What story in your community needs more attention?
Posted at 6:00 AM on November 16, 2009
by Eric Ringham
(17 Comments)
Filed under: Culture
An interactive discussion today at MPR looks at new models for regional journalism.
What story in your community needs more attention?
Comments (17)
Hello. And Bye.
The epidemic of Lyme Disease and Chronic Lyme Disease in Minnesota. The story has been covered a bit, but not from the legislative angle, nor from the Doctor angle. No one ever talks about the fact that women who are poorly treated for Lyme Disease (less than 6 weeks of abx, MINIMUM) can pass the infections to their children.
There are very few doctors willing to treat Chronic Lyme Disease because several have faced litigation for treating in a manner they believe is correct.
My children were born with congenital lyme disease and it took 12 years for my oldest to get the diagnosis. My son, who is 5, was hospitalized for suspected Bartonella (a tick borne illness), treated briefly and then released.
With the tick population growing and the level of disease growing, this needs to be covered.
The Cannon Falls school district is developing a social studies curriculum based on Afghanistan. Their sixth and twelfth graders are partnering with a school in Khost, Afghanistan, to facilitate sponsorship and on-going interaction with this program. A recent fundraiser generated enough money to put 17 students through the 4 year vo-tech program at Khost. Two high school-aged Afghan merit scholars from the US Dept of State's YES program met with the kids at Cannon Falls to share their culture and talk candidly about the current situation in their homeland. Here are Americans and Afghans constructively engaging in partnership and cultural dialogue, something positive yet truly grounded in reality. The YES program and the Khost school partnership facilitated by Children's Culture Connection are practical steps that average Americans should know about so that they can do something concrete instead of wringing their hands about the failure of our foreign policy to bring about change in the world.
In my community, and throughout the state and the nation, the story I think needs more attention is the situation of poor and low-income working people. Although these folks make up almost half of our workforce, they're nearly invisible and their problems are pretty much ignored.
The number of working folks lining up at food shelves and free clinics was increasing long before the economy tanked. The time spent on waiting lists for housing assistance and daycare assistance went from months to years, also long before the economy tanked. These folks got no benefit from the economic boom of the 20 years prior to the big bust. Nothing trickled down to them. On the contrary, they saw wages stagnate and employer provided benefits dwindle or disappear altogether.
At the same time that more working folks were applying for public assistance, businesses and investors were reporting double-digit gains and we were giving tax cuts to the wealthy and well-to-do. We cut public assistance programs to help pay for the tax cuts.
We can't fix the economy unless we do something about the working class.
HEALTH IMPACTS OF PROPOSED POWER PLANT
Are the citizens of Chisago County, especially in Sunrise, Chisago Lakes and Lent Townships and the city of North Branch aware that there may be significant health related impacts of the proposed electrical generating plant if built?
Are they aware there may be bacterium Legionella pneumophila emitted from the four cooling towers now that the proposed plant is going to use effluent water from the near by waste treatment plants unless adequate biocides are use?
Are they aware there may be emissions of particulate matter (PM), such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which are air pollutants that may effect human health, grain crop and timber yields, building materials, recreation and visibility of outdoor vistas? Recent studies by the National Academy of Sciences express concern about health damages that might result from a natural gas/fuel oil electrical generating plant, which may include premature mortality and diseases such as chronic bronchitis and
asthma.
Are they aware that the ground underneath the proposed site is mostly sand and is considered one of the most highly sensitive spots in the county for well water contamination according to the Chisago County Comprehensive Plan, if any fuel oil was spilled?
Please inform the citizens of our state and Chisago County about how serious the effects might be if this proposed power plant is built in our community.
How about our national debt? How about Social Security going bankrupt? How about government employee pension funds going broke? How about the concept of "monetorizing the debt". Why is the price of gold getting so high?
How about talking about this with young people> THE PEOPLE THAT WILL GET STUCK WITH IT!
