Ground Level Blog

November 14, 2011 8:41 AM

More money awarded for broadband in northern Minnesota

Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative has been awarded almost $20 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend its fiber optic network and deliver high-speed Internet access to more people.

by Dave Peters

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November 10, 2011 10:11 AM

Property taxes are rising for most, early estimates show

Preliminary figures show that property taxes for most homes in Minnesota will be going up next year, an MPR News sampling indicates.

by Dave Peters

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November 7, 2011 4:29 AM

Dayton picks new broadband task force

Gov. Mark Dayton has appointed a 15-member task force to map out a set of recommendations for improving Minnesota’s broadband availability.

by Dave Peters

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November 4, 2011 5:38 AM

When forced to choose, how do you decide?

Minnesota communities have different ways to set priorities, from public hearings to surveys to votes. In Edina Thursday, residents sat around a table getting up to their elbows in budgets and taxes.

by Dave Peters

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November 1, 2011 6:58 AM

Do libraries give us a core service?

Are libraries core services? MPR News’ Public Insight Network sources tell what they think.

by Dave Peters

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October 31, 2011 3:41 AM

Social Security’s role underappreciated in rural economies

In some northern Minnesota counties Social Security checks account for more than 10 percent of the total personal income.

by Dave Peters

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October 26, 2011 10:51 AM

Minnesotans find themselves “Forced to Choose”

MPR News launches “Forced to Choose,” a reporting project exploring how Minnesota communities are coping with an austerity putting pressure on taxes and budgets.

by Dave Peters

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October 24, 2011 2:00 AM

Minnesota’s communities making tough choices

A new Ground Level project, “Force to Choose” explores the tough choices communities are making in the face of shrinking budgets.

by Jennifer Vogel

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October 20, 2011 9:50 AM

A quarter of Minnesotans have no broadband at home

A new survey by Connect Minnesota shows that 28 percent of Minnesota households do not have high-speed Internet access at home. The biggest reason cited was lack of relevance.

by Dave Peters

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October 14, 2011 7:09 AM

Minneapolis property taxes rising only slightly

Minneapolis property taxes look like they will rise slightly in 2012, according to preliminary figures from Hennepin County tax officials. The tax on a median value home is set to rise $34. That is less than the expected increase on a similar St. Paul home.

by Dave Peters

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