Good morning, Edmonton.

Bouncing off this morning’s photo, how about we lead with some school stories.

New schools dressed to the nines for opening day (Edmonton”s got lots of new schools for this year.)

Hardisty welcomes new students (Yet, school closures remains a shadow on the new year.)

Group protests against Bill 44 at Alberta Legislature

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Now I want to tell you a story.

This is a story about a city with an airport right in the middle of  it.

I want you to picture this city, and its central airport. On a sunny afternoon.

The city decides to close this airport and create something new in the middle of the urban landscape. It’s not every day that kind of opportunity presents itself to a city.

This city is a thriving capital. The airport, a historical one at that, doesn’t have as much use as it once did, as passenger traffic flies out of different international airports now.

There’s a design competition. Dozens of proposals are put forward. A half-dozen options are chosen to be explored further, before one design is selected as the next incarnation of this airport. The design will pay homage to the history of the site, but create something different that will benefit the city, and its residents.

A city with an airport right at its centre. Not used as much with the international traffic elsewhere. Potential for something that can be used by more of its residents in new ways.

I want you to picture that city.

Can you see it?

Now imagine that city is Berlin.

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Sorry, I couldn’t resist going all A Time To Kill on you after I read about Berlin’s airport redevelopment.

Don’t forget to check the Berlin designs (which all focus on the land becoming a park of some sort), including the new kingdom of bees.

Edmonton’s airport potential, and thoughts from one of the short-listed designers, is the story in our news today.

from the Edmonton Journal:

Oilsands PR machine ready to hit Ontario

Premier’s mute button on for 48 hours

From the Calgary Herald: Alberta reviews how Dirty Oil film got cash (So the arts and film grants will soon become part of the propaganda department? More on film stuff from SEE, below.)

from the National Post: Alberta to review rules on water in oil sands (Ah, government, getting a report on a report. Next up: a task force.)

Fort McMurray launches plastic bag ban

Phone rebate limited to current customers (I wonder if I’ll get one.)

from the Edmonton Sun:

Maintenance on LRT route (You can’t get to Clareview this long weekend.)

Alberta takes boycott battle to U.S. firms (Now imagine we spent this kind of time, effort, and money, on figuring out how to generate our power from renewable, green, resources.)

from the Edmonton Examiner:

City launches bus route from Mill Woods to NAIT

from 630CHED/iNews880:

MADD Edmonton speaks out over Khabibulin legal troubles (Does he have “troubles,” or is he just a drunk driver?)

Changes at 630 CHED start Sept. 1st (What the Corus newsroom isn’t touting in their story is the fact they’re turfing other long-time Edmonton radio voices. This, and a quip or two on Twitter, has me thinking of doing something local/Calgary related in the headlines soon.)

from CBC Edmonton:

Online safety statistics incomplete: AFL

from CTV Edmonton:

Alta. woman returns home after undergoing controversial procedure for MS

from Global Edmonton:

Beverly Motel shut down for 30 days (But I had just booked a luxurious stay…)

City funds solar power (More like, rebates solar power.)

from Vue Weekly:

Missing the point

Failure to enforce (There are rules?)

from SEE Magazine:

Light, Camera…Inaction!

Let’s hope that was a really important call (Driving while phoning. Scary stuff.)

Local news is back in the news, as CBC fights Shaw and Bell.