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.

January 28, 2011 2:30 AM

Join online conversation tackling rural health care in Virginia MN

MPR News is conducting an online forum Friday at noon to talk about the challenges of rural health care, particularly those faced in Virginia, Minn., where a community-owned hospital is having financial hardship.

by Dave Peters

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January 27, 2011 6:30 AM

Cities to the Legislature: Give us the sales tax option

In the face of more LGA cuts, the city of Grand Rapids is seeking the ability to impose a sales tax.

by Jennifer Vogel

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January 27, 2011 5:55 AM

Bakk: Keep print legal ads because my Internet speed is giving me a heart attack

DFL Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk defends the requirement that local governments take out print legal ads on the grounds that where he lives on Lake Vermillion Internet service is too slow.

by Dave Peters

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January 26, 2011 8:19 AM

Wilder unveils youth and children data

Wilder Research unveiled a new section on its Minnesota Compass website, highlighting data about Minnesota’s you and children.

by Dave Peters

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January 26, 2011 2:30 AM

U of M study to local government: Time to innovate

A new University of Minnesota study outlines a series of ways local governments can innovate and redesign, including examples from the across Minnesota of collaborating, using new incentives, finding volunteers and more.

by Dave Peters

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January 24, 2011 4:41 AM

Is community policing enough in Rochester?

Rochester’s facts and fictions around crime will get a public forum on February 1 as MPR and the Post-Bulletin host a discussion on public safety.

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January 19, 2011 8:33 AM

For city budgets, the angst is back

For Minnesota cities that nervously set their budgets last year with one eye on uncertain state aid levels, the debate in the Legislature is putting their concerns back on the front burner.

by Dave Peters

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January 19, 2011 5:45 AM

Join the rural health care conversation: Virginia and the public hospital dilemma

Virginia’s public hospital faces red ink and the prospect of merging. It also points to the larger problem of paying for health care in rural regions of the state. MPR will hold an online forum on this topic on January 28 at noon.

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January 18, 2011 5:15 AM

Where are the entrepreneurs?

Minnesota ranks 42nd in entrepreneurship, a fact highlighted by the state’s science and technology authority.

by Dave Peters

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January 14, 2011 3:56 AM

Will Sibley join the push for public broadband?

County, city and township officials in Sibley County in central Minnesota are mulling whether to join the push for publicly owned broadband networks.

by Dave Peters

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