🍎 Today is World Teachers' Day, so save your "dog ate my homework" excuses for tomorrow's class.

• Sunny and a high of 69.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Karen Filla!

Today’s newsletter is 1,023 words — a 4-minute read.

If you park on residential city streets, you may have noticed homemade "no parking" signs placed in the boulevard, asking drivers not to block the paved walkway between the sidewalk and the street.

Why it matters: These are not new, but Nick has noticed them more often and he can't resist the urge to write about a Nextdoor-type issue that makes neighbors squabble.

Reality check: There's no rule in either St. Paul or Minneapolis prohibiting drivers from parking in front of these walkways — or, as St. Paul staff call them, outwalks.

• The only somewhat relevant rule here is that you must park at least 5 feet from a driveway. But that area in front of an outwalk? It's fair game.

Yes, but: Legal doesn't always mean neighborly.

• The issue heightens in winter, when snowbanks can make getting between the sidewalk and the road very tricky, especially on streets without driveways.

What they're saying: "We hope that neighbors are being respectful and not blocking outwalks where possible, but also recognize the challenge that some neighborhoods have very limited on-street parking capacity and blocking the outwalks happens," a St. Paul Public Works spokesperson wrote in an email.

• While some of the signs are creative and just ask people not to park, the ones that resemble official no parking signs are often quickly removed by staff in St. Paul.

Between the lines: Both St. Paul and Minneapolis allow residents to apply for accessible zones in front of their homes — as in, the official blue signs.

• Both cities require a handicap license plate or certificate to qualify.
• There's no listed charge for these in Minneapolis, but in St. Paul residents split the cost of installation with the city. That typically comes to around $274 for the resident.

🗣️ Weigh in: Do you oblige these homeowners who want a clear path to the street? Why or why not?

• Reply to this email and your response may be used in a future newsletter.

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This nice stretch of 60s and sun was long overdue for Minnesotans feeling robbed of what is supposed to be the nicest time of the year.

By the numbers: We got just four days of clear skies during September, according to AccuWeather. The normal for the month is about 10 days.

• It rained on five of the nine days that were on a weekend or holiday, dampening weddings, festivals and sporting events.

The silver lining: The nearly 4 inches of rain that fell in September was much needed after a dry August that put much of the state into a drought.

🏃‍♀️ Kenya's Lilian Chebii set a new Twin Cities Marathon course record on Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 26 seconds. (MPR News)

• Victor Shitsama, also from Kenya, won the men's race.

A man was shot to death on a Green Line train traveling between Stadium Village and Prospect Park. No arrest had been made as of Sunday night. (KSTP)

Eden Prairie police said the shooting that injured two teens during Friday's homecoming football game was gang-related and the victims were not students at Eden Prairie High School. (Star Tribune)

• The school canceled the homecoming dance.

🏈 The Vikings improved to 4-0 with a 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins Sunday, but the team continues to struggle on offense. (The Athletic)

Kyle here. Midway Diner opened its doors a week ago next door to St. Paul's Allianz Field — so I had to stop by ASAP to sample the food.

Why it matters: The café is the first establishment to open its doors from a new wave of construction in the long-awaited United Village development.

What to expect: A really solid smashburger — topped with a tangy sauce — anchors a lunch menu heavy on soups, salads and sandwiches.

• The pancakes from the diner's breakfast menu were also fluffy and sweet.

The intrigue: The restaurant is the brainchild of Vincent Francoual, the chef behind downtown Minneapolis' Chloe and the former Vincent, A Restaurant, the Pioneer Press notes.

The vibe: It's cozy like a diner, but with elegant trappings like dark wood paneling, a wall-length mural and striking orange accents everywhere.

What we're watching: Dinner service begins this week.

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"I don't think it's a funny, ha-ha thing at all. It's created some huge problems."

UnitedHealthcare recently screwed up and sent a letter to Johnston's patients at Edina Retina Consultants saying that their doctor had died, the Star Tribune reported.

• This wasn't just a minor goof-up: Johnston said he had to reinstate his practice with the insurer. He also had to reassure anxious patients, though no procedures were actually canceled.

We won't make obvious Monty Python jokes about Johnston's predicament.

• We will, though, point out Johnston's in vaunted company: Major outlets mistakenly reported the deaths of — or published obituaries for — Pope John Paul II, President George H.W. Bush and Steve Jobs while they were still alive, too.

Full story via the Strib

Audrey snapped this photo from Carlton Peak near Tofte and reports that there's still plenty of green on the North Shore.

Yes, but: Your mileage may vary. Check the DNR's fall color map for up-to-date info.

🍬 Nick is thanking the marathon runner who made his kids' day by throwing candy to them around Mile 8.

🖼️ Kyle hung an art piece gifted to him by a friend this weekend and can't stop admiring it.

😎 Torey and Audrey are off.

Today's newsletter was edited by Larry Graham.