The Gustavus Adolphus building on Lake Street is finally gone. When it was first built, just after the turn of the last century, it was a magnificent structure with a full kitchen and ballroom and theater on the second floor. It was the center of Swedish culture for South Minneapolis, like Dania Hall on Cedar Avenue was a center for Danish activities. Wedding receptions, anniversaries and cultural pageants found a familiar and glorious setting in both buildings. Like Dania Hall, a fire destroyed it. Some mourned the loss. All that history reduced to ashes. But the real loss, of course, are the Scandanavian cultural traditions that have all become Americanized. Fortunately, for those who need a nostalgic remembrance and a taste of Scandinavia, Ingebretson's is just across the street with pickled herring, lefse and wonderful children's books.

Put on your skates and head to the parks

The rink has already had an average of 42 skaters a day.

by Aimee McAdams
published Jan. 05, '09

It’s a cold winter day, snow is falling and vacation is in full swing. Four kids sit in the warming house at the Powderhorn Park ice rink.

They’re bundled in warm coats and scarves, and piles of gloves and hats surround them.

Judging by their flaming red cheeks, they’ve just come in from ice-skating. The warming house attendant has doled out hot cocoa and little bags of popcorn to everyone.

read more

RNC 8 prosecuted for thinking terroristic thoughts

On Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, the Ramsey County Sheriff arrested eight young people who had been associated with the Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee.

by Ed Felien
published Jan. 5, '09

On Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, the Ramsey County Sheriff executed search warrants on three houses in the metro area.  They arrested eight young people who had been associated with the Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee: Luce Guillen-Givens, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Ervy Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald. The RNC 8 are charged with Riot in the Second Degree, a felony. 

read more

Go to index of articles for January 2009

MAC stiffens back, delays vote on Delta Pact

by Jim Spensley and Dick Saunders
published Jan. 12, 09

McKasy proposed that Delta’s present job commitment of 10,000 Minnesota employees be extended from 2013 to 2016, when the company’s $270-million loan from MAC is to be paid in full.

Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) members, citing numerous ambiguities
in their first look, voted Jan. 6 to delay a decision on a revised loan agreement with Delta Airlines for two weeks.

After three hours of intense questioning of General Counsel Thomas Anderson,
commissioners voted unanimously to seek staff clarification on a wide variety of issues seen as impacting the future of Minnesota airline jobs.
Commissioners accepted a working draft as a “framework,” but sought to tighten contract enforcement provisions, clarify breach definitions, extend job guarantees, and seek future sources of potential job growth from the recently merged Delta and Northwest businesses.

read more

Undocumented immigrant workers of Minnesota pay more than they get back!

by Heather Fisher
published Jan. 5, '09

Minnesota is divided over whether to censor or to welcome undocumented immigrant workers. Should border controls be strengthened and immigration laws enforced, or should undocumented immigrant workers be offered amnesty and a path to citizenship?

read more

Pawlenty’s Budget: Shock Doctrine and gangster capitalism

by Ed Felien
published Jan. 5, '09

In order to fully understand what Governor Pawlenty is proposing in his budget, you have to read Naomi Klein’s “Shock Doctrine.”  She details how
fascist governments in Chile and other South American countries, puppet governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russia under Yeltsin, Poland under Solidarity and the U. S. government in New Orleans managed to use natural and man-made disasters to institute gangster capitalism.  Natural resources and state industries were sold off at fire sale prices, government functions were outsourced, basic subsidies for poor people were slashed and eliminated, and the rich got much richer and the poor became much poorer.

read more

Go to index of articles for January 2009