Minnesota News & Current Events | Public News Service

Examples of brownfield sites include an out-of-business gas station, or an old dry-cleaning business which may have disposed chemical solvents down the drain, contaminating the groundwater. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 23, 2022

MN Communities Get Helping Hand to Re-Work Contaminated Sites

Minnesota has more than 10,000 brownfield sites, which are abandoned or idled properties in need of contamination removal. State officials will soon …

Over the past two years, pro-democracy groups say more than 30 states have proposed nearly 230 laws viewed as an attempt to undermine elections. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 20, 2022

Election Fraud Movement Asserts Itself on Policy Stage, Campaign Trail

Examples of proposed policies and candidates tied to false claims of election fraud have spread to Minnesota, and a new national report found the …

A revised federal spending plan for Community Action Agencies creates a new Broadband Navigator discretionary program to help connect low-income families to high-speed internet. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Considers Providing More Local Support to Fight Poverty

May is Community Action Month, and local agencies helping low-income families hope Congress signs off on a plan to bolster and modernize their …

The Degrees When Due initiative has identified nearly 60,000 Minnesota students who earned college credits, but outside factors forced them to put their education on hold. (Adobe Stock)

Program Helps MN Colleges Break Up the 'Stop Out' Pattern

The pandemic and other factors forced some Minnesota college students to put their academic careers on hold. Several schools around the state…

Many Minnesota government workers, including epidemiologists, feel they have yet to be adequately compensated for their sacrifices during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

MN Government Workers Demand Action on Contracts

Minnesota's legislative session is scheduled to end in less than two weeks, and government workers are still seeking final approval of their latest …

Socially responsible investing has been around for decades, but in recent years has moved beyond its "fringe" status. (Adobe Stock)

MN Makes Waves in Socially Responsible Investing

Higher consumer prices are dominating financial headlines, but an investment trend is making noise. It encourages putting money into causes that …

In a recent survey, 69% of Minnesota nursing homes and 29% of assisted living locations placed limits on new admissions because of staffing shortages. (Adobe Stock)

MN LTC Workers: Hero Checks Help, But More Support Needed

Minnesota officials announced this week that frontline workers can likely start applying for hero checks sometime in June. As those plans take shape…

An Unarmed Civilian Protection team from Nonviolent Peaceforce has been assessing needs and working with local groups in Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of NP)

Unarmed Civilian Protection Teams Hope Ukraine Efforts Resonate

This week marked the 75th day since Russia invaded Ukraine. As the humanitarian disaster unfolds, those carrying out Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP)…

Despite some customer interest through utility providers, supporters of air pump heating and cooling systems say they need to overcome awareness barriers and getting more customers to adopt this technology. (Adobe Stock)

Can Air-Source Pumps Help MN Homes Run Cooler?

The calendar indicates it is early May, but many Minnesotans are experiencing summerlike temperatures this week. As residents crank up the air …

The firm that conducted the statewide poll in March, showing a majority of Minnesotans want to keep abortion legal, said it aligns with national poll results. (Adobe Stock)

New Poll: Most Minnesotans Want Abortion Protections

As rhetoric grows about the future of federal abortion protections, new poll results show a majority of Minnesotans don't want the state to impose a …

With access to land ownership and other barriers in place for America's small farms, cooperatives are seen as a way to give them back some of the market power they've lost over the decades. (Adobe Stock)

Fairness in Farming: Seed Money Sought for Starting Co-ops

Farmer cooperatives allow producers to pool resources together to get a better bang for their buck. While they have been around for generations…

May is Asian American/Pacific American Heritage Month. Minnesota advocates say 2022 would be a great year for the state to make investments in communities they feel have been historically overlooked. (Adobe Stock)

AAPI Community Hopes for MN Investment Deemed Long Overdue

Asian American leaders in Minnesota say some community members still are struggling to recover from economic slides during the pandemic. They're …

