Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:07 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:07:31 GMT
President Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma, and instructed his disaster response team to get tornado victims everything they need "right away."
President Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma, and instructed his disaster response team to get tornado victims everything they need "right away."
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:04 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:04:46 GMT
All of the disaster stemming from the severe weather in Oklahoma can be stressful for anyone to watch, but it can trigger anxiety especially in children.
All of the disaster stemming from the severe weather in Oklahoma can be stressful for anyone to watch, but it can trigger anxiety especially in children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:37 GMT
Just a few hours after the four-month session wrapped up, Minnesota's top elected Democrats are scheduled to do a post-mortem on what lawmakers accomplished.
Just a few hours after the four-month session wrapped up, Minnesota's top elected Democrats are scheduled to do a post-mortem on what lawmakers accomplished.
NORTH MANKATO, Minn. -
After winning approval from the North Mankato City Council last night, the second Marigold building looks to be on its way toward breaking ground.
But questions over how the decision was reached remain.
The council approved variances on the property of the 58-unit apartment complex on Belgrade Avenue by a 3-2 vote.
Now only details on tax increment financing and approval of the final plan is needed before construction begins.
North Mankato City Administrator John Harrenstein says, "The developer would like to start as soon as possible. The city council would like to start as soon as they have an agreement they're comfortable with - at least portions of the city council. So that's what staff is really going to take a look at over the next 3-4 weeks."
Council member Diane Norland took the lead last night in defending the legal basis of the council's actions, saying Marigold made the cut, by the book, and in dollars and cents.
Norland says, "Frankly, it's going to bring in tax dollars. It's going to be a very economically effective use of that land."
But hard feelings still remain, with those opposing the project saying the council didn't follow the law.
Councilman Kim Spears says, "I think we got the decision wrong. It's nice when things are clear-cut. In this case they're not. Ultimately this will probably have to be decided in a court of law, and ultimately it will still come down to somebody's decision."
And so what it comes down to is the vaguely written laws and ordinances that allow people to objectively come to different conclusions... and the city seems to realize it.
Mayor Mark Dehen says, "One of the things we've charged our new city administrator with is creating a comprehensive land use plan. We have a rudimentary one that was started years ago that's never been completed, so we need to complete that and we also need to complete an overall strategic plan for the city."
