Minnesota News & Current Events | Public News Service

Most of the buses in Minnesota's rural transportation system are ADA-compliant and equipped with wheelchair lifts for passengers with disabilities. (Arrowhead Transit)

Friday, July 26, 2024

Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options

Traveling around rural Minnesota can be difficult but in more than half the state, nonprofit transit systems are helping people get where they need …

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called on members to defend democracy, voting rights and public education in the run-up to the presidential election this November. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

MN educators join national calls for democracy, better working conditions

Politics and education reform are among the major topics at a national convention of more than 3,500 teachers union members this week, including some …

According to the Minnesota Housing Partnership, more than 640,000 households across the state are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than they can afford for their housing. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Many Minnesotans squeezed by housing costs

Newly released data in Minnesota underscores what housing assistance groups have been preaching - it's become increasingly difficult for many people t…

Industry groups said Minnesota's current solar investments have created enough capacity to power nearly 400,000 homes. (Adobe Stock)

MN poised to complete one of nation's largest solar farms after permit vote

Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation's largest solar energy developments, after state …

A cat from Minneapolis, now named Rue, is recovering from extensive injuries after a suspected case of animal cruelty. (Photo courtesy of Home for Life Animal Sanctuary)

MN case brings renewed focus on animal cruelty

Pet lovers say a Minnesota cat that narrowly escaped death is in recovery after being thrown from a high-rise apartment building. They want …

Minnesota farmer Stuart Lavalier proudly displays his solar installation on his property along the Iron Range. (Photo courtesy of Resource Rural)

MN berry grower adds solar power to his revenue stream

By Bryce Oates for Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public News Service Co…

The Environmental Working Group said in a new report when someone thinks of farm subsidies, they might not picture the recipient living in a downtown Minneapolis apartment but it showed loopholes approved by Congress allow it to happen more frequently. (Adobe Stock)

'Big city' farmers cash in on government aid, drawing fairness questions

Minneapolis-St. Paul is in the top five metro areas where investors in farms are receiving large amounts of government subsidies. Authors of a new …

In making homes more energy efficient, Minnesotans could see new rebates released sometime next year. Officials are still piecing together the framework for these new programs, which are federally funded. (Adobe Stock)

With new home energy rebates on horizon, MN wants to emphasize equity

Minnesotans this month have a chance to share their thoughts on how the state should distribute home energy rebates. With federal incentives coming …

A University of Minnesota expert said drinking enough water helps your muscles work efficiently, a key benefit for those doing outdoor labor during hotter stretches. (Adobe Stock)

Ice cold water: A shield against hot temperatures, especially for outdoor workers

Minnesota could see temperatures reach the 90s in the coming days and as residents try to stay hydrated, one health expert said consistency is key…

Under Minnesota law, landlords are prohibited from accepting application fees when no units are available. Housing advocates say there are some examples where landlords might not break the law, but they accept fees from applicants that make it clear they don't meet the requirements. (Adobe Stock)

Pie-in-the-sky listings? Paying rental application fees for an out-of-reach unit

Data is scarce, but Minnesota housing advocates say in a tough rental environment, applicants sometimes fork over screening fees for a unit they …

Minnesota officials say a new roofing standard, created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, has shown to reduce the costs of hail and wind-related damages by up to 60%. The standard is now being used for home resiliency programs. (Adobe Stock)

Roof repair grants could keep MN insurance claims from spiraling out of control

Minnesota is part of a patchwork of states trying to reimagine storm preparedness, by making roofs on homes stronger - before winds and hail fueled …

The Conservation Fund said it aims to protect five million acres of forest by 2035. (Adobe Stock)

National project helps MN push back against deforestation

Deforestation remains a concern in the U.S. but success stories are emerging and Minnesota advocates said new achievements bode well for all …

According to the national organization Inseparable, Minnesota's 988 mental health crisis call line is within federal goals related to answer rates. (Adobe Stock)

MN part of deeper look into '988' crisis line effectiveness

A new report examined the rollout of the 988 mental health crisis line in each state, including Minnesota. The revamped National Suicide and Crisis …

According to the U.S. Department of energy, e-bikes topped the 1 million mark in sales in 2022, almost four times the total from 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Can e-bikes become a carbon reduction force?

Tomorrow Minnesota will reopen online applications for electric bike rebates. Environmental advocates are closely watching consumer demand for …

The union representing Minneapolis park keepers says since 1984, the department's superintendent's salary has increased by 229%, but in contrast, frontline workers' wages have fallen behind when factoring in inflation. (Adobe Stock)

Mpls. labor dispute highlights park workers' job challenges

With the July 4 holiday approaching, families are likely to spend time at municipal parks to celebrate and Parks Department staff in Minneapolis hope …

Proposed water permit changes in Minnesota to limit harmful runoff from industrial farms would only cover about 1,000 of the state's 17,000 livestock feedlots. However, environmental groups said the affected farms generate about one-third of the manure spread on agricultural fields. (Adobe Stock)

MN regulators unveil tougher water permit requirements for CAFO's

Minnesota will soon hold public hearings on proposed water permit changes as it seeks to get control of nitrate pollution from industrial farms…