Please discuss the proposed LS Power Plant to be built in Chisago County. Besides this whole project having been "smuggled in the back door" (residents only heard about this project about 6 months ago, but a Lent Twp. supervisor stated he's been working on it for 18 mos.), the power is not even needed here, nor will it be used here. It does not fit into the county's or the township's comprehensive plans. The location is a "sweet spot" for the power company - they chose the location - which is in the middle of a beautiful agricultural/residential area. There are many issues to be discussed regarding this plant - please consider it! Thank you.
PLEASE YOU NEED TO COVER THIS STORY!
A New Jersey based company, LS Power (operating as a MN group called Sunrise River Energy, LLC), is proposing to construct the FOURTH LARGEST electric generating facility in MN in a rural residential zone in Lent Township of Chisago County. So far this year, there have been 2 so-called public forum meetings that have each attracted 400-500 citizens to debate and protest the building of this facility. Last spring, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed a bill that will give these energy carpetbaggers a 90% abatement of their personal property taxes. The ONLY caveat was that they need to obtain a signed Development Agreement from the affected Township (Lent) and Chisago County. Neither the Township nor County zoning regulations will apply to the plant when/if it obtains this Agreement and proceeds to build the facility… the MN Public Utilities Commission trumps all local zoning authority.
There is a groundswell of local opposition building against the granting of this Development Agreement and the construction of this power plant. A broad Coalition of local residents and citizen activists has been organizing and campaigning to STOP THE POWER PLANT. So far, no Metro Area news media has seen fit to cover this important story. Do YOU have the “nose for news” to get involved and report on this significant story? If not, then who will cover it and let the larger Metro Area know what’s going on?
There will be a major new chapter unveiled in this story at the Tuesday, November 17 meeting of the Lent Township Board. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM and will be held at the Lent Town Hall, located at 33155 Hemingway Avenue just northeast of Stacy, MN.
Thank you in advance for your time!
Contrary to earlier post:
A happy story on
the proliferation of immersion schools in the twin cities would be nice. Especially if you look at the fact that parents are sending their kids to schools teaching languages totally unrelated to their family's cultural heritage. And that several (most?) are public charter schools.
My son goes to the German Immersion School in St. Paul. According to the German Consul in Chicago, it's the only one in the whole Midwest. He laughed when he said it was ironic that, as the official representative of the German government in a city which a huge German immigrant population, that he couldn't even send his own kids to a German school.
There are several kids in his school who are not traditionally German. I.e, they're not European Whites. I think it's great that parents spend the effort to offer this to their children.
Of course, you could make it a more traditionally un-happy news story:
These schools are also being pinched by the education cuts.
Our school doesn't do bussing, so all of the students get driven by parents. Ironically, if I sent him to a private parochial Catholic grade school 6 blocks away, he could get bussed. What's the point in pushing mass transit, when I've got a 20 min. drive to get him to school? The more parents want to send their kids to a non-neighborhood school, they'll drive. This traffic burden won't go away with expanding 35W or anything else. I find it difficult to feel back about destroying the environment for this, though.
I'll try to refrain from ranting too much.
Go to University Ave. in St. Paul, just east of Fairview. I honestly don't recall the name of the specific street, it's the first one east of Fairview. On the north side of that intersection is a Y and a small school building. The school has 2 signs: Avalon School (sign says its a public 7-12 school) and Twin Cities German Immersion School (is a K-5 public charter school).
Stand on the sidewalk in front of the school. There's a fence.
Look at vast expanse of wood chips. This is my son's play ground. Is there any grass? No. The grass off to your right is the front yard of the business there.
Walk into the play ground and look around. There's no gate in the fence to keep my kindergarten son in. There's no gate to keep you or any other member of society out. Why?
Look at the sign in front of the fence where you're standing. It reads: St. Paul Park & Recreation Board.
Now, go to St Paul's website. Click on Search for Parks. You can't find it.
This was brought up at the German School's Board Meeting earlier this year. The planning is complicated by the fact that the area in front of the school is owned by the City of St. Paul and forms part of a public park. Fencing and landscaping are both seen as high priorities, but both require permission from the city.
http://www.germanschool-mn.org/docs/minutes_03242009.pdf
The school isn't allowed to do anything - not even landscaping - because the City of St Paul is ... well, I have no clue what they're doing.
