Recent content from James Walsh
St. Paul's Mickey's Diner is back, and it makes downtown happy
A "soft open" a month ago is now an official, seven-days-a-week return of St. Paul's famous dining car.
Meet the journalist and author who highlights St. Paul history — real and imagined
St. Paul has long been at the heart of Larry Millett's writing, first as a journalist and then as a novelist.
St. Paul, Fairview and nonprofit wipe out $37 million in medical debt for 32,000 residents
Fairview Medical Services, nonprofit Undue Medical Debt and Mayor Melvin Carter announced the plan. Notices will be mailed this week; no one needs to do anything.
Christopher Crutchfield, 54, brought joy and compassion to fight for justice
The longtime community corrections official championed civil rights and equity with warmth and kindness, friends and family say.
Retired friends tell 'poignant and evocative' story of Edmund Fitzgerald in new radio play
Friends, most in their 70s and 80s and recovering alcoholics, hope their recently recorded radio play on the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald can find a broadcast home in time for its 50th anniversary.
After defeat, supporters of St. Paul's child care payment plan not giving up
Some 60% of voters rejected it. Years of effort to highlight the need to help low-income families was not for naught, champions of plan say.
St. Paul voters moved city elections to presidential years. Here's what's next.
Starting in 2028, voters will choose St. Paul mayor and City Council members along with U.S. president, after voters said yes on a ballot question in Tuesday's election.
St. Paul voters move to even-year elections, reject child care subsidies
Property taxes would have increased to offset child care costs for low-income families. But opponents said too few would be helped and that the cost was too high.
Meet the Native American radio host uplifting Indigenous voices from his St. Paul home
Robert Pilot is a Ho-Chunk legislator and former schoolteacher.
Coloring book duo depicts St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood
Richard Kronick and Jeanne Kosfeld teamed up again to highlight the history of St. Paul's historic Black neighborhood.
Meet the chef and coffee guy providing a buzz in downtown St. Paul
Terry John Zila, owner of Hepcat Coffee, says he's bullish on downtown despite St. Paul's challenges.
St. Paul developer has big plans for Victoria and Grand
Ari Parritz, who worked on Grand Avenue's Kenton House, wants a similar project at Victoria Crossing's East Mall.
Meet the police leaders working to restore safety in St. Paul's Hamline-Midway neighborhood
District chief and commander say the issues of drugs and crime in the area around University and Snelling are complex.
Minnesota Supreme Court refuses to hear St. Thomas' arena appeal, construction continues
Crews keep working while public reviews revised environmental assessment.
This former Nebraska attorney loves books so much, she opened a bookstore in St. Paul
Danielle Miller has always found peace in books. She's found even more in Story Line Books, her new Union Depot bookstore.
If voters approve child care tax in St. Paul, Mayor Melvin Carter says he won't implement it
Carter said the ballot question to levy property taxes overpromises who it will help and understates its true cost.
St. Paul voters to choose whether to fund child care with city taxes
Opponents of the ballot measure, including Mayor Melvin Carter, agree many families need help but disagree with using property taxes for the subsidy.
How do you want your steak, soldier? Meet the St. Paul guy who started Serving Our Troops.
Pat Harris has been delivering and grilling steaks for Minnesota troops overseas since 2004.
Twin Cities Marathon will allow e-hand bikes for first time. This Minnesota woman is one reason.
Sunday's marathon and 10-mile race will be the first in nation to allow e-hand bikes and other electric assist devices to be used.
Meet the captain of Padleford Riverboats in St. Paul
Gus Gaspardo, owner of the iconic Padelford Riverboats charter and sightseeing cruises, started as a summer worker on the Mississippi River in 1984.
Habitat for Humanity kicks off at Hillcrest with star power
Country music superstars Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks joined the kickoff of Habitat for Humanity's weeklong Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project at new St. Paul housing site the Heights.
St. Paul voters will decide whether to move election day to even-numbered years
The change — proposed as a way to increase voter turnout — could have unwanted consequences, opponents say.
Meet the Grand Avenue guy behind Russell's, a new Grand Avenue eatery
What did Todd Russell do to make the commercial stretch better? Open a restaurant, of course.
Land bridge or boulevard? Ideas to transform I-94 compete for public dollars.
