The Battletrain’s Slay-ground waits for children before the upcoming May Day Parade in South Minneapolis May 2.Tim Evans | MPR NewsGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories A three-seat Ferris wheel made entirely of scrap metal Matt Carlyle and Walker “Bones” Friend discuss the Ferris Wheel as they prepare the Battletrain for the May Day Parade in South Minneapolis May 2.Tim Evans | MPR NewsA playground on a vehicle originally designed to be powered by a human hamster wheel A bicycle-powered ice and fish shack with moving dinosaur parts MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all Dinosaur heads stick out of a window of the Battletrain’s Slay-ground vehicle in South Minneapolis May 2.Tim Evans | MPR News“I always think of Southside Battletrain as a group of people that like to show the absurdity of life through by doing weird things,” said Max Ritter who joined about 15 years ago when he was in welding school and a friend advised him to check it out The heavy metal art collective is among the many colorful arts endeavors stretching people’s imaginations that are centered on the May Day festivities around Powderhorn Park a community celebration of the arrival of spring like you can express yourself in wild and different ways,” he said the battle train extends over a block and requires at least 100 volunteers to operate There are about a dozen pieces that make up the battle train though not all make it to the annual parade at Powderhorn Park each year nicknamed “Tuggy,” has the frame of a 1996 Ford Econoline van the cab of a semi-trailer and a foghorn intended for the Duluth lift bridge but rejected because of a casting flaw Members say they work primarily with materials they have on hand and with donated materials People work on the Battletrain’s Tugboat before the upcoming May Day Parade in South Minneapolis May 2.Tim Evans | MPR News“You’ll see a number of things in the neighborhood that got dinosaurs on them because one year a whole bunch of animatronic dinosaurs was donated,” said Andrew Bendzick While Southside Battletrain is based out of a home on East 31st St and Portland Avenue in Minneapolis larger-than-life curiosities overtake the surrounding block — with support from neighbors Some of it's loud; some of it's grimy and smoky Mikey Gabrelcik’s name is engraved along the side of the Hamm’s Crusher a car cut in half and containing a 2,000-pound block of concrete intended to flatten beer cans Empty cans adorn the Battletrain’s Hamm’s Crusher days before the May Day Parade in South Minneapolis May 2.Tim Evans | MPR NewsGabrelcik has been part of Southside Battletrain on and off since it started and said working on the Hamm’s Crusher helped him out mentally after a tough period He said the playfulness of the group is what has driven him to stay involved “It's really important for adults to play It's good for your energy,” said Gabrelcik Tosh Anderson and Mikey Gabrelcik pose for a portrait as the sun sets during Battletrain preparations in South Minneapolis May 2.Tim Evans | MPR NewsThe exact date of the collective’s origins are debated but he thinks it was around 2008 that the Southside Battletrain founders made a float out of old prop equipment from a puppeteer waited in an alleyway until a gap in the longstanding May Day parade “May Day and Southside Battletrain are intrinsically linked,” he said the group will also go where requested in the summer: Art-a-Whirl Southside Battletrain got nonprofit status last year — or became “an entity in the eyes of the state,” as Ritter puts it — with hopes of ensuring its sustainability Ritter said they wanted to get finances straight and establish institutional memory “We hope to make this a thing that lasts longer than any individual,” said Ritter the Southside Battletrain will be part of the May Day parade going down Bloomington Avenue from 28th to 34th Street starting at noon It will then station along 15th Avenue South next to Powderhorn Park where they invite people to check out the pieces and take a ride on the Ferris wheel The parade and festival are free to attend Ritter said there will also be tacos and merch Members want the public to know people of all ages and skills are welcome to join Texas — Detectives seized 125 gambling devices and more than $12,000 in cash during a raid at a game room on South Staples Street Four people were arrested Thursday when police dismantled an illegal gambling operation on Corpus Christi's south side Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department's Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division served a search warrant at the Pure Game Room on the 5800 block of South Staples Street shortly after 2:00 pm The search warrant was the conclusion of a months-long investigation into the business that uncovered evidence of illegal gambling detectives found and seized 125 pieces of gambling equipment and over $12,000 in cash were arrested and charged with gambling promotion violation of the Nueces County Game Room Ordinance and engaging in organized criminal activity was charged with gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity Engaging in organized criminal activity is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine while the other charges are class A misdemeanors Thirteen adult patrons inside the game room were cited for gambling and additional charges and arrests are likely The Corpus Christi Police Department reminds citizens that game rooms that pay out cash rewards are engaging in illegal gambling Patrons and managers of these establishments may face criminal charges This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App. will open its second store Saturday in a historic building on Chattanooga's Southside It also marks a bit of a homecoming for the brand Co-owner Haynes Burnett grew up in Chattanooga and runs the store with his wife Mountain Outfitters was established in 1995 by his late mom who owned a number of businesses in Chattanooga and instilled in Haynes a love of nature (READ MORE: Chattanooga outdoor retailer announces rebrand) "Mom was an incredible activist, philanthropist -- she was just so enthused by Chattanooga's outdoors scene," Haynes said in an interview Anne Porcher and a number of employees were organizing displays for the grand opening Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / General Manager Campbell Taylor assembles fly-fishing rods May 2 and puts them on display at Mountain Outfitters in Chattanooga Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / General Manager Campbell Taylor sorts fly lures May 2 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Fly-fishing lures are seen May 2 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Manager Jordan Oakes puts up a shoe display May 2 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Clothing for sale is pictured May 2 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Employee Zach Horrar puts up clothes for sale May 2 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Mountain Outfitters in Chattanooga is pictured May 2 The store will carry outdoor and athletic-leisure brands like Vuori It also has a top-floor outlet section where customers can grab 50% deals on a rotating