EXCERPT: “Dr. Alison Raffman had only arrived in Bemidji two days earlier, with three boxes of stuff and two cats, and already she was hustling around the emergency department at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. The medical resident was treating dizziness in a newly diagnosed cancer patient, an infection in a nervous pregnant woman, and an ...

EXCERPT: “Researchers at UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science are partners on a $15 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to explore the benefits and responsible use of autonomous vehicles in rural communities where transportation services are limited. The six-year project will develop solutions to improve mobility, such as enabling nondrivers to better access health ...

In this episode, Kelly Asche, Senior Researcher at the Center, interviews Kari Thurlow, President and CEO of LeadingAge MN, and Tracy Hendrickx, the Vice President of Long Term Care at Perham Health. They discuss not only some of the challenges facing elder care providers in rural Minnesota, but also promising initiatives and programs being supported ...

EXCERPT: “More than 1,400 child care slots are expected to open statewide, nearly all in Greater Minnesota, after a multi-million dollar round of grants to expand child care access. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded $6.1 million in Child Care Economic Development Grants to 25 organizations, a news release announced Thursday, Feb. 6. Among ...

On this episode, Marnie Werner, Vice President of Research and Operations at CRPD, speaks with Dr. Tracie Rutherford Self, Faculty at MSU, Mankato’s Center for Rural Behavioral Health and Dr. Darcie Davis-Gage – Director of MSU Mankato’s Center for Rural Behavioral Health. The conversation talks about the new clinic that just opened within the Center ...

EXCERPT: “A group of EMS officials from throughout the state gathered in St. Paul to highlight a need for more funding and a restructuring of systems. Erik Simonson, a lobbyist with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, an organization that lobbied for EMS funding last session, feels hopeful the Legislature will continue to fund the industry beyond ...

EXCERPT: “Porter Simonette carefully placed a dollop of digital hand sanitizer on the hands of the elderly man he saw inside his virtual reality headset. The high school senior mimed opening a container of yogurt, and following the on-screen instructions, began feeding his digital patient. ‘Here’s some more yogurt,’ he said, before asking, ‘You want ...

EXCERPT: “As a second Trump administration promises major reforms across the federal government, advocates for Medicaid access are concerned what trillions in cuts could mean for many American families. A new study released by Georgetown University indicates families in rural areas are more likely to rely on Medicaid health insurance coverage, compared to urban residents in the ...

On this episode, Marnie Werner, Vice President of Research and Operations, interviews CRPD Senior Research, Kelly Asche, to discuss highlights from this year’s State of Rural report. The State of Rural is an annual report tracking various economic and demographic trends in rural Minnesota.

EXCERPT: “Disappointed in a 2024 legislative session that ended with no bonding bill, Greater Minnesota organizations are encouraging the Legislature to focus on funds for infrastructure projects as this year’s session gets underway.  The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and the League of Minnesota Cities, whose requests often overlap, plan to push lawmakers to pass a bonding ...