More than $1 billion awarded to Minnesota, Wisconsin bridge

For more than 60 years, the bridge has linked Duluth and Superior via Interstate 535 and US 53.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Officials announced Monday that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded nearly $1.06 billion in federal funding to replace the aging John A. Blatnik Bridge between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. “This is big news for Minnesota. This investment will make it possible for Minnesota and Wisconsin to rebuild a critical connection between our states that…

View On WordPress

Rice's Point, Duluth 9/10/22 by Sharon Mollerus

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week.

January 19-26 2024

The Energy Department announced its pausing all new liquefied natural gas export facilities. This puts a pause on export terminal in Louisiana which would have been the nation's largest to date. The Department will use the pause to study the climate impact of LNG exports. Environmentalists cheer this as a major win they have long pushed for.

The Transportation Department announced 5 billion dollars for new infrastructure projects. The big ticket item is 1 billion dollars to replace the 60 year old Blatnik Bridge between Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota which has been dangerous failing since 2017. Other projects include $600 million to replace the 1-5 bridge between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, $427 million for the first offshore wind terminal on the West Coast, $372 million to replace the 90 year old Sagamore Bridge that connects Cape Cod to the mainland,$300 million for the Port of New Orleans, and $142 million to fix the I-376 corridor in Pittsburgh.

the White House Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access announced new guidance that requires insurance companies must cover contraceptive medications under the Affordable Care Act. The Biden Administration also took actions to make sure contraceptive medications would be covered under Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. HHS has launched a program to educate all patients about their rights to emergency abortion medical care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. This week marks 1 year since President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum seeking to protect medication abortion and all federal agencies have reported on progress implementing it.

A deal between Democrats and Republicans to restore the expand the Child Tax Credit cleared its first step in Congress by being voted out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The Child Tax Credit would affect 16 million kids in the first year and lift 400,000 out of poverty. The Deal also includes an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit which will lead to 200,000 new low income rental units being built, and also tax relief to people affected by natural disasters

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted for a bill to allow President Biden to seize $5 billion in Russian central bank assets. Biden froze the assets at the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, but under this new bill could distribute these funds to Ukraine, Republican Rand Paul was the only vote against.

The Senate passed the "Train More Nurses Act" seeking to address the critical national shortage of nurses. It aims to increase pathways for LPNs to become RNs as well as a review of all nursing programs nationally to see where improvements can be made

3 more Biden Judges were confirmed, bring the total number of Judges appointed by President Biden to 171. For the first time in history the majority of federal judge nominees have not been white men. Biden has also appointed Public Defenders and civil rights attorneys breaking the model of corporate lawyers usually appointed to life time federal judgeships

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) was served a “reality check” by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on Friday, after the pro-Trump election-denying Republican repeatedly took credit this week for a massive infrastructure project in his home state, funded by President Joe Biden’s legislation the Minnesota Congressman voted against. “Reality check: I approved this because it’s a deserving project, consistent with President Biden’s priorities. This is happening because the Biden infrastructure package passed, despite your ‘no’ vote,” wrote Secretary Buttigieg on social media, in response to Rep. Staubert’s video providing what he claimed was a “fact check.” At issue is President Joe Biden’s signature Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which he signed into law in November of 2021. Although bipartisan, just 13 Republicans in the House and just 19 in the Senate voted for it. “I was recently proud to announce that both Duluth, Minnesota and superior Wisconsin received over $1 billion in federal funding to help replace the Blatnik Bridge,” Congressman Stauber, a three-term backbench Republican, proudly declared in his social media video (below).

Today in Great Lakes shipping history. September 16th

September 16, 1953: MARYLAND was mauled by a storm on Lake Superior, and 12 hatch covers were blown off. The ship was beached near Marquette, MI, and all 35 on board were saved. The ship was abandoned, but the extensive bottom damage was repaired, and the vessel resumed service

September 16, 2023: Paul R. Tregurtha backs beneath the Blatnik Bridge in a rolling fog.

September 16, 2023: Polsteam’s Gardno is assisted to Richardson Current River by Miseford and Point Valour of Thunder Bay Tug Services.

Another Great Lakes historic lighthouse saved with private money.

The Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse has been sold at auction, and the new owners are two Clevelanders who intend to preserve the historic part of Cleveland’s skyline. The lighthouse fetched a price of $425,000 when the auction closed on Sept. 15th and the winning bidders were Heather Moore, a designer of personalized luxury jewelry, and Jim Brown, the owner of Classic Auto Group.

Boat Nerd

President Biden announced $5 billion more for infrastructure for things like crumbling bridges, light rail, and bus lines, creating jobs that don't require a college education.

On Day # 37 of our Great American Road Trip, we passed via the John A Blatnik Bridge from Superior, WI into Duluth, MN. Duluth is what the Lonely Planet calls ‘a brawny shot-and-beer port town.’ We didn’t see too much of it, but we did stop by the house where Robert Zimmerman spent the first six years of his life. Robert Zimmerman, who dat? Yes, when he moved to Greenwich Village, he legally changed it to Bob Dylan. The house has no marker or anything reminding of its famous resident of 75 years ago. #travelswithscooby #duluthmn #bobdylan (at Duluth, Minnesota) https://www.instagram.com/p/CglDiAvj90w/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

UMD Civil Engineering Students Help Work on Blatnik Bridge

UMD Civil Engineering Students Help Work on Blatnik Bridge

UMD Civil Engineering Students Help Work on Blatnik Bridge Yale scholars tackle opioid crisis in groundbreaking journal issue. – Yale …. Special feature: Creating tomorrow s entrepreneurs. – Emory … Call for papers: Islam (re-)Observed. – Leiden. Hashtags: …

See full article.

