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.

When we asked rural providers to talk about barriers for patients, we received compelling descriptions. Then the public joined in and the conversation got spirited.
Weigh In with your rural health story
We asked nine medical professionals to tell us what it looks like where the patient meets the provider in rural Minnesota these days. See what they told us and then add your response.
The League of Minnesota Cities is trying to help Minnesota city officials understand how the Legislature’s budget actions will cause them to raise tax rates even if they keep total property tax levies flat.
A company already operating in Minnesota may be the first to take advantage of a new state law exempting equipment and electricity purchases for a large data center from the sales tax. A decision could come in six to eight months, says Bill Blazer of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
Divining how Minnesotans want to fix things
A Wilder Research poll shows Minnesotans think the state is heading in the wrong direction and want a multi-faceted approach to fixing budget problems. It also shows support for cutting the number of people who receive state services.
When Minnesota last month replaced its Market Value Homestead Credit in an effort to save money, it raised the specter of property tax increases. But property tax changes will vary around the state, and local officials are grappling to understand the new law’s effect.