Good morning, Edmonton.

It’s almost always funny, in a sad kind of way, that when governments announce they are going to tackle a problem or get tough on something, it’s a problem that’s had previous attempts to do just that. Edmonton’s recent worries over violent crime is just one of those issues. So, hopefully this is the time everyone follows through on plans and recommendations.

Meanwhile…Edmonton Police are teaming up with other agencies for a new kind of patrol…an action team!

On the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, an Edmonton firefighter who went to New York with the Red Cross is trying to remember the triumph of the human spirit he saw in the days after the Word Trade Centre towers fell.

The City of Edmonton is trying to entice filmmakers to shoot here. Though, not with a grant or tax break, or deals if they are locals or use local crews. I don’t think it’s a great idea to move $5-million from the financial stabilization fund when you’re running a deficit.

“Are people supposed to park on the next block? It’s insanity.” Really? Parking one block away is the end of the world?

It’s interesting that talk about snow removal shows what a lot of people think about our transportation network. And that the car must be the central vehicle to get people around Edmonton. Too bad people feel that way.

Let’s contrast that with capital region leaders who want to spend $10-billion on LRT and transit connections.

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I joked yesterday about using a Hotmail address to communicate official Alberta government business, but I guess that kind of stuff just won’t fly with the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

Now, the Premier and others say they also have two email addresses for their government work. I’d be interested to know what those ones are. If it’s Premier.Stelmach@… I think Ted Morton’s run for PC leader/Premier just took a big hit. If it’s Steve Johnson@…I guess Morton’s OK.

The provincial government announced more money for affordable housing, with about $11-million coming Edmonton’s way.

There is an Amber Alert for a B.C. boy, though not issued in Alberta. Even though the disappearance happened very close to the Alberta border. Actually, when I saw the coverage of this on Twitter and in Edmonton news, I thought an Amber Alert HAD been issued in Alberta.

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Want to learn an old skill?

If you’ve got a poem, a sketch, a couple of artistic thoughts, you can add them to the “poem catcher” at City Hall. It’s an idea of our new Poet Laureate.

We never got to link to a story from MacEwan’s newly re-named The Griff. Good luck this year!

Thanks for all of your thoughtful takes on the news of the day the last couple of years. Let’s keep the discussion going on Twitter with hashtags like #yeg (Edmonton) #yegcc (City Council) #ableg (Alberta Legislature) #abgov (Alberta government) #yegtransit and #yegtraffic (Edmonton transit and traffic) and #yegarena (the downtown arena). I’m @journalistjeff on there.

Hey, you, uh, got $50-million the City of Edmonton can have, to keep the 2012 tax hike at 4.5%? There may be a cut or two (or three) if more money isn’t found. I know you have it in coffee cans buried in the yard!

Meanwhile…the City announced $56-million to get the east Jasper redevelopment moving along…

And there will be a new statue in, or around, Churchill Square.

If I’m reading this story on the downtown arena correctly, Councillor Ed Gibbons will meet with the City Manager to ask a list of questions but that meeting would happen outside of a public meeting. Weird. (Or I’ve got it wrong.)

The chair of the Edmonton Public School Board wants longer-term funding from the provincial government, to allow a little more stability in school board budgeting.

TELUS is putting in $20-million worth of work into one of its two towers on 100 Street, and also a bit of green space right beside the plaza.

100 years of flight in Edmonton, the City Centre Airport, and aviation are being talked about and celebrated this week.

Speaking of the City Centre Airport…we know who will be designing a neighbourhood planned to take over the land. The Charrette has a further look at the design plans.

As soon as I saw that police had made an arrest in a Whyte Avenue stabbing my brain started to try and guess at the story. There hadn’t been any homicides recently. Could it be the Dylan McGillis killing from four-and-a-half years ago? A homicide I covered when still working the daily news beat? Yes! Edmonton police have made a long-awaited, long sought-after arrest.

