St. Paul's fire department will cut one rescue squad next year -- leaving only two specialized groups to perform search-and-rescue and hazmat tasks. The Pioneer Press reports the department will also cut all overtime pay in order to close the gap.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has avoided a planned protest at the annual mayor's budget address Monday thanks to an agreement with the firefighter's union. Union officials were angry this week after Coleman announced he would decommission Rescue Squad 2 and leave only two rescue squads in the city. The squad will remain with the agreement, but have one less member.

The ink is barely dry on state bonding legislation that created new economic development grants, but St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is already chasing more than half the money to pay for part of a proposed downtown ballpark for the St. Paul Saints. Coleman said the minor league park is "shovel-ready" and, if funded, could open in time for the 2014 season.

No one was injured after a fire started in a resident's kitchen early Tuesday morning.

After city leaders huddled for several hours late Tuesday, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced Wednesday that the design-build contract for the $54 million Lowertown ballpark will be reopened for bids. The contract was originally awarded to Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies the day after the St. Paul Saints received $25 million in a state economic development grant.