Freiestrasse Shut To Remove Suspicious Powder; More Tram Track Renovations Planned; Cows Return From Mountains; Jugendkulturfestival Turns 20

News For 5 September 2017

Yesterday, Freiestrasse, Basel's main, pedestrian-only, shopping thoroughfare was shut down between 9:00 and 11:00 AM.  After a suspicious looking envelope with an unidentifiable powder was found in the mail of a shop on the street between Rüdengasse and Bäumleingasse, both the police and fire brigade showed up and quarantined the area.  Neighboring stores in the area were also evacuated and shut during the operation to identify and remove the envelope.  The envelope was initially delivered to the shop via post, and it has since been sent to City labs for analysis.  Initial indications are that the contents of the envelope were not toxic or dangerous to humans.

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The tram tracks at Steinenberg closest to Barfüsserpltz have a long overdue renovation coming up. According to the BVB, the tracks are in “alarming” condition and need to be replaced as soon as possible. From the 9th til the 30th of September, the tram stop Barfüsserplatz will be inaccessible to the nine different tram lines that usually stop there to pass through the heart of the city. BVB’s infrastructure coordinator Bruno Stehrenberger says that 2017 is a big year for the company. More than half of the city’s tram network’s tracks are in bad, if not alarming condition.

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You've heard of the "chickens coming home to roost", but did you know that Switzerland has an annual celebration for when the cows do the same thing?  In case you didn't, or were hoping to participate in the upcoming festivities, the descent of cows from their Alpine pastures begins next week in some regions and continues until early October throughout the country.  Typically, the cows are adorned with flowers for their trek, that takes them through picturesque mountain villages hosting artisans, alphorns, yodeling and street fairs along the way.  Starting September 16 in Grimentz in canton Valais, you can see the local cows famous for their distinctive cheese make their way down mountain for the winter.

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The Jungedkulturfestival (youth culture festival) celebrated its 20th birthday this year, and the 10th edition of the event, which is held every other year. 184 acts performed music, DJ sets, plays, dances, literature, sports and so-called “free projects” on 13 different stages throughout Basel. Some of the highlights included local Swiss German hip hop artists Brandhärd and Black Tiger, who have both been making music since the JKF first started. Black Tiger even performed at the first ever edition of the festival in 1997.