Tidbits

Days like the last few in Duluth are the days I really wish we had an air conditioner in our home. It has been very hot and very humid. (for Duluth). I was awake early due to the mugginess this morning. I sat outside to read the morning newspaper, hoping to cool off. Quite a few interesting items in the Duluth News Tribune this morning:
-- Duluth public schools did well in the Graduation-Required Assessment tests - above state average.
-- Marked improvements among students of color and low-income.
-- Duluth Council votes no for 9 percent rate increase for water rates. (would have been on top of the 20 percent water utility increase that we got hit with this past year).
-- Cost of pizza purchased at your favorite pizzeria is going to be going up, due to increase costs of milk, which of course, means a higher cost of cheese, # 1 ingredient of your favorite pizza
-- The Heritage Sports Center gets another million dollar donation from a family (Sill), wihch means that we can receive $3 million in state funding, so that the construction can begin. First phase could be done by the end of this year!
-- The city listened to the Duluth kids that skateboard, in planning for a large skateboarding park.
-- Privatizing our two city owned golf courses is not a viable option, after a study was done, councilors are told last night.
-- A Duluth man is the number 2 reviewer for Amazon.com
-- Rosie will not replace Bob Barker on "The Price is Right" (who would have ever thought Bob Barker wouldn't be around... how many of us remember him on his show in the 50's "Truth or Consequences"??)
-- 83 degrees yesterday. Cold front due in Wednesday to cool things off.
-- WWII vet who helped raise first US flag on Iwo Jima was from Edina, MN - he died yesterday at 86.
-- New publisher named for the News Tribune (Steve McLister, general manager for Fargo-Moorhead Forum).
--And saddest thing of all - two men fell into frigid Lake Superior while kayaking, one died and the other barely survived, due to hypothermia. This really hit me, because a year ago, our best friend's son and his friend kayaked around Lake Superior. I know how worried his parents were, and how thankful we all were when their trip was successfully completed.
-- Have a good day and stay cool, on another hot Duluth day!