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Preparations begin for winter storm in Twin Cities
Officials say they are working to be prepared for the upcoming storm.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Department of Transportation crews will be working 12-hour shifts to clear the roads starting at midnight, according to the department.
Officials said that ahead of the storm, they are working to ensure all of MnDOT’s vehicles are ready for the roads.
Crews will be dealing with tricky conditions including wind, snow, and brutally cold temperatures.
It will also take longer for salt, brine and other chemicals to take effect.
“I want drivers to be ready for that extra impact,” said MnDOT spokesperson Anne Meyer. “It might take a little bit while longer for our crews to get roads back in the clear because of that cold air. And then of course the wind. The wind is one of those factors that really does change the game a little bit, we’re gonna see blowing snow coming back on the roadway. So it’s going to prolong our cleaning efforts.”
Local shelters are also busy preparing for the storm.
The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center has squeezed in a few beds in the overflow section because the organization’s leadership didn’t want to turn people away.
Aside from the shelter beds the center provides at that location, for the first time this season it will convert its seven Twin Cities service centers into warming centers.
Centers typically do this when the wind chill drops below zero. Salvation Army Captain Dan Simmons leads the Noble Worship and Service Center.
“We often deal with people who are already in difficult situations,” said Simmons. “We do get our team ready to receive and give a bit of extra supplies.”
According to Hennepin County, there’s 964 shelter beds available. Earlier in the week, 50 beds were open overnight.
“With input from people with lived experience, Hennepin County has worked in recent years to identify and fill system gaps – the result is a structure that provides uninterrupted 24/7 safe space for people experiencing homelessness,” said a county spokesperson. “(Seventy-five percent) of county-contracted adult shelters and 100% of county-contracted family shelters now are accessible all day, every day, and we work with a network of public and private sector partners that open their spaces to provide spaces where people can go without the expectation of spending money.”
Plumbing and HVAC companies are also hard at work preparing homes for the cold.
Blue Yeti Services said it has seen some homeowners procrastinating because of the warmer weather. The organization recommends that you set your thermostat correctly, change your filters and ensure your furnace is working properly. It also said it’s also important to bleed your radiator valves.
“Make sure your irrigation and your hose bibs are winterized,” said Emily Black, co-owner of Blue Yeti Services. “Make sure the water is turned off. A lot of people will also cover their hose bib. You want to prevent frozen pipes in the winter because it can actually do a lot of damage to your home.”
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The suspect was 17 at the time of the shooting, but he was charged as an adult.
A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, more than two years after a drive-by shooting left a 17-year-old dead.
Casimir Semlak, of St. Paul, was charged with shooting 17-year-old Anthony Skelley in May 2022 during an apparent drug deal in South St. Paul. Police say a search of Skelley’s cell phone uncovered that the last number he was in communication with was linked to the suspect.
Semlak was also 17 at the time but was charged in the adult court system.
Following his death, family members told KARE 11 in a statement that Skelley was a junior attending St. Paul Public Schools’ Gateway to College program, and had “a beautiful soul with a cheerful presence and a joyful spirit.”
Semlak will be sentenced in January 2025.
The Moorhead Police Department said Paige Reinke was last seen Sunday wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray sweatpants.
MOORHEAD, Minn. — Officials are asking for the public’s help locating a 17-year-old Moorhead girl that is believed to be endangered.
According to the Moorhead Police Department, Paige Reinke was last seen Sunday near the 2600 block of River Drive North wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) describes her as 5-foot-4, 155 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Moorhead Police Department at 701-451-7660.
“The Power of a Transformed Woman” is Twyla Martin’s raw, unapologetic story about strength, transformation and rising above trauma.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota author and motivational speaker has written a new book and is holding a panel discussion.
“The Power of a Transformed Woman” is Twyla Martin’s raw, unapologetic story about strength, transformation, and rising above trauma.
On Friday, Nov. 1, Martin will speak with a panel at CSPS Hall in St. Paul about her book release.
- Twyla Martin – Author
- Nekima Levy Armstrong – Civil rights attorney, activities, and community organizer
- Chantel Sings – Powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and performer
- Ashley DuBose – Singer, songwriter
- Jamela Pettiford – Vocalist and actress
- Lissa Jones – Speaker, advocate for African American history and culture
- Robin Hickman-Winfield – Producer, filmmaker, and CEO of SoulTouch Productions
- Alana Carrington – Creative professional with expertise in the arts, education, and community development
