🔎 It's Kyle — but this winter, call me "The St. Paul Snowplow Stalker."

The city is experimenting with new winter parking rules in my neighborhood, and I've been watching closely to see whether the experiment is working.

Why it matters: In theory, St. Paul's pilot program could end the snow emergency as we know it, bringing plows more quickly to neighborhood streets.

• The catch: Residents in the pilot area can park on only one side of the street, and they must move their cars to the opposite curb every week — even when it's not snowing.

Zoom in: I live only a few blocks from the Midway neighborhood's pilot area, where residents have been leaving one curb open since January.

What I found: The St. Paul Snowplow Stalker invites you to witness practically bare pavement on a side street 11 hours before a snow emergency was declared.

• At 10am, I trudged over to the pilot area and spotted plows at work.
• At that time, my street hadn't been touched. As a "day route" on St. Paul's snow emergency map, my street wasn't due to be plowed for another day.

Flashback: I also spotted plows rolling in the Cathedral Hill pilot area the morning after a surprise 7+ inches dropped on Feb. 18-19.

What they're saying: This fast response has meant less ice buildup on pilot streets, St. Paul Public Works spokesperson Lisa Hiebert told Axios.

Between the lines: After years of fielding complaints, city officials are effectively "calling the bluff of the kvetchers," wrote MinnPost columnist Bill Lindeke.

• "If you're mad about impossibly caked ice on the streets, be willing to move your car each week."

Friction point: Both pilot areas include commercial nodes that draw visitors who are often unaware of the different parking rules, Hiebert noted.

• The city has added new on-street signage on the pilot-area street behind the Turf Club, where it's issued a slew of tickets during shows.

My thought bubble: My street has plenty of parking, but taking this model citywide would require plans for areas where off-street parking isn't as plentiful.

The other side: Between this hassle and the current snow emergency system, Minneapolis officials are fine with the devil they've got.

• "We believe a season-long loss of parking capacity — especially in our residential neighborhoods — would outweigh any potential benefit," city spokesperson Allen Henry told Axios.

What's next: St. Paul's pilot runs through April 11.

Go deeper

Midtown Global Market is welcoming two new vendors this week. After closing its LynLake restaurant last October, vegan soul food spot Trio Plant-Based is reopening inside the market Friday, per a release.

• Somali eatery 7 Spices, which previously operated within Karmel Mall, will hold its grand opening Saturday to mark the end of Ramadan.

🏢 Condo tower Eleven Minneapolis is finally getting a restaurant. Sel et Terre, which previously operated as a pop-up at Travail, will seat around 170 and serve American cuisine with global influences, per Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Expect a fall opening.

🍹 Mexican bistro Pajarito has closed its West Seventh location after nearly 10 years, it announced on social media Monday. The Edina outpost will remain open.

🍻 The former Pracna on Main space will soon house Lonely's Bar, featuring a "nostalgic" bar menu, pool table and game-day promotions, per Bring Me The News.

🏈 50th & France is getting a sports bar from the owners of Nolo's. General Sports Bar will open in the space formerly occupied by Salut this summer, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

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✈️ The proposed merger between Sun Country and Allegiant cleared a key hurdle in the regulatory process yesterday. (Airways Magazine/Background via Axios)

💰 A bill to formally end the fraud-plagued Housing Stabilization Services program cleared the Minnesota House 134-0. It now goes to the Senate. (Background via Axios)

• 🔎 Meanwhile, a national boom in Medicaid-funded autism therapy is prompting a crackdown as regulators and insurers scrutinize billing practices and alleged fraud. (Axios)
• Minnesota's is among the programs that have drawn scrutiny, with federal charges and an independent review pointing to improper payments.

🏀 The Timberwolves could move to the Eastern Conference in a future season if NBA owners approve expansion franchises for Seattle and Las Vegas, anonymous league executives told ESPN.

• The upside for fans? Hopefully earlier bedtimes for playoff games.

🚫 Hundreds of vehicles were towed on the first day of snow emergencies across the Twin Cities. (KSTP)

Outdoor recreation contributed 2.7% of Minnesota's GDP in 2024, according to new U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data.

The big picture: Nationally, the outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.4% of U.S. GDP — equivalent to nearly $700 billion.

🚤 Worth noting: Boating and fishing were the biggest economic drivers among "conventional activities," adding $38.4 billion to the nationwide GDP.

Snowy downtown St. Paul will be awash with green today, as Minnesotans brave the cold for the 60th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

What's happening: The parade kicks off at noon at Mears Park, running along 5th Street before ending at Rice Park.

• Several nearby roads will be closed as a result.

By the numbers: About 10% of residents of both Hennepin and Ramsey counties say they are of Irish ancestry, per recent U.S. Census data.

Go Deeper: Where the Irish live in Minnesota