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St. Paul Residents Demand Safer Streets After Fatal Pedestrian Crash Near Highland Bridge

St. Paul Residents Demand Safer Streets After Fatal Pedestrian Crash Near Highland Bridge

Residents of St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood are demanding enhanced pedestrian safety measures following a fatal collision near the Highland Bridge redevelopment. The calls for action intensified after 69-year-old Karen McElveen was struck and killed by a turning dump truck at the intersection of Ford Parkway and Cleveland Avenue on October 29. This incident has brought renewed attention to the transportation challenges in an area significantly transformed by the former Ford Motor Company plant's redevelopment. At a November 10 meeting of the Highland District Council, residents shared accounts of dangerous encounters with vehicles and urged city officials to improve pedestrian protections, citing that development has outpaced infrastructure improvements.
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VIA Metropolitan Transit Reports Significant Ridership Growth Following Service Improvements

VIA Metropolitan Transit Reports Significant Ridership Growth Following Service Improvements

VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio has reported a 10.1% surge in ridership from January through August compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Federal Transit Administration. This growth is attributed to the agency's 'Better Bus Plan,' a five-year overhaul initiated in April of last year. The plan has involved increasing the frequency of 38 routes, extending hours for at least 11 routes, and aims to reduce wait times to 30 minutes or less across the entire network. VIA's President and CEO, Jon Gary Herrera, stated that the agency is 70% complete with the plan and has set an ambitious goal of reaching 50 million annual rides within seven years. The success follows a period of decline, with ridership plummeting during the 2010s and further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency has also overcome a driver shortage, now employing 1,050 full-time drivers, up from 842 in June 2025.
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Local Zoning Regulations Evolve to Grant Communities Greater Say in Data Center Development

Local Zoning Regulations Evolve to Grant Communities Greater Say in Data Center Development

Local governments across the U.S. are increasingly using zoning regulations to gain more control over the development of data centers within their communities. This trend is highlighted by actions such as Loudoun County, Virginia, requiring a special exception and public hearing for new data centers, a significant shift in a region known for its data center boom. The Environmental Law Institute's Digital Economy & Environment Program (DEEP) and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy have studied these evolving local policy approaches. Zoning provides a formal mechanism for residents to voice concerns and influence decisions on where data centers are located and what conditions apply to their operation. The extent of local authority varies significantly by state, depending on whether a state follows Dillon's Rule or home rule, and the specifics of its zoning enabling act.
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Kansas City Green Commute Challenge Reduces Emissions by Over 28,000 Pounds

Kansas City Green Commute Challenge Reduces Emissions by Over 28,000 Pounds

The 18th annual Green Commute Challenge in the Kansas City region, which concluded on October 31, successfully encouraged residents to adopt alternative commuting methods. Over 31 days, 260 participants logged more than 5,000 trips, with approximately 40% of these trips made via transit or bicycle. Collectively, these efforts prevented over 28,000 pounds of emissions from entering the atmosphere, an amount equivalent to nearly three hot air balloons. This year's challenge introduced new engagement strategies, including more in-person events and weekly prize packages, with over $2,000 in donations from local businesses. Six in ten participants were new to the challenge, indicating a growing interest in alternative commuting, partly driven by rising fuel prices. HNTB secured first place for organizations, with the Urbanists of UMKC taking second, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, winning the top local government award.
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Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority Seeks Community Input for Parking Study

Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority Seeks Community Input for Parking Study

The Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority (CMVPA) is actively seeking input from the community as it undertakes a comprehensive parking study aimed at identifying potential improvements. The CMVPA has engaged Desman, a national firm specializing in parking consulting, design, planning, and restoration, to conduct this study. The focus of the study will be on the area north of 12th Street in Covington. Key aspects to be examined include best practices in parking management, the recent performance of parking meters, the effectiveness of the current parking enforcement program, and the availability and utilization of both off-street parking and residential neighborhood parking. A public engagement session was held on Thursday at 6 p.m., where representatives from Desman gathered feedback from residents and addressed their questions regarding the parking situation in Covington.
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Salt Lake City Transportation Department Shifts Focus to Smaller Road Projects Amid UDOT Oversight Changes

Salt Lake City Transportation Department Shifts Focus to Smaller Road Projects Amid UDOT Oversight Changes

Salt Lake City is transitioning its road construction strategy, moving away from large-scale projects that have been prevalent since 2020. This shift comes as the city approaches a new agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), mandated by SB242, a bill passed by the Utah Legislature. The bill requires UDOT to have more oversight on the city's busiest roads, categorizing them into four tiers for future construction projects involving traffic calming or lane reduction. Lynn Jacobs, Salt Lake City's transportation director, noted that the city has experienced 'construction fatigue' due to numerous recent projects, many funded by a 2018 bond that has since been expended. The city recently completed its 600/700 North project and is now looking to concentrate on smaller, local road improvements where immediate attention is most needed. This change also involves the city seeking to repeal its 'complete streets ordinance' from 2010, as it now conflicts with state law.
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Long Beach Implements Speed Camera Program to Combat Rising Fatal Crashes

