Minnesota News & Current Events | Public News Service

Housing industry voices say actions by the Trump administration, from cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to prolonged tariff hikes, could hinder efforts to build more affordable units. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Tariff talk adds uncertainty to already stressed affordable-housing movement

Industry groups say Minnesota is short more than 100,000 affordable-housing units to meet demand, and project leaders have said the Trump …

Rick Martagon, executive director of Building Strong Communities, testifies in support of a bill to expand state support for the initiative, which focuses on providing apprenticeship opportunities to underserved populations. (Photo courtesy of Vince Muzik/Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota)

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Amid a buzz for apprenticeships, MN explores accessibility

Apprenticeship programs are getting more attention these days to help fill skilled labor shortages but accessibility is seen is a barrier and Minnesot…

Advocates for Minnesota's immigrant population recently protested ICE enforcement in Rochester. (Photo courtesy of COPAL).

Monday, March 17, 2025

MN Latino advocates band together as deportation fears persist

Social and economic disruptions are among the impacts reported by Minnesota Latino support organizations as they monitor the Trump administration's ma…

In a new AARP survey, 37% of older adults with credit card debt report their debt level is higher than it was a year ago. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Older Americans lean more on credit cards for basic needs

Nearly half of Americans age 50 and older are using credit cards to pay for basic living expenses, according to a new AARP survey, and a Minnesota …

Public polling has indicated that certain budget-cutting moves and tariffs pursued by the Trump administration are not resonating with voters, with some frustration spilling over into town hall meeting hosted by members of Congress. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of 'town halls' frustrates MN voters

Republicans in Washington, D.C. remain focused on greatly reducing federal spending. However, a backlash is mounting in Congressional districts…

Summit Carbon Solutions touts environmental and economic benefits in its plan to build a maze of Midwestern pipelines to capture and store ethanol plant emissions. But environmental groups are skeptical, and affected landowners have mounted an effort to stop the project. (Adobe Stock)

MN ties to troubled carbon pipeline project come back into focus

A Minnesota organization opposed to a Midwestern carbon pipeline project plans to file a request with state regulators Thursday, asking them to …

The American Heart Association said a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan can increase survival rates by 50% or more when people are trained in practices like CPR or how to use an automated external defibrillator until first responders arrive. (Adobe Stock)

MN looks to ensure all schools are ready for cardiac scares

A Minnesota Senate committee today will hear testimony about a rare but scary scenario for families: sudden cardiac events in school settings…

An arts project, led by Drew Arrieta and Maddy Bartsch, aims to bridge the communication gap between rural and urban Minnesotans through honest, anonymous conversations. The chats take place in makeshift phone booths. (Springboard for the Arts)

Forget the divide! Arts project seeks urban-rural solidarity instead

By Anya Slepyan for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborati…

The current avian flu outbreak surfaced in 2022, with a big effect on wild birds and commercial poultry. (Adobe Stock)

New avian flu plan hatched by USDA, but experts are wary

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration…

Statista reports in 2023, the sports betting industry in the United States generated $11 billion in revenue, an increase of around 46% over the previous year. (Adobe Stock)

It's March Madness time, but red flags emerge with online sports betting

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and it remains unclear if Minnesota will legalize online sports betting. Research is emerging about …

The Center for American Progress lists Minnesota as among the more expensive states when it comes to child care costs. (Adobe Stock)

MN child care stakeholders: 'Broken' system needs more than minor fixes

Some 45 day care centers in Minnesota temporary closed their doors early this week to highlight the ongoing child care crisis. Advocates said the …

Clean energy projects, including wind farms, continue to be developed at a rapid pace. Policymakers and industry officials are sorting out how to avoid seeing retired parts become piles of waste. (Adobe Stock)

MN debates how to help retired clean energy parts stay 'green'

Minnesota remains focused on making non-carbon sources the bulk of its energy portfolio. But policymakers are trying to figure out the best way to …

