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
Streetcars that never rolled out, trash trucks that do, road reconstructions that never happened and the fate of downtown St. Paul loom large in the November 2026 election. The ghost of Lunds haunts them. In the end, there can be only one. CHOOSE WISELY, DISTRICT 5!
Waymo in action: I chickened out on riding one so I shoved my kids in there instead. Second video shows the car pulling up www.instagram.com/p/DCN-DyLR2J...
November 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Waymo in action: I chickened out on riding one so I shoved my kids in there instead. Second video shows the car pulling up www.instagram.com/p/DCN-DyLR2J...
Streetcars that never rolled out, trash trucks that do, road reconstructions that never happened and the fate of downtown St. Paul loom large in the November 2026 election. The ghost of Lunds haunts them. In the end, there can be only one. CHOOSE WISELY, DISTRICT 5!
November 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Streetcars that never rolled out, trash trucks that do, road reconstructions that never happened and the fate of downtown St. Paul loom large in the November 2026 election. The ghost of Lunds haunts them. In the end, there can be only one. CHOOSE WISELY, DISTRICT 5!
NO I WON'T BACK DOWN: A day after St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker announced a run for his District 5 seat, Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega said he has no plans to step aside. He's up for re-election, if you'll have him:
www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/r...
www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/r...
Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega running for re-election
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker plans to announce her candidacy for the county board’s District 5 seat
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NO I WON'T BACK DOWN: A day after St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker announced a run for his District 5 seat, Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega said he has no plans to step aside. He's up for re-election, if you'll have him:
www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/r...
www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/r...
How many of these folks are you familiar with? Good choices, all?
Mayor Elect Kaohly Her announces transition team. Here's who they are and the experience they bring to the table: www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/s...
St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her announces transition team
Erica Schumacher and Hnu Vang will serve as transition team co-leaders
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
How many of these folks are you familiar with? Good choices, all?
Mayor Elect Kaohly Her announces transition team. Here's who they are and the experience they bring to the table: www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/s...
St. Paul Mayor-elect Kaohly Her announces transition team
Erica Schumacher and Hnu Vang will serve as transition team co-leaders
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Mayor Elect Kaohly Her announces transition team. Here's who they are and the experience they bring to the table: www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/s...
This picture was taken in 2018. I spoke to this property manager again today (and many times in the years in between). We laughed together. We almost cried together. Please, someone, name cart-sharing after Alisa Lein...
A CHANGE 8 YEARS IN COMING: On Jan. 1, residents of St. Paul duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and some five-plexes can share trash carts... under these conditions: www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/s...
St. Paul to allow trash cart sharing under conditions
Landlords have been asking for the right to offer fewer carts since organized collection began in 2018
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:24 PM
This picture was taken in 2018. I spoke to this property manager again today (and many times in the years in between). We laughed together. We almost cried together. Please, someone, name cart-sharing after Alisa Lein...
A CHANGE 8 YEARS IN COMING: On Jan. 1, residents of St. Paul duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and some five-plexes can share trash carts... under these conditions: www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/s...
St. Paul to allow trash cart sharing under conditions
Landlords have been asking for the right to offer fewer carts since organized collection began in 2018
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:22 PM
A CHANGE 8 YEARS IN COMING: On Jan. 1, residents of St. Paul duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and some five-plexes can share trash carts... under these conditions: www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/s...
Kind words about Waymo from the DFL and Republican co-chairs of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, as well as MADD.
WAYMO is HERE KINDA: You'll see driverless cars in Minneapolis today operated by drivers. They're mapping, road testing and making a plea to lawmakers to allow autonomous vehicles to pick up passengers with no one at the wheel. Someday soon, Minneapolis and then... www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/w...
Waymo rolls driverless ridesharing into Minneapolis for testing
The driverless rideshare company operates in five markets and is rolling into five more,
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Kind words about Waymo from the DFL and Republican co-chairs of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, as well as MADD.
WAYMO is HERE KINDA: You'll see driverless cars in Minneapolis today operated by drivers. They're mapping, road testing and making a plea to lawmakers to allow autonomous vehicles to pick up passengers with no one at the wheel. Someday soon, Minneapolis and then... www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/w...
Waymo rolls driverless ridesharing into Minneapolis for testing
The driverless rideshare company operates in five markets and is rolling into five more,
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
WAYMO is HERE KINDA: You'll see driverless cars in Minneapolis today operated by drivers. They're mapping, road testing and making a plea to lawmakers to allow autonomous vehicles to pick up passengers with no one at the wheel. Someday soon, Minneapolis and then... www.twincities.com/2025/11/20/w...
