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Ground Level®: Amplifying Community Voices

Your story is powerful. The stories you share with others honor the complexity of our communities while forging a more equitable and vibrant future.

Call 651-228-4800 and leave us a voice memo. If you're more comfortable texting, you can text “Hello” to 1-833-870-4111. You can also email us at tell@mpr.org and join in on conversations in our Ground Level Facebook group.

We’d like to hear your thoughts and questions. Your ideas about solutions. How are your communities? What are you seeing today? And what do you want to see tomorrow?

Note that while we will exercise editorial judgment for language, length and avoiding personal attacks, we will not sacrifice your meaning. We will ensure your main message comes through on air and online.

Broadband availability rises again

Nearly 70 percent of Minnesota households now have available the kind of  high-speed Internet access that the state says they should. The latest semi-annual report from Connect Minnesota today said that 69.2 percent of households have access to download speeds of at least 10 megabits per second and upload speeds of six megabits per second. Read more →
by Dave Peters

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Community leadership can be different for Latinos

Community leadership can be different for Latinos

One way a town can solve a problem is to put somebody in charge, come up with a plan and go to work. Parks get cleaned up, old buildings get saved, senior meals get organized. But as the number of Latino residents continues to rise in a number of Minnesota towns, that approach might not Read more →
by Dave Peters

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With aid increase, cities look first to streets, roofs, other one-time improvements

Motorists driving through Richfield might someday find Portland and Nicollet avenues in better shape. Hutchinson might put a new roof on its civic  arena. The police station in Maplewood might be remodeled. South St. Paul could shore up the levy along the Mississippi River. Austin might update some of its police equipment. These are some Read more →
by Dave Peters

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Legislature poised to give LGA an $80 million boost

Minnesota cities will get an $80 million increase next year in Local Government Aid from the state under a provision in the tax bill that seems to be near legislative approval. The increase would bring the LGA total to $507.6 million for the year 2014. That’s nearly a 20 percent increase over this year and Read more →
by Dave Peters

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Bike trek connected kids with farmers

Bike trek connected kids with farmers

Over the past week, four bicyclists and one runner from the University of Minnesota have been crossing the state from west to east, stopping at farms along the way to explore innovations. As part of the project, called “Grown to Run,” the team has posted a short video every day showing a different aspect of Read more →
by Jennifer Vogel

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Research: If local growers extend season they might double market

A University of Minnesota Extension researcher surveyed health institutions in western Minnesota and found considerable interest in using local food in their meals. He also determined that if producers extend their season with greenhouses and better storage technology they can double their market.
by Dave Peters

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Looking for Minnesota’s rural voice

Stimulated by a report suggesting rural Minnesota has lost influence, some 30 representatives of foundations, the University of Minnesota extension, and regional and state officials started work on an effort to organize a rural voice.
by Dave Peters

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Whole Farm Co-op, early local foods innovator, changes to survive

Whole Farm Co-op, early local foods innovator, changes to survive

The Whole Farm Co-op in Long Prairie, around since 1997, is changing the way it provides local farm produce and meats to customers, mainly in the Twin Cities. The changes are driven by competition from other local food sources.
by Jennifer Vogel

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