If you are displaced by a natural disaster such as a flood, consumer watchdogs say you should keep all your receipts, including for food and temporary lodging as your home is repaired. It can help recoup expenses when going through necessary insurance claims and other forms of assistance. (Adobe Stock)

Watchdog hopes MN flood victims keep shady contractors at bay

Communities across Minnesota, especially in its southern half, have been responding to flood emergencies, and consumer protection groups are urging …

Violence Free Minnesota reported in 2018 through 2022, nearly 67% of bystanders or intervenors to domestic violence were killed by an abusive person using a firearm. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS ruling instills hope for domestic violence prevention groups

Domestic-violence prevention organizations in Minnesota continue to express relief over a U.S. Supreme Court ruling dealing with abusers having …

The Minnesota DNR says rivers in several parts of the state are running extremely high and fast, and conservation officers recommend people stay off the areas until water levels drop. (Photo courtesy of DNR)

Soggy MN weather prompts safety issues as state park season kicks off

Recent bouts of heavy rain are not just leading to flooded basements in Minnesota, they are reducing access to state parks just as summer demand …

Authors of a new report examining election laws for each state say inconsistent federal funding has made operations harder for local election administrators. If states do not fill the funding gap, replacing aging voting equipment becomes more difficult. (Adobe Stock)

Automatic voter registration stands out in MN election-law analysis

This week, Minnesota leaders touted early numbers under a new automatic voter-registration law. The provision was among the highlights in a report …

A senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council's Climate and Clean Energy Program said burning wood biomass for renewable energy actually emits more carbon dioxide than coal for every unit of electricity produced. (Adobe Stock)

Could other exceptions come with MN's new carbon-free law?

Minnesota is sorting out details ahead of trying to meet its 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2040. Some environmental advocates feel energy …

Staring July 1, Minnesota drivers 55 and older will only have to take four hours of a driver safety course to get an auto insurance discount, down from the current requirement of eight course hours. (Adobe Stock)

MN finalizes overhaul of driver safety education policy

On average, nearly 40% of traffic-fatality victims in Minnesota are 55 and older. A law change soon goes into effect to help more of these drivers …

Advocates are concerned that large corporate

MN farmers push for more protection from corporate agriculture in Farm Bill

With a September deadline looming for Congress to finish work on renewing the Farm Bill, Minnesota family farmers are pushing for more regulations to …

Between 2017 and 2022, Minnesota saw a more than 30% increase in farm acres planted with cover crops. (Adobe Stock)

Cover crops: A mighty force for land health, with room for growth

When Minnesota farmers watch their crops grow this summer, some will monitor land that has better soil health. It's because of a fairly popular …

Minnesota has joined nearly a dozen other states in passing Clean Light laws that center around banning the sale of fluorescent bulbs, which contain mercury. (Adobe Stock)

MN turns out the light on fluorescent bulbs

Walk through a store or schools, and there's a chance the overhead lighting will come from long fluorescent tubes. Minnesota is taking steps to phase …

Organizations like Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota recommend bolstering tutoring programs and other out-of-school learning opportunities for kids to help address lagging test scores. (Adobe Stock)

Patience urged as MN policies evolve to improve outcomes for kids

Despite a handful of concerning results for child well-being in Minnesota, one policy expert says the state is well positioned to make structural …

Those behind a new electric ambulance say standard gas-powered EMS vehicles usually only last about seven years. But they say their electric model can stay on the road for a full decade. (Adobe Stock)

You've heard of electric buses, but what about zero-emission ambulances?

From passenger cars to school buses, the transportation sector is steadily ramping up its push for all-electric vehicles. In the future, ambulances …

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book says 68% of eighth graders in Minnesota were not proficient in math. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Education challenges overshadow MN child well-being

Mirroring national trends, Minnesota has some concerning educational metrics in an annual child well-being report. However, there are some positive …

When it was adopted last year, Minnesota's Driver's Licenses for All law was forecast to allow more than 80,000 undocumented individuals to begin the process to secure a license. (Adobe Stock)

Several months in, Latino advocates assess MN's Driver's Licenses for All

Events are scheduled this month to inform more people about Minnesota's new law eliminating the need for proof of legal residence to get a driver's li…

United Health Foundation says for older adults, the early death rate has gone down by 8%. Officials say while that's an improvement, the rate is still higher than pre-pandemic levels. (Adobe Stock)

Mixed outlook revealed in new well-being report for older adults

Older adults in Minnesota and across the nation are navigating various challenges that affect their quality of life. An annual report shows progress…

The research community reported sexually exploited boys commonly experience adverse mental health effects including depression, PTSD and substance use disorder. (Adobe Stock)

Report sheds light on service gap for boys who are sexually exploited

Experts in the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors said there is a gap in highlighting how young men are targeted and new research said ma…

The pandemic brought a new focus on mental-health care needs, but the industry says it's still adapting to increased demands for services. (Adobe Stock)

Mental health care and MN's facility crunch

Human services leaders say Minnesota is in a mental-health crisis, complicating efforts to manage behavioral health facilities. Closure plans for …

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy says a law change, which includes updating the state's public waters list, could provide protections for at least 640 miles of additional waterways across the state. (Adobe Stock)

To shield public waterways from runoff, MN takes an inventory dive

What might seem like an under-the-radar administrative task could end up being a lifesaver for Minnesota waterways in need of safeguards against agric…

The meal pictured above was served at a recent Minneapolis event designed to call more attention to climate change and its effect on food production. (Photo courtesy of Jayme Halbritter)

Can fancy dinners deliver message on climate change?