assortment of apparel and merchandise Encompassing about 20,000 square feet in the old Southern Saddlery building at 3001 Broad St. the store will include a footwear department and a fly-fishing and outdoor gear shop The store aims to serve people at all experience levels "We can cover a $5 compass to a $1,400 fly-fishing rod and everything in between," Haynes said "We like outfitting people for the trail all the way to the office (READ MORE: Athletic stadiums viewed as catalysts to revive Chattanooga neighborhoods) The pair will also prioritize selling local products The brand's new home in the South Broad District used to be a saddle manufacturer The Burnetts have preserved century-old mechanical workings that were previously used to cut larger pieces of leather Old columns stand at intervals throughout the store and the floor contains 200-year-old rocks originally dredged from the Tennessee River Haynes recalls the Southern Saddlery building being a picturesque part of the South Broad District "You come over that bridge into South Broad and you see that Southern Saddlery sign to the right and then you've got Lookout Mountain in the background," he said stepped in to help Haynes with the business when his mom passed away four years ago from lung cancer "Anne Porcher coming in really allowed the store to take this next step," Haynes said Anne Porcher praised the store's new location in the Southside noting it's close to the Riverwalk and a new baseball stadium underway for the Chattanooga Lookouts The $115 million minor league ballpark is under construction and officials have said the project remains on time and on budget for an April 2026 completion Local leaders expect the project will spur more than $1 billion in new development in and around the former U.S Chattanooga has an especially vibrant outdoors scene He remembers clearing trails for the Parks Department in high school and college but then hike back out for four hours," he said with a chuckle "But it really gets you into understanding the scale of the outdoor recreation in this area." Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249 David Floyd is a business reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press He graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2017 and previously worked for the Johnson City Press Contact him at 423-757-6249 or dfloyd@timesfreepress.com This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing WDHN - wdhn.com rumors began flying around that there was an active shooter at a Dothan Walmart reports came down that shots had been fired at the Walmart on Dothan’s southside Police told WDHN that two men were arguing in the store That is when the suspect pulled out a gun and held it by his side but he never pointed it at the other person or fired the weapon Dothan Police say they are not actively searching for either man involved because it is a misdemeanor crime of menacing and assault DPD says video confirmed that no gun was pointed at a person Stay with WDHN for any updates on this story these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals Southside High School recently made state history by awarding the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy to 39 students in 15 different languages other than English setting a record for the most languages ever certified in a single season by any Arkansas high school Languages recognized this year include Arabic students must demonstrate proficiency in both English and a second language English proficiency is typically shown through scores on standardized tests Proficiency in another language is assessed through a rigorous Spanish was the most represented language among this year’s honorees with the following students certified in both Spanish and English: Gianna Abarca Centeno More: Southside quiz bowl’s historic streak continues with 24th state appearance Additional recipients and their certified language pairs include: who earned trilingual certification in Portuguese Students were honored during a ceremony and reception held April 28 in the Southside Commons where all honorees received official certificates from the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy organization Graduating seniors also received red and royal blue honor cords adorned with a custom Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy charm The biliteracy program at Southside High is coordinated by English Language Learner teacher Melissa Bonar with the support of Principal Jeff Prewitt and Assistant Principal Rachael Foster ®PAPERCITY ©2025 urban publishers, inc. all rights reserved terms & condition // privacy policy // sitemap Inventive plates like PB&J wings and duck-fat-seared burgers anchor the dining at Wishbone & Flynt Maiden offers a plant-based tasting experience with wines from women-owned vineyards and a Sunday high tea service Nonna Tata serves handmade Northern Italian comfort food in a BYOB setting.(Courtesy) Delicate dumplings and curated wine pairings meet at Teddy Wong's Coastal classics like lobster rolls and seared redfish are served in the historic LaCava Building that now houses Walloon's Restaurant A pay-what-you-can model brings chef-prepared meals and community warmth to the Near Southside at Taste Community Restaurant Southern-inspired dishes are served in a restored 1920s gas station on Magnolia Avenue (Courtesy) Mexico City-style cooking and rooftop mezcal cocktails set the tone at Tinie's Elevated American staples like chicken fried steak and shrimp & grits shine at Cat City Grill we look at the 10 Best Restaurants in Fort Worth’s Near Southside that keep locals and tourists coming back for more Ellerbe Fine Foods helped pioneer farm-to-table dining in Fort Worth Led by James Beard Award semi-finalist Molly McCook the restaurant — a restored 1920s gas station — is known for its elegant seasonal menus sourced from local farmers and purveyors The dishes reflect Southern roots with a modern ingredient-driven approach that changes with the harvest Ellerbe also offers an extensive wine program featuring curated selections and unique services like in-home tastings and cellar consultations Taste Community Restaurant is a mission-driven eatery that operates on a pay-what-you-can model that removes financial barriers to healthy the restaurant offers seasonal menus featuring dishes like elote fritters and Vietnamese pork steam buns — all crafted from fresh the nonprofit restaurant provides culinary job training and volunteer opportunities for locals At Teddy Wong’s, elevated Chinese cuisine paired with choice wines is the draw From delicate soup dumplings to fiery hot oil wontons each dish is matched with vino selections designed to bring out complex flavors heads both the kitchen and the adjacent to-go dumpling space with over 80 boutique selections carefully curated to ensure even the most discerning wine lover won’t leave without a memorable moment Walloon’s brings upscale coastal dining to the heart of Magnolia Avenue. Led by Fort Worth’s own Chef Marcus Paslay (Clay Pigeon and Piattello) and housed in the renovated LaCava Building the restaurant offers a refined menu featuring Gulf-inspired dishes like seared redfish The large horseshoe bar is the