Gerrit VanderWaal
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gvwaal.bsky.social
Gerrit VanderWaal
@gvwaal.bsky.social
58 followers 90 following 72 posts
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Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
ottergoose.net
Yesterday, N278GX did an ICE deportation flight from MSP to HRL, repositioned to AUS, and flew home the University of Wisconsin Volleyball team.
December 15, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
hsilsbee.bsky.social
Please read this Facebook post from Darnella Frazier about her sister Rekeya, who is in federal custody.

For those who don't know, Darnella was the girl who shared the first viral video of George Floyd's murder.
Public Facebook post from Darnella Frazier: This is my sister. Rekeya Frazier. Last Wednesday, a number of ICE agents approached her and her boyfriend. They were in an unmarked vehicle and were not all fully dressed in their uniforms. In the world we live in today, you don't know what's real and fake, or what to trust anymore. Allegedly her boyfriend's student visa was expired and they were questioning him about his immigration status. In the process of doing that, he got extremely scared and hopped in the back seat of my sister's car, allegedly pointing his gun at my sister while she drove to the nearest police station in complete fear. Meanwhile her boyfriend, Bamigboye was on the phone with the police. My sister is not a criminal. Why would she drive to the police station if she intentionally committed a crime? She was scared, as most of us would be. Rekeya is 23. A manager, A CNA who's spent countless days saving lives and coming home to her dogs every night. She loves make up, she loves fashion, cooking, and she is very creative. She's built her own little harmless life. I'm sharing this because my sister is more than a mugshot and a headline. There are REAL families behind these stories. My sister is currently in federal custody with no voice or outlet. So I will use mine. An expired student visa does not make you a criminal. Neither does seeking help when you feel you are in danger. If you have read this far, please help spread the word. #SeeSomethingSaySomething 4 photos, 3 of which show Rekeya, a young Black woman dressed up and happy. The 4th is a screenshot of an Alpha News headline with Rekeya and Bamigboye's mugshots with the headline "Two charged with assaulting federal HSI agent who feared 'he was being abducted'"
December 15, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
cooperissuper.bsky.social
All kinds of ICE in our neighborhoods is a policy failure.
happify.bsky.social happify @happify.bsky.social · 3d
Here are walking vs driving conditions in Minneapolis. THIS IS A CITY CHOICE. This is not snow as it fell, but how the city chose to what to plow and where to leave the ice chunks.
December 14, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
wesburdine.bsky.social
Let’s make “No Ice” happen
douglasmack.bsky.social Doug Mack @douglasmack.bsky.social · 7d
It's the most wonderful time of the year: Nominations are now open for MnDOT's Name a Snowplow Contest

You don't need to live in MN to submit!
Name a Snowplow contest - MnDOT
Submit your entries for MnDOT’s 2026-26 Name a Snowplow contest!
www.dot.state.mn.us
December 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM
gvwaal.bsky.social
Disgraceful that an apparent attempted assassination of one of MN's (and the nation's) most prominent Indigenous activist/politician "wasn't a priority" for local sheriff. Winona's got it right: bet there'd be answers fast if Lisa Demuth's home got shot up.

www.startribune.com/winona-laduk...
Winona LaDuke sounds alarm after her family farm was riddled with bullets
The Becker County sheriff said the investigation into the “rare” drive-by shooting continues.
www.startribune.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
minneapolisfed.bsky.social
Since the 1980s, both income inequality and neighborhood segregation by income have increased. We look at how these patterns are connected and how much neighborhood segregation contributes to income inequality in a new article by @lisacamnermckay.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/3MdPHJH
American neighborhoods are segregated by income. What does that mean for the future of income inequality, neighborhoods, and children? | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Both income inequality and residential segregation have increased, leaving some neighborhoods trapped in poverty
www.minneapolisfed.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
mplsalex.bsky.social
I want an artist to draw these two, with the burnt out husk of a crashed U-Haul in the background.
mplsalex.bsky.social Alex @mplsalex.bsky.social · 10d
It’s a story of forbidden love you won’t see anywhere else - a turkey and a Public Works truck.
December 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
wesburdine.bsky.social
Was everyone else aware of Weird Al covering Killing in the Name with Portugal the man?

www.instagram.com/reel/DR2jQf5...
BrooklynVegan on Instagram: "Portugal. The Man brought out Weird Al Yankovic at their intimate Music Hall of Williamsburg show on Tuesday night. They've collaborated before, and this time Weird Al joi...
Portugal. The Man's recent performance at Music Hall of Williamsburg was a unique and unforgettable experience with the special appearance of Weird Al Yankovic and Jorma Taccone. The band brought thei...
www.instagram.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:02 AM
gvwaal.bsky.social
MPCA released new guidance yesterday regarding soil/water investigations at MERLA sites, i.e., sites polluted with stuff other than petroleum or pesticides/fertilizer. Items I thought most interesting:
December 6, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
blindeke.bsky.social
Interesting pushback on the early 20th c. tie of racial deed covenants to park acquisition in Minneapolis, from the preeminent Minneapolis parks historian. minneapolisparkhistory.com/2025/12/04/t...
The Minneapolis Park Board Has Never Been and Shouldn’t Be the Deed Police
Horrors! The Minneapolis Park Board bought 49 acres of land near Lake Hiawatha and Minnehaha Parkway for $1. How dare they? They should have known the donor, er… seller, was a real estate developer…
minneapolisparkhistory.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
gvwaal.bsky.social
Crazy stuff! The most important study used to claim glyphosate is safe was retracted because it was actually ghostwritten by Monsanto. A bit annoying ithe retraction just happened now and not when the fraud was revealed 8 years ago.
December 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
gvwaal.bsky.social
Found this awesome widowmaker on a walk. The wind that cracked the trunk must have been crazy to be in 👀
Night time shot of a tree with a trunk entirely broken through maybe 20 feet off the ground. Broken limb is resting on remaining limbs of tree.
December 1, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
streets.mn
OpenStreetMap is the Wikipedia of maps: a publicly-available database of spacial information that anyone can edit. We sit down with prolific OSM contributor Jackson Kruger to talk about the best ways to use the data, and how to get comfortable with contributing to the project.
Demystifying OpenStreetMap
Come learn how to use and contribute to “the Wikipedia of maps,” OpenStreetMap!
streets.mn
November 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
gvwaal.bsky.social
Visited the Hajduk Spring for the first time. The trek there was a good reminder of all the things I love/hate about hiking in the Gorge (no rattlers!)

