Frederick Melo, Reporter (TwinCities.com, Pioneer Press)
@frederickmelo.bsky.social
A Boston transplant turned longtime City Hall/urban news reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota (twincities.com) but my true claim to fame is I wrote this 3-part comic book: https://fredmelosupervillains.thecomicseries.com
Pinned
Here’s six St. Paul voters explaining Tuesday’s mayoral election. Which one best describes you?
Here’s six St. Paul voters explaining Tuesday’s mayoral election. Which one best describes you?
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Here’s six St. Paul voters explaining Tuesday’s mayoral election. Which one best describes you?
You asked for a precinct-by-precinct map showing where Her won and where Carter won? Thanks to @imanicruzen for providing it! www.twincities.com/2025/11/09/s...
November 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
You asked for a precinct-by-precinct map showing where Her won and where Carter won? Thanks to @imanicruzen for providing it! www.twincities.com/2025/11/09/s...
After announcing her candidacy in August and winning office in November, state Rep. Kaohly Her will soon be St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. How did she do it in 93 days? I asked her and then... everybody else. Here's how you voted and what you told me: www.twincities.com/2025/11/09/s... #StPaul
St. Paul mayor’s race: What voters say about Kaohly Her’s victory
Voters and politicos react to Kaohly Her’s mayoral win in St. Paul
www.twincities.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:07 PM
After announcing her candidacy in August and winning office in November, state Rep. Kaohly Her will soon be St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. How did she do it in 93 days? I asked her and then... everybody else. Here's how you voted and what you told me: www.twincities.com/2025/11/09/s... #StPaul
Citywide, there's been progress. Como Park is looking lit, literally. But not on Shepard Road. And St. Anthony Park has taken it on the chin as of late. How much did darkened streetlights impact the mayor's race? I have no idea, but this stuff did not help the incumbent, even with progress made...
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Citywide, there's been progress. Como Park is looking lit, literally. But not on Shepard Road. And St. Anthony Park has taken it on the chin as of late. How much did darkened streetlights impact the mayor's race? I have no idea, but this stuff did not help the incumbent, even with progress made...
St. Paul has made significant progress protecting its streetlights from wire thieves. But we need to talk about the longstanding dark hole that is Shepard Road. www.twincities.com/2025/11/09/s...
St. Paul: Why do some streetlights remain out on Shepard Road, elsewhere?
Shepard Road’s many unique and isolated streetlights make them easy targets and pricey to replace.
www.twincities.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
St. Paul has made significant progress protecting its streetlights from wire thieves. But we need to talk about the longstanding dark hole that is Shepard Road. www.twincities.com/2025/11/09/s...
Irish on Grand... forever? Former employee buys building, opens new St. Paul store www.twincities.com/2025/11/07/s... Story by Top O' The Morning @MarsKingReports aka Mr. Erin Go Bragh
Former Irish on Grand employee buys building, opens new St. Paul store
Moloney’s Irish Imports will carry time-tested Irish favorites like wool hats, Irish dance shoes, marmalade, jams, biscuits, chocolates and, of course, Winston’s breakfast sausages.
www.twincities.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Irish on Grand... forever? Former employee buys building, opens new St. Paul store www.twincities.com/2025/11/07/s... Story by Top O' The Morning @MarsKingReports aka Mr. Erin Go Bragh
Gov. Walz appoints recent federal transportation guru, former Minneapolis Public Works director Robin Hutcheson as chair of the Metropolitan Council www.twincities.com/2025/11/07/g...
November 8, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Gov. Walz appoints recent federal transportation guru, former Minneapolis Public Works director Robin Hutcheson as chair of the Metropolitan Council www.twincities.com/2025/11/07/g...
Nonprofit St. Paul Downtown Development Corp. buys condemned Capital City Plaza by Alliance Bank Center — aims for a late 2026 reopening www.twincities.com/2025/11/07/s... #stpaul
St. Paul: Downtown Development Corp. buys Capital City Plaza parking ramp
The nonprofit previously bought the Alliance Bank Center, which also remains closed.
www.twincities.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Nonprofit St. Paul Downtown Development Corp. buys condemned Capital City Plaza by Alliance Bank Center — aims for a late 2026 reopening www.twincities.com/2025/11/07/s... #stpaul
Attorneys for CVS and property owner Scp 2005 C21 045 LLC said demolition could complicate a sale and future redevelopment. “At the 11th hour, CVS claims that they have inklings of a plan for this property” Coleman responded. “There’s even now no documentation of the possible buyers of the building"
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Attorneys for CVS and property owner Scp 2005 C21 045 LLC said demolition could complicate a sale and future redevelopment. “At the 11th hour, CVS claims that they have inklings of a plan for this property” Coleman responded. “There’s even now no documentation of the possible buyers of the building"
What just happened?! No, seriously, what just happened. Her announced in August and won in November, 48%-45% after ballot reallocation. Even some supporters did not expect her to win. If you had less than 24 hours to come up with some sort of analysis of what voters responded to, what would you say?