The homicide was among the violence that sparked some change on Whyte to try and attract more live music, more street life (and not just drunk people eating pizza street life), and campaigns to enjoy a night out without violence.

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There are more nurses being hired in Alberta, but a lot of them aren’t working full-time. This is, essentially, a good news story though.

The Alberta government is spending some money educating you about carbon capture and storage. Whether we’ll ever end up building the systems to trap carbon emissions underground is another story.

Canada’s western premiers are talking disasters and disaster funding. Our premier (still Ed Stelmach until fall, when Progressive Conservatives choose a new one) wants more foreign workers, and to get them here faster.

Speaking of leadership races…Bill Harvey is running to lead the Alberta Liberals. I know…NOW you’re excited about that race.

Alberta author Robert Kroetsch died in a car crash this week, and is being remembered for his literary contributions to Alberta, Edmonton, and Canada.

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Oh, that pesky Senate.

Canada’s approach to asbestos is very “do as I say not as I do” since we won’t be doing a whole with the known cancer-causer but will gladly export it. I guess The Daily Show cares more than our federal government.

Caught The Absurd Heroes, and others, at Wunderbar last night. Wunderbar is the place to be.

Good morning, and welcome to the halfway point of the halfway month.

Teacher and staff cuts are looming at both of Edmonton’s school boards. The Edmonton Catholic School District has 180 jobs on the block for the 2011-2012 school year, while the Edmonton Public School Board’s proposed cuts include more than 300 positions.

Edmonton’s new police chief is adding officers to the homicide unit – a move no chief would want to make. He also seems to understand that police-public relationships and prevention are keys to improving the crime rate. It’s just, right now, Edmonton has the highest homicide rate in Canada. :(

The Yellowhead is going to become a freeway. In 30 years. So, to speed that up, one councillor thinks the Alberta government should take over the road.

Victims of domestic violence are being remembered and honoured with an Edmonton street named for them and their plight.

If you’re walking down 108 Street and feel like there are fewer trees, you’re not crazy.

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The interesting thing, to me, in this story about Alberta’s lowest wage earners, is that a lot of them aren’t teenagers working at fast food places.

The Alberta government wants you to get some exercise. They could start setting the example by using their own pedway route to get in shape.

Our province is also trying to deal with higher rates of sexually transmitted infections.

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Canada Post’s rotating strike has become a full-out shutdown as the crown corporation has locked-out workers. As soon as one of the courier companies starts offering letter mail at a cheap price Canada Post is toast. The strike was already affecting charities that depend on mailed-in donations.

Meanwhile…Air Canada’s service staff strike may be over soon, if the federal government steps in.

Poverty as urgent as SARS. While SARS may already be a dated term, that headline calls a lot of attention to what needs to be done about our poorest.

The case of the missing front lawn has been solved.

Transit rodeo, eh?

Hey, anybody seen our ammonia silver nitrate?

Let’s Tuesday up your news, Edmonton.

The Canada Post strike is beginning to affect Edmonton. And we haven’t even seen postal workers head out on the picket line yet.

Edmonton’s downtown arena hopes are now pinned on the provincial government coming up with money, because Edmonton-Spruce Grove MP Rona Ambrose says the new federal budget is not for arenas.

The Archdiocese of Edmonton is trying to figure out how to work social media into the sermon.

Edmonton City Centre Mall is joining the campaign to “white out” domestic violence. An Edmonton street will get re-named in a similar effort.

The best in Edmonton theatre will soon be awarded. Sterling Award nominations were announced Monday. This story in the Journal doesn’t detail every category, but the Sterling site still says we should get ready to hear the nominations Monday, so I’ll take what I can get.

There’s a call out to those who would design Edmonton’s new Royal Alberta Museum.

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While critics may say allegations of people jumping the healthcare line are rumour, a new memo dates this practice, or allegations of the practice, to 2009.

