Stephanie Fox has won two awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for her articles. She lives in South Minneapolis with her husband David, a martial arts instructor, and her two bulldogs, Quigley and Lazlow.
Stephanie Fox
Scholar coaches are needed in the Twin Cities to help bridge the Minnesota educational gap
BY STEPHANIE FOX Minnesotans can boast about being number one in a lot of positive categories, but having some of the largest educational disparities among minority and low-income students in the country is no reason to brag. One factor in this disparity is that where white parents have higher incomes…
New transit station at Lake Street
BY STEPHANIE FOX For four years, those traveling on I-35W have seen a mammoth construction project rise above Lake Street. The structure is part of MnDOT’s Crosstown plan to create a 14-mile highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line connecting Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and Burnsville. On Thursday, Oct. 21, the first…
Open Streets Minnehaha – a final celebration of summer (maybe)
BY STEPHANIE FOX While a number of events around Minneapolis were canceled during this COVID summer, others were simply moved to fall, including Open Streets Minnehaha. Now scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24, Minnehaha Avenue will be blocked to traffic from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. (just about an hour before…
Celebrate! Open Streets Lyndale Avenue
BY STEPHANIE FOX Each year, thousands of people flock to Open Streets events in Minneapolis. During these city celebrations, streets are closed to automobile traffic for blocks and people walk, bike and even skate, visiting booths and businesses along the way. But then, COVID-19 happened. In non-pandemic years, there are…
Local sports and fitness venues begin to resurrect as the pandemic fades
BY STEPHANIE FOX Minneapolis YWCA The YWCA has three Minneapolis locations, Downtown, Midtown and Uptown, and all were busy with activities and events. Then came the pandemic and things changed. During the governor’s shutdown the only thing open was child care. While the mandate eliminated most sports, activities that could…
The corner of 38th and Chicago is forever changed
Things are different now, at 38th and Chicago Avenue
Friendship Academy of the Arts grade school to expand
BY STEPHANIE FOX The original plans were for a huge ceremony and celebration to mark the literal groundbreaking at the Friendship Academy of the Arts site in March. But the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 virus made large gatherings and public celebrations impossible. Instead, the groundbreaking ceremony on April 17…
Popular Hennepin Avenue businesses struggle through pandemic (and cope)
BY STEPHANIE FOX While most in Minneapolis agree that a shutdown of all but essential businesses is necessary, it is rough on many shops and restaurants now struggling to survive. While owners, workers and customers speculate when the governor will ease restrictions, businesses are finding their way through the crisis.…
Restaurants closed
BY STEPHANIE FOX On March 16, in response to a rising number of COVID-19 virus cases, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a local public health emergency, closing or limiting access to bars and restaurants except for take-out orders and delivery, until April 1. The same day, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz…
63B candidate forum
BY STEPHANIE FOX While most of the country is focused on upcoming presidential caucuses and primaries, voters in parts of South Minneapolis and Richfield had a chance to meet the five candidates who are hoping to fill the legislative seat of retiring DFL State House Representative Jean Wagenius, who…
Crime is up in South Minneapolis and neighbors seek solutions from the city
Volunteer barbers help take the stress out of the first day of school
BY STEPHANIE FOX On the Sunday before the first day of school in Minneapolis, four barbers at Fresh Cuts Barber Shop made sure that 62 kids would look sharp as they walked through their school doors. The annual event gives free-of-charge haircuts to students, kindergarten through 8th grade, before school…