A quick check-in with Mayor-Elect Kaohly Her: www.twincities.com/2025/11/05/s...
November 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
What just happened?! No, seriously, what just happened. Her announced in August and won in November, 48%-45% after ballot reallocation. Even some supporters did not expect her to win. If you had less than 24 hours to come up with some sort of analysis of what voters responded to, what would you say?
CVS, tear down this CVS! Signed: The St. Paul City Council, unanimously, with urging from Ward 4 Council Member Molly Coleman www.twincities.com/2025/11/06/s...
St. Paul City Council orders demolition of former CVS at Snelling and University
Attorneys representing CVS and a mystery property owner objected, saying demolition could complicate sales.
www.twincities.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
CVS, tear down this CVS! Signed: The St. Paul City Council, unanimously, with urging from Ward 4 Council Member Molly Coleman www.twincities.com/2025/11/06/s...
Want to help SNAP recipients? The city of St. Paul has started a food drive www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/s...
St. Paul started a food drive for SNAP recipients. Here’s how to donate.
There are four sites to drop off food. City officials ask that donors drop off items during normal hours. And, all items must be new, unopened shelf-stable food and hygiene products.
www.twincities.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Want to help SNAP recipients? The city of St. Paul has started a food drive www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/s...
A quick check-in with Mayor-Elect Kaohly Her: www.twincities.com/2025/11/05/s...
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
A quick check-in with Mayor-Elect Kaohly Her: www.twincities.com/2025/11/05/s...
How Koahly Her surpassed Melvin Carter to win the mayor's race, even after landing just 34% of all precincts on the first ballot. Key take-aways: she gained 10 percentage points as other challengers fell, and split downtown. www.twincities.com/2025/11/05/r...
Ranked choice voting: How Kaohly Her surpassed Melvin Carter
Carter won 66% of the city’s precincts and was the top vote-getter with 41% of the vote, but still lost the race after ballot reallocation.
www.twincities.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM
How Koahly Her surpassed Melvin Carter to win the mayor's race, even after landing just 34% of all precincts on the first ballot. Key take-aways: she gained 10 percentage points as other challengers fell, and split downtown. www.twincities.com/2025/11/05/r...
HER WINS! twincities.com/2025/11/04/v...
November 5, 2025 at 6:31 AM
HER WINS! twincities.com/2025/11/04/v...
MAYOR'S RACE: Carter holds lead over Her, 41%-38%, but no candidate broke the required 50% on the first ballot. So Dullinger's votes will be reallocated shortly. Then Hilborn's. Then Yan Chen's. If still no one breaks 50%, the top vote-getter wins... www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/v...
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 AM
MAYOR'S RACE: Carter holds lead over Her, 41%-38%, but no candidate broke the required 50% on the first ballot. So Dullinger's votes will be reallocated shortly. Then Hilborn's. Then Yan Chen's. If still no one breaks 50%, the top vote-getter wins... www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/v...
ST. PAUL SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM IS APPROVED! 65%-35% www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/v...
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
ST. PAUL SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM IS APPROVED! 65%-35% www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/v...
ST. PAUL ELECTIONS: ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS WIN! And resoundingly so... www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/s...
St. Paul voters appear ready to embrace administrative citations
The city council will have wide latitude to add fine ladders for violations of existing city ordinances.
www.twincities.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ST. PAUL ELECTIONS: ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS WIN! And resoundingly so... www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/s...
Looks like relatively healthy voter turnout in St. Paul, which doesn't always happen. Longer lines than expected at certain times. I've been to 3 sites where you could go right in, but Highland (Hillcrest Rec on Ford Pkwy) had lines snaking earlier today twincities.com/2025/11/04/t...
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Looks like relatively healthy voter turnout in St. Paul, which doesn't always happen. Longer lines than expected at certain times. I've been to 3 sites where you could go right in, but Highland (Hillcrest Rec on Ford Pkwy) had lines snaking earlier today twincities.com/2025/11/04/t...
It's Election Day! 19 Essential Links
All Things Election (Dak, Ramsey, Wash): www.twincities.com/news/politic...