One proposal focuses on St. Paul's old Rondo neighborhood. The other covers more than 7 miles of freeway from Minneapolis to St. Paul. Can both be done?
St. Paul Summit Hill homeowners give glimpses inside their distinctive homes
The Summit Hill and Ramsey Hill house tours, which were started in 1972, are combining this year to add oomph. We asked some homeowners why they invite the public in.
Lake Phalen Rowing is training winners in the East Metro
The small but mighty program, now training on Lake Gervais, is turning teenage rowers into champions.
The State Fair's last two church dining halls find ways to survive and thrive
In 1903, there were 89 such dining halls, which were seen as more wholesome than hot dog stands. (Less fried stuff on a stick then.)
Meet the successful chef opening a new eatery at St. Paul's Union Depot
1881 by Lake Elmo Inn is the latest restaurant to make a go of the Depot.
George Latimer, St. Paul's longest-serving mayor, dies at 89
Latimer, who served as mayor from 1976 to 1990, was an unparalleled champion and cheerleader of the capital city.
Trio of artists gathers 39 years later to restore West Side mural in St. Paul
"Hunger Has No Color" was painted in St. Paul in 1985 to raise awareness in the community.
Leather works with coffee — and doughnuts? St. Paul neighbors say, 'Yes!'
A Kickstarter campaign started to bring new life to the former Josephs Market site on the West Side of St. Paul.
Meet the former St. Paul mayor working to make homeownership affordable for families
Habitat for Humanity is building 147 homes at the Heights, its largest project in the Twin Cities.
Homeless camp off Bruce Vento trail forcing advocates to explore new approaches
Officials say its many Hmong residents resist shelters, want to stick together.
Meet the St. Paul writer and artist working to translate American Sign Language into a written medium
Adrean Clark plans to pursue a Ph.D. with her 2024 Bush fellowship.
St. Paul ordered to pay damages for failing to give bike trail information to lawsuit opponent
The city violated the Data Practices Act 14 times, a Ramsey County judge found.
Meet the St. Paul woman wants to help Latine families navigate cancer care
Mari Avaloz was her sister's caregiver and wants to replicate an Arizona program, but for Latine families struggling with cancer care.
Meet the St. Paul mental health practitioner hoping to inspire other Black professionals to join the field
2024 Bush fellow Kasim Abdur Razzaq wants to inspire a cadre of Black practitioners to treat trauma in a culturally specific way.
St. Thomas will appeal ruling on planned arena in St. Paul, resumes construction
In a statement, the university say appeals court's concerns "can be remedied."
Black Lives Matter activist will use fellowship to explore history, leadership, organic farming
As a Bush Foundation fellow, Trahern Crews sees the connection between community action and growing food.
Meet the women who launched the St. Paul library's Laser Loons
How an effort to get library cards into the hands of more St. Paul residents took off.
Appeals court orders new environmental assessment for St. Thomas arena in St. Paul
Neighbors argued the city and university didn't do enough to study the arena's impact.
New inclusive St. Paul playground allows children of all abilities to play
Advocates hope P.K.'s Place, next to St. Paul's Allianz Field, is sign of things to come.
Meet the guy who brought Alary's Bar back to life in downtown St. Paul
A Bears bar. A cop bar. Bill Collins returns Alary's to its old ways ... mostly.
Families uprooted from St. Paul's West Side seek redress from the government
From 1961 to 1964, the flood-prone neighborhood was razed for an industrial park. Now community members are calling for action.
St. Paul signs new trash deal with single hauler
After years of garbage angst, the new citywide system is set to start in April 2025.
Get to know the St. Paul museum dedicated to preserving Minnesota's railroad history
Josh Hoaby, executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, connects the state's railroad past with its present.
After COVID stopped downtown St. Paul employer blood drives, residents rolled up their sleeves
The monthly blood drives at Union Depot have fostered a sense of community for downtown neighbors who noticed that the pandemic had slowed the flow of donations.
Meet the St. Paul women empowering women to battle blazes
The three firefighters are working to build strength and confidence in female recruits.
Mali Center hopes to create collaborative space for business owners of color
Tyrone Minor hopes center recreates Rondo's old spirit of cooperation.
A Minnesota man dreamed of being published. After his suicide at age 20, his parents made his dream come true.
"The Hub" was one of three novels that Aaron Lemke wrote.