According to KFF News, Medicaid helps fill coverage gaps in smaller communities, covering nearly one in four (24%) nonelderly individuals in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts would likely worsen rural MN health care outlook

Minnesota's rural health-care landscape is described as being "stressed" - and the diagnosis could become grimmer if congressional Republicans keep th…

Nikki Villavicencio, center, serves on the Maplewood City Council and is a board chair with the Minnesota Council on Disability. She's part of a coalition of self-advocates warning about the effect Medicaid cuts would have on those with disabilities. (Photo courtesy of Villavicencio)

Minnesotans with disabilities: Cutting Medicaid would leave us segregated

Minnesotans with disabilities are among the vulnerable populations who say their quality of life would be upended if Congress approves steep Medicaid …

U.S. beef producers face increased global competition and advocates for smaller livestock farms said tools like truth in labeling bring a level of fairness. (Adobe Stock)

Policy fight over meat label transparency back in play

Spring is around the corner and as Midwesterners might be dreaming about firing up their grills and stocking up for barbecues, there is a renewed …

Data centers and the computer servers they hold can take up several hundred thousand square feet of property. (Adobe Stock)

MN could join data center 'gold rush,' but at what cost?

The Minnesota Legislature and a regulatory agency will be busy this week weighing demands for large data centers. Business leaders say this digital …

The Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence told a Minnesota House committee this week nearly 30% of today's farmers have less than a decade of experience, making the case business training needs to be enhanced. (Adobe Stock)

Enhancing business skills of MN's next generation of farmers

If Minnesota wants a strong network of up-and-coming farmers, including those who want to farm on healthier land, the state can help them become …

The scene from outside Minnesota's State Capitol on Monday as another round of national protests was held in response to controversial actions of President Donald Trump's administration. (Courtesy of u/Buck_Thorn/Reddit)

Protesters: Trump administration actions 'cast aside democracy'

In many U.S. cities, President's Day was used to sound the alarm over actions by the Trump administration. Minnesota protesters braved subzero …

Researchers have found that 40% of Americans report mood declines during the winter. Those feelings can translate into changes in behavior, with some people sleeping more, feeling fatigued and experiencing depression. (Adobe Stock)

Showing serious cases of winter blues the door

Minnesota is in the depths of extremely cold and occasionally snowy weather this February. These familiar winter conditions might have some feeling …

Daniel Houle and Denise Myers stand in front of their new solar setup at the Lodge of Whispering Pines along the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness. The system has 72 panels and can generate a total of 38 kilowatts per hour. (Photo courtesy of Ava Kian with MinnPost)

Solar power gives MN resort new blood, new life

By Ava Kian for MinnPost.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the MinnPost-Public News Service Collaboration Th…

More than a dozen states, including Minnesota, have created paid-leave programs to fill gaps when workers can't get paid as they or a relative recover from an illness. (Adobe Stock)

Start date for MN's paid leave law now up for debate

Minnesota is little less than a year away from launching its paid-leave law, but state lawmakers are debating whether to delay the start until 2027…

According to the research arm USA Facts, personal saving has become more of the norm as employers shift away from defined benefit plans or pensions. (Adobe Stock)

A possible shift seen in America's troubled retirement savings landscape

Whether it's pressure from inflation or health-care costs eating away at savings, a reliable "nest egg" is still up in the air for many Americans…

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi, center, provides an update on a new plea agreement that stemmed from a wage-theft investigation. (Photo courtesy of Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota)

MN case seen as 'tone-setter' in combating wage theft

Minnesota's wage-theft laws are increasingly being put to use, giving the labor community hope that law-enforcement officials now recognize how deep …

The Environmental Protection Agency said excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause an overgrowth of algae in lakes and if algal blooms occur, the toxins they produce can be harmful to human health and aquatic life. (Adobe Stock)

