Author: Mike Wilkinson

Panhandling by people on highway exit ramps is seen from time to time in the Twin Cities, including Eden Prairie. A recent incident involving a family on the exit ramp from westbound Interstate 494 to Flying Cloud Drive has spotlighted the broader issue of panhandling and city policies. What is Eden Prairie’s policy on panhandling? First, the courts have ruled that panhandling is not illegal, provided panhandlers do not engage in any illegal activities. Such activities might include approaching a car and its driver. State and local laws, however, vary on this matter. Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case said the…

A drone operator in action. Police departments, like Eden Prairie’s, have increasingly adopted drones for various operations, from search missions to damage assessments. Adobe stock photo When people think of drones, they probably envision a U.S. military device hovering over a militant hideout, poised to launch missiles, or a CIA tool monitoring adversaries in a remote location. They probably don’t put a local spin on it. Many might not associate drones with their local police department. However, the Eden Prairie Police Department not only uses drones but also owns six. “We have had drones for over three years,” said Sgt.…

We all know the feeling of computers crashing, cell phones dying unexpectedly, cars not starting due to a faulty chip, or the cable TV network suddenly going off the air. The growth in technology over the past few decades has led to wonderful leaps forward in our lives: worldwide communication, a vast reference library at our fingertips, and the ability to connect directly with family and friends with just a few taps on the keyboard. However, with all these advances comes a growing list of problems. It seems that as technology advances, more problems arise. Over the past three weeks,…

The 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza in flight, the main prize for Wings of the North’s fourth annual airplane sweepstakes. Winner to be announced Sept. 9, with an option of the plane or $35,000 cash. Photo courtesy of Wings of the North Dream of owning a vintage aircraft or pocketing $35,000? Then mark your calendar for Saturday, Sept. 9. Wings of the North, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 1998, will host its fourth annual pancake breakfast sweepstakes at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. The grand prize is a meticulously refurbished 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza 35, known as “BB8,” or the $35,000. Ticket…

Flagstone in Eden Prairie received a funding boost on Aug. 1 of $257,094 amid statewide efforts to support nursing facilities. Photo by Stuart Sudak Nursing facilities across Minnesota are expressing concerns about the financial solvency of their businesses. The increased costs they have incurred due to inflation and COVID-19 mitigation and prevention, combined with the direct-care workforce shortage, have left many struggling to keep their doors open. Now, help has arrived in the form of $300 million approved during the last session of the Minnesota Legislature. Flagstone senior living community in Eden Prairie is included in the funding program. It…

July was earmarked as crack-down-on speeding month in Minnesota. If you were looking for a celebrity symbol of recklessness, the Minnesota Vikings’ Jordan Addison would be a prime candidate. The rookie wide receiver, who hails from USC and hasn’t played a regular-season down for the Vikings, was cited for driving 140 mph at 3 a.m. on July 12 in downtown St. Paul. He was behind the wheel of his new Lamborghini Urus, likely purchased with a portion of his early summer signing bonus. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety announced in July that state and local…

The “Idaho stop” law now allows bicyclists to treat stop signs on Minnesota roads as yield signs, a change reflecting legislation aimed at balancing traffic flow and safety. Photo by Stuart Sudak Idaho Stop. No, that’s not the name of the new North American Professional Lacrosse League entry. It’s a generic term related to a law that allows people on bicycles not to come to full stops at stop signs. It gets its name going way back to the early 1980s when the state of Idaho established the first law in the U.S. granting cyclists the right to “coast” through…

Participants line the path during a previous 5K Raksha Run/Walk & Vigil at Purgatory Creek Park in Eden Prairie. This year’s event will take place there on Saturday. Photos by Fran Roby of the Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation When it comes to ways a driver can be distracted and pose a possible danger to themselves or others, cell phone distraction is the one that immediately comes to mind. But there are others: adjusting the dials on your car radio, trying to restore order in the backseat with unruly kids, lack of sleep, and gazing out at the passing landscape.…

The South Metro Public Safety Training Facility in Edina. Photos by Jeff Strate The recently-concluded annual session of the Minnesota Legislature will be known as having passed a plethora of new, far-reaching legislation. This included a $1.87 billion bonding bill, the largest in history. It is important to keep the “largest in history” in perspective. There was no bonding bill passed in the previous session, so as House Speaker Melissa Hortman said, “This is three years wrapped into one.” This year’s version was targeted toward the University of Minnesota and other public schools, first responders, veteran homes, transportation, economic development,…

A photo taken on June 14 shows how smoke from wildfires in Canada blanketed the city. Photo by Steve Schewe Remember those masks you had during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you still have plenty of them? Perhaps they’re tucked away in a kitchen drawer or between your car seats. If you’ve been considering discarding those masks, think again. Not only could the COVID-19 virus or a future virus emerge, but you might also need them to protect yourself from the smoke during forest fires. The Canadian forest fires have been raging for two months, and there are…