Minnesota News & Current Events | Public News Service

Early voting in Minnesota began in late September. And if you're heading to the polls soon, officials remind people worried about their voter registration status to bring along a current billing statement to help update your registration on the spot. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Billing statements could be your gateway to voting in MN

More than 3.6 million Minnesotans are registered to vote this fall. But if you're worried that something will get you turned away at the polls…

According to Climate Central, the U.S. experienced about two times more weather-related power outages during the last 10 years than the previous decade. (Adobe Stock)

Great Lakes businesses keep close eye on legal fight over carbon rule

For now, the Environmental Protection Agency can move forward with plans to establish new, federal carbon pollution standards for power plants…

Guaranteed-income programs tend to run 12 to 18 months, but a Minnesota initiative that helps artists is tinkering with a several-year approach. (Adobe Stock)

MN effort helps artists nurture creative spark with extra funds in their pockets

One in three Americans indicates they're living paycheck-to-paycheck, and that includes many artists. A Minnesota organization is expanding its …

According to an industry report, clean-vehicle jobs in Minnesota grew by 13.2% in 2023, the highest of any clean-energy jobs subsector. (Adobe Stock)

MN's clean-energy workforce still strong, but needs more diverse expertise

An annual report shows Minnesota now tops 62,000 clean-energy jobs, a new state record. Federal and state policies are fueling growth. However…

According to the Pew Research Center, 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. (Adobe Stock)

Election 2024: When small MN city confronts big political tension

If it is getting harder to talk with the people in your life about politics, a community-level survey in northeastern Minnesota indicated you are not …

Beyond monthly heating bill aid, Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program also provides funds for those who can't afford re-connection fees charged by their utility provider. (Adobe Stock)

New MN law, heating aid take the chill out of energy burdens

Minnesota is in its first cold snap of the fall season, and a new law aims to protect renters from thermostat hang-ups with their landlord. It …

Federal officials said by embracing energy-efficient upgrades, such as a smart thermostat, a single eligible household can enjoy savings of up to $14,000. (Adobe Stock)

With the help of navigators, MN Latinos take the clean energy plunge

Summerlike temperatures are still around but winter is lurking and Minnesotans will soon have to crank up their thermostats. Now, there is outreach …

In key takeaways from 2024 polling data released by the Rural Democracy Initiative, Donald Trump held a 26-point lead among registered rural voters back in March. However, Kamala Harris has cut Trump's lead to 18 points among rural likely voters based on updated surveys. (Adobe Stock)

Checking the rural voter temperature in MN and elsewhere

The November election is one month from today and Minnesota is part of a new multistate poll drawing feedback from rural voters. The research firm …

Union membership is still well below levels from past decades, however, there has been a revival in organization activity and various policies tied to the presidential election are fueling interest among key unions. (Adobe Stock)

Concerned union voices put spotlight on Project 2025

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are trying to appeal to labor groups on the campaign trail. A much-debated policy …

Experts said painting and other art projects can provide a safe and therapeutic outlet for youths to convey their thoughts, emotions and experiences. (Adobe Stock)

Mpls. initiative strives to give youths a creative and healing outlet

Social behavior experts said teens have fewer safe spaces to gather, with technology-driven isolation complicating matters. It is more pronounced in …

A recent Surgeon General Advisory, highlighting parent burnout, calls for a shift in culture, policies and programs to ensure all parents and caregivers can thrive. (Adobe Stock)

MN after-school programs learn how to work around parent burnout

On the heels of warnings from federal health officials about parent burnout, school-linked programs in Minnesota are overhauling their approach so …

Experts said there is growing debate over whether waste incineration plants can be considered a form of renewable energy. Environmental advocates argued they are often located near communities suffering from environmental injustice. (Adobe Stock)

MN's carbon-free law takes a more complex pathway

Environmental groups in Minnesota are considering their next steps on the heels of a regulatory decision they said weakens the state's landmark carbon…

Despite care gaps, health experts with the American Heart Association say in Minnesota, every resident is within 30 minutes of a hospital able to provide stroke care. (Adobbe Stock)

With new grant, MN renews efforts to improve care for stroke patients

Minnesota has 120 hospitals designated for treating stroke patients but health leaders say more work is needed to reach underserved populations…

