St. Paul

Climate marchers to gather for events in Como Park

As hundreds of Minnesotans descend on New York City to attend the People's Climate March, locals will gather at Como Park in St. Paul on Sunday to support the movement confronting the fossil fuel industry and advocating for a universally reduced carbon footprint.

Activists around the world will march Sunday, on the eve of the United Nations climate summit, urging governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global warming.

In St. Paul, Avaaz.org and MN350.org are coordinating an afternoon of music, art, dancing and other activities from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Como Park Pavilion, including a program at 2 p.m. and a walk around the lake at 3 p.m.

LIZ SAWYER

Harriet Island hosts pets at Bark and Rec Day

Dog lovers and their canine companions can enjoy some outdoor playtime Sunday during St. Paul Park and Recreation's Bark and Rec Day.

The free event on Harriet Island will kick off at 8 a.m. with the 2014 Wiggle Butt 5K — a walk and run for owners and pets — and continue until 2 p.m. with live music, a doggy fashion show, pet demos and other family fun.

The 5K will benefit Midwest Animal Rescue and Services, which is more than halfway to its $60,000 fundraising goal.

An off-leash dog park will also be available for pooches looking to play in a fenced-in area with other pups.

LIZ SAWYER

West Seventh project gets $100,000 planning grant

The city of St. Paul has been awarded a $100,000 federal planning grant to help fund a study looking at the possible conversion of an abandoned 5-mile rail spur along West Seventh Street into a trail for bicycles, pedestrians and, possibly, public transit.

The Canadian Pacific Railway spur once served the former Ford Motor Co. plant. It runs from a small yard at the plant, then parallel to Seventh Street before joining the main line east of Interstate 35.

The study, funded by a TIGER (for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant, from the U.S. Department of Transportation, will start in early 2016 with a consultant team to be managed by the city, in coordination with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority.

Jim Anderson

EDINA

Grandview project taps development partner

Edina has selected a development partner to craft a proposal for the former Public Works site in the Grandview neighborhood. Frauenshuh Commercial Real Estate Group was chosen from among four companies that made proposals to the City Council. The selection is contingent on negotiating a satisfactory agreement with the city's economic development staff.

The Grandview district has been the subject of a four-year goal-setting process involving a wide group of citizens. The goals strongly urge that any development in the area be walkable, easily accessible and provide a mix of public and private uses.

Bill Neuendorf, Edina's economic development manager, said even with a partner set, there won't be any "firm decisions" on the site's future for about a year.

JOHN REINAN

Coon Rapids

Firefighters will carry drug overdose antidote

Coon Rapids firefighters are now carrying the medication that can counteract a potentially lethal heroin or prescription painkiller overdose.

They are among the first in the state to carry the drug Narcan in each fire rescue vehicle. Narcan is often referred to as a heroin antidote but it also counteracts overdoses of prescription pain medications, including Vicodin, Norco, Percocet and OxyContin.

A state law that went into effect Aug. 1 allows emergency responders to administer the drug. Hennepin County Sheriff's deputies have also started to carry Narcan.

In Anoka County, there were 49 overdoses and 27 deaths in 2013. This year, there have been 22 overdoses and nine deaths from heroin and other opioid drugs.

Shannon Prather