Category: Rural Headlines

EXCERPT: “University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler wants outstate residents to know the state’s largest institution of higher education is working for them, too. Kaler shared his commitment to the ‘Block M’ brand and what it represents to Minnesota residents Friday, May 4, at a Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce luncheon hosted at Cragun’s Resort ...

EXCERPT: “If Wadena’s downtown commercial district has the distinction of being added to the National Register of Historic Places in the future much of the credit will have to go to a route Denis Gardner chose to follow four years ago. Gardner was driving to his home in Deer River after being invited to Deer ...

EXCERPT: “State Rep. Paul Torkelson, the House Transportation Committee chair, is blasting the Department of Transportation for its newly released list of $417 million in highway projects, saying it fails to heed to outstate needs. ‘We have critical corridors like Hwy. 23 in western Minnesota, Hwy. 14 in southern Minnesota, and countless others in desperate need of ...

EXCERPT: “In 1998, when John Keller joined the St. Paul-based Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) as an immigration attorney, he would often drive to Worthington, where hundreds of low-income immigrants and refugees depended on the organization’s free legal services. ‘We would do workshops, answer a bunch of questions, do in-takes and represent whoever we could help,’ ...

EXCERPT: “Looking for the hottest economic region in Minnesota? Drive about an hour southwest of the Twin Cities and you’ll find it in Greater Mankato. With one of the fastest-growing economies in the state, a revitalized downtown and a growing mix of restaurants, retail, entertainment venues and everything else a big city offers—without the traffic jams—residents, ...

EXCERPT: “Cook County and the city of Grand Marais are teaming up to create a regional park just north of the city. The proposed Sawtooth Bluff Regional Park would be built on 640 acres already owned by the county and city. There is also potential to acquire two additional parcels in the future, a 78-acres ...

EXCERPT: “One of the most common significant struggles for most small cities across the state is the balance between funding critical projects and other necessities and limiting the amount of burden they put on their residents. Top it off with the proposed LGA budget being less than it was in 2002 for this year the ...

EXCERPT: “A proposal moving quietly through the Legislature would take a step toward closing gaps in mental health facilities. The bill would provide $80 million for state grant programs to construct six mental health crisis centers around the state that cities, counties, hospitals and other public entities would operate to serve mentally ill and chemically dependent ...

EXCERPT: “The Minnesota Department of Transportation is looking for individuals and organizations to join the more than 4,100 groups and 16,000 people in the state who are Adopt a Highway volunteers. The program, which realized an estimated $6 million benefit in 2017, is a public service project that helps reduce litter along the roadsides. It’s been ...