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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

MN Libraries Expand Offerings; More than a Place to Get Books

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Wednesday, November 21, 2012   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - As times keep changing, so is what's happening inside libraries across Minnesota. They're no longer only places to get books.

Libraries are valued institutions in many communities, says Stacey Millet, senior program officer for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, so it make sense that they're expanding their offerings.

"Some libraries have gardens. Some libraries are partnering with their community education programs or adult basic ed to offer innovative programs that they might not have done before. It's not just a quiet place anymore; there's a lot of activity."

The Blue Cross Foundation recently awarded $180,000 in grants to libraries in Austin, Elbow Lake, Marshall and Owatonna. Millet says the funding will be used for programs that aim to improve the health of the communities, through activities such as social connections and job training.

"We recognize that perhaps there's a role that these institutions can play in helping advance what we call 'health equity' in their local communities. It's that they're the 'go-to' places and they could work with people who come in, on a variety of issues."

Among the grant winners is Thorson Memorial Library in Elbow Lake. Its director, Gail Hedstrom says their program will help residents in all aspects of finding work, because those who are employed are on average healthier than those who are not.

"We realized, looking through a great deal of research, that levels of education and employment are indicators for health. We really thought that this was a proactive way to help people to be more healthy, was to make sure they could reach their education potential as well as their employment potential."

Programming at Thorson Library will include career assessments, resume building, job-search tips and more.

More information is online at http://bcbsmnfoundation.com.


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