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires had not spread since Friday's report, and the Munger Shaw fire was 50% contained.
Two killed in head-on collision on Interstate 90 southwest of Winona
A 70-year-old Appleton, Wis., man and an 83-year-old Pine Island, Minn., man died in the crash in Winona County.
Fans crowd Minneapolis bowling alley for All-American Rejects pop-up shows
The band, known for millennial anthems "Dirty Little Secret" and "Gives You Hell," played Friday at Memory Lanes.
Canoe, kayak and paddleboard: Your ultimate guide to paddling in the Twin Cities
We paddled 11 river, lake and creek routes in the Twin Cities metro. Here's how to get on the water, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned paddler.
Orono elects Schwingler to City Council
Voters picked him from a field of five candidates in a special election Tuesday.
Orono voters head to polls Tuesday for special City Council election
After Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, voters will pick one new council member from five candidates running in the special election.
Minnesota cities to legislators: Don't tell us how to fix the housing shortage
For a second year, opposition from Minnesota cities appears to have helped kill bipartisan legislation that sought to reform city zoning and remove barriers to building homes.
Who says the suburbs are boring? Five walks that showcase Twin Cities suburban architecture.
A failed utopia, revered ramblers and the neighborhood that gave Edina its reputation: We mapped architecturally interesting walks around the Twin Cities metro.
Slides, trampolines and more: Booming Twin Cities adventure parks draw families for big indoor fun
Large-scale indoor adventure parks are cropping up around the Twin Cities post-pandemic, as families search for all-weather fun.
Want a faster bus in your city? Metro Transit wants your input on next rapid bus routes.
Metro Transit is narrowing a list of 17 possible routes down to three that will become the J, K and L bus rapid transit lines.
The Twin Cities have hundreds of miles of bike lanes, but cyclists say one key thing is missing
Even committed Twin Cities cyclists say they don't bike places if there aren't secure places to park them to prevent theft.
Bloomington eyes modern rooming houses for budget-conscious renters
Cities around the country are facilitating "co-living," also known as single-room occupancy or rooming houses, to build more affordable housing.
Are Minnesota districts facing uphill push to get more kids to walk to school?
Schools are pushing more kids to walk or bike in hopes of introducing physical activity, easing transportation budgets and de-congesting drop-off zones.
Amid Minnesota's housing shortage, should the state step in to require more density?
The "Yes to Homes" bills would require cities to allow more density, among other reforms. Local opposition defeated similar legislation last year.
The new Gold Line BRT opens Saturday. Here's what riders need to know and what sets it apart.
The Gold Line bus rapid transit runs between Woodbury and St. Paul, with stops in Oakdale, Landfall and Maplewood.
An Arden Hills store might have to move because it opened where the city doesn't allow thrift shops
Odds and Ends Again opened in January in a corner of Arden Hills where thrift stores were banned a decade ago.
New east metro Gold Line bus spurs development: 'We're pleasantly surprised'
Golf, parks and a thousand places to live have been built or are in planning stages as the Gold Line prepares to make its debut between St. Paul and Woodbury.
Elko New Market is forecast to boom in coming decades. Is that long-awaited growth real this time?
Met Council forecasts partly drove changes in the rural town as it prepared for growth, which has so far been elusive on the edge of the south metro.
Met Council scales back plan for more density after suburbs on edge of the metro complained
Minneapolis, St. Paul and some suburbs will be required to plan for more density under the Met Council 2050 plan approved Wednesday.
Met Council forecasts where population will grow across Twin Cities: Look up your city
Plus four things to know, including which cities are expected to grow the fastest or not much at all through 2050.
A loan business opened in West St. Paul. It might not be allowed to be there.
West St. Paul is determining whether LoanMax on Robert Street is an "alternative financial establishment," which the city limited more than a decade ago.
Minnesota cities have lowered their speed limits. Has it slowed drivers down?
Cities including Minneapolis, New Brighton and Richfield have changed speed limits on their roads, but driver habits are tough to break with signs alone.
Bus and train ridership is still down, but Metro Transit bets on expansion
Metropolitan Council leadership outlined transit expansion plans and acknowledged federal uncertainty Thursday in the annual State of the Region presentation.
