Category: Rural Headlines

EXCERPT: “While cities and towns in Koochiching County might have fast and reliable internet service, large parts of the northern Minnesota region currently have no good options. Paul Nevanen, director of the county’s Economic Development Authority, says that translates to headaches for the area’s economy. Just miles from International Falls, where broadband access has attracted a significant data ...

EXCERPT: “Marijuana is slowly creeping onto the scene of Minnesota’s medical industry. Whether people are for it or against it, cannabis has been approved to treat 13 qualifying conditions, from cancer to glaucoma to Alzheimer’s, which was the latest to join the list. While the substance is legal medically, it’s still extremely difficult for people ...

EXCERPT: “Advocates want 35 million dollars a year ongoing funding from the state to expand broadband Internet access in rural Minnesota, and bills have been introduced in both the Minnesota House and Senate.  Judy Erickson with the Rural Broadband Coalition says it needs to be in the base budget instead of one-time money like in ...

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 ...