Mental-health professionals working in schools report seeing more student referrals, but are often short-staffed in helping them. And there are growing waiting lists for providers outside the classroom. (Adobe Stock)

MN Educators Amplify Message on Mental-Health Demands in Schools

This story is part of our continued look at mental-health demands playing out in Minnesota schools. It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and Minnesota …

Once enrollment formally begins, Minnesota's eligible front-line workers will have 45 days to apply for pandemic bonus checks offered by the state. (Adobe Stock)

Hero Checks Coming to MN's Frontline Workers

Minnesota's frontline workers are getting a "thank you" from the state in the form of pandemic bonus checks. Within the next month, those eligible …

Nearly two years after George Floyd's murder, the State of Minnesota says Minneapolis police officers have long carried out discriminatory practices, such as using higher rates of force against against Black people. (Adobe Stock)

Mpls. Police Report Adds Another Layer to MN Reform Efforts

As the Minnesota Legislature considers new police-reform proposals, the discussions coincide with results from a state investigation of the …

University of Minnesota researchers say Minnesota is behind many other states in maximizing available resources to weatherize homes and reduce an occupant's energy burden. (Adobe Stock)

Energy-Efficient Updates Needed for MN's Aging Homes

A significant portion of Minnesota housing was built before 1980, and these homes just endured a long and cold winter. That's renewed calls for the …

The medical community says working from home can lead to health issues without desks and chairs that allow for good posture. Health issues associated with this type of "wear and tear" account for 10% of annual medical expenses. (Adobe Stock)

Still Working from Home? Health Experts Suggest a 'Back-Friendly' Setup

For many Minnesotans, working from home has become a new norm in the pandemic. Physical therapists say if you haven't converted your home-office …

With wind and solar projects popping up, an annual report says power-sector emissions in Minnesota have fallen 40% in the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

For 2nd Straight Year, Renewables Are MN's Lead Power Source

Until this Friday, Minnesota is accepting public comment on broader plans to address climate change. While that takes shape, clean-energy leaders say …

A national study says when temporary monthly payments from the expanded federal Child Tax Credit expired, the U.S. child poverty rate rose by 41%. (Adobe Stock)

With Federal Child Tax Credit in Limbo, Calls Grow for MN Plan

It remains unclear whether the federal government will make permanent last year's expansion of the Child Tax Credit. In the meantime, supporters in …

With stronger demand and the Russia invasion of Ukraine, Americans have been paying more for gasoline. But watchdogs say it's important for policymakers to monitor price-gouging for certain products. (Adobe Stock)

Minnesota Grapples with Inflation; Report Blames Corporate Profits

The bigger bite taken out of Minnesotans' paychecks by higher consumer costs is being seen in multiple ways - including the possibility of corporate p…

"Smart" thermostats are seen as important clean-energy technology that can help energy customers reduce their carbon footprint. (Adobe Stock)

MN's Clean-Energy Tech Enters the Shark Tank

Government agencies are tasked with setting policies to reduce the impacts of climate change. But a new Minnesota venture aims to get more of the …

A 2016 study found less than 60% of U.S. adults are financially literate. (Adobe Stock)

Reading, Writing and Financial Literacy: Money Course Requirement Debated

The tax filing deadline is fast approaching, prompting many to think more about their personal finances. Some policymakers, including Minnesota …

In 2020, an average of 325 Minnesotans were served each month by the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, which follows SNAP eligibility criteria. Hunger-fighting groups fear too many other households make too much to qualify for benefits, but still can't put food on the table. (Adobe Stock)

'We're Scraping By': Hunger Concerns Spur Calls for Higher SNAP Eligibility

Food insecurity is getting more attention these days, and some working families still have trouble meeting basic needs under mounting living expenses …

<a href= — A report issued this year by the University of California Berkeley Labor Center says 31% of construction workers lack health insurance coverage, compared to 10% of workers overall. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Construction Worker Exploitation Costly in Many Ways

With summer approaching, construction sounds will be heard across Minnesota. But a regional labor group says on some sites, there's likely to be more …

