A sales tax increase in 2008 should be lending itself to lower property taxes.  The creation of the Counties Transit Improvement Board came after the state legislature passed its transportation bill.  The new board has levied an additional quarter percent sales tax in five of the seven metro counties.

It was a banner year for Minnesota politics.  Between the Republican National Convention, the election and political pandering it was a very busy season.  

In an attempt to make the Blaine airport more financially viable, and to attract new business to the area.  The city approved plans on a few new projects at the airport.

Northstar made some significant developments in 2008.  They broke ground on many stations, saw their first locomotives, and brought back a once dead station.

Many large scale construction projects took center stage in 2008, but possibly none were bigger than the construction of the new Highway 65 and County Road 14 interchange in Blaine. The interchange was closed for five months and crews construction a new single point diamond interchange.

School districts in the North Metro saw a very busy year.  They received awards, new buildings and new staff.  Not necessarily in that order.

2008 saw several retirements from major positions in the area.  A new city manager, new fire chief, new police chief, and a new police dog make up some of the new faces we saw this year.

Are you cooking safely?  Are you doing everything you can to keep a kitchen fire from breaking out?  If a stovetop fire starts, how would you handle it?  So you know the easiest and safest ways to put out a fire?