A parking pilot project, designed to help snow plows have an easier time, is now in effect in Rochester. That means Eastside Pioneers and Slatterly Park residents will have to park on the even-numbered side of the street on even days, and vice versa on odd days. However the pilot rules do not overrule posted parking signs.

       "The goal is is to have access for emergency vehicles - [the] best access we can provide. The second goal is to allow snow plow drivers to actually get a clear shot down the streets," says the project's coordinator, Michael Scharenbroich.

     For now those who violate it will only get warnings, but come January 1st, real tickets costing $22 dollars will be issued.

Information provided by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:

Disposal of trash is up in Minnesota, and that’s a small, but good, sign that the state’s economy is growing. Tons of trash brought to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities dropped considerably during the recent economic downturn in Minnesota, but increased 4 percent this year.

Historical trends show that the amount of materials brought to landfills tend to increase as the economy grows and decrease when the economy contracts. Although waste generation is on the rise again, Minnesota’s recycling rates have remained relatively flat for the past 10 years.

“The bad news is, a lot of recyclable materials are being tossed in the garbage,” said Minnesota Pollution Control Agency supervisor Mark Rust. “Not recycling costs money: last year, 1.2 million tons of recyclable material were thrown away, but could easily have been recycled for an estimated value of $285 million.

Millions of Americans were treated to one of the universe's most captivating spectacles...  Aurora Borealis.

More commonly known as the Northern Lights, residents across at least 26 of the lower 48 states, including Minnesota and Iowa were able to see the impressive light show.