Labor policy analysts said the pandemic brought workers' rights back into the forefront, with employees in a variety of sectors expressing a desire for their well-being to be taken more seriously by their employers. (Adobe Stock)

Knowledge is power during Workplace Rights Week in MN

Through this Saturday, Minnesota is recognizing Workplace Rights Week. From COVID precautions to emerging technology, labor voices said there is key …

The Environmental Protection Agency said aviation in the United States accounts for nearly 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions from the transportation sector. (Adobe Stock)

Cruising at 30,000 feet with cleaner jet fuel: MN part of sustainability efforts

Some Minnesotans might already be booking flights for the upcoming holiday season. In the future, they could end up flying on a jet relying on …

Retention basins are artificial ponds often used on farms to manage water and prevent fertilizer and other contaminants from reaching nearby waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Flooded farm fields no longer the norm for some MN producers

Minnesota has had a dry start to the fall but saw record rain this past spring. One farmer said changes to his land made it easier for the crop …

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature set aside $500,000 for local election offices to improve voting access for those with disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN

Early voting begins today in Minnesota and the state has implemented policy moves with the intent of making voting easier. Nonpartisan civic …

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost for a single cycle of IVF to range from $15,000 to $20,000 and can exceed $30,000 if a donor egg is involved. (Adobe Stock)

As U.S. Senate votes down IVF bill, MN parent speaks out

A bill to bolster protections for in vitro fertilization treatments failed in the U.S. Senate Tuesday and as the political debate plays out, a …

Minnesota's Center for Rural Policy and Development said in rural settings, parents are often forced to take a child to the emergency room during a mental health crisis. (Adobe Stock)

Rural MN families have few options for youth mental healthcare

Gaps in mental health care are a common research topic right now and for Minnesota youth in rural areas, a new report showed their families face big …

In breaking down Minnesota's Latino population by age, nearly 223,000 are working-age adults between 18 and 64 years old. (Adobe stock)

In MN, leadership, culture variation part of Hispanic Heritage Month

Over the weekend, Hispanic Heritage Month got underway. In Minnesota, people are recognizing the diversity within these populations, as well as …

AARP says between 3 million and 4 million Medicare enrollees nationwide are estimated to benefit from the new out-of-pocket federal cap every year between 2025 and 2029. Of the total, 40,050 are in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Picture becomes clearer on drug cost savings for older Minnesotans

Consumer advocates have long detailed how older adults struggle to manage the cost of their medications but hope is emerging in Minnesota and elsewher…

Beyond additional support for K-12 schools, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill creating a free college tuition program for households earning annual incomes below $80,000. (Adobe Stock)

Former Walz colleagues bring education record into focus

The start of a new year of school in Minnesota has a new twist: intense focus from national media and voters across the U.S. With Gov. Tim Walz …

In a 2024 poll from Rural Democracy Initiative, rural voters said they're deeply concerned about rising costs for everyone, especially housing, healthcare, and childcare. (Adobe Stock)

Connecting Minnesota policies to rural needs

Recent Minnesota policy moves are in the national spotlight, with Gov. Tim Walz on the Democratic presidential ticket. Rural areas within the state …

The Center for Rural Affairs said if all forecasted solar in the Midwest was developed on prime farmland, it would occupy only 1.45% to 2.9% of such farmland in this part of the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Tractors, barns and solar panels: Renewables help reshape MN ag land use

Minnesota has plenty of prime farmland, with some of it being converted in the transition to clean energy sources such as solar. The movement has …

During Hunger Action Month, key organizations are calling on Congress to protect funding for support programs as lawmakers debate budget proposals. (Adobe Stock)

'On the edge of catastrophe': A call to arms during Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month and a food shelf coordinator in Minnesota does not see increased demand going down anytime soon. According to …

The Postsecondary National Policy Institue says in 2020, 22% of the 18- to 24-year-old Native American population were enrolled in college compared to 40% of the overall U.S. population. (Adobe Stock)

MN's new free tuition program resets higher ed path for tribal students

Indigenous populations have long faced barriers in pursuing higher education and Minnesota's new free college tuition program could help put some of t…

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, lower courts usually define a

MN livestock producers may take concerns to the polls

Concerns about consolidation in the meat industry could drive livestock producers to the polls. Just four companies process about 85% of American …

Sustainable energy systems such as heat pumps are getting a lot of attention amid government incentives to reduce carbon emissions from homes and businesses. (Adobe Stock)

