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.

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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.

September 13, 2011 3:30 AM

A new look to tackling Minnesota’s water pollution

Minnesota has waged water quality battles for decades. Increasingly, that debate has come down to residents finding ways at the local level to clean rivers, slow runoff and cooperate.

by Dave Peters

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September 8, 2011 9:25 AM

Frustrated project manager retires from MPCA

Unable to find consensus between farmers and environmental advocates, Norman Senjem is leaving the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

by Jennifer Vogel

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September 7, 2011 11:03 AM

WEIGH IN: Is rural health care getting better or worse?

Ground Level asked nine health care providers whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic about care in rural Minnesota. Read their answers and then provide your own.

by Dave Peters

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September 5, 2011 4:00 AM

Minnesota foundation gets into cropland rental business

The Southwest Initiative Foundation has started a farmland retention program to solicit land donations from aging farmers. The farmers get a tax break, the foundation gets the land and pays taxes and the rental income helps pay for programs in the 18 counties of southwestern Minnesota.

by Dave Peters

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September 1, 2011 10:16 AM

New study: Rural Minnesotans suffer chronic disease more, are less insured

The Minnesota Department of Health released a study showing health differences among rural areas of the state and the cities.

by Dave Peters

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September 1, 2011 5:09 AM

Trees, sculptures and more to show community collaboration

The Minnesota Community Pride Showcase is being held Saturday, Sept. 3, at Carousel Park at the Minnesota State Fair.

by Dave Peters

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August 31, 2011 4:54 AM

WEIGH IN: Name one thing to change rural health care

Ground Level asked nine health care providers to tell us one thing that would make rural health care better in Minnesota. Read what they said and add your own thought.

by Dave Peters

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August 30, 2011 3:30 AM

What’s the water and sewer equivalent to gravel roads?

As cities and counties deal with shrinking revenue and the desire to hold taxes down, some have started talking about letting paved roads go to gravel to lower costs.

by Dave Peters

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August 29, 2011 5:52 AM

Should the state bond for broadband?

One way the state of Minnesota could move up in the rankings for broadband access and speed would be to allow the state to bond for fiber optic projects.

by Dave Peters

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August 25, 2011 11:50 AM

Dayton creates new broadband task force, promises action this time

Gov. Mark Dayton says he’ll re-create a broadband task force to come up with recommendations for how the state should meet its goal of getting into the top five states for high-speed access to the Internet.

by Dave Peters

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