perfect place to perch while you sip on a superlative cocktail and wait for your lunch or main course This Mexico City-styled restaurant brings mezcal soul and serious style to South Main ingredient-driven dishes like duck carnitas enchiladas and sweet potato tetelas in a space that blends exposed brick The upstairs Escondite bar boasts one of the best rooftop patios with a clear view of downtown This tiny BYOB trattoria on Magnolia Avenue has been serving Northern Italian comfort food since 2006 with just a handful of tables and zero pretense Dishes like the Lasagne alla Bolognese — layered with homemade pasta and parmesan — and the carbonara pasta with pancetta and pecorino are the kind of meals that linger in your memory This South Main cocktail lounge and restaurant offers a passport to international flavors and an atmosphere that feels worlds away the team pours from a vast selection of premium spirits crafting cocktails that pull inspiration from every corner of the globe Brunch regulars know to order the chilaquiles verde — crispy tortilla chips tossed in house-made salsa verde and topped with cream cheese and two eggs This fine-dining vegan restaurant is the vision of Chef Amy McNutt plant-based extension of her Spiral Diner legacy The intimate space blends sculptural steel curves with velvet booths and midcentury touches Wines are sourced from women-owned vineyards and chosen for the stories behind them Maiden hosts a high tea service featuring vegan finger sandwiches This Fort Worth restaurant offers a menu of reimagined comfort foods crafted with seasonal ingredients Signature dishes include the PB&J Wings with Thai peanut sauce and blackberry coulis featuring a custom patty seared in duck fat The adjacent Amber Room provides a unique setting for cocktails and small bites for before of after the main dining experience This Magnolia Avenue staple delivers elevated Americana classics in a setting that’s equal parts casual and polished Known for its award-winning chicken fried steak and house-made meatloaf and brunch classics like shrimp & grits and eggs Benedict and a private dining room for up to 30 guests The Go-To Event Calendar for Texas’ most glamorous parties & charitable events You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Southside: Several members of the Southside softball team pose for a photo after breaking ground on their new field last month They also advanced to the Class 3A South Regional Tournament in Gulf Shores Keith: The Keith High School softball team has advanced to the Central Regional Tournament in Class 1A They will play at Lagoon Park next week against Maplesville in the first round Two local softball teams are headed to regionals this week The Keith Middle High School Lady Bears advanced to the Class 1A Central Regionals at Lagoon Park in Montgomery The Southside Lady Panthers also advanced to the Class 3A South Regionals in Gulf Shores Keith advanced to the Class 1A Central Regionals by finishing as the runners-up in their area They started the area tournament with a 16-1 win over R.C University Charter School won the winner’s bracket final later that day by a score of 14-4 The tournament resumed on Tuesday with another 16-1 win over R.C Hatch setting up a rematch with UCS in the area championship The Lady Bears played tough before UCS pulled away to win 9-5 Keith will be taking on Maplesville at 9 a.m In the opening game of the area tournament Dallas County defeated Southside 12-1 on Monday morning Dallas County then advanced to the winner’s bracket final against Thomasville The Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Hornets 18-0 That set up a rematch with Southside in the loser’s bracket later in the day Monday where the Lady Panthers avenged their loss with a 21-8 victory Thomasville then took the area championship game 18-0 to clinch the No Southside will take on Wicksburg on Monday The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) square off against the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday The Monday college basketball schedule in the SWAC has plenty of exciting matchups on the docket Top 25 teams will take the court in two games on Monday’s college basketball slate Monday’s college basketball lineup has lots in store Among the 10 games our computer model recommends (KGUN) — If you were wanting to take your kids to the splash pad at CSM Martin R "Gunny" Barreras Memorial Park on the Southside City of Tucson Parks and Recreation put up chains and signs keeping the splash pad closed due to vandalism A statement was posted on the Parks and Rec Facebook saying in part "We understand how important this space is for families and our team is working hard to assess the damage and plan for repairs." Bianca Kleese took her four kids to "Gunny" Barreras Memorial Park Sunday afternoon to use the splash pad and was not expecting to see the gates shut couldn’t believe someone would do such a thing Kleese is also questioning why anyone would harm this public space We have to wait till it's cleaned up," Kleese said the Kleese family had a good time on the playground and say they look forward to the splash pad reopening Tucson Parks and Rec says the splash pad at "Gunny" Barreras Memorial Park will be closed until further notice You can stay up to date on the reopening and find other locations with splash pads here Report a typo Anthoney Bedolla Menera is leaving a legacy at Southside Bedolla Menera is arguably the best high school soccer player in South Carolina He finished the regular season as the state’s No “He’s probably the best player in the history of the school,” Southside coach Luis Kuronya said Bedolla Menera has led Southside’s program from mediocrity to its first region championship since 2008 9-1 Region 1-AAAA) will enter the SCHSL playoffs May 7 with their highest hopes ever of winning a state title “Being region champs means everything to me,” Bedolla Menera said “But I feel like we can get a ring this year Southside has a team full of remarkable talent He’s helped so much during these four years We appreciate everything that he’s doing for the team.” Now we bring in about 50 guys for tryouts every year." Bedolla Menera has dazzling ball control and pinpoint accuracy as a marksman on the move He’ll often shoot to the covered side of a goalkeeper for a surprise effect and also because an opening the width of the ball is about all Bedolla Menera needs He feeds teammates with perfect passes before they even know they’re open Bedolla Menera had 32 assists to go with his 24 goals the Spartanburg Methodist signee has 65 goals and 59 assists He finished this regular season three goals behind Abbeville's Cameron Allen but four total points ahead MANN POWER: Why JL Mann boys soccer is poised to make playoffs run with top scorer Smith Darby Kuronya took over a team that had gone 9-63-1 during the previous eight seasons and made the Tigers respectable They went 12-16 in region play during his first three years and then 6-4 last season New heights coincided with the emergence of Bedolla Menera who said he began his varsity career as a shy freshman playing in the shadows of an older brother and a cousin I was scared to play,” Bedolla Menera said but I just tried to do my thing and not let anything get to me Todd Shanesy covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail in the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at todd.shanesy@shj.com. Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ SAN ANTONIO - An apartment complex on the South Side has given all of its tenants a 30-day eviction notice Many Homestead Apartment residents say that’s not enough time to find a new place to live Mary Torres is on a fixed income and has lived at Homestead Apartments for over a decade “I don’t want to be living in my car,” Torres said many residents at Homestead Apartments off of Medina Base Road say they are scared they are going to be homeless "I’ve never been homeless before,” Michelle Anzaldua said “I’ve always been able to provide for my family I’m just scared that we may not be able to find a place for all of us.” Anzaldua says she received an email from Homestead Apartments last week inviting residents to a meeting concerning their residency “They basically said Homestead is closing and it’s a mass eviction of everyone,” Anzaldua said “We need to be out 30 days from April 30.” Anzaldua says apartment management did say they have sister properties they can transfer to “The problem with that is I have a three bedroom and not a lot of properties have three bedrooms,” Anzaldua said and like many residents she can’t afford to move “It takes money to do all of this,” Mills said If I have to leave give me more than 30 days We reached out to Homestead Apartment management multiple times Residents say management placed a letter on their doors inviting them to a meeting at 10 a.m — A man suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting on Richmond's Southside on Tuesday evening The shooting happened in the 3200 block of Snead Court around 5 p.m CBS 6 was there as families watched as the victim was taken to the hospital in life-threatening condition "People should not have to be in fear of where they live because that is supposed to be a place of peace," Pastor Valerie Coley said Many investigators on scene sped over from another Southside crime off of Broad Rock Boulevard where police found a woman's body in the woods off the gravel road around 2:30 p.m Neighbors near Broad Rock Boulevard told CBS 6 off-camera that they were terrified the homicide occurred in their backyard Especially because they worried about their safety in the area before this incident Police have not made any arrests or said if the scenes are connected Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000 This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share. (KGUN) — A man has been arrested in connection with a March sexual assault that occurred in a desert area near South Ajo Way officers from Operations Division South responded to a report of sexual assault on March 3 The female victim told officers she had met the male suspect at the Ronstadt Transit Center after asking him for the time The suspect reportedly claimed the bus she was waiting for had stopped running and invited her to leave with him The two took a bus to the area of 12th Avenue and Ajo Way then stopped at a convenience store where the suspect bought several items they walked to the vicinity of 16th Avenue and Ajo Way “The suspect walked her in the darkness into a desert area where he grabbed her and sexually assaulted her,” the department said in a press release The victim returned to the store and reported the assault Crime Scene Specialist Lauer helped locate and process the crime scene “This investigation was able to conclude with a positive ID of the suspect,” the release stated The suspect was spotted and arrested on March 26 for an outstanding parole violation He spoke with detectives and admitted to sexual contact with the victim but claimed it was consensual the suspect had a bladed weapon that was consistent with the victim’s description,” police said He was booked into jail on charges of sexual assault The identity of the suspect was not released — There’s a library within the library in the city’s South Side there’s a crate full of packaged gardening tools alongside a cardboard sleeve “We had put out 75 [seed packets] earlier last month and they were almost completely gone by two or three weeks ago,” said Lauri Miller manager of Bethlehem Area Public Library’s South Side branch the tool-and-seed library at the South Side branch Patrons are able to check out tools for a week with their library card “It's a relatively simple program that doesn't require a lot of overhead or time,” Miller said “The most time-consuming part is just organizing the seed packets.” The seed library recently got a donation of 40 packets from Food to Flourish a youth-led nonprofit co-founded by Moravian Academy sophomore Maddy Yang “The seed library project is really dedicated to helping increase nutrition access to a degree and also increasing gardening education and teaching people how to garden in the first place,” Yang said Through the group’s “Plant It Forward” initiative Yang and her colleagues have donated about 1,600 seed packets to 10 libraries across Maryland the group hopes to improve access to fresh food and combat food insecurity while fostering connection in communities through local libraries when I feel like people are less connected with one another,” Yang said nutritious food is especially important for the city A large part of it south of the Lehigh River is designated a "low income and low access” area, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Access Research Atlas Food access has improved somewhat since the designation was made back in 2020 In April 2023, grocery store chain Ideal Food Basket opened at 410 Montclair Ave That summer, the city got $2.9 million from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department's Community Project Funding to help establish the Bethlehem Co-op Market at 250 E. Broad St. It’s expected to open at some point this year. who started at the library branch in October said the seed and tool library is a way to meet the community’s needs beyond the expected “I think every library has to be more responsive to the community where it resides,” Miller said “Libraries have really become more of a community center than just a place for books or movies but they really expect more when they come to the library.” she hopes to coordinate educational programs to help residents interested in growing their own gardens While the number of patrons checking out tools has been low She said she hopes the program will become more popular There's no data available for the number of seeds given out Miller worked previously at Emmaus Public Library, which also holds a seed library Asked who visits the South Side seed library “I've seen a good number of people from 30s into retirement age,” she said “There's some families who come in and have kids pick seed packets as their first experiment with gardening and growing things.” Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here JACKSONVILLE – WRH Realty Services announced Tuesday that it has partnered with The Vestcor Companies to bring additional affordable housing to Jacksonville a new construction affordable family community is the latest addition to their management portfolio Gavin Point will feature 105 apartment homes and is located off Salisbury Road on the Southside and two-bedroom apartments with rents starting at $1,019 Each home comes equipped with fully appointed kitchens The community will include a fitness center Construction is expected to be completed by June, and the property is now pre-leasing from its temporary leasing office located at 4130 Salisbury Rd, Suite 1060. For more information, please visit GavinPoint.com. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Digital Executive Producer who has lived in Jacksonville for over 30 years and helps lead the News4JAX.com digital team. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group While Cornell students have a long history of partnering with the Ithaca community one group was able to level up their work this semester with a $5,000 “Engaged Opportunity Grant” (EOG) from the Einhorn Center used the grant to cover costs for their ever-evolving mentorship partnership with Southside Community Center The program allows college students to meet regularly with local middle schoolers to help them navigate academic and career paths During each session the college students teach a lesson and play a game with a theme such as imposter syndrome self-directed learning or educational inequities The grant funds have mostly gone toward purchasing food supplies and transportation; the group is now able to take field trips to campus Kelly Ankoue ’25 (pictured in photos,) an information science major has been a part of the program for the last two years and said she feels passionately about giving kids opportunities that she didn’t have growing up “I’ve witnessed a lot of character development and new confidence Many of the children that didn't speak up a lot when they first started and so I like seeing that and seeing their growth.” an industrial and labor relations major who has also been a mentor for the past two years said the program is beneficial for the college students I never get a time to really go and see Ithaca I learned that there is a real community here The program is a true team effort; the EOG grant application was submitted by Sharifa A Associate Dean of Students & Director of Black Student Empowerment BSU has been building their partnership with the Southside Center with the support of other Einhorn resources including the Community Partnership Funding Board grants and the Group Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership If you have a disability and are having trouble accessing information on this website or need materials in an alternate format, contact SCLComms@cornell.edu for assistance The Chesterfield EDA and Competitive Racing Investments recently signed a lease-to-own agreement for the shuttered Southside Speedway property Negotiations for a deal touted as the vehicle to bring racing back to Southside Speedway have crossed the finish line The Chesterfield Economic Development Authority and Competitive Racing Investments LLC have signed a 20-year lease-to-purchase agreement to allow Competitive Racing to take over operation of the shuttered Competitive Racing would ultimately pay $5.9 million in rent over the lease period to eventually assume ownership of more than 40 acres that includes the track Competitive Racing is paying $1 in annual rent Starting on year six until the end of the term the group will pay $32,833 per month in rent ($394,000 annually) The idea behind the approach to rental payments is to give the operator a few years of breathing room to figure out how to reopen the property as a competitive racing venue which Economic Development Director Garrett Hart said is required of the lease arrangement The Board (of Supervisors) has done all they can do to bring racing back but guarantee the taxpayers aren’t on the hook,” Hart said “This is not an agreement to go and develop whatever on the property This is an agreement to bring back racing to the property.” The anticipated date that Southside Speedway would reopen and other details about the project were unavailable Local businessman and racetrack booster Lin O’Neill who is part of the Competitive Racing ownership group Hart said the EDA would reclaim control of the property if Competitive Racing isn’t able to reopen the track in the first few years of the lease While racing is a by-right use on the property already Chesterfield is requiring Competitive Racing to apply for and secure a rezoning of the property to tee up a mixed-use development the EDA can terminate the lease after five years if Competitive Racing hasn’t yet opened the racing venue and met other requirements The deal stipulates that Chesterfield wouldn’t be responsible for financing the redevelopment or operation of the racetrack The Southside Speedway property (in yellow) was acquired by the EDA in 2021 after the track closed the previous year Per the lease agreement with Competitive Racing it will be expected to reopen the track in five years Competitive Racing is able to sell portions of the property with the EDA’s approval and would pay the authority $125,000 per acre sold which would be credited against rental payments A master plan and rezoning will be required before any sales take place Southside Speedway would be able to utilize parking spaces at the county-owned River City Sportsplex and other nearby current or future county properties for its races and events at the EDA’s discretion Hart said Competitive Racing has paid a $591,000 deposit in escrow for the lease Chesterfield officials and the track operators plan to hold an event at the property on March 11 to formally announce the agreement which followed a grassroots movement led by O’Neill that sought to return racing to the property after it shuttered in 2020 Joe Liesfeld of Liesfeld Contractor and Josh Lief an attorney and former general manager of Virginia International Raceway are named as part-owners of Competitive Racing in the lease agreement Chesterfield’s RFP stipulated that the county wanted a developer that would renovate or rebuild the property to operate an auto racing venue there as well as incorporate additional entertainment activities like sporting events and concerts Among the minimum requirements sought by Chesterfield are a racetrack that could accommodate at least 5,500 people The county’s RFP also required a financing plan to build the project that included at least 20 percent equity funding from the entity that filed the proposal A consultant hired by the county to study the property estimated in late 2022 that it would cost $10 million to $15 million to reopen the track The Chesterfield EDA bought the Southway Speedway property at 12800 Genito Road which includes the racetrack as well as land on the other side of the street The property is described as a 47-acre site in the lease agreement and a 41-acre site in online land records Known as “The Toughest Short Track in the South,” Southside Speedway opened in 1959 and hosted stock-car races for decades until it closed five years ago This story is for our paid subscribers only Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today Renew now by choosing a subscription below YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM Jack joined BizSense in 2020, covering startups, retail, healthcare, public companies and nonprofits. He previously reported for the Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review. He is a graduate of Christopher Newport University. Reach him at jack@richmondbizsense.com or 804-554-6545 Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Just a question – does anyone know if Shirley Muldowney ever raced there Honestly it’s great they will be able to use county land for additional parking Should make it easier for traffic for bigger races in the future They could also clear the trees on the back of the property to make more room for the haulers to park during the weekend The place looked abandoned even when it was open I’ll even volunteer to help clean up if they let me the track RE-opened as Southside Speedway in 1959 but it was built by Nelson Royall and opened in 1948 as Royall Speedway Wilkinson purchased the property for development in 1959 because Mooers Field Speedbowl had closed after the 1958 season clearly show it was the same track we later knew as Southside Thanks for the cool history lesson; as a Brandermill “brat” I never knew there was a track before Wilkinson and Southside https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a18V4sZ_I4M It is so Good to have an endless pile of residential property tax payers in Chesterfield County No return on investment calculation for any EDA projects in the County; they don’t believe in it the Richmond metro really needs a weekly asphalt short track and this is still prime asphalt late model country right beside the Carolinas and Tennessee © 2025 Richmond BizSense - All Rights Reserved Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now × Texas — A proposal to close down Schanen Estates and Kostoryz Elementary schools was presented to CCISd board members Monday afternoon and was tabled for further discussion But the news of the possible closures didn’t come as a shock to some “I kind of maybe heard rumors that they were thinking of the possibility of it closing,” Glenda Cavazos said Cavazos is a grandparent to three at Schanen Estates Elementary She takes the kids to school and picks them up everyday But she’d have to figure out a new route that isn’t as convenient with a school change “I live like right across the street here from Everhart and work two miles down,” Cavazos said the possibility of the school shutting down came with another feeling: nostalgia “It’s pretty sad because I went to school here and it tugs at my heart a little more,” Mautrie Byerley said Byerley is a Parent teacher Association (PTA) member and has three kids at Schanen Estates She said her kids have mentioned some of the issues that have happened at the school Her daughter Remmi said she loves the school and has great memories but another thing she remembers are the plumbing and roof issues “There’s been water falling from the ceilings There’s buckets everywhere on the ground for the water,even on desks,” fifth grader Remmi Byerley said Byerley said the possible school closure is understandable if the funds aren’t enough to make fixes to the school Over at Kostoryz Elementary parents shared similar concerns “It’s literally walking distance from my house It’s going to be very difficult to get my son to a different school,” Chrystie King said Others also shared frustration over the possibility we pay taxes every year for school so why can’t they replace it or fix it,” grandparent Ana Briseno said the generational life change is too painful to think about “What are they going to do with the building It’s going to cost them just as much to take it down And then what are they going to do with the other kids They’re going to be crowded in other schools really sad and if I could protest I would,” Briseno said The proposal has not been voted on yet and has been tabled for further discussion Indigenous-led nonprofit media and advocacy organization supporting Indian Country and Indigenous movements to protect lands DONATE TO THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara talks to the media after a deadly shooting the night before on Wednesday Photo courtesy of Minneapolis Police Department a mass shooting on Minneapolis’s Southside left three people dead with others seriously injured and police have not yet apprehended a suspect as of press time Police reported that the shooting happened before midnight on Tuesday in the city’s Phillips neighborhood near the 2500 block of Bloomington Avenue which is near the Minneapolis American Indian Health Board three of them deceased at the scene and the others sent to the Hennepin County Medical Center Various reports on the condition of anonymity to LRI Media state that all of the victims were Native MPR News reported that Minneapolis police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooting was targeted and all victims were adults “There are families that are suffering tonight and this is an absolutely senseless tragedy,” O’Hara said at a press conference early Wednesday morning No other information has been released to the public including the circumstances that led to the shooting "Native on native violence is doing more damage to our communities than just about anything else,” said American Indian Movement (AIM) Twin Cities Chairman Mike Forcia to LRI Media “Since the murder of George Floyd and the release of the U.S Minneapolis police have received millions of dollars but yet no restitution or reparations have been utilized to help the victims of that report.” After former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in May 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published a report that found that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) unlawfully discriminates against Black and Native American people in its enforcement activities Police and community members have asked anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward to the police Minneapolis police are investigating the scene of another shooting that has left one dead on the 2100 block of South Cedar Avenue near the Red Lake apartment complex near the Minneapolis American Indian Center The victim’s identity has not been released to the public but people are gathering in the lobby of the Red Lake apartment complex Darren Thompson is the Director of Media Relations for the Sacred Defense Fund a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Santa Fe He can be reached at darren@sacreddefense.org ©Last Real Indians 2025The New Indigenous Millennium (KGUN) — Construction at a new workforce development center is officially complete at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson’s Holmes Tuttle Clubhouse on the city’s south side The center features hands-on training in technology Leaders say the goal is to help teens gain real-world job skills and confidence “We want them to have fun but also be prepared to re-enter the community with workforce readiness,” said Denise Watters CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson The project transformed a previously underused space into a modern facility with a tech lab and commercial kitchen said the upgrade brings pride to a space that’s served generations “Now is a