Metro briefs: Climate march events at 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

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.

LIZ SAWYER

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

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 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.

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.