How to Help Victims of the Oklahoma Tornado

Donating money to organizations that help victims is quick and easy.

  Americans across the country are reacting with shock to the devastation caused by a 2-mile wide Tornado in Oklahoma. Dozens have died, and President Obama has declared the path of the tornado a major disaster area. If you would like to help, you can do so from your computer or mobile device right now. Patch will be posting stories of locals who are working to help victims from afar. If you know of someone local was affected by the tornado or who is working to help the victims, please contact your local editor. Memories of Fridley 1965 Tornadoes Several people on Twitter, the Oklahoma tornadoes brought to mind the tornadoes that swept through Fridley in 1965. Manual Expressions from Jekyll Island, GA (@expressionsbyme) wrote: grew up w/…

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Teachers Bring More Than Academics in Time of Tragedy: Parents Talk

As you give your child an extra hug, send out your thoughts to Oklahoma and share what makes the educators in your child’s life special.

Last week, I had the opportunity visit with a few children at the Excelsior Farmers Market. Not surprising, they knew the exact number of days left until summer break. While many of our kids in Minnesota are eyeing the calendar with anticipation for summer break, I was reminded this week how much we owe our educators. As parents, we send our children off to school each morning expecting another typical school day until we pick them up. It becomes a parents worst nightmare when unexpected tragedies and circumstances hit a school – situations that seem to have been all too common nationwide during the 2013-2013 school year. Yet, time and time again, we hear about educators that put their life on the line to save those students they are …

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Medtronic Lays Off 500 in Minnesota

Not clear how many of the layoffs are at the medtech giant's headquarters and Rice Creek campus in Fridley.

Medtronic, based in Fridley, is cutting about 500 jobs in Minnesota as part of 2,000 layoffs worldwide, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported: Cindy Resman, a Medtronic spokeswoman, wrote in an email that as Medtronic is eliminating 500 jobs in Minnesota, the company also has added 160 positions in the state. "We also currently have job postings online for around 130 positions in (Minnesota)," Resman wrote in an email this morning. Read the full article at twincities.com. Asked by email for information about where in Minnesota the company is eliminating positions, Resman responded: In addition to the 500 reductions in MN, we've also added 160 positions so the net is 340. There are also 130 jobs in MN currently posted on our website today. …

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Wednesday Public Meeting: '2013 Update on Locke Lake Water Quality and Next Steps'

The Rice Creek Watershed District will lead a panel discussion at Fridley City Hall on May 22, 2013, 3:30–5:15 p.m.

Attend a panel discussion about the water quality at Locke Lake on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 3:30–5:15 p.m. According to the City of Fridley website, the meeting will be "led by Matt Kocian from the Rice Creek Watershed District called 2013 Update on Locke Lake Water Quality and Next Steps." Related:

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Fridley Schools Pool Traditions Into New Cookbook

Stevenson and Hayes Elementary students explored their home cultures while making the book.

Minnesota Gas Prices Soaring; Where to Go in Fridley for Cheapest Fuel

Minimize your costs at the gas pump with this helpful guide to the lowest gas prices in the city.

 Seeing your bill at the gas pump climb to $50, $60 or even $70? The Minnesota statewide average gas price is $4.27—the highest in the lower 48 states, according to a Monday report in the Pioneer Press. Fridley's gas prices roughly mirror the state's predicament, with per-gallon prices at many stations hovering at or just below the average. Wondering where to go for the cheapest gas in Fridley? Here are a handful of local stations with the lowest gas prices on Monday morning, according to gasbuddy.com. Editor's note: Gas prices can change several times throughout the day, therefore there may be discrepencies between what is shown here and what the price is when you stop at a station. Where do you usually go for the lowest gas prices in …

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Minnesota Legislature Approves Education Bill, Includes All-Day Kindergarten Funds

Early education was a huge focus in the $15.7 billion bill, which received slivers of support from Republicans in both chambers of the state capitol.

A $15.7 billion education package that will "make life easier" for working parents, according to the bill's supporters, now awaits Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's signature as work begins to wrap up on the 2013 Legislative Session.  The omnibus bill, which means one version of the bill was introduced in each chamber, was approved with small support from Republicans over the weekend, picking up five GOP votes in the state house and four more in the senate.  Sen. Ann Rest of New Hope was the lone "no" vote from the DFL (Democrat) side of the aisle in the senate, creating the 41-26 margin.  The bill raises the state's method of funding local schools by $156 per pupil for a total of nearly $235 million in new money over the next two years. The …

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Jimmy

9:42 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The DFL just dug themselves a deep hole. The DFL like the GOP will find out how dividing the gay issue is. Throw in the broad reaching unionization of daycare effort. Add smoking taxes on the non-rich, wealthy don't smoke. Jacking up taxes $2,100,000,000, 2014 can't come to soon.   more ›

The Fifth District Report

Ellison: Oil Speculation Rules, Cutting Oil Subsidies Would Lower Gas Prices

The 5th District Congressman also wants to ban the herbicide atrazine and add a right to vote amendment to the Constitution.

Gas Prices Rep. Keith Ellison argued last week that tougher rules on oil speculation and an end to subsidies for oil companies would help curb the recent hike in gas prices. The 5th District congressman last year introduced the “End Polluter Welfare Act," which would eliminate more than $110 billion in fossil fuel subsidies every 10 years. Ellison released the following statement Friday: A week before one of the busiest car travel weekends of the year, millions of Minnesotans are suddenly having to pay more for gas than ever before. This takes money out of the pockets of working people in the middle of a slow recovery, and causes real economic pain for Minnesotans already struggling to get by. There are meaningful steps Congress can take …

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