American Girl dolls have re-entered the chat. To many, they're still relevant.
Dozens of people and more than a few dolls attended a program Saturday at the Minnesota History Center exploring the ways American Girl dolls have shaped culture.
Wrong-way driver killed early Saturday in I-35W crash in northeast Minneapolis
The 21-year-old Crystal man was believed to have been using alcohol, the State Patrol said.
Twin Cities suburban zoning favors single-family homes. Some cities want to add more options.
St. Louis Park, Minnetonka and Edina are among the cities looking to align city code with their housing development goals.
Want to cross-country ski? How and where to go in a snow-deficient Minnesota winter.
There are options for Nordic skiing on machine-made snow in the Twin Cities and beyond. Here's how to get started.
These four Twin Cities communities are growing fast, all for different reasons
From the fringes of downtown Minneapolis to Dayton, Lakeville and St. Anthony, these areas are adding housing in different ways.
Outdoor ice rinks are social hubs in Minnesota's long, dark winters. Some are disappearing.
Outdoor rinks are under threat from warmer winters, high costs and changing recreation habits.
Pad, pen or paint in hand, 'Urban Sketchers' document the people and places of the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities chapter meets regularly throughout the metro to document both the mundane and extraordinary.
You're not imagining it. More transit construction is snarling travel in the Twin Cities.
As Metro Transit's network expands, major transportation projects are tearing up roads across the metro. Businesses say there's not enough help to weather the disruption.
Architecture writer, trailblazer and Minnetonka McMansion critic Bette Hammel dies at 99
Bette Hammel's husband was an architect, but she was revered in Twin Cities architecture circles in her own right for her writing illustrating the importance of architecture.
Eyesore or neighborhood character? As these St. Paul billboards come down, neighbors debate.
R.F. Moeller cited the beautification of St. Paul's Highland Park in permanently removing billboards atop the jewelry store. Neighbor reactions echoed a long-running debate about billboards.
Recount winners declared in close Arden Hills, Ramsey County Board races
After publicly funded recounts, Kurt Weber won a seat on the Arden Hills City Council and Kelly Miller won a race for the Ramsey County Board.
Submit your photos and videos of Camp Snoopy
Submit your old Camp Snoopy memories below for a chance to be featured in an upcoming video.
Minnesota turkeys head back to D.C. for pre-Thanksgiving presidential pardon
Peach and Blossom are scheduled to be pardoned Monday by President Joe Biden. It is the second year in a row that the nation's leading turkey-producing state will send birds to the White House.
What happened to Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America?
Some Minnesotans are still nostalgic for the Mall of America's original, Peanuts-themed amusement park. Here's why it became Nickelodeon Universe.
Is that a University of Minnesota sweatshirt in a K-pop music video?
Minnesota K-pop fans have spotted a familiar fashion choice in South Korean pop star and boy group BTS member Jin's new music video.
Minnesotans, you're doing it wrong: What experts say about dressing for the cold
Dressing to stay warm doesn't have to be expensive or hard. Here are some tips.
In two boating incidents, Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office rescues stranded hunters amid strong winds
The Sheriff's Office is urging boaters to use caution on the water when wind speeds are high and unpredictable.
When Minnesotans die without money, counties help out. But costs are rising.
Ramsey County raised the rate it pays to put residents to rest. Funeral businesses say they are helping cover the costs where county funding falls short.
Shopping carts are piling up at one Roseville bus stop. What's the solution?
The abandoned carts illustrate the design challenge of adding transit to shopping areas like Har Mar Mall that were developed for drivers in cars.
On tour stop, Billie Eilish visits vintage store in former Minneapolis White Castle
The owner of Vintage in South Uptown said Eilish bought several items including a referee jacket.
Now that campaign season is over, here's what to do with those election signs
There are several drop-off options in the Twin Cities metro. They send them to a local plastics recycler.
East metro elections: Close Arden Hills race could sway future development at Army ammunition site
Other notable elections in the east metro include several seats on the Ramsey County Board and a citywide trash collection question in Mounds View.
