Shepard Road lights still dark after thefts

St. Paul officials say repeated copper wire thefts have kept roughly 250 streetlights dark along a four‑mile stretch of Shepard/Warner Road from Lowertown to Otto Avenue, despite citywide progress restoring lights. Public Works estimates it will cost $750,000 or more to fully restore the corridor; the city spent $2 million in 2024 replacing stolen wiring and installing high‑access poles, and 2025 service calls about dark lights are down about 30% year‑over‑year. Council President Rebecca Noecker is urging residents to press City Hall for dedicated funding, citing public‑safety concerns and recent related vandalism along the corridor.