— Delivered by Feed43 service

View full call or article at Call for Papers – Civil Engineering

View On WordPress

Blatnik Bridge for NYT

Rice's Point, Duluth 11/15/19 by Sharon Mollerus

145 New Covid Cases, 1 Associated Death in Ohio County in Past Week

Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is announcing One Hundred and Forty-Five (145) new cases of COVID-19 in Ohio County since August 15, 2021.  This includes 18 cases under the age of 18 years of age.  Case surveillance, contact tracing, and monitoring continue for many of the reported cases. The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is announcing one (1) COVID-19 associated death for the reporting period of 8/15-22/2021. Six (6) cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.617.2, or more commonly referred to as the Delta Variant, have been identified in Ohio County. Eighty-six (86) cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, or more commonly referred to as the Alpha Variant, have been identified in Ohio County.  Two (2) case of the COVID-19 variant P.1., or more commonly referred to as the Gamma Variant, have been identified in Ohio County. Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department COVID-19 Testing Clinic The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department will hold free COVID-19 testing clinics Monday – Friday at the old OVMC.  Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department COVID-19 Testing Monday-Friday 9:00am – 3:30pm OVMC (former VPC South parking lot, 2000 Eoff Street, Wheeling) The free clinics are for those with or without symptoms and no insurance is needed. Participants need to bring a driver’s license, photo ID or other proof of address. No residency restrictions.  Patients under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This is a drive-up testing clinic and participants will be tested either in their personal vehicles or at a walk-up location near the testing sites.  This special clinic is being hosted by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency. For more information call the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department at (304) 234-3682. The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is reminding Ohio Valley residents that if they are tested for COVID-19 that they are to remain in home isolation until they receive negative test results.  Individuals who test positive will be contacted by a county health department and receive further instructions in regard to care and monitoring.  If positive, you should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19 prior to arriving at the facility. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed. COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics (subject to change due to supply and demand). Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines are available at all locations. Walk-ins welcomed at all locations. Daily Health Department Clinics 8/23/21 – Walk-in Clinic at Health Department 9-11am & 1-3pm 8/24/21 – Walk-in Clinic at Health Department 9-11am & 1-3pm 8/25/21 – Walk-in Clinic at Health Department 9-11am & 1-3pm 8/26/21 – Walk-in Clinic at Health Department 9-11am & 1-3pm 8/27/21 – Walk-in Clinic at Health Department 9-11am & 1-3pm (Effective 6/11/21 COVID-19 vaccinations will be given at the County Health Department located at 1500 Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV.) Special Clinics ·         8/23/21 – Ohio County Schools Back to School event, WPHS, 12noon-7pm.  ·         8/25/21 – Wheeling University Back to School COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at WU Troy Theater, 9am-2pm. ·         9/1/21 – West Liberty University Back to School COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at WLU Blatnik Gym, 9am-2pm. ·         9/8/21 – Oglebay Resort, Pine Room, 9am-1pm. ·         9/13/21 – Bridge Street Middle School/OCS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, 4-8pm. Homebound COVID-19 Vaccination Program Individuals who are homebound can call the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department to schedule a home COVID-19 vaccination visit. Ohio County residents can call (304) 234-3682 to set up an appointment and vaccination type. Additional Dose of RNA COVID-19 Vaccinations On August 13, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met and reviewed the data for use of an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for immunocompromised people. ACIP made an interim recommendation for use of an additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (for persons aged ≥12 years) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (for persons aged ≥18 years) after an initial 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series for moderately to severely immunocompromised people and does not apply to people who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the additional dose of an mRNA COVID19 vaccine be administered at the earliest four weeks at least 28 days after a second dose and a person should not receive more than three mRNA vaccine doses total. The additional mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose should be the same vaccine product as the initial 2-dose mRNA COVID-19 primary vaccine series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). If the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product given for the first two doses is not available, the other mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product may be administered. The specific list of eligible people includes: - Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies - Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy - Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy) - Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome) - Advanced or untreated HIV infection - Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory While immunocompromised individuals do not need a prescription, or proof of their condition to get a third dose, individuals are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. West Virginians who are immunocompromised and meet CDC eligibility recommendations are strongly encouraged to choose COVID-19 vaccination, which now includes a third dose for mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna). General Information Ohio County and Ohio Valley residents are advised to limit public contact, implement social distancing, wash their hands frequently, and contact their personal physician if they become ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is reminding Ohio Valley residents that if they are tested for COVID-19 that they are to remain in home isolation until they receive negative test results.  Individuals who test positive will be contacted by a county health department and receive further instructions in regard to care and monitoring. If positive, you should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19 prior to arriving at the facility. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed. Read the full article

Duluth Ore Run—Part Two

Here we see the Canadian National transfer job complete the ore dock run of yesterday’s blog entry. In the first image, the train has been reconstituted after having been shifted about upon the massive ore dock on St. Louis Bay. It will momentarily head up the 2.2 percent grade of the former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway. We can see the John A. Blatnik Bridge, along with the dock itself, in the background of the image.

In pictures two and three, the train has made it most way of the hill. We can see the iconic Aerial Bridge in the first of these photographs. In the second we can see both the Bong Bridge (Highway 2) as well as Northern Pacific’s Grassy Point Draw Bridge. This “draw” bridge was replaced with a swing-type bridge at some point but retains its original name. Interestingly, we can see that the bridge has been swung for ship traffic in this picture.

In the final picture we see the train rounding a curve near the top of the hill with an oil refinery, way out in Superior, Wisconsin, in the background.

The map shows the where the photographs were taken. Four images by Richard Koenig; taken April 17th 2017.

Combination vape, tobacco, CBD store opens in Superior - Superior Telegram

Combination vape, tobacco, CBD store opens in Superior  Superior Telegram

Ignite Vapor and Tobacco is slated to open Friday, Feb. 22, in the former "Chicken Spur" building at the foot of the Blatnik Bridge. The Superior shop brings a ...

from "tobacco" - Google News https://ift.tt/2T5o3Bn

#duluth #bridge #factory #sunset #roadtrip #familyfun (at John A. Blatnik Bridge)