Minnesota News & Current Events | Public News Service

Hunger-fighting groups say one in six Minnesota school children lives in a household experiencing food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

MN Looks to Erase Hunger in Schools

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as the potential benefits as Minnesota lawmakers discuss whether to provide free school meals …

A researcher examines Kernza grains. (The Land Institute)

Perennial Grains: For Beer, Bread and the Fight Against Climate Change

By Jake Christie for Great Lakes Echo. Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection, reporting for Great Lakes Echo/Solutions …

Clinics providing abortions in Minnesota have reported a surge in patients since neighboring states were given the legal path to enact bans. It has fueled broader concerns about access to the procedure, as well as reproductive care. (Adobe Stock)

New Law Could Add Clarity to Reproductive Care in Rural MN

Reproductive rights advocates are cheering Minnesota's new law centering around abortion access. Supporters predict it could help in other ways for …

A Twin Cities project hopes to develop a model to spur the adoption of solar installations along business corridors in underserved communities. (Adobe Stock)

Disadvantaged Business Corridors in MN Get Solar Boost

Racial disparities are apparent when it comes to rooftop solar installation, researchers have reported. In Minnesota, there are efforts to close …

AmeriCorps says in its latest report, Minnesotans logged 108 million hours of formal volunteer service. (Adobe Stock)

MN Fares Well in New Volunteer Rankings

New data on volunteering in the U.S. carries good news for Minnesota. Every other year, the independent government agency AmeriCorps works with the …

MN Navigates School Funding as Poll Shows Support for More Aid

A Minnesota House committee heard testimony Thursday about the governor's proposed spending plan for education. As these talks unfold, public polling …

A national report says only 48% of prime-age workers in rural communities are protected through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act because rural businesses are more likely to be small and fall outside the FMLA's coverage. (Adobe Stock)

Measuring Paid Leave Access in Rural MN

Researchers have said rural communities face a host of unique challenges, and access to paid leave is one of them. Advocates hope the needs of rural …

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 38% of Americans have no trust at all in newspapers, TV and radio. (Adobe Stock)

News Literacy Week: Keeping Up the Fight Against Misinformation

Today is the start of National News Literacy Week, and according to a Minnesota expert, trust in the media remains low. But there are still plenty of …

When people are trying to flee a violent conflict in places like Ukraine, they are often aided through information and resources provided by nonviolent peacekeepers. (Adobe Stock)

MN Group Applauds Funding for 'Unarmed Civilian Protection'

Humanitarian groups, including one based in Minnesota, pointed out global conflicts have been pervasive in recent years. And in those trouble spots…

Minnesota's electric utilities have already reached a goal of 25% renewable-energy generation by 2025. But supporters of a new standard say the climate crisis has created a sense of urgency to revise the goal. (Adobe Stock)

MN Puts Proposed "100% Carbon-Free" Goal on Fast Track

Minnesota has surpassed the goals it set more than a decade ago for renewable-energy standards. But as the climate crisis grows larger, there's a …

Those behind a new report calling for a more robust behavioral-health workforce say like other professions, the pandemic has placed a lot of strain on provider networks around the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Mental-Health Workforce Has Capable Help Waiting in Wings

Like many other states, Minnesota has its share of provider gaps when it comes to mental-health care, and a new report cited steps Congress and other …

Advocates say Amazon's Minnesota operations fail to provide a safe workplace, stable employment, and adequate compensation to its workers, who are disproportionately Black and include many East African immigrants. (Adobe Stock)

MN Warehouse Workers: Unsafe at Any Speed?

Consumer demand for delivery companies like Amazon is not going away. But some people in Minnesota want more protections for workers filling orders …

In the Minnesota Legislature, there's a prospective price-gouging bill for emergencies, and violators could see a maximum penalty of $25,000 per day. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to Prevent Price Gouging in Emergencies Surfaces in MN

From supply shortages at the start of the pandemic to recent inflation spikes, consumer prices have sometimes been linked to claims of price gouging…

Minnesota has always been among the states with high voter turnout, but Democratic leaders say democracy concerns on a larger scale are prompting them to pursue legislation to increase access to the polls. (Adobe Stock)

MN Part of Push to Expand Access to Voting

State legislatures across the country have reconvened, with many expected to take up election policy, including Minnesota. At the state Capitol…

One of the provisions in a proposed Minnesota bill to restore driving privileges to undocumented people is data protection, so that agencies wouldn't be able to share a person's immigration status. (Adobe Stock)

MN Debates Drivers' Licenses for Undocumented People

It's been two decades since Minnesota stopped allowing undocumented people to apply for a driver's license. But there's renewed momentum in the …

Leading up to the pandemic, fewer men were attending college. But the pandemic appears to have prevented more women from enrolling soon after high school. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer Women Enroll in College; Racial Equity a Factor