Administrative Citations on St. Paul Ballot: www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/s...
All About St. Paul School Levy:
www.twincities.com/2025/10/30/s...
MORE: www.facebook.com/share/p/14W1...
All Things Election (Dak, Ramsey, Wash): www.twincities.com/news/politic...
Administrative Citations on St. Paul Ballot: www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/s...
All About St. Paul School Levy:
www.twincities.com/2025/10/30/s...
MORE: www.facebook.com/share/p/14W1...
St. Paul: Administrative citations amendment is on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know.
If approved, the city council would have the authority to propose fine ladders for violations of city ordinances.
www.twincities.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
It's Election Day! 19 Essential Links
All Things Election (Dak, Ramsey, Wash): www.twincities.com/news/politic...
Administrative Citations on St. Paul Ballot: www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/s...
All About St. Paul School Levy:
www.twincities.com/2025/10/30/s...
MORE: www.facebook.com/share/p/14W1...
All Things Election (Dak, Ramsey, Wash): www.twincities.com/news/politic...
Administrative Citations on St. Paul Ballot: www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/s...
All About St. Paul School Levy:
www.twincities.com/2025/10/30/s...
MORE: www.facebook.com/share/p/14W1...
5 CANDIDATES, QUICK WIN?: Ramsey County will use open source software to deliver results in St. Paul’s ranked-choice mayoral election on Election Night — all other instant run-off cities will break out spreadsheets the next day www.twincities.com/2025/11/03/s...
St. Paul’s mayoral race to be decided by ranked-choice vote — on Election Night
Ramsey County Elections will use ballot reallocation software for the first time since the capital city first implemented ranked-choice voting in 2011, guaranteeing same-night results.
www.twincities.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:35 PM
5 CANDIDATES, QUICK WIN?: Ramsey County will use open source software to deliver results in St. Paul’s ranked-choice mayoral election on Election Night — all other instant run-off cities will break out spreadsheets the next day www.twincities.com/2025/11/03/s...
Half of Skyline Tower residents return home 5 days after fire, water damage www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/h...
Half of Skyline Tower residents return to homes five days after evacuation
As of Friday afternoon, all 141 households of the complex’s east tower were back in their apartments. The west tower remains closed.
www.twincities.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Half of Skyline Tower residents return home 5 days after fire, water damage www.twincities.com/2025/10/31/h...
A WIN IS A WIN: This rug laundry is leaving Minneapolis for St. Paul… www.twincities.com/2025/11/01/a... So sayeth @MarsKingReports
140-year-old rug cleaner/retailer to leave Minneapolis for St. Paul
The owners have hinted that the new shop will be near the corner of Fairview and St. Clair avenues.
www.twincities.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A WIN IS A WIN: This rug laundry is leaving Minneapolis for St. Paul… www.twincities.com/2025/11/01/a... So sayeth @MarsKingReports
Tax Increment Financing has its ups and downs. A critic is quoted as saying if anyone should be steering TIFS, it’s the Port Authority, not the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. St. Paul has 58 TIF districts, far more than any other city, and locks up almost 8% of its tax base in these districts.
Westminster Junction on Phalen Boulevard has drawn a HealthPartners specialty center, 15 companies and 1,000 jobs, but it’s taken 20 years to get on the tax rolls. Here’s to the happy ending of a TIF District: www.twincities.com/2025/11/01/s...
St. Paul Port Authority celebrates end of East Side TIF district
Port Authority officials see the Westminster Junction Business Center as a resounding success story — even though it’s taken more than 20 years to get the acreage fully on the tax rolls…
www.twincities.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Tax Increment Financing has its ups and downs. A critic is quoted as saying if anyone should be steering TIFS, it’s the Port Authority, not the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. St. Paul has 58 TIF districts, far more than any other city, and locks up almost 8% of its tax base in these districts.
Westminster Junction on Phalen Boulevard has drawn a HealthPartners specialty center, 15 companies and 1,000 jobs, but it’s taken 20 years to get on the tax rolls. Here’s to the happy ending of a TIF District: www.twincities.com/2025/11/01/s...
St. Paul Port Authority celebrates end of East Side TIF district
Port Authority officials see the Westminster Junction Business Center as a resounding success story — even though it’s taken more than 20 years to get the acreage fully on the tax rolls…
www.twincities.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Westminster Junction on Phalen Boulevard has drawn a HealthPartners specialty center, 15 companies and 1,000 jobs, but it’s taken 20 years to get on the tax rolls. Here’s to the happy ending of a TIF District: www.twincities.com/2025/11/01/s...