Author: Mike Wilkinson

Curious about artificial intelligence (AI)? Afraid of it? Hopeful? The emerging technology known as generative pre-trained transformers (GPT), or chatbots, has become a hot topic, raising more questions than our society can answer. In response, Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) and its partner, the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, will host a special town hall meeting titled “AI: Hype, Harm, or Hope?” to discuss the local impact of artificial intelligence on Eden Prairie. The meeting will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Performing Arts Center in Eden Prairie Central Middle School, 8025 Old School…

“The business of America is business,” once quipped Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States. So far, Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case isn’t on record as saying, “The business of Eden Prairie is business.” Nevertheless, he is continuing and even expanding a long-standing tradition whereby the city maintains regular communication with the local business community. Case stated that it began years ago during prior mayoral administrations. Specifically, Case said it was the mayors’ keen interest in building closer relationships with businesses that led to the initiation of annual town hall meetings on a weekday morning, usually in the…

Ever since he was a kid, Eden Prairie resident Mike Weinberger dreamed of taking a bicycle trip across the country. So, when his wife of 37 years, Nancy Jo, died in February 2017 from ovarian cancer, he decided it was time. Nancy Jo — affectionately called Jo-Jo, thanks to a nickname given to her by one of the couple’s grandchildren — had for many years made care baskets to welcome new people into the neighborhood or to give to someone known to be going through hard times. In honor of his late wife, Weinberger set a goal of making 250…

Panhandling by people on highway exit ramps is seen from time to time in the Twin Cities, including Eden Prairie. A recent incident involving a family on the exit ramp from westbound Interstate 494 to Flying Cloud Drive has spotlighted the broader issue of panhandling and city policies. What is Eden Prairie’s policy on panhandling? First, the courts have ruled that panhandling is not illegal, provided panhandlers do not engage in any illegal activities. Such activities might include approaching a car and its driver. State and local laws, however, vary on this matter. Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case said the…

When people think of drones, they probably envision a U.S. military device hovering over a militant hideout, poised to launch missiles, or a CIA tool monitoring adversaries in a remote location. They probably don’t put a local spin on it. Many might not associate drones with their local police department. However, the Eden Prairie Police Department not only uses drones but also owns six. “We have had drones for over three years,” said Sgt. Tom Lowrey from the department. “We have five officers and a volunteer who are licensed to operate them.” Licensing comes by way of the Federal Aviation…

We all know the feeling of computers crashing, cell phones dying unexpectedly, cars not starting due to a faulty chip, or the cable TV network suddenly going off the air. The growth in technology over the past few decades has led to wonderful leaps forward in our lives: worldwide communication, a vast reference library at our fingertips, and the ability to connect directly with family and friends with just a few taps on the keyboard. However, with all these advances comes a growing list of problems. It seems that as technology advances, more problems arise. Over the past three weeks,…

Dream of owning a vintage aircraft or pocketing $35,000? Then mark your calendar for Saturday, Sept. 9. Wings of the North, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 1998, will host its fourth annual pancake breakfast sweepstakes at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. The grand prize is a meticulously refurbished 1948 Beechcraft Bonanza 35, known as “BB8,” or the $35,000. Ticket entries for the sweepstakes, priced at $50 each or three for $120, will be accepted until 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. All proceeds go toward reopening the group’s popular Minnesota-themed aviation museum at Flying Cloud Airport. Bob Japserson, a spokesperson…

Nursing facilities across Minnesota are expressing concerns about the financial solvency of their businesses. The increased costs they have incurred due to inflation and COVID-19 mitigation and prevention, combined with the direct-care workforce shortage, have left many struggling to keep their doors open. Now, help has arrived in the form of $300 million approved during the last session of the Minnesota Legislature. Flagstone senior living community in Eden Prairie is included in the funding program. It received $257,094 on Aug. 1 and will receive an equal amount on Aug. 1, 2024. In response to the financial distress of nursing facilities…

July was earmarked as crack-down-on speeding month in Minnesota. If you were looking for a celebrity symbol of recklessness, the Minnesota Vikings’ Jordan Addison would be a prime candidate. The rookie wide receiver, who hails from USC and hasn’t played a regular-season down for the Vikings, was cited for driving 140 mph at 3 a.m. on July 12 in downtown St. Paul. He was behind the wheel of his new Lamborghini Urus, likely purchased with a portion of his early summer signing bonus. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety announced in July that state and local…

Idaho Stop. No, that’s not the name of the new North American Professional Lacrosse League entry. It’s a generic term related to a law that allows people on bicycles not to come to full stops at stop signs. It gets its name going way back to the early 1980s when the state of Idaho established the first law in the U.S. granting cyclists the right to “coast” through stop signs. Since then, many states have passed similar legislation. Minnesota is the latest when the 2023 state Legislature approved Minnesota’s version of the Idaho stop. It went into effect on Aug.…