With help of federal aid, MN 'green building' projects take flight

The federal Inflation Reduction Act just turned two years old. Those tracking its implementation said when you peel back the layers, a lot is taking …

In a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Cement Masons Plasterers and Shophands Local 633 holds a 10-week training camp each summer for Native Americans looking to learn a trade. (Photo courtesy of Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota)

MN cement mason bootcamp pays off for tribal youths

The next time you drive over a newly built highway in Minnesota, the concrete may have been poured by a Native American trained through a pre-…

University of Minnesota officials said a new climate change prediction tool means information gathering is not just for the research community but by the broader public as they prepare for possible scenarios. (Adobe Stock)

Wanna know what climate change looks like in 50 years? MN tool can help

From government planners to farmers to residents, those wondering how climate change will affect Minnesota in the decades to come can now get the …

Each Community Action Agency is different, but many offer help with resume building and interview readiness as low-income individuals try to find stable work. (Adobe Stock)

MN agencies reflect on war on poverty, 60 years in

For six decades, the U.S. has carried out a coordinated effort to keep poverty levels in check. Support offices in Minnesota say there's still need …

In August, experts advise parents to pay attention to their child's mood, to spot and help soothe any anxiety from back-to-school jitters. (Adobe Stock)

Back to school time: Easing your child into the routine

Minnesota children will soon head back to school and experts have a few tips to get them back into a routine and make sure they're in good shape…

Just like meat processing, the agricultural industry has come under scrutiny over fears corporate consolidation is limiting a farmer's options in seeking equipment repairs. (Adobe Stock)

MN farmers feel left out by new 'Right to Repair' law

The fall harvest is around the corner and Minnesota farmers hope their equipment holds up. Advocates said a new state law, intended to level the …

According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos are projected to account for 14.7% of all eligible voters in November 2024, a new high. (Adobe Stock)

MN Latino organizers mobilize election outreach teams

Voters across Minnesota will be participating in today's primary. At the same time, community-level organizers are starting to engage with Latino …

Since the mid-1990s, the May Day Cafe has been a community fixture in South Minneapolis. Workers there are trying to add it to the growing list of worker-owned cooperatives in the United States. (Photo courtesy of Forrest Wozniak/Flickr)

Worker-owned cooperative movement finds footing in MN

CLARIFICATION: While worker-owned cooperatives are seen as one of many solutions to the expected wave of small-business owners retiring, organizers …

As Minnesota governor, Tim Walz has helped push through a range of policies opponents and political observers describe as progressive. Some observers noted he appealed to voters while representing a largely conservative Congressional district prior to serving as governor. (Adobe Stock)

Assessing Walz pick in MN for tone, logistics

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. The timing comes amid conversations about …

Agricultural groups said when a farmer contracts with a large meat company, they often lose control over many aspects of their operation, including the livestock they are housing, creating added stressors. (Adobe Stock)

The mental health case for leaving factory farms behind

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboratio…

Federal tax incentives are being awarded to spur more carbon capture projects around the U.S., including the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline in the Midwest. But some environmental groups want to

Public can weigh in on proposed carbon pipeline in MN

Public hearings are scheduled this month as Minnesota regulators consider a permit for a proposed pipeline to transport carbon emissions from ethanol …

The American Heart Association says nearly 40% of cardiac arrest cases among children happen in conjunction with sports-related activities. (Adobe Stock)

Is your school prepped for a cardiac emergency? MN advocates hope so

They may sit empty right now, but high school athletic fields and gyms will soon be active with practices for fall sports ramping up. Health advocacy …

According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. households will spend around $140 on back-to-school staples such as notebooks and pencil sharpeners. However, other needs, such as shoes and electronics, push the cost much higher. (Adobe Stock)

School supply donations: Notebooks help but so do headphones, gym shoes

The average household is spending nearly $875 on back-to-school items this year, according to the National Retail Federation and Minnesota organizers …

Food systems are responsible for about a third of global greenhouse-gas emissions, according to the United Nations. (Daniel Thornberg/Adobe Stock)

MN gets $200 million to reduce emissions in its food systems

The Environmental Protection Agency is giving Minnesota $200 million to reduce emissions in its food systems. The money will impact a large swath …

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

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)

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 …

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…

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 …

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 …

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