Category: Rural Headlines

EXCERPT: “The Goodwill store in Ely is slated to close permanently on Saturday, Jan. 19. The news of the closure of the store and the related donation center, located at 40 N 2nd Ave. East came as a blow to Ely area residents who used the store to access affordable clothing and household items. ‘I ...

EXCERPT: “The University of Minnesota is asking the legislature for an 87-million-dollar funding increase for the next two years — which top administrators say will help keep faculty and staff salaries competitive and hold down tuition increases. President Eric Kaler says a two-percent inflationary increase is planned for Minnesota resident undergrads at the Twin Cities campus ...

EXCERPT: “Tuesday marked the first day of the Minnesota legislative session, and Democrats have now officially taken control of the House. There are also some new and returning faces to the legislature as new legislators have been sworn in. Over 100 state representatives were at the Capitol on Tuesday. Republican Sen. Justin Eichorn has cities like Bemidji, Walker, and ...

EXCERPT: “More than half of those picked to lead Minnesota departments and agencies are women. The announcement came Friday, Jan. 4, as Gov.-elect Tim Walz filled out his cabinet, naming his picks to lead key state economic and labor posts. The seven picks for departments that lead economic development, commerce, labor and industry and state revenue ...

EXCERPT: “When groups representing rural Minnesota interests released their wish lists for the 2019 legislative session, some of the items looked familiar: a boost in funding for the Local Government Aid program, proposals to generate housing, more money for broadband expansion. Yet while the issues might not be new, some of the players at the Capitol ...

EXCERPT: “Individuals living in rural areas face nearly double the travel that those living in urban areas experience, according to an analysis from the Pew Research Center. Those long travel distances can cause considerable patient care access issues, the report authors said. On average, patients living in rural areas face a 17-minute trek to the nearest hospital. Those ...

EXCERPT: “State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, was appointed to serve as the lead Republican on a House committee related to jobs and economic issues in Greater Minnesota when the 2019 legislative session begins Jan. 8 in St. Paul. The committee officially is called the Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Finance Division. Anderson, who is entering ...

EXCERPT: “Starting in January, a team with the University of Minnesota will kick off a new research project about how to improve economic development in Greater Minnesota. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS found out how it’s designed to do much more than just gather data about strengthening the business climate. Twenty-thousand surveys will to be sent to ...

EXCERPT: “A Mankato native and two-term former speaker of the Minnesota House has been selected to head the Minnesota Department of Transportation with Governor-elect Tim Walz’s incoming administration. The appointment of Margaret Anderson Kelliher has signaled to some that projects in Greater Minnesota will have more attention going forward. ‘Those of us representing the Mankato ...