A 15-year boom around the University of Minnesota has reached new heights this spring as a massive influx of construction changes the look and feel of Dinkytown.

Why it matters: The new housing is allowing more students to live near campus and making the U more competitive in attracting prospective Gophers.

• Plus, many of these new apartments offer more security than other options in the area. Some are even staffed with guards.

Driving the news: Construction is underway on a pair of large projects — a 308-unit redevelopment of the former McDonald's and Dinkytown Liquors site, and a 274-unit redevelopment of the former Wilderness Inquiry site, among others.

• Developers have already pitched separate 16- and 17-story towers that would bring another 1,000 units.

What they're saying: "The U's reputation 30-40 years ago was a commuter school, but that's really changed a lot with the building of more dorms on campus and the addition of all these other units nearby," said Myron Frans, the university's CFO and COO.

• "It really has created this sense of university community that I think adds to the atmosphere," he added.

Yes, but: The development has displaced some beloved businesses around the U, like Big 10, Village Wok, Dinkytown Liquors, Pagoda and McDonald's, the last of which was a rowdy late night spot for many alumni.

• The good news: McDonald's will reopen in a new development, according to the Minnesota Daily.

The intrigue: Is there really a demand for all this new student housing?

• Kelly Doran developed — and then sold — six U-area student housing buildings in the early 2010s.
• "When we were looking at (the U back then) we came to the conclusion that the University of Minnesota was lagging behind its peer group of mainly other Big 10 schools in the type and quality and variety of housing," he said.
• "The university has always been gauged as a good college but it's in the land of the frozen tundra and it had sh--ty housing. How do you get the best and the brightest when they're looking at the whole package of where to go to college?"

Between the lines: According to advertised rents and recent U graduates, a room in one of the new apartments could cost $200 or $300 more a month than a room in an old house.

• But housing costs, Doran said, aren't rising as fast as tuition.
• And of course, many students are doing with rent increases what they already do with tuition increases — adding it to their debt.

The start of March Madness is expected to kick off a sports betting bonanza.

Driving the wagers: Thirty states have sports betting rules up and running as the NCAA hoops tournament gets underway today. We're not one of them.

Yes, but: Legislation to greenlight the practice here appears to be gaining momentum, with key lawmakers and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association signaling support for a compromise measure this session.

• A House version cleared the State Government Finance and Elections Committee this week, over objections from critics who warned the proposal could make problem gambling worse and give the Tribes too big of an edge in the market.

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From chirping birds to budding trees, we're all familiar with the surefire signs that spring is, well, starting to spring.

This week's gloriously balmy temps gave us the chance to celebrate some of our favorite milestones marking the changing of the seasons.

🏃‍♀️ Torey went on her first outdoor run of the year in shorts!

🏘️ Nick turned off his heat (even if just temporarily) and caught up with alley neighbors he hadn't seen in months.

👟 Audrey finally resumed her frequent walks around the Chain of Lakes.

The catch: We all know well that winter will likely return for a final hurrah before warmer weather is truly here to stay.

• But while we're wearing our rose-colored sunglasses, we thought we'd ask: What are the signs of spring you look forward to each year?

📬 Reply to this email and we'll share some of our favorites next week!

🍽️ Owamni is a finalist for the James Beard Foundation's Best New Restaurant award. (Release)

👮 The St. Paul City Council tweaked the qualifications for its soon-to-be-open police chief post to expand eligibility to more candidates from large cities. (Background)

• Council members also approved donating "expired" helmets and body armor to soldiers in Ukraine.

🇺🇦 Parents of a Minnesota man who was living in Ukraine say he has been detained by Russian soldiers after boarding a bus that was supposed to bring foreigners to Turkey. (Pioneer Press)

🏭 100 Minnesota facilities produce about 25% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions. (Star Tribune)

✊🏿 Brooklyn Center agreed to keep a memorial to Daunte Wright in place while plans for a permanent site take shape. (Fox9)

📺 Anchor Dawn Stevens is leaving Fox 9 Morning News after 16 years for a job in communications with a nonprofit that connects Black-owned businesses with established companies. (Star Tribune)

"[It's] really hard for me just mentally, because I already put so much pressure on myself that when I have that extra pressure stress added on to it, I just kind of break."

Read the full interview.

Mother Dough Bakery in Capella Tower is making limited-edition "Pot 'o' Gold" lattes today, topped with edible gold leaf and a real (chocolate-painted) four-leaf clover.

Of note: It'll cost you a pot of gold (aka, $25).

• Yes, but: You get to keep the custom mug.

Visit: 225 S 6th St., Minneapolis.