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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

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

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Monday, November 21, 2022   

Over the weekend, a conference featuring thousands of local government leaders from around the U.S. wrapped up. A Minnesota mayor was in attendance and acknowledged the job requires a more dynamic approach to meet the needs of people in their communities.

This year's summit, hosted by the National League of Cities, was held in Kansas City. It featured a schedule covering such topics as closing racial wealth gaps and strengthening mental health care.

Jake Spano, mayor of St. Louis Park, felt it reflects an evolving mindset for municipalities.

"Mayors and council members that have been sort of responsible for things like, 'Are potholes filled? And is the water clean to drink?' are increasingly dealing with homelessness and housing issues, and mental health," Spano outlined.

He acknowledged the scarcity of mental health providers is a big challenge. But he added after taking on extra duties the past couple of years, local leaders have expressed a desire to share ideas for solutions. For cities like his, Spano noted aging infrastructure is another priority. This past summer, St. Louis Park experienced two water-main breaks, leading to backlash from some residents.

While insurance helped cover damage, the city also used American Rescue Plan funding to provide reimbursements to the affected property owners. Spano emphasized extra federal support has helped deal with these issues, but thinks local leaders cannot always wait for assistance, and they have to avoid closing themselves off from community partners.

"It's been a challenge, but I think what the last two years have reinforced is all of those relationships we built up with those in our community and school system and the business world, were really, really pivotal to getting through the last couple of years," Spano pointed out.

The conversations come as municipal leaders, especially in rural areas, noted they are facing more budget pressure these days, which affects services like public safety. In Minnesota, local government funding is likely to come up when state lawmakers reconvene next year with a major budget surplus in hand. Political analysts say with one party now in control, there might not be as much gridlock, but many other priorities will be competing for aid.


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