Democrat McCollum wins race to represent east metro in Congress
Betty McCollum will serve a 13th term after defeating Republican May Lor Xiong in a rematch.
When will the election results be in? Here's how your vote gets counted in Minnesota.
It's a decentralized system where votes are counted at the local level and reported to the Minnesota Secretary of State's office.
Hire your own trash pickup or let the city do it? Voters will decide in two Twin Cities suburbs.
Both Anoka and Mounds View have measures on the ballot asking residents whether they want to switch to a city-organized trash pickup system.
Two killed, one injured in weekend's second fatal shooting at Minneapolis encampments
Police said they were investigating whether the two cases were related.
Mounds View requires homeowners to discharge racist deeds before sale. 100 have done it.
Over the summer, Mounds View became the first Minnesota city to require homeowners to discharge racist deed language before the sale of a home.
Roseville bans plastic foam, nonrecyclable to-go containers
Aiming to reduce the number of takeout containers in landfills, Roseville will require them to be recyclable, compostable or reusable.
Woman dies in North End St. Paul shooting
St. Paul Police believe the Saturday night homicide is connected to a carjacking.
Brooklyn Center crash is second Twin Cities motorcycle fatality of the weekend
A 24-year-old Edina man died Saturday after hitting a bridge abutment. On Friday, a motorcycle crash near downtown Minneapolis killed a New Brighton man.
Arden Hills City Council election could change fate of former Army ammunition site development
The Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant development has been the campaign's central issue as candidates debate whether current plans for the site are right for the city.
Man fatally shot in St. Paul's North End neighborhood
The man was taken to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Drone helps find two lost hikers in northern Minnesota's Bear Head Lake State Park
Neither hiker required medical attention, but the pair were not equipped to spend the night outside, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
Sunday snow in Minnesota's Arrowhead likely first flakes of the season
The National Weather Service office in Duluth received reports of a dusting of snow in Brimson. There were also social media reports of snow in Isabella.
Name chosen for new park in Roseville
Sunset Park is expected to open in 2025 and will include a playground, basketball shooting area, picnic space and nature trail.
Twin Cities suburbs have acres of asphalt. Do they need all that parking?
Falcon Heights is among the Minnesota cities that have recently reduced parking minimums, or the number of parking spots it requires developers to build.
Downtown St. Paul overnight homeless shelter to move to University and Snelling area
The Safe Space shelter, currently operating in downtown St. Paul, announced in May that it would not move to St. Anthony Park after Luther Seminary pulled out of lease negotiations.
Maplewood domestic violence shelter plans to build facility for survivors' dogs, cats
Tubman Center East in Maplewood got approval from the city to build a dog run. It is also planning to renovate part of its facility into living space for pets and lounge space for survivors and their pets.
New Brighton, Falcon Heights to allow accessory dwelling units
The suburbs join several cities across Minnesota that now allow the units, also known as mother-in-law apartments.
Motorcyclist who died in Minnetrista crash identified
Johnathan David Hommer, 24, of Lester Prairie died of blunt-force injuries from the collision, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
State Patrol reports use-of-force incident on I-94 in north Minneapolis
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was processing a scene "related to a State Patrol use-of-force incident" near Dowling Avenue in Minneapolis.
Faribault County ballot misprint switched parties of legislative candidates
The error affected 17 issued ballots. County officials will pursue corrective action and instruct affected voters on how to get their vote counted correctly, the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office said.
Brooklyn Park shooting seriously injures one
The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries and a suspect was arrested.
How much will Hennepin and Ramsey counties raise 2025 property taxes?
Hennepin and Ramsey counties recently approved maximum tax levies. How much your taxes go up (or down) depends on several factors.
Is your city asking you to vote on a sales tax hike this election? These Twin Cities suburbs are.
Cities pitch sales tax increases as a way to shift the burden of funding projects from residents and business owners who pay property taxes to anyone who makes a purchase that includes a sales tax.
Inline skater dies after Duluth marathon
Mike Lufholm, 36, of Minneapolis was remembered as an ambassador for inline skating in Minnesota.