It was cool seeing the old trail infra MPRB decided wasn't worth maintaining and the alluvial fan(?) created/preserved by the spring
Greyscale hillshade map centered on a potential alluvial fan created by the flow of the Hajduk Spring. The Missisippi River comprises the upper right of the image, the Gorge and Parkway the lower left of the image. Cliff covered in green moss and flowing water of the Hajduk Spring. Cliff covered in dead leaves, green moss and flowing water of the Hajduk Spring.
November 22, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
tonydamiano.bsky.social
Finally finished my blog post on the Minneapolis Mayoral Election and demographics. I posted it to an old medium account that I forgot I had. Let me know what you think. Here's what I found 🧵 medium.com/@damia025/pr...
Dot density map of Minneapolis election results 2025
November 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
wedge.live
My finest work.
kub.bsky.social derek. @kub.bsky.social · 26d
time to bring back this Certified @wedge.live Classic

youtu.be/tIJmh4VYxbU?...
November 20, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
frederickmelo.bsky.social
STARBUCKS ON STRIKE: Two arrested after super glue, expanding foam damages door locks at Starbucks in St. Anthony; protesters forced to move out of drive-through lane www.twincities.com/2025/11/19/t...
Two arrested after glue found in locks at St. Anthony Starbucks
Police forced a group of demonstrators to remove themselves from the driveway.
www.twincities.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
gvwaal.bsky.social
Hennepin County released the 2025 leaf-off high res aerial imagery early this month! I was nervous it was going to be a repeat of 2024's where they flew it after the trees leaked out but that's thankfully not the case! What a great month for data!

gis-hennepin.hub.arcgis.com/pages/imager...
Imagery
Hennepin GIS offers imagery web services in two formats: web map services (WMS) and ArcGIS map service.
gis-hennepin.hub.arcgis.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
gvwaal.bsky.social
New LiDAR and DEMs for (most of) MN are officially released! When I last worked with this data in Nov 2024 it wasn't directly comparable with the 2011 LiDAR (major bummer) but I hope they've fixed that issue since last year. Thanks MnGeo and USGS!

www.mngeo.state.mn.us/chouse/eleva...
Second Generation Lidar Elevation Data for Minnesota: 2021-2024
www.mngeo.state.mn.us
November 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
blindeke.bsky.social
Good column featuring my UMN Geography department colleagues. www.startribune.com/racism-mappi...
www.startribune.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
brianmitchl.com
I visited the Upper Harbor Terminal late this afternoon now that a new path is completed. The site offers some incredible views, new access to the river, and I think is going to be a popular spot! www.mwmo.org/projects/upper-h...
Wide view of a double track railroad, old grain elevators, and a new road, with the Minneapolis skyline at sunset in the background. A zoomed in view of a double track railroad and power lines, with the Minneapolis skyline at sunset in the background. Looking South along a brand new bike and walking path with a landing and the Mississippi River to the left and other park structures to the right. Old industrial structures stand in the distance, and the Minneapolis skyline at sunset in the far distance. A zoomed in view along the bike/pedestrian path with old industrial structures standing in front of the Minneapolis skyline at sunset.
November 17, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
gregseitz.com
I'm giving an online presentation tomorrow night about deep mapping and my book project, please tune in if you're interested! northwoodsandwaters.org/live-from-no...
Live! From North Woods and Waters | North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area
northwoodsandwaters.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
subfossilguy.bsky.social
Ski lift operators are commiting what amounts to environmental crimes! 🤬

Since 2024, SATA which operates Deux Alpes ski area has levelled Mont De Lans Glacier and filled in a 2000 m² new glacial lake that had appeared around 2010... without any authorisation!

📷 GoogleEarth
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November 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
stcroix360.com
River Radio: St. Croix 360 joins conservation conversation

Founder Greg Seitz and other guests interviewed about local environmental topics.
River Radio: St. Croix 360 joins conservation conversation
Founder Greg Seitz and other guests interviewed about local environmental topics.
www.stcroix360.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Gerrit VanderWaal
natepentz.bsky.social
Y'all go eat some food at Emily's Lebanese!
Your help is necessary for us to stay open. Lunch hour isn’t what it used to be; it’s experiencing a slowdown and we need help from the community to stay afloat. If you’re in the area please stop by for lunch or food to take home for your family. Thanks for reading this and please take time to help your favorite Lebanese deli stay in business for another 50 years!!
November 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM