Disasters

Minnesota sees increase in bicycle fatalities
Bicycle commuting is up by double-digit numbers in Minneapolis, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. However, there is a downside to having more bike commuters. Already this year, bike fatalities in Minnesota are more than double what they were for all of last year.
State officials are rolling out a new eight-bed "mini-hospital" meant to provide care in emergencies and towns without regular hospitals.
A new normal for Twin Cities commuters
The new I-35W bridge opened this morning, less than 14 months after the old span collapsed into the Mississippi River. For drivers, what used to be a routine trip before the collapse, was -- at least for today -- anything but routine.
What this new bridge means...
People from MPR's Public Insight Network respond to the opening of the new I-35W bridge.
Some not so eager to drive new I-35W bridge
As the new I-35W bridge opens, some residents won't rush back to use it.
The I-35W bridge reopens
The new I-35W bridge is open to traffic, just 13 months after the old one collapsed into the Mississippi River.
Margi Pemble of Minneapolis had a closeup view of the 35W bridge collapse, from the window of her 14th floor condo nearby. She took a lot of photos that day, and thereafter, and shares them with us.
Hundreds of sensors, some placed inside the bridge's concrete during construction, will send data to the University of Minnesota for analysis.
When the I-35W bridge opens to traffic on Thursday morning, it will be about three months ahead of schedule.
Cutting-edge technology makes new 35W bridge a model for future
How fast the new bridge was completed has some people wondering how safe it will be, but officials say the bridge's advanced design and cutting-edge technology make it a model for bridge building in the future.