►
From YouTube: Bloomington Today: The BUZZ February 18-24
Description
What’s happening in Bloomington? It was a record year for building permits. The next phase of Mall of America is on time and on budget. Plus, Bloomington Public Schools will offer a new program for high school students.
A
B
B
Marker
guard
says
the
total
building
permit
value
in
Bloomington
was
342
million
dollars.
Last
year.
He
added
permit
value
is
generally
less
than
actual
value.
The
projects
include
five
hotels
under
construction
with
about
1,000
rooms
total.
There
are
also
permits
for
retail
office
and
residential
development.
Six
housing
projects
are
in
various
stages
and
offer
residents
more
than
1,000
new
units.
This
is
video
of
Covington.
It
opened
last
July.
All
this
construction
isn't
just
good
for
business.
It
benefits
residents
as
a
whole.
C
B
D
B
Authority
administrator
Shane
redlegs
says
the
355
million
dollar
project
will
open
in
phases.
This
fall.
It
will
include
a
342
room,
JW,
Marriott,
Hotel,
150,000
square
feet
of
retail
space
and
the
same
amount
of
office
space.
This
expansion
will
continue
to
turn
the
south
loop
into
an
urban
downtown
area
and
that's
something
red
Liang
has
been
working
towards.
It's.
D
A
really
exciting
area
and
we've
put
a
lot
of
time
and
effort
into
into
seeing
that
area,
grow
and
diversify
and
become
a
community.
That's
one
of
the
things
that
we're
working
out.
There
is
building
residential
units
out
there
there's
a
project
that
will
start
construction
in
the
spring
400
rental
apartments,
which
will
really
add
people
to
the
area
that
that
that
don't
live
there.
Yet.
B
Development
on
the
other
side
of
Linda
Lane
could
start
in
2016,
but
Rudd
Lang
says
the
project
is
in
its
very
early
stages.
When
this
phase
opens
the
retail
space
will
open
first,
followed
by
the
hotel
and
office
space.
Human
trafficking
and
youth
sexual
exploitation
are
problems
right
here
in
Minnesota,
and
a
group
of
experts
described
what
Bloomington
community
members
can
do
to
help.
Normandale
highlands
united
methodist
church
in
the
League
of
Women
Voters
sponsored
an
event
where
a
panel
explained
what
Minnesota
is
doing
to
combat
trafficking.
B
The
safe
harbor
law
that
went
into
effect
in
2013,
decriminalized,
sexually
exploited
youth,
meaning
they
don't
face
prostitution
charges
but
are
viewed
as
victims.
These
experts
say
that
was
the
first
step,
but
more
is
being
done.
The
no
wrong
door
initiative
is
a
collaboration
between
several
different
agencies
to
provide
services
and
housing
for
victims.
It
also
helps
train
law
enforcement
on
how
to
deal
with
victims
of
sexual
exploitation.
So
what
can
you
do
to
help
the
cause?
Safe,
harbors,
Lauren,
Ryan,
says,
start
the
conversation
and
then.
E
Talk
to
your
family,
talk
to
your
friends.
Talk
about
sexual
exploitation,
talk
about
people
that
are
buying
sex.
This
is
a
culture
change.
If
we
don't
change
people's
minds
about
being
able
to
purchase
sex
from
minors
and
from
adults,
we're
going
to
need
a
lot
more
money
for
services,
because
we're
just
going
to
keep
cranking
out
the
victims.
Experts
also.
B
Suggested
other
ways
to
fight
the
problem:
raising
money,
contacting
your
legislator
and
becoming
a
foster
family.
A
Bloomington
food
self
is
looking
for
your
support
and
it
comes
with
cocktails.
Veep
operates
the
largest
food
shelf
in
the
state
of
Minnesota
and
on
februari
27th
they're
hosting
a
toast
to
veep.
It's
a
wine
and
beer
tasting
benefit
and
it
will
kick
off
the
March
food
drive.
The
month-long
campaign
will
help
restock
the
shelves
here.
Beep
serves
8
thousand
people
per
month
with
the
help
of
more
than
1500
volunteers.
B
Again,
a
toast
to
beep
is
februari
27th
from
5
to
7
30
at
their
site.
On
Aldridge
Avenue.
This
fall.
There
will
be
a
new
opportunity
for
high
school
students
and
it
will
help
prepare
them
for
the
workforce.
This
was
the
open
house
for
the
career
and
college
Academy,
a
new
program
offered
by
Bloomington
public
schools.
The
classes
have
four
pathways:
Health
Science,
Building
and
Construction
criminal
justice
and
information
technology
10th
through
12th
graders
can
enroll
in
the
program
to
earn
both
high
school
and
college
credit.
B
F
A
lot
of
research
out
there
about
the
wandering
years-
and
you
know
a
lot
of
times,
kids
graduate
from
high
school
and
then
now
what
do
I
do,
or
or
maybe
then
they
start
exploring
college
and
while
they're
in
crewing
college
debt
and
time
and
now
they
can
get
these
college
credits
for
free
and
save
them
time,
while
they're
still
in
high
school
cresson.
B
Says
some
pathways
will
allow
kids
to
jump
into
the
workforce
after
high
school
with
certification.
He
says
other
classes
will
get
them
well
on
their
way
to
a
two-year
degree.
Registration
is
wrapping
up,
so
students
should
sign
up
as
soon
as
possible
classes
will
be
held
at
the
old
Lincoln
High
School,
where
new
classrooms
have
been
built.
That
is
the
buzz
on
Bloomington
today
for
the
week
of
februari
18th
through
the
24th.