Patrick Bollom says city of St. Paul padded its general fund when it charged him $1,960 in building permit fees. On behalf of every permit filer since 2018, he’d like $22 million back. City says records are a mess. Hold off on that until Mayor Her gets here, OK? www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
St. Paul asks for pause on $22 million suit over building permits
A Macalester-Groveland homeowner says he was overcharged for $1,960 permits, and demands a refund for the entire city
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Patrick Bollom says city of St. Paul padded its general fund when it charged him $1,960 in building permit fees. On behalf of every permit filer since 2018, he’d like $22 million back. City says records are a mess. Hold off on that until Mayor Her gets here, OK? www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
NOECKER v. Ortega?
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker will soon announce a run for the Ramsey County Board District 5 seat held since 1994 by Rafael Ortega. She's on the ballot for November 2026 www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker to run for Ramsey County Board
The District 5 board seat, which represents downtown St. Paul and surrounding areas from Highland Park to the West Side, is currently held by Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega.
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
NOECKER v. Ortega?
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker will soon announce a run for the Ramsey County Board District 5 seat held since 1994 by Rafael Ortega. She's on the ballot for November 2026 www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker to run for Ramsey County Board
The District 5 board seat, which represents downtown St. Paul and surrounding areas from Highland Park to the West Side, is currently held by Ramsey County Board Chair Rafael Ortega.
www.twincities.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:24 AM
St. Paul City Council President Rebecca Noecker will soon announce a run for the Ramsey County Board District 5 seat held since 1994 by Rafael Ortega. She's on the ballot for November 2026 www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
OH, BABY!: Council Member Cheniqua Johnson goes on maternity leave. Council Member Saura Jost will chair the HRA meetings and Council President Noecker will serve on the Port Authority in her absence, though Johnson will participate in meetings remotely soon, as Nelsie Yang did.
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
OH, BABY!: Council Member Cheniqua Johnson goes on maternity leave. Council Member Saura Jost will chair the HRA meetings and Council President Noecker will serve on the Port Authority in her absence, though Johnson will participate in meetings remotely soon, as Nelsie Yang did.
MERGER ALERT: From revitalization of Rice Park to a recent coloring book, the St. Paul Parks Conservancy has become increasingly visible -- to the tune of $5 million raised for parks in 5 years. The Great River Passage Conservancy has been working on long-term river projects.
PARKS CHAMPS JOIN FORCES: Come Jan. 1, St. Paul Parks Conservancy, which has raised $5 million in 5 years for the capital city's parks, will absorb and merge with the Great River Passage Conservancy, which is playing the long game along the river www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
St. Paul Parks Conservancy to absorb Great River Passage Conservancy
The newly-merged nonprofit will retain the name St. Paul Parks Conservancy.
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:17 PM
MERGER ALERT: From revitalization of Rice Park to a recent coloring book, the St. Paul Parks Conservancy has become increasingly visible -- to the tune of $5 million raised for parks in 5 years. The Great River Passage Conservancy has been working on long-term river projects.
By a vote of 6-1, the St. Paul City Council has banned crypto-kiosks citywide. There's 32 of these, at least, in St. Paul, and I'm told they tend to post huge mark-ups on conversion from dollars to Bitcoin. Most users in the know do that online. Fraud victims, they get kiosked...
November 19, 2025 at 10:52 PM
By a vote of 6-1, the St. Paul City Council has banned crypto-kiosks citywide. There's 32 of these, at least, in St. Paul, and I'm told they tend to post huge mark-ups on conversion from dollars to Bitcoin. Most users in the know do that online. Fraud victims, they get kiosked...
BANNED in St. Paul! www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
St. Paul City Council bans cryptocurrency kiosks
At least 32 of the ATM-like machines have proliferated in convenience stores and small shops across St. Paul.
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
BANNED in St. Paul! www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
You care about wolves, homeless youth, music classes and the Minnesota Sheriff's Association, don't you?
GIVE TO THE MAX DAY aims to raise $37 million for nonprofits/schools across MN on Thursday. Jenna Ray, new CEO of GiveMN, will start her day at Wildflyer Coffee in Minneapolis and end at MetroNOME Brewery in downtown St. Paul, highlighting their causes www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/g...
Give to the Max Day aims to raise $37M Thursday for nonprofits, schools
This is the 17th year of Minnesota’s digital day of giving
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 PM
You care about wolves, homeless youth, music classes and the Minnesota Sheriff's Association, don't you?
GIVE TO THE MAX DAY aims to raise $37 million for nonprofits/schools across MN on Thursday. Jenna Ray, new CEO of GiveMN, will start her day at Wildflyer Coffee in Minneapolis and end at MetroNOME Brewery in downtown St. Paul, highlighting their causes www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/g...