A new report says to help more Minnesotans escape poverty, a cost-effective fix would be to increase the eligibility limit for SNAP to 200%, the maximum allowed by the federal government. (Adobe Stock)

MN Report: Aid Helps, But Many Have Trouble Escaping Poverty

For Minnesota to make big gains in reducing poverty, its safety net needs to be more robust, according to a new report highlighting disparities …

An ACLU report says Minnesota's student-to-social worker ratio is 852-to-one, well above the recommended level. There are also wide ratios for numbers of school nurses and psychologists. (Adobe Stock)

MN School Social Workers: Mental-Health Demands are Real

COVID cases are down in much of the U.S., but the pandemic's lingering effects are growing larger. School social workers in Minnesota point to mental-…

Last year, the Minnesota Legislature approved a one-time increase in grant funding to manage nuisance aquatic plants, but lake associations and other stakeholders hope for more support in the future. (LSRCA)

Survey: Aquatic Plants Big Nuisance for Most MN Lakes

If recent summers are an indication, Minnesotans will be out on the lakes in full force again this season. To keep lakes accessible and healthy…

A program in Minnesota provides community health clinics with self-monitoring blood pressure cuffs to hand out to at-risk patients. They're also given access to a dietitian and passes to the local YMCA with fitness guidance. (Adobe Stock)

MN Program Helps Underserved Patients Keep 'Silent Killer' at Bay

Minnesota is often credited for having an overall healthy population, but disparities exist for certain racial groups. A prevention effort now taking …

Last year, Minnesota lawmakers approved notable increases in education spending they said would limit staff layoffs. But teachers and their advocates say many districts are still planning cuts. (Adobe Stock)

Following Mpls. Strike, Calls for Broader Support Grow Louder

This week, Minneapolis public school students returned to class following a nearly three-week teacher strike, but labor groups say educators and …

Even with the overall number of crashes trending downward, Minnesota is seeing more road fatalities, including those caused by speeding. (Adobe Stock)

Speed Cameras Suggested Amid MN's Road Safety Woes

Authorities and lawmakers say Minnesota has a problem with reckless drivers - and it creates deadly consequences for others on the road. Legislation …

State officials say it could cost more than $1 billion for all of Minnesota to have broadband internet access. In the meantime, hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing into the state to boost development in underserved areas. (Adobe Stock)

MN Broadband Bill Would Connect Widely Scattered Residents

Thanks to state and federal commitments, Minnesota soon will unleash a large sum of funding to ensure more residents have broadband internet access…

Under the new federal infrastructure law, Minnesota is poised to receive $68 million to expand electric vehicle charging capacity around the state. (Adobe Stock)

MN Lawmakers Urged to Maximize Infrastructure Dollars

Beyond roads and bridges, the new federal infrastructure law injects billions of dollars into projects designed to make states more climate resilient…

Going into 2022, Minnesota had roughly 200,000 job openings. Amid a tight labor force, community action agencies hope more people will consider jobs in home weatherization. (Adobe Stock)

Sending Out Resumes? MN Officials Suggest Weatherization Jobs

Wind and solar often get attention for job growth in clean energy, and in Minnesota, those who specialize in home weatherization say demand for this …

In addition to a state-level public option, a plan to expand MinnesotaCare would offer transitional tax credits for small businesses that provide health coverage. (Adobe Stock)

To Help Small Businesses, MN Explores 'Buy-In' Option for Health Coverage

The Minnesota Senate has voted to extend the state's reinsurance initiative, designed to keep health premium costs lower, but backers of a separate …

The 2020 census overlooked 0.24% of the U.S. population. That compares to 0.01% in 2010. (Adobe Stock)

MN Latino Community: Census Undercount Hurts

A new analysis of the 2020 Census confirmed the fears of organizers serving Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. Several racial groups …

In the United States, one in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate-partner physical violence. (Adobe Stock)