great time for the community,” he said The center opens June 2 and can serve up to 200 teens. Registration is open online Chesterfield and Competitive Racing Investments officially announced a deal to allow Competitive Racing to reopen Southside Speedway (Photo courtesy of Christopher Kendall/Competitive Racing Investments) With an agreement now finalized to reopen Southside Speedway Chesterfield officials and the track’s new operating group took a victory lap on Tuesday to mark the milestone The county and Competitive Racing Investments gathered yesterday to formally announce that a deal had been struck to bring auto racing back to the longtime track that’s been shuttered since 2020 “We’re going to bring stock car racing back to Southside Speedway like never before,” said Jeff Oakley who is part of the Competitive Racing team “We all know that Friday night racing in Chesterfield County is like Friday night football in the state of Texas We cannot wait to see a packed house on opening night.” Competitive Racing said that races could potentially return in 2026 or 2027 Tuesday’s announcement attracted a crowd of racing enthusiasts and featured a pair of race cars on display, as well as music by Benedictine drummers and bagpipers. It followed the signing last month of a 20-year lease-to-purchase agreement for the Speedway between the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority Competitive Racing would ultimately pay $5.9 million in rent over the lease period and then assume ownership of the track Competitive Racing is paying $1 annually for the first five years of the lease From the sixth year through the end of the lease term the group will make rental payments of $32,833 per month ($394,000 annually) The approach to the agreement is intended to give Competitive Racing time to figure out how to reopen the property as a competitive racing venue The EDA is able to terminate the lease after five years if Competitive Racing hasn’t yet opened the racing venue and met other requirements Chesterfield isn’t responsible for financing the redevelopment or operation of the racetrack Lin O’Neill (with microphone) answers questions about Southside Speedway reopening with Jeff Oakley The men are among the Competitive Racing Investments team that is working to reopen the track will oversee the development of the Southside Speedway property which in addition to stock car racing is anticipated to feature event programming and commercial development O’Neill will oversee the promotion and operation of the racetrack O’Neill said he called on Oakley to bring in someone with a grasp of the business who would be aligned with his vision to reopen the track where they once raced against each other “I wanted investors on my team that were racing related and understood the business of auto racing to achieve our goals for Southside Speedway I reached out to Jeff because I knew he was as passionate about racing as I am and let the past be the past for our rivalry The Competitive Racing team also includes Josh Lief and was purchased by Chesterfield the following year Competitive Racing will be able to sell off portions of the Southside Speedway property at 12800 Genito Road which consists of more than 40 acres and includes land on the other side of the street and around the track O’Neill said the group intends to sell portions of the site to other firms and they would be the ones to develop the commercial elements of the project that the county wants to see which could include things like restaurants and breweries Competitive Racing would need to pay the EDA $125,000 per acre sold and those sales would be credited against the group’s rental payments Chesterfield is requiring Competitive Racing to apply for and secure a rezoning to facilitate a mixed-use development on the property Supervisor Kevin Carroll said the racetrack would be a destination and also complement the River City Sportsplex the county’s nearby youth sports tournament venue He urged the track’s supporters to attend the future races to help ensure the venture’s success “There’s going to be a tremendous opportunity to bring racing back here to Chesterfield County and to have what I believe is a true gem in the Richmond metro area … We’re going to do everything to help support them to do that You have got to come to these races,” Carroll told the crowd at the event County supervisors Jessica Schneider and Jim Ingle also shared remarks at the event Southside Speedway is known as “The Toughest Short Track in the South.” It opened in 1959 and hosted stock-car races for decades The last time racers competed at the venue was in 2019 The track closed in December 2020 following the cancellation of that year’s racing schedule due to the pandemic Are the economics different now as compared to 2020 I don’t see how this will be profitable and I worry that we will be in the same place five years from now the economics are markedly different than during a pandemic shutdown Not to worry about the future – The County Board of Supervisors know that the taxpayers are an ATM machine No calculated return on investment is necessary… This taxpayer will be at Southside every Fri.night but I hope folks support it and buy tickets so many don’t attend motorsport events anymore and just watch on television I say fill it with dirt like Nascar does Bristol cheaper and way better racing and alot more racing series would come fans love dirt racing 🏁 The Original Southside is setting a new standard in the ready-to-drink space—now in Music City better-for-you ready to drink gin cocktail to Nashville—marking a key moment in the brand’s rapid expansion across the Southeast inspired by a family tradition and reimagined for today’s conscious consumer What began as “Leah’s Summer Cooler,” a refreshing gin and lemon cocktail crafted by Meredith’s mom is now a shelf-ready standout made with certified organic ingredients and a 10% ABV that doesn’t compromise on taste or integrity The Original Southside hosted an exclusive evening at the new members club One Garage—an event that drew tastemakers and industry friends together over cocktails The night captured the spirit of Nashville: community-driven Now available at Firehouse Discount Liquors, River Road Liquors, Parkway Wine & Spirits, and online at drinksouthsides.com The Original Southside is officially available in Tennessee With momentum already strong in Florida and South Carolina Nashville is more than a new market—it’s a meaningful milestone in The Original Southside’s story Your exclusive guide to the greater Nashville area. The latest in restaurants restaurants and ample shopping opportunities make this one of Arizona's great cities to live to easily find the information and services that are important to you Chandler boasts a number of advantages as a location to start or grow a business Learn More Come meet Mayor Kevin Hartke and the members of the City Council Mayor and Council – The Chandler City Council held a recent work session to discuss the vision for development in the city’s historic Southside Village Neighborhood and future improvements to Washington Street in the downtown area In 2022, Southside Village was the city’s first neighborhood designated as a Historic Conservation District It is among Chandler’s oldest and most diverse areas as the first traditional Black and Latino neighborhood It is home to Winn School and many prominent families and icons including former Mayor Coy Payne and heavyweight boxer Zora Folley Southside Village and Washington Street have been the focus of numerous studies and community engagement activities in recent years to address opportunities for economic development activity and neighborhood traffic circulation while preserving the neighborhood’s rich history and multi-generational housing The Council encouraged continued neighborhood engagement in the discussion of future housing products The City Council reviewed those past studies and community input that have been gathered from residents in the neighborhood were reviewed and the City Council supported the option for adjusting the alignment of Washington St The Council learned about the former Winn School campus and encouraged continued discussions with the Salvation Army regarding their operations at that site and long-range plans at the property.  