Education Minister Dave Hancock may yet turn out to be a negotiating genius. He’s making sure teachers know there’s no more money coming to education but is ready to sign a new five-year contract. I’m intrigued to see how that contract talk plays out. (Or it could all play out like the Alberta Progressive Conservative are likely hoping; that a bunch of new energy and tax money comes in this summer, they top up the education budget, and quickly get a new deal with teachers when the bank account is full.)

Hey, I can appreciate historical land and burial grounds as much as the next guy, but I need a place to plug in my RV and launch my boat too.

On land use…the Alberta government’s push for more oil and energy development, and fast, isn’t sitting well with other people and groups.

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If you’ve got some time, or some furniture, Slave Lake relief efforts could use both.

Think you have a concussion? There’s an app for that.

Monday was the anniversary of D-Day, the World War II offensive that was said to turn the tide in favour of the allied nations (including Canada). On this anniversary, we truly began Canada’s military wind-down in Afghanistan.

Welcome to Bike Month, Edmonton.

The City is going after “tags” in this summer’s anti-graffiti campaign. That’s exactly what they should be targeting; wipe out gang tags, not listen birds and street art.

630CHED/iNews880 looked at what the Capital Region’s cities and municipalities would be asked to chip in, if the downtown arena was viewed as a regional project. I’d rather they chip in to build a more regional transit system if we’re asking them for money.

Edmonton’s taxes and utilities aren’t the most expensive in the country. But we’re on our way!

A handful of Edmonton community projects are up for your vote in a new program from The Keg. So get online and vote!

Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital is sending home a little girl, after two years at the hospital. Two. Years. Speaking of hearts…researchers at the University of Alberta are trying to prevent heart damage from some cancer treatments…

Operation Red Nose is looking for a non-profit partner for a winter 2011 return to Edmonton.

The Journal’s look at Edmonton bakeries continues, with a taste of Poland at Baltyk Bakery.

Sidney Poitier is coming to our city.

You think Edmonton’s got a lot of news, wait until you see what else is going on around this place.

The Premier said teachers are the cause of pending cuts this fall. The Education Minister said his boss didn’t quite have it right. But then went on to say there’s no way layoffs will be as bad as the teachers’ union is predicting. Remember a few years ago, when everyone was so happy that a longstanding pension problem had been solved, teacher’s signed a long-term contract, and things looked great on the education labour front? Yeah…

Alberta Health Services wants you to keep your kids off of ATVs.

A number of stories today are talking about Ledcor looking for workers as a sign we’re about to have another boom.

Alberta’s minimum wage earners are expected to get a pay raise, to $9 an hour. Yay?

Licensed security guards are now going to have mandatory training in Alberta.

Does being a mayor help the new leader of the Alberta Party appeal to voters in Alberta’s cities? More tax money, or taxing powers, would certainly help Edmonton build its LRT lines.

In farming…Alberta farmers are getting more real-time information on pests that could eat through or destroy their crops…Are you eating ethical, sustainable (and probably delicious) meat? From right here in Alberta? I found this article on mustard – yes, mustard – quite interesting.

Alberta Venture is talking about the best communities for business in Alberta and Western Canada.

Director Kevin Smith’s new movie, Red State, has a connection to Alberta. Just follow the money.

(You can tell that it’s a new month because the magazines have lots of fresh items posted to their websites.)

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In Slave Lake…the hospital is getting ready to re-open…school is re-starting, and there will be a grad…and Randy Bachman is always listening…

Alberta’s worst wildfire in decades, up near Fort McMurray, continues to burn.

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Linda Hoang’s got a great story on The Hydeaway stocking up its jukebox with Edmonton music. This is what every bar and restaurant in the city could do. Edmonton’s got some amazing musical talent.

Over at unlimited (an online magazine that might by flying under the radar), an Edmonton business writer is talking about why he’s getting out of the stock market.

And a new cellphone report from the World Health Organization classifies the devices as having the potential to do us harm.