New Grants Part of Evolution of Domestic-Violence Work in MN

Clarification: Standpoint serves more than 6,000 people each year. An earlier version of the story used provided data, which noted it served 511 …

Minneapolis public school teachers and support staff picket outside district headquarters. It's the city's first teachers strike in more than 50 years. (Mike Moen/Public News Service)

Mpls. Strike Seen as Referendum on State of Public Schools

Teachers in Minneapolis walked the picket line Tuesday in hopes of securing better pay and more mental-health support in schools. Their calls echo …

Sen. Melisa L�pez Franzen, DFL-Edina, is among the women in the Minnesota Legislature who have opted not to seek reelection based on new political boundaries. (mn.leg.gov)

Women Candidates Caught Up in Fallout from New MN Political Maps

Two years ago, a record number of women were elected to serve in Minnesota's Legislature, but new political boundaries stand to shake up their …

Medical aid-in-dying bills are on the table in 12 states this legislative session, including Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Poll Indicates Public Support for 'End of Life' Options

It remains unclear whether Minnesota lawmakers will pass a bill this session which would provide medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients…

A Minnesota law had said the state should commit 97 percent of lottery revenue to the outdoors. But that has fallen to around 70-percent. (Adobe Stock)

MN Looks to Return to Full Funding of Outdoors

It's been two decades since Minnesota created a special account to fund aspects of outdoor recreation. Over time, some of the funding has gone …

The police killing of George Floyd sparked global protests over racial injustice, and Minnesota's Black community says issues remain despite convictions of officers in the case. (Mike Moen)

Amid Mpls. Police Verdict, Racial Healing, Inclusion Still Sought

Another guilty verdict has been reached related to the police killing of George Floyd. It coincides with calls to provide more ways for Black …

Those wanting stronger hate-crime laws in Minnesota say attacks against Asian Americans are underreported. (Adobe Stock)

MN Asian American Coalition Builds on Policy, Including Anti-Hate

As it closes in on its first decade, a Minnesota organization connecting Asian American communities looks to have more of its voices included in …

There's a push in Minnesota to have all commercial buildings and taller multi-family structures achieve net-zero energy emissions status by 2036. (Adobe Stock)

Charting a Path for Energy Efficiency in MN Commercial Buildings

Minnesota is in the process of adopting the latest standard for energy efficiency in commercial buildings. There are calls for a specific approach …

Black-led organizations say communities of color often lack access to air conditioning, as well as transportation to escape rising temperatures exacerbated by climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Black History Month: Overcoming Environmental Racism in MN

As Black History Month continues, the effects of environmental injustice are being woven into conversations about the ways Black communities are left …

In recent months, the Biden administration has pledged to spend one-billion dollars in American Rescue Plan funding to create more fairness in the meat supply chain. (Adobe Stock)

MN Farmers: High Meat Prices Due to More Than Just Inflation

As Minnesotans keep paying more for groceries, including meats, inflation gets most of the blame. But that doesn't tell the whole story, according to …

Last summer, New Mexico became the latest state to enact an end-of-life options law. (Adobe Stock)

Medical Aid-in-Dying Law Still Sought in MN

Minnesota lawmakers have a lot on their plates during a shorter legislative session this year, but supporters of an end-of-life option bill hope it …

In the past 10 years, Minnesota's population growth was largely driven by population increases in BIPOC communities. But advocates say the redistricting process still limits their ability to produce political candidates of their choice. (Adobe Stock)

BIPOC Voices: Good and Bad in New MN Political Maps

After a lengthy process, Minnesota has new maps for congressional and legislative districts. A coalition had pushed for maps that better reflect the …

Those who think Minnesota should establish a paid-family leave program say the pandemic continues to show that families often struggle with balancing work and caring for loved ones. (Adobe Stock)

Paid-Leave Backers: "Go Fund Me" Helps, But Safety Net Needed

If a Minnesota worker or family member suddenly falls ill, they cannot always afford to temporarily step away from the job, so a paid family leave …

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