Even before COVID-19, about 15 percent of school-age kids were thought to have a mental health or behavioral disorder, and schools were having a hard time providing enough mental health support. The pandemic has only added stress to the system.
Voters are heading to the polls amid a pandemic that has made this election season unlike any other. The coronavirus outbreak has also helped fuel a surge in absentee and early voting, which means the results of some races may not be immediately known. Officials must count mail-in ballots that trickle in later under safety rules imposed due to the pandemic.
In the months since George Floyd’s death, communities across the state have been grappling with the question of police reform — whether and how and to what degree. Bemidji, in northern Minnesota, began its own conversation at a special City Council listening session Monday night — prompted by a request from the city’s police chief.
The newest counts come a day after Minnesota health officials, increasingly concerned over reports of despondent residents in long-term care, rolled out new guidance that would open the door wider to visitors.
Many people across the state spend months preparing for powwow season, which is traditionally happening right about now. As states and tribal nations continue their fight against the spread of the coronavirus, however, many powwows this year have been canceled, leaving people pining for the community, the family and the celebration of Native culture that powwows bring.
Journalists and other members of the public on Monday received copies of officer body camera footage taken at the scene of George Floyd’s death in May. The release was ordered by the judge overseeing the cases against four former police officers charged in Floyd’s death.
A half-century ago, the Rainy River was heavily polluted by paper mills and untreated sewage. Now the river that runs along Minnesota’s northern border supports a world-class fishery and excellent water quality.
After months of strictly limited visitation policies, Minnesota's long-term care facilities will soon be allowed to cautiously open their doors a little wider — but only if they meet strict criteria laid out by the state.
An election and another special session are on tap for this week. Tuesday’s primary is Minnesota’s first statewide election during the pandemic. And the Legislature is due back midweek for what should be a quick special session, prompted by the coronavirus.
The Police Department opened a community service hub in a struggling neighborhood in an effort to reduce crime and offer services that would help improve residents' quality of life. Supporters say it has helped improve relations between police and residents, and should be a model for other cities considering reforms in the weeks since George Floyd’s death.