15 years in the making, MN could set nitrate standards for lakes

Minnesota is giving its water quality standards a fresh look. With public input in their hands, officials are under pressure to add language about …

In the first three quarters of 2024, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 22,000 fraud reports from Minnesota consumers, with losses totaling nearly $103 million. (Adobe Stock)

As consumer fraud hits crisis mode, MN advocates want state action

This session, Minnesota lawmakers are expected to take a strong look at preventing more fraud attempts against state government. Meanwhile, consumer …

A recent study showed 44% of adults are affected by medical debt and $88 billion in outstanding medical bills are currently in collections nationwide. (Creative Commons)

Study: Medical debt in rural MN has far-reaching effects

By Liz Carey for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Minnesota News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

During the pandemic, Congress temporarily expanded the federal Child Tax Credit, with experts noting it helped cut child poverty rates nearly in half. However, a permanent expansion failed to gain traction and states like Minnesota have moved forward with their own credit. (Adobe Stock)

MN's Child Tax Credit has a new twist in year two

Poverty-fighting groups in Minnesota are joining the wave of officials reminding low-income households to take advantage of the state's Child Tax Cred…

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) recently approved a $10.3 billion investment package of 18 transmission projects, a handful of which have a presence in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

MN moves forward on another power grid project

On the heels of a regulatory victory, utilities and various energy groups in Minnesota are expressing more optimism about the region's power grid - …

Immigration advocacy groups said they are monitoring reports about ICE agents detaining parents while walking their children to school. They said it complicates efforts to limit the impacts of enhanced deportation efforts under the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Awareness builds in MN about possible ICE activity in schools

Information is flowing through Minnesota schools about the best way to handle new federal immigration policies as enforcement ramps up under the Trump…

Each year, congenital heart defects are found in about one in 100 births in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Hope, worry cloud research for kids born with heart defects

February is American Heart Month and some Minnesota families are sharing their experiences with a sometimes overlooked disease among newborns: congeni…

Infrastructure experts say there is a $1 trillion dollar need for drinking water, stormwater and wastewater improvements over the next 20 years in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

MN cities dig deep for safe drinking water, but can they meet goals?

An Environmental Protection Agency rule, finalized near the end of the Biden administration, calls on states and cities to replace all lead pipes in …

A Minnesota high school student gets an in-person learning experience about aspects of construction work after taking an online elective course now being offered. (Photo courtesy Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota)

Through virtual academy, MN high schoolers get sneak peek of the trades

Choosing a career path can be hard for high schoolers, especially if their district can't provide additional learning opportunities that move them in …

Experts say potential health impacts from exposure to nitrates from farm runoff include thyroid problems, adverse pregnancy outcomes and certain types of cancer. (Adobe Stock)

New lawsuit says MN needs tougher action on nitrate pollution

The State of Minnesota faces a new lawsuit over the connection between harmful nitrates from farm fields and the threat they pose to natural resources…

Public polling indicates most American adults oppose the idea of arresting an undocumented person inside a church. (Adobe Stock)

MN parishes warn of 'chilling effect' of potential ICE raids in churches

The mass deportation plan promised by President Donald Trump shows no signs of slowing down after his first week back in office. Church leaders in …

The CDC says guns are the leading cause of death for American children. That fact has kept calls for restricting firearms and gun safety as major rallying cries for advocacy groups. (Adobe Stock)

Under Trump, how will gun violence prevention fare?