Higher education experts say a concerning trend has emerged in the pandemic - declining college enrollment among young women. Those pushing for …

Summit Carbon Solutions has plans for a $4.5 billion project to collect carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota, and store the CO2 underground in North Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

MN Sets Application Rules for Carbon Pipeline Review

Minnesota regulators are putting together plans to review a proposed carbon pipeline for the western part of the state. A meeting held Thursday set …

The mortality rate among Black infants in Minnesota is nearly twice the rate for white infants. (Adobe Stock)

Minnesota Expands Postnatal Health Coverage

Minnesota lawmakers are back at work for a new legislative session, and changes approved last year are now being implemented, including efforts to …

Roughly 70% of cardiac arrests that don't happen in the hospital occur in homes, meaning a friend or family member is mostly likely to be the person who needs to take action. Health experts say that is why it's important to get CPR training. (Adobe Stock)

NFL Case Prompts Reminders about CPR Training

Lifesaving measures are getting a lot of attention this week after an NFL player went into cardiac arrest during a game, and Minnesotans are being …

Kelley Blue Book says Americans bought almost 41 million used vehicles last year. But Minnesota lawmakers say some used cars that look fine can come with significant damage under previous ownership that wasn't reflected in the title. (Adobe Stock)

MN Closes Loophole on Damage Transparency for Used Cars

A new Minnesota law took effect January 1 designed to reduce risks for people buying used vehicles. It comes as more Americans lean on the market for …

Despite longstanding political narratives, the American Election Eve Poll showed small-town and rural support for issues such as abortion, health care and climate-change solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Keeping It Local: MN Dems Look to Build on Rural Organizing Success

Democrats have struggled to turn "red" rural areas "blue" across the U.S. for years, but in states such as Minnesota, organizers feel involving more …

A user plugs an Evie electric vehicle into a charging station as part of its car-sharing program. (Photo courtesy Evie Carshare)

MN Electric Vehicle-Share Program Finds Success After False Start

By Frank Jossi for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

Housing assistance groups say 25% of Minnesota homeowners and renters pay more than they can afford for housing. (Adobe Stock)

Market Challenges Persist, But MN Keeps Affordable Housing Solutions in Sight

Amid a challenging housing market, Minnesota has released annual funds to provide more affordable homes around the state. It coincides with efforts …

Federal labor analysts say across all age groups, persons with disabilities were much less likely to be employed than those with no disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Policy Fix Sought to Keep Workers with Disabilities On the Job

Medicaid "Buy In" is considered a key health insurance tool for workers with disabilities. But according to a new report, the reach of these programs …

The NLRB is responsible for administering and enforcing the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Concerns Grow About NLRB Budget Amid More Labor Organizing

With unionization picking up in Minnesota and elsewhere, the agency that oversees labor relations is struggling to keep up. That's led to a funding …

Community health workers offer many services, including education on topics related to chronic disease prevention, physical activity and nutrition. (Adobe Stock)

Community Health Workers Make Inroads in MN

It's been three years since COVID-19 cases first surfaced. While doctors and nurses have treated those patients, community health workers continued …

Workers in July helped with installation at a 15-megawatt solar construction site owned by Minnesota Power in Sylvan, near Brainerd. (Photo courtesy of CEEM)

Will 2023 Be MN's Big Year for Clean-Energy Policy?

Despite gains in certain areas, Minnesota is still behind its current goals to reduce carbon emissions. But those in the clean-energy sector see big …

Union leaders representing the nation's railroad workers say it's nearly impossible for members to get time off, given the industry's staffing crunches. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Deal, Rail Workers Say Conditions Still Rough

The nation's railroad workers say while they have a new contract, they're still fighting for quality-of-life issues. That was demonstrated at …

Supporters of providing free school meals to all students say it removes administrative and registration headaches for both schools and parents. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Rising Hunger, MN Sees Renewed Calls for Universal Lunches

On the heels of last week's news that Minnesota's budget surplus has grown larger, there are renewed calls to approve free school meals for all …

This year, consumer prices jumped to their highest level in 40 years, putting extra strain on families who are faced with higher medical bills. (Adobe Stock)

Keeping Childhood Cancer from Crushing a Family's Budget

As Americans make end-of-year donations to their favorite causes, those that help children with cancer and their families say these households need …

Minnesota is poised to receive more than $7 billion from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to add infrastructure, such as EV charging stations. Many projects require matching funds from the state to take full advantage of the federal grants. (Adobe Stock)

As Session Nears, MN Faces Renewed Pressure Over Public-Works Funds

Minnesota's projected budget surplus now stands at more than $17 billion, and supporters of clean energy projects and other infrastructure needs say …

Minnesota nurses have been working without a contract for several months. In September, 15,000 walked off the job in what was believed to be the largest private-sector nurses' strike in U.S. history. (Adobe Stock)