The City Council is expected to consider the adoption of an updated Downtown Region Area Plan later this summer which will guide future development decisions The number of vacant privately owned and city-owned sites in Southside Village present opportunities for future economic development and housing The Downtown Region Area Plan recommendations are consistent with the outcomes and community input reflected in other studies of the Southside Village and Washington Street in recent years 480-782-2000 Did you see a typo or come across a broken link Website Feedback Form The Amazon-occupied warehouse at 4949 Commerce Road is among the properties Stream Realty Partners recently bought A few weeks after buying a big chunk of industrially-zoned land in Chesterfield a firm out of the Lone Star State has made an even bigger purchase in South Richmond An entity tied to Dallas-based Stream Realty Partners earlier this month bought a pair of warehouses occupied by Amazon and Japanese electronics manufacturer Brother International Corp at 4701-4949 Commerce Road for $97.5 million The two warehouses, which total more than 900,000 square feet, were developed as spec space in the late 2010s by Panattoni and were later leased to Amazon and Brother Stream bought the Commerce Road properties from Maryland-based The Halle Cos., which had purchased them in early 2020 for $79 million The city most recently assessed the Commerce Road properties at a combined $87.3 million The April 9 Southside deal came just a few weeks after another LLC that’s also tied to Stream bought a 135-acre plot at 15601 Route 1 in Chesterfield for $3 million That deal closed March 28 with Sauer Properties as the seller according to Chesterfield County property records It’s unclear what Stream is planning for the Chesterfield parcel The company didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time Stream touts itself as a full-service commercial real estate firm Its portfolio counts over 411 million square feet of assets under management These two recent deals appear to be Stream’s first in the Richmond region Mike Platania joined BizSense in December 2016. He covers commercial real estate, restaurants and breweries. He graduated from Virginia Tech. Reach him at mike@richmondbizsense.com or (804) 554-6872 Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsLive from the Southside San Antonio’s South Side residents had the opportunity to hear directly from mayoral candidates at the South Side Mayoral Forum on Wednesday at the Palo Alto College Auditorium This important event allowed community members to engage with the candidates and learn about their positions on the issues that matter most to South Side residents KSAT 12 anchor/reporter RJ Marquez moderated the forum The forum featured the following mayoral candidates: This was a critical opportunity for voters to hear firsthand how each candidate plans to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the Southside please contact Fernanda Cardenas at 210-279-2373 PS. Check out the latest issue of Live from the Southside Magazine Subscribe to the magazine at https://bit.ly/SubscribeToLFTSS This article initially appeared on Live from the Southside. Read more content by Live From The South Side Magazine: Copyright 2025 by KSAT - All rights reserved Email Newsletters KSAT RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us KSAT Internships Careers at KSAT Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Join us for the return of Summer Movie Nights at Southside ISD Bring your family and friends to enjoy family-friendly films under the stars on the SHS Stadium Jumbotron and snacks to make the most of your movie night and summer reading books available while supplies last there will be door prize giveaways featuring gift cards Concessions will also be available at both movie nights Summer Movie Nights are made possible thanks to the generous support of H-E-B and the Southside ISD Education Foundation Southside ISD will lead educational excellence by providing innovative programs Southside ISD seeks to be the choice when it comes to providing a quality public education by upholding the highest standards of our core values Report a Website Issue | Privacy Policy |  Non Discrimination Statement © 2024 Southside Independent School District. All Rights Reserved / Admin Login 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares announced today it will release its first quarter financial results before the market opens on Tuesday Southside will host a conference call to discuss its results on Tuesday Following prepared remarks there will be a question and answer session for the analyst community Those interested in participating in the question and answer session, or others who prefer to call-in, can register using this online form to receive the dial-in number and unique code to access the conference call seamlessly it is recommended that those wishing to participate register 10 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure a more efficient registration process beginning approximately two hours following the conference call is a bank holding company headquartered in Tyler with approximately $8.52 billion in assets as of December 31 Southside currently operates 53 branches and a network of 72 ATMs/ITMs throughout East Texas Southeast Texas and the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Southside Bank is a community-focused financial institution that offers a full range of financial products and services to individuals and businesses These products and services include consumer and commercial loans brokerage services and an array of online and mobile services For further information:                                 Lindsey Bailes 903-630-7965 Coach Selena Ramirez and the Southside High School Track & Field team wrapped up an incredible season A total of 11 student-athletes advanced to the Area meet with 6 continuing on to compete at Regionals and Cardinal pride were on full display all season long—congratulations to our athletes and coaches for a job well done Enjoy this special video featuring Southside High School women’s track