Give to the Max Day aims to raise $37M Thursday for nonprofits, schools
This is the 17th year of Minnesota’s digital day of giving
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:26 PM
GIVE TO THE MAX DAY aims to raise $37 million for nonprofits/schools across MN on Thursday. Jenna Ray, new CEO of GiveMN, will start her day at Wildflyer Coffee in Minneapolis and end at MetroNOME Brewery in downtown St. Paul, highlighting their causes www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/g...
STARBUCKS ON STRIKE: Two arrested after super glue, expanding foam damages door locks at Starbucks in St. Anthony; protesters forced to move out of drive-through lane www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/t...
Two arrested after glue found in locks at St. Anthony Starbucks
Police forced a group of demonstrators to remove themselves from the driveway.
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
STARBUCKS ON STRIKE: Two arrested after super glue, expanding foam damages door locks at Starbucks in St. Anthony; protesters forced to move out of drive-through lane www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/t...
PARKS CHAMPS JOIN FORCES: Come Jan. 1, St. Paul Parks Conservancy, which has raised $5 million in 5 years for the capital city's parks, will absorb and merge with the Great River Passage Conservancy, which is playing the long game along the river www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
St. Paul Parks Conservancy to absorb Great River Passage Conservancy
The newly-merged nonprofit will retain the name St. Paul Parks Conservancy.
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
PARKS CHAMPS JOIN FORCES: Come Jan. 1, St. Paul Parks Conservancy, which has raised $5 million in 5 years for the capital city's parks, will absorb and merge with the Great River Passage Conservancy, which is playing the long game along the river www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/s...
SEEING VOLLEYBALL DOUBLES: Craig Leipold is launching a pro women's volleyball team at Grand Casino Arena in 2027. And no, it's not the same as the pro women's volleyball team coming to Minneapolis. That's a different league entirely. www.twincities.com/2025/11/18/s... Story by @JessRMyers
St. Paul will be home to one of two Minnesota pro volleyball leagues
“We’ve been working on an opportunity to get involved in women’s sports for a couple years now,” Craig Leipold said.
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:07 AM
SEEING VOLLEYBALL DOUBLES: Craig Leipold is launching a pro women's volleyball team at Grand Casino Arena in 2027. And no, it's not the same as the pro women's volleyball team coming to Minneapolis. That's a different league entirely. www.twincities.com/2025/11/18/s... Story by @JessRMyers
Multiple protestors got an eyeful of irritant at the Bro-Tex raid…
November 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Multiple protestors got an eyeful of irritant at the Bro-Tex raid…
Federal raid on Hampden Avenue Bro-Tex printing warehouse draws protesters, chemical irritant deployed, ugly scene www.twincities.com/2025/11/18/s...
Federal agents detain people at St. Paul industrial building, drawing protesters
ICE says they served a search warrant in a federal criminal investigation.
www.twincities.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Federal raid on Hampden Avenue Bro-Tex printing warehouse draws protesters, chemical irritant deployed, ugly scene www.twincities.com/2025/11/18/s...
These charitable agencies call "Housing First" strategies -- permanent supportive housing--key to ending chronic homelessness. HUD, e.g. the feds, just slashed funding for that very effort, in favor of two-year transitional housing with work requirements. www.twincities.com/2025/11/17/m...
MN housing organizations say HUD cuts could double chronic homelessness
HUD is capping funds for permanent housing with supportive services.
www.twincities.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:04 AM
These charitable agencies call "Housing First" strategies -- permanent supportive housing--key to ending chronic homelessness. HUD, e.g. the feds, just slashed funding for that very effort, in favor of two-year transitional housing with work requirements. www.twincities.com/2025/11/17/m...
The city council just made it easier to open a small business or build a mixed-use (housing over commerce) site in a "Traditional Neighborhood" zoning district. What if we added more T districts, or widened ones that already exist? By a vote of 7-0, that's now also up for study.
It just got a pinch easier to open a coffee shop in St. Paul -- and to build housing above it. The St. Paul City Council has approved citywide "Traditional Neighborhood" zoning changes. Give the next study a year or two and it could get easier still. www.twincities.com/2025/11/17/s...
St. Paul City Council simplifies standards in mixed-use zoning areas
The changes aim to simplify rules in traditional neighborhood districts and allow for greater zoning flexibility.
www.twincities.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The city council just made it easier to open a small business or build a mixed-use (housing over commerce) site in a "Traditional Neighborhood" zoning district. What if we added more T districts, or widened ones that already exist? By a vote of 7-0, that's now also up for study.