Working Conditions Hang Over Another Possible MN Nurses Strike

Barring an agreement, 15,000 Minnesota nurses will go on strike next week. It would be the second walkout in recent months in a labor dispute that …

Officials at the state's Department of Natural Resources say last year's drought in Minnesota was likely the worst one seen since 1988. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Snow, Climate Watchers Keep Close Eye on MN Drought Patterns

Snow is on the ground in much of Minnesota, but the state is coming off another warm season with notable drought conditions. Those who monitor …

Surveys show that most Americans recognize our deep political divisions are not good for the nation. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

Using the Holidays to Find Common Ground Over Politics

The holidays can be stressful, and our deeply divided political times can make it harder to see family, but efforts across the country are happening …

In the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey, nearly 150 11th graders reported obtaining scratch-off tickets on a daily basis. (Adobe Stock)

Lotto Tix as a Gift? MN Campaign Says Don't Buy Them for Youth

With Thanksgiving over, the holiday shopping season has the full attention of many Americans. But in Minnesota and elsewhere, people are being asked …

Economists say state and local governments account for a substantially higher share of economic output than the federal government. (Adobe Stock)

It's a Whole New Ball Game for MN Local Governments

Over the weekend, a conference featuring thousands of local government leaders from around the U.S. wrapped up. A Minnesota mayor was in attendance …

In a new Minnesota survey, 64% of respondents said the state should focus on preserving and conserving grasslands, forests and wetlands. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Minnesotans Worried About Climate Change, but Hopeful on Solutions

A major global conference centered around climate change is winding down this week. As those talks play out, Minnesotans are expressing their …

Minnesota leaders say they received strong demand for new grants that help food shelves stock on up culturally preferred foods in BIPOC communities. They say they might have to increase the budget in the next cycle. (Adobe Stock)

MN Ramps Up Support for Food Shelves Short on Culturally Relevant Supplies

Amid a wave of higher demand at food shelves, some locations in greater Minnesota are also trying to meet the needs of increasingly diverse …

Environmental experts say once chemicals from road salt enter a body of water, they are almost impossible to remove, requiring expensive and energy-intensive processes like reverse osmosis. (Adobe Stock)

Road Salt Threatens U.S. Waterways; Smarter Use Seen as Solution

By Diana Kruzman for Grist.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboration Env…

State health officials say lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in both men and women in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Putting Spotlight on Lung Cancer and How to Prevent It

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, bringing the spotlight to the country's deadliest form of cancer. There will be an estimated 130,000 lung …

Some 70% of public schools in the United States reported an increase in the percentage of students seeking mental-health services at school since the start of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

MN School Mental-Health Staffs Navigate Funding Maze

Two months into the new school year, Minnesota social workers in schools say resources still are hard to come by for providing mental-health services…

Along with Illinois, Minnesota is poised to be one of the last Midwestern states to still allow abortions following the recent Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Adobe Stock)

MN Election Brings Clarity to Future of Abortion Policy

Minnesota is preparing for a state government described as a "pro-choice" trifecta. Those supporting abortion access say having Democrats in control …

In recent years, Minnesota has had a divided state government, which has led to gridlock on several important issues. (Adobe Stock)

Looking Past Election, MN Groups Push Priorities

As Minnesota pores over midterm election results, there are calls for policymakers to pursue more protections for the state's working class, but …

In Minnesota, the average home heating aid distributed to eligible households each winter is $500. (Adobe Stock)

Winter is Coming: Help for Higher Heating Bills in MN

After warm a start to November, cooler temperatures have found their way back to Minnesota. That's prompting reminders for homeowners and renters to …

As Minnesotans cast their ballots, they're deciding a number of key races, including governor and state attorney general. (Adobe Stock)

MN SoS: Drop Off is Now Best Bet for Absentee Ballots

So far, more than 375,000 ballots have been accepted in Minnesota's early-voting window ahead of next Tuesday's election. If you still have …

Federal officials say Minnesota is home to more than 533,000 small businesses. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Funding Flows to Struggling Main Streets in MN

For some Minnesota small businesses, it's been harder to fully recover from major events of the past two years. A state grant program has a new round …

Minnesota is poised to receive more than $300 million to fight the opioid crisis, with 75% going directly to hard-hit communities. (Adobe Stock)

Settlement Work Viewed as Big Part of MN AG's Office

This fall, initial payments from Minnesota's settlement with opioid manufacturers began flowing to communities to help with fallout from the epidemic…

Organizers leading voter outreach efforts within Minnesota's Latino community feel younger generations will drive participation for the midterm election. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Effort Works to Connect with MN's Latino Voters

Across the U.S. a record number of Latinos voted in the 2020 election. In Minnesota, grassroots efforts have ramped up to avoid any participation …

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