NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THAT FOOD INSECURITIES MAY BE GROWING ACROSS MINNESOTA. SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, WHICH DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO NEARLY 400 FOOD SHELVES IN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN SAYS FOOD SHELF VISITS ARE UP 45% FROM THE SAME TIME IN 2019 AND 2021. THE NORTHERN DIVISION, A BRANCH OF THE SALVATION ARMY THAT DISTRIBUTES HOT MEALS AT LOCATIONS, SAYS DEMAND IS UP ABOUT 20%. APPLICATIONS FOR SNAP BENEFITS ARE UP 47%.
THE MINNESOTA DNR IS LOOKING TO EXPAND IT’S LIST OF PROHIBITED INVASIVE SPECIES, WITH THIRTEEN SPECIES IDENTIFIED AS HIGH RISK. SOME INCLUDE SNAKEHEAD FISH, JUMPING WORMS AND MITTEN CRABS. A COUPLE OF THE 13 ARE KNOWN TO ALREADY EXIST IN THE STATE, BUT MOST HAVE NOT REACHED MINNESOTA AS OF YET.
DNR OFFICERS REPORTED FINISHING UP FIREARMS DEER SEASON ENFORCEMENT AND ARE EXPECTING A QUICK TRANSITION TO EARLY SEASON ICE FISHING. THEY REMIND EVERYONE OF ICE AND COLD WATER SAFETY AS EARLY SEASON ICE CAN ESPECIALLY UNPREDICTABLE.
THE THIEF RIVER FALLS AIRPORT IS CLOSING IN ON AN IMPORTANT NUMBER THAT IF REACHED, THEY WOULD SEE A SIGNIFICANT BUMP IN FEDERALS ENTITLEMENTS. THEY REPORTED IN EARLY NOVEMBER THAT THEY NEEDED TO RECORD JUST OVER 1300 BOARDING BY THE END OF THE YEAR TO REACH 8000. IF THEY DID, THEIR FEDERAL MONEY WOULD GO FROM $150,000 PER YEAR TO $600,000. THE LAST TIME THE AIRPORT REACHED THAT LEVEL WAS IN 1999. CURRENTLY, DENVER AIR IS OPERATING THE PASSENGER SERVICE OUT OF THIEF RIVER.
THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON FRIDAY ORDERED ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CREATE A PLAN TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH THE SAME MEALS REGARDLESS OF THEIR LUNCH DEBT STATUS. ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON WROTE AN OPINION THAT FURTHER CLARIFIED A STATE LAW BANNING “SHAMING” OF STUDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD MEALS. EARLIER THIS YEAR IT WAS FOUND IN A SURVEY THAT 125 OF 330 MINNESOTA DISTRICTS HAD SUCH PLANS TO SERVE ALTERNATIVE MEALS.
Last modified: 11/22/2022
