Minnesota Pollution Control Agency considers lifting some water standards
Mining companies and municipal wastewater treatment facilities support the move, but some environmentalists says it s clear deregulation of pollutants. 8:25 pm, Feb. 22, 2021 ×
The sun sets over Superior Bay, the end of Minnesota Point, and Lake Superior near Duluth. 2017 file / News Tribune
Minnesota regulators are seeking to change water standards across the state.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has proposed the set of rule changes. The changes would remove numerical standards set for conductivity, hardness, sodium and bicarbonates in waters meant for industry and irrigation. They also would allow for higher amounts of chloride, alkalinity, salinity and total dissolved solids in waters meant for industry, irrigation and livestock, and wildlife drinking.
St. Peter: 255
The pandemic caused more upheaval in an already unstable industry. Providers were suddenly hit with major income losses as families pulled their children out of child care (often due to parents who lost jobs or whose work situations changed as a result of the pandemic) and business costs increased as providers adhered to new public health guidelines. While state and federal grants have helped, many providers are hanging on by a thread and some have opted to close indefinitely.
As communities look to reopen and repair their struggling economies, addressing the child care crisis is vital. Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care. Likewise, our cities cannot attract new businesses and families unless we have a strong child care system.
But wait, there s more: Walz proposes second, $518 million bonding bill
Although it breaks Capitol tradition to pass a bonding bill in an odd-numbered year, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says additional capital investment could stimulate the economy and provide essential jobs. Written By: Sarah Mearhoff | ×
Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, signed into law a $1.9 billion local jobs and projects bill following months of debate and disagreement in the divided state Legislature. Dana Ferguson / Forum News Service
ST. PAUL Just months after the state approved a historically large infrastructure investment bill, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday, Feb. 22, proposed the Legislature pass an additional $518 million in bonding.
Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care.
Written By:
Pat Baustian, Luverne Mayor and Heidi Omerza, Ely City Council | 10:50 pm, Feb. 19, 2021
After a harrowing year, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. COVID-19 cases are trending downward, vaccinations are up, businesses are re-opening and children are venturing back to school. But as Greater Minnesota communities look ahead to the post-pandemic future, a stubborn barrier to economic recovery remains: a dire lack of available child care.
This problem is not new. Even before COVID-19 came on the scene, Greater Minnesota was short 40,000 child care spots. In Rock County, we need nearly 200 more spaces to meet demand. Ely needs 140. According to a June 2020 report from First Children’s Finance (FCF), the shortage impacts communities of all sizes and in all corners of the state. Here’s an estimate of the additional child care spots needed in a sampling of Gre
• St. Peter: 255
The pandemic caused more upheaval in an already unstable industry. Providers were suddenly hit with major income losses as families pulled their children out of child care (often due to parents who lost jobs or whose work situations changed as a result of the pandemic) and business costs increased as providers adhered to new public health guidelines.
While state and federal grants have helped, many providers are hanging on by a thread and some have opted to close indefinitely.
As communities look to reopen and repair their struggling economies, addressing the child care crisis is vital. Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care. Likewise, our cities cannot attract new businesses and families unless we have a strong child care system.