By Cinnamon Janzer for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public N…

According to various tracking organizations, 47% of FAFSA applicants are first-generation college students. (Adobe Stock)

New digital tool emerges to help MN students with FAFSA woes

The effect of technical glitches in overhauling the student financial-aid form known as FAFSA is still being felt. Issues stemming from a redesign …

The federal government collects more than $1 billion every year through an excise tax on such items as licenses, guns, arrows and fishing tackle to fund wildlife conservation programs. (Adobe Stock)

As Congress debates new Farm Bill, hunters and anglers speak up

This week, Congress is picking up work on a new Farm Bill and hunters and anglers said billions of dollars in investments in private-lands …

The National Conference of State Legislatures says addressing prison gerrymandering has become one of the fastest-growing trends in enacting redistricting reforms. (Adobe Stock)

New MN law ends prison gerrymandering

Minnesota's legislative session wrapped up over the weekend with lawmakers banning so-called prison gerrymandering. The provision was part of an …

Leaders with the nonprofit Achieving the Dream say rural community colleges often aren't viewed, as are universities, as the

With national support, MN rural community college can reshape its future

A Minnesota community college serving rural students is getting a lift as it works to bring more innovation to its campus. The school was selected …

The Midwest is expected to see a host of new transmission line projects over the next decade to accommodate clean energy growth. But getting the necessary permits can take time, since these projects often cross multiple jurisdictions. (Adobe Stock)

MN lawmakers give clean energy permitting a makeover

In the future, clean energy projects in Minnesota might come together more quickly, since state lawmakers have advanced a permitting reform measure…

Minnesota's minimum wage of $10.85 took effect in January. It includes lower levels for small employers and workers falling under a handful of other categories. (Adobe Stock)

MN poised to establish standardized minimum wage

Minnesota is moving closer to ensure all workers are eligible for the state's minimum wage of $10.85 an hour. The Legislature has been taking action …

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 90% of contractors are experiencing moderate-to-high difficulty finding skilled talent. Figures like that are prompting enhanced efforts to train more apprentices in the construction trades. (Adobe Stock)

Pick up a hammer? MN apprentices say, 'Why not?'

It's graduation season, and in Minnesota, it's not just high schools and universities sending off waves of students. Organizers say they're seeing a …

Stakeholders across the renewable-energy industry say there's a bottleneck of projects due to constraints within the nation's power grid. (Adobe Stock)

For clean energy, power grid is a Rubik's Cube needing to be solved

A federal agency today is expected to announce reforms related to the power grid, which is stretched thin as the nation transitions away from fossil …

In a new poll commissioned by the Rural Democracy Initiative, nearly half of rural voters indicated they would vote for a culturally aligned rural Democrat over a Republican businessperson from an urban area on the East Coast. (Adobe Stock)

New poll shows rural voters aren't pigeonholed on key topics

Former President Donald Trump is expected to appear at a Minnesota fundraising event later this month. It comes amid new polling data in battleground …

Researchers with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions say safe storage of firearms is a good way to prevent suicides, especially when adolescents are in the home. (Adobe Stock)

Firearm storage bill highlights latest MN gun safety efforts

The end date for Minnesota's legislative session is less than two weeks away. One of the remaining debates is gun safety and supporters of a safe …

For the 2023 tax year, the top five Minnesota counties under the state's wind energy production tax received nearly $12-million in combined revenue. (Adobe Stock)

In some MN counties, wind turbines are taxpayers, too

Minnesota is coming off another windy month of April. Those strong wind gusts may have translated into some extra cash for counties with wind …

A Minnesota research group said between 2020 and 2022, buried utility infrastructure was damaged 7,440 times, with broadband installation serving as a major factor. (Adobe Stock)

Broadband crunch produces side effect: underground digging mishaps

Government leaders are acting with urgency to get underserved communities connected with high speed internet but in Minnesota, underground digging …

The American Heart Association cites emerging research showing in stroke care, elements of artificial intelligence-based supports reduced the chances of additional strokes by more than 25%. (Adobe Stock)

AI has its critics, but for stroke patients, it might be a lifesaver

Artificial intelligence has come under scrutiny over potential negative impacts on society but a Minnesota medical expert said it has become one of ma…

Over the past five years, Minnesota added 2.2 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity while reducing coal dependency by 1.2 gigawatts. (Dusanpetkovic1/Adobestock)

Report: Carbon-free sources now power more than half of Minnesota’s electricity

Minnesota is a leader in renewable energy - getting 54% of its electricity from zero-carbon sources last year, according to the 2024 Minnesota Energy …

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