Meet the woman working to create a Rondo renaissance in St. Paul
The head of Rondo Community Land Trust sees Selby Avenue becoming a Black economic and cultural corridor.
Meet the woman working to make St. Paul more magnetic
As president and CEO of Visit St. Paul, Jaimee Lucke Hendrikson sees the fun in the less-glitzy of the Twin Cities.
St. Paul restaurant owner Brian Ingram withdraws charity's nonprofit status after state warnings
Ingram said the decision to dissolve the nonprofit was in the works before the attorney general's letters.
Meet the man who resuscitated St. Paul's Grand Old Day street festival
Chris Jensen, a mortgage specialist, wanted "to bring some joy back to St. Paul." The festival attracted an estimated 200,000 visitors last year.
Old guard of St. Paul's historic W. 7th neighborhood seeks to connect with newer residents
Oldest neighborhood in city becoming younger, wealthier and less connected to bedrock organizations.
Irish pub? Sushi bar? Meet the Grand Avenue chef who can do it all
Noe Frausto ran Saji-Ya for years. Then the bosses asked him to add Emmett's. No problem, he says.
St. Paul Taiko group beating the drum for state support so they won't be noisy neighbors
The group's Senate ally says bonding money is not likely this year. But TaikoArts Midwest says they'll keep fundraising for their new North End location.
Walker West Music Academy taking over Selby Avenue JazzFest
School's faculty and students also taking on bigger roles as performers.
Meet the woman working to keep German language and culture relevant to new generations
Jeana Anderson has led St. Paul's Germanic-American Institute for 18 years.
Macalester College chooses new mascot. It's a cow.
The St. Paul college is retiring 'Mac the Scot' and — after voting among students, alumni and others — replacing him with a Highland Cow.
Meet the affordable housing champion fighting for St. Paul's West Side
Monica Bravo knows something about housing insecurity. Now, the head of the West Side Community Organization is studying the displacement of families in the 1960s.
St. Paul neighbors working to upend St. Thomas arena construction
Opponents fear snarled traffic, air quality issues from thousands of cars.
Concerns about historic preservation delay wheelchair ramps at Como Park Conservatory
Work on the ramps now is expected to begin this summer at the popular St. Paul attraction.
Lack of volunteers forcing longtime Golden Valley Braille service to close
Volunteer Braille Services, a 56-year-old nonprofit based in Golden Valley that transcribes written materials into Braille, will close May 31.
Meet the West Sider taking the helm at Neighborhood House, helping new arrivals find a better life
Since arriving from Iowa in 1990, Janet Gracia has dedicated herself to St. Paul's West Side.
This St. Paul native now goes by Kandi Krush, and she body-slams her opponents in the ring
After stints as a swimmer, actor and boxer, Amberley Shaw has found a home in women's professional wrestling.
Meet the woman bringing (tiny) trains back to Union Depot
Choo Choo Bob's returns to St. Paul with a May 3 grand opening.
Summer camp at St. Paul airport seeks to inspire future first responders
The free First Responders day camp, which runs from June 24-28, still has openings, organizers say.
![Grand Ave. looking west from Saint Albans St. was clogged with pedestrians enjoying Grand Old Day Sunday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/XHTWGMKIVO2QSXYZDBBETWXQXM.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
After years of uncertainty, Grand Old Day is making a repeat appearance in 2024
First financial struggles, then the pandemic, cast the future of the long-running St. Paul festival in doubt. Supporters say that's not the case anymore.
Group pushes replacing Interstate 94 with thoroughfare between Minneapolis, St. Paul
Our Streets Minneapolis says replacing freeway will be better for cities' health, economy and environment.
Meet the St. Paul manufacturer who helps disabled golfers get on their feet and hit the links
"People say, 'Man, this is going to change my life.'"
Meet the couple who put the Irish on St. Paul's Grand Avenue
The owners of Irish on Grand in St. Paul, Maeve O'Mara and Liam O'Neill, preserve capital city's emerald ties.
Leader of young artist program sees a statewide appeal
The Emerging Young Artists program pairs students with resident artists in east metro schools.
April festival at St. Paul Union Depot is second act for the Wrights
The founders of the Selby Avenue Jazz Festival are taking their show downtown.
Meet the woman who founded a theater group to tell Native American stories to Native American audiences
Rhiana Yazzie founded the New Native Theatre in 2009.