Long Beach Implements Speed Camera Program to Combat Rising Fatal Crashes

Long Beach, California, has activated a speed camera program at 18 locations across the city, with two cameras in each City Council district. These cameras began issuing warnings on October 7 and will start issuing citations on December 7. The initiative aims to address a significant increase in fatal crashes, with 53 recorded last year—the highest in over a decade—and 41 so far this year, surpassing the number of homicides. Half of the camera locations are on streets with high rates of deadly or severe accidents, while the other half are situated in school zones or areas known for street racing. The cameras capture only the rear license plates of vehicles, and citations, ranging from $50 to $500 depending on the speed over the limit, are mailed to the registered owner. Long Beach officials estimate the program will generate approximately $5 million in revenue in its first year, with half covering administrative costs and the remainder funding traffic-calming measures in high-need neighborhoods. This progr...
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Brad Keselowski Wipes Social Media, Teases Future Opportunities Amid 2027 NASCAR Season Speculation

Brad Keselowski Wipes Social Media, Teases Future Opportunities Amid 2027 NASCAR Season Speculation

Brad Keselowski Wipes Social Media, Teases Future Opportunities Amid 2027 NASCAR Season Speculation
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RLS Media Dominates Newark Local News with High-Frequency, Social Media-Integrated Reporting

RLS Media Dominates Newark Local News with High-Frequency, Social Media-Integrated Reporting

RLS Media has established itself as a primary source for real-time local news in Newark, New Jersey, and the broader Essex County region. Unlike traditional news outlets, RLS Media focuses on high-frequency publishing and leverages social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to deliver immediate updates on breaking news. Their coverage includes fire reports, vehicle accidents, road closures, and municipal updates, directly impacting the daily lives of Newark commuters and residents. The operational model relies heavily on listener reports, police scanner monitoring, and direct user submissions, creating a crowdsourced news ecosystem. This approach allows RLS Media to be among the first to report on local developments, filling a void left by traditional media's slower reporting cycles. While prioritizing speed, RLS Media's model necessitates that its audience understands the evolving nature of breaking news, which may be updated as official details become available. The platform covers a wide area with...
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Bangkok Enhances Songthaew Services with New Information Signs for Improved Connectivity

Bangkok Enhances Songthaew Services with New Information Signs for Improved Connectivity

Bangkok has installed 47 new information signs across three districts—Sathorn, Bang Rak, and Yannawa—to improve the navigation and connectivity of its informal 'songthaew' transport network. These signs provide essential details such as route names and maps, operating hours, travel directions, and connections to other public transport services, including the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System), MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) rail systems, public buses, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, and boat services. This initiative, a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Muang Vivat Foundation, and the urban transport advocacy group Mayday, aims to strengthen 'first- and last-mile' connectivity, linking local neighborhoods and smaller streets with the city's main public transport infrastructure. BMA adviser Aekvarunyoo Amrapala stated that this information will eventually be accessible online.
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Benjamin Franklin High School Alumni Celebrate 70-Year Legacy at 'Cheers to the Years 2026' Event

Benjamin Franklin High School Alumni Celebrate 70-Year Legacy at 'Cheers to the Years 2026' Event

Benjamin Franklin High School recently hosted its 'Cheers to the Years 2026' event, bringing together over 90 alumni from every decade of the school's 70-year history. The gathering took place on November 6 at the Katherine Johnson building. Attendees reconnected with former classmates, enjoyed live music performed by Franklin’s string band, and toured the school building with current students. A significant part of the evening included a discussion focused on the future of New Orleans. This conversation featured Deputy Mayors Kevin Ferguson ’99 and Jeffrey Schwartz ’00, and was moderated by Margaret Foley ’02. The event celebrated the school's enduring legacy and fostered connections across generations of its alumni.
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Park City Mountain Initiates Major Redevelopment of Mountain Village Base Area Ahead of 2034 Olympics

Park City Mountain Initiates Major Redevelopment of Mountain Village Base Area Ahead of 2034 Olympics

Park City Mountain, owned by Vail Resorts, has launched a public planning process to significantly reshape its Mountain Village base area. This ambitious project aims to revitalize a 10-acre site at the base of the mountain, with a particular focus on preparing for the 2034 Winter Games, where the resort will host several snowboarding and freestyle skiing events. East West Partners, a Denver-based real estate development company with local operations, will co-lead this initiative. The plans include exploring new development opportunities on existing surface parking lots and potentially relocating resort operations currently situated in the Bonanza Park neighborhood. Deirdra Walsh, Park City Mountain vice president and chief operating officer, expressed enthusiasm for creating renewed vibrancy and emphasized the importance of thoughtful planning and community engagement. The resort also intends to update its broader mountain plan, covering lifts, trails, snowmaking, and guest facilities, to ensure it evolve...