President Donald Trump has been busy signing executive orders since his inauguration. Gun violence prevention advocates in Minnesota hope he isn't …

According to the Pew Research Center, six in 10 U.S. adults say they'd feel uncomfortable if their own health provider relied on artificial intelligence to do things such as diagnose disease. (Adobe Stock)

MN nurses: Patient care shouldn't come with a heavy dose of AI

Nurses in Minnesota and other parts of the country are calling attention to an issue felt by many parts of society - the growing influence of artifici…

Peatlands store up to 30% of the world's terrestrial carbon despite occupying just 3% of its land surface. (Photo courtesy Minnesota DNR)

MN's little-known emissions-fighting tool at a crossroads

Minnesotans have until next Tuesday to offer their thoughts on the state's next Climate Action Framework. Those tasked with protecting a distinct …

UMD researchers say Lake Superior's raw wave power tends to run from September to May. But climate change might be extending those conditions, potentially opening the door to more exploration of converting wave energy into electricity. (Adobe Stock)

What's in a big wave? Potential electricity for MN homes, businesses

It's that time of year, when a strong winter storm might produce giant waves along Lake Superior shorelines that aren't frozen over. Minnesota …

Leading up to Donald Trump's first inauguration, the Women's March 2017 represented the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Similar marches are planned before Trump is sworn in as president a second time. (Adobe Stock)

Peacekeeping teams head to D.C. for People's March

In Minnesota and Washington, D.C., marches will take place this weekend as President-elect Donald Trump nears the start of his second term. An …

Policy experts say rural residents tend to have lower incomes and less access to employer-sponsored health coverage, making programs such as Medicaid a more prominent option for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid faces big cuts; experts warn about potential blow to rural areas

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story noted the Children's Health Insurance Program as a component of Medicaid, before outlining Minnesota …

In the 2023 legislative session, Democrats in Minnesota had control of all levels of government, allowing them to push through most of their policy vision. But Republicans have made gains in the House, forcing party leaders to rethink their strategies. (Adobe Stock)

MN legislative stalemate has potential to worsen voter trust

Minnesota's new legislative session begins tomorrow, but there are still unknowns over how much of it will actually get started. A political expert …

Experts in the world of youth mentorship said one in three young people in the United States will grow up without a mentor. (Adobe Stock)

In MN, youth mentorship part of larger development puzzle

January is National Mentoring Month and in Minnesota, program leaders report waiting lists for kids to be matched up with an adult willing to spend …

Researchers say most newer models of electric vehicles are fitted with heat pumps, which can add roughly 10% extra range to cars during freezing conditions. (Adobe Stock)

EV upgrades could ease concerns about cold-climate performance

By Kristoffer Tigue for Inside Climate News.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

Companies are increasingly providing apps and other tools for people to track their screen time with the hope of cutting back. But a Minnesota exert says those solutions are still reliant on technology, making the temptation too hard for many people. (Adobe Stock)

Not now, social media 'likes': Phasing out heavy screen time

If reducing screen time is your New Year's resolution, a Minnesota expert says it can be tough. But with increasing concerns about the effects of …

National studies show when people leave prison, they face a range of obstacles in advancing through the world of postsecondary education. Right off the bat, a key deterrent is an application question about their past criminal history. (Adobe Stock)

With college application change, MN aims to reduce higher-ed barriers

In the new year, college applications in Minnesota will look a little different: They will no longer feature an initial question about a person's …

According to recent polling data from Navigator Research, nine in 10 people living in battleground districts want Congress to ban so-called

New MN laws target junk fees, pricey concert tickets

With 2025 at hand, Minnesotans might be mapping out the concerts they want to attend or things they want to buy in the new year but the presence of …

Battery storage is considered a key form of clean energy innovation, and those behind a public-private-partnership in Minnesota want to make the region a hub to perfect these solutions and similar technologies. (Adobe Stock)

MN's 'Energy Alley' looks to lengthen its on-ramp for start-ups

Minnesota's clean energy goals are among the more ambitious in the U.S. But industry experts say it can't slow down on the innovation side to see …

Immigration law experts say applying for asylum status can be very lengthy, and that programs such as Temporary Protected Status can fill the void for people fleeing violence elsewhere in the world. (Adobe Stock)

MN Latino advocates rally around temporary protections, health care access

With 2025 almost here, organizations assisting Minnesota's Latino populations say they're laser focused on a couple of areas - mental health-care …

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