We’re back again with Tim Velde, Yellow Medicine County farmer and member of the Center for Rural Policy and Development’s board representing Minnesota Farmers Union. This week Tim and Jim talk about a top concern of farmers, access to health care and health insurance.

EXCERPT: “Nobles County commissioners are in the midst of planning an Urban Lawmaker Tour in mid-July. The event is targeted to metro-area legislators and will feature a day-long bus tour July 13 to discuss everything from agriculture regulations to management of state-owned lands, broadband, water, mental health and Local Government Aid . . . As they ...

EXCERPT: “CentraCare Health-Long Prairie will receive $700,000 from the Minnesota Legislature to be used toward a Regional Community Well-Being Center after Gov. Mark Dayton signed the Omnibus Bonding Bill, which totaled $1.5 billion in projects across the state. Local lawmakers Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, and Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, authored the original bills in ...

EXCERPT: “The United States does not stack up favorably when compared to other nations with advanced economies when it comes to childhood poverty worldwide, according to a new report, which considered factors such as the lack of access to quality food, high adolescent birth rates and a child dropping out of school. Out of 175 nations, ...

  We catch up this week with Yellow Medicine County farmer Tim Velde, a member the the Center for Rural Policy and Development’s board representing Minnesota Farmers Union. Tim talks about how the one bill that always passed, the federal Farm Bill, was held up and why.

EXCERPT: “The Benson paper, like many in the most rural parts of the state, struggles to hang on as populations shift and subscriptions fall off. Digital advertising generates only a fraction of the revenue at small papers in Minnesota – 5 percent or less at most weeklies, in Anfinson’s estimation. Indeed, while daily newspapers have embraced ...

EXCERPT: “It’s not just neighbors and residents spurning landfills anymore. It’s the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which hasn’t authorized a new municipal solid waste landfill in the northeast quadrant of the state since 1993. The agency’s hesitance to do so has become an issue for local waste management authorities. Faced with the closing in 10 years ...

EXCERPT: “Healthcare experts offered their advice for preserving access to emergency services in rural communities, and for improving the overall health of patients during a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. They suggested using global budgets, increasing the use of telemedicine and strengthening support for the healthcare workforce in these areas. But first, the Democratic ...

  Anna Wasescha, president and CEO of West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls, joins Jim again to talk about relocating to rural communities and how there are lots of places for people to work and contribute to the community regardless of their age. It’s all about helping people have the best life possible.

EXCERPT: “Lane-departure crashes on curves make up a significant portion of fatal crashes on rural Minnesota roads. To improve safety, solutions are needed to help drivers identify upcoming curves and inform them of a safe speed for navigating the curve. ‘Traditionally there are two ways to do this: with either static signage or with dynamic ...