Category: Rural Headlines

EXCERPT: “The latest monthly survey of bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states indicates a shrinking rural economy, and three-quarters of bankers said President Donald Trump’s trade policies are having a negative effect on their local economies. The Rural Mainstreet survey released Thursday shows the its overall index falling from an already anemic ...

EXCERPT: “The Federal Communications Commission announced Monday it will provide $28.5 million in broadband funding to rural households in Minnesota. The FCC says the money will benefit more than 8,000 homes and businesses in Minnesota that are currently unserved. The funding, which providers will begin receiving in late August, will be distributed over the next 10 ...

EXCERPT: “Opponents of the public option have funded an analysis that warns more rural hospitals may close if Americans leave commercial plans for Medicare. With the focus on rural hospitals, the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future brings a sensitive issue for politicians into its fight against a Medicare buy-in. The policy has gone mainstream among ...

EXCERPT: “With the promise of providing more options for the local community, the Red Lake Trading Post is on the cusp of opening, completing a process years in the making. Dozens of people filed into the multi-purpose store for a blessing ceremony Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of the store’s opening this weekend. The Red Lake Trading ...

EXCERPT: “After a few days of sweltering heat broke with an afternoon storm, the bells rang at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Rollingstone, Minn. as parishioners passed through its doors for Saturday mass. Formed by immigrants of Luxembourg who settled in the area, the church recently celebrated its 150th birthday in June. The roughly 400-member ...

EXCERPT: “A shortage of child care spots is not a problem unique to Sleepy Eye. In fact, it is an issue throughout Minnesota. Sleepy Eye’s EDA Coordinator, Kurk Kramer, said it has been on the agenda at the Economic Development Association of Minnesota conferences for the past five years. The availability of child care is ...

EXCERPT: “Minnesota lawmakers are set to take the show on the road for a two-day session in Winona. Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, in a letter to lawmakers last week called for a mini-session in October. Lawmakers will hold the brief session, which includes a series of committee hearings, for the first time ...

EXCERPT: “On Tuesday, July 23, Sue Purchase loaded up the trunk of her car outside her Duluth home and drove to the Fond du Lac Reservation to make a delivery. ‘I was making sure she had a sharps container, Narcan, (fentanyl) test strips, HIV information,’ Purchase said later. Born in Duluth, raised in Cloquet and ...

EXCERPT: “When it comes to state funding, Christmas comes early for cities and counties across the state of Minnesota. Checks for increased Local Government Aid and County Program Aid were mailed out this week. Returning to heights unseen since 2002, the state Legislature approved a tax bill in April that raised LGA and CPA funding ...