The following was mentioned by my husband: The park was donated to the city in 1910 (or so), with the caveat that it be a park. Nothing has been done with it.
Go back to the fence & look east. There's grass in front of the first building, and then it turns into businesses. Look west. The Y has a fenced in yard (and apparently installed the playset without city permission - a great example of forgiveness being easier to get than permission). After that, the Griggs Building has it's parking lot on the "City Park Land". The corner of Fairview & University has a bus stop. The "Park Information Sign" is there, but there's no park near it, just the Griggs' parking lot.
Someone in St. Paul went through the bother of paying for the nice, colorful sigh with multicultural images. For a park that doesn't exist.But they can't allow the schools to put in grass? Even if the schools pay?
insert lots of frustrated profanity.
Why won't the city just let the schools make the place nice for the children? It's not as if they could actually honestly claim "we're about to do something intelligent with the property".
Can you honestly imagine any public school letting total strangers into the schools playground? I could go sit on this school's playground and they'll have to let me because it's a "public park".
Now, mind you, I'm not paranoid about sex offenders or such. But I am really annoyed that the general public is allowed to wander around where these kids play and can interrupt them. I'm really, really annoyed that my kid is stuck trying to play soccer on wood chips. And, by far, I'm *most* annoyed that there's no complete fence to keep the balls and kids from running into University Avenue. That's not an annoyance factor - this is basic bodily safety.
Sorry for the huge detail. I hope this didn't come across as too much of a rant.
Unemployment in Itasca County.
Why can't our Local, State, and National Politicians seem to listen to "The people" and make fair and honest policies without interfering with personal liberty?
Corruption, power and greed has shown it's dark side.
We need less government and more personal responsibility.
Redistribution of wealth is another name for COMMUNISM.
D.T.O.M.
In Chisago County there is a proposal to build an LS Power Plant that is causing many concerns for those interested in maintaining the natural, rural character of the county as well as its water sources. Chisago County borders spectacular St. Croix River and is home to Wild River State Park (some of the most scenic and accessible recreational areas serving the Metro). I see several comments by concerned citizens already posted and thank them for their diligence.
To counter the growing concern, the company has sent out post cards to county residents announcing a new website providing information regarding the proposal. On the front of the card they highlight such positive buzz words as "create local employment opportunities"; "improve local water quality"; "support renewable energy in Minnesota"; "provide substantial revenue to county, township and schools". However, when you go to the site they have disclaimers under the terms and conditions which caution you not to rely on any of the information contained herein. Nor do they make warranties as to the accuracy of the information.
I would love to see local journalists dig into the real facts about this issue so that the community can have reliable information. I would love to see the issue provoke a public forum that could address the bigger, long-term proposals that affect our communities, natural resources and way of (and quality of) life in Minnesota.
Medtronic's business ethics and the question of whether medical device manufacturers put the same kind of upward pressure on health care expenses as pharmaceutical manufacturers. Our congressional delegation is treating them with kid gloves, because they're here in Minnesota, but it's worth asking whether they're making money because they actually provide good value, or if it's nothing more than shrewd management of intellectual property to extract maximum profits from a dysfunctional health-care system.
The proposed LS Power Plant in Chisago County is a story worthy of coverage. The proposed 726MW plant (three times the size of a similar plant in Cottage Grove) will receive a huge ($8-9M/yr) personal property tax exemption, based on legislation co-written by LS Power and introduced by Sen. Rick Olseen. While the construction jobs the plant would create would be great, the proposed location flies in the face of both County and Township land use plans. LS Power refuses to consider alternate siting.
A large grassroots effort has developed to oppose the plant in this location. Chisago County serves as a commutable location where Twin Cities workers and residents can get away to experience a rural quality of life and wonderful natural areas. This plant would forever change the character of the area.
Chisago County and Lent Township are developing an agreement with a NJ based utility, LS Power, to build a natural gas/fuel oil power plant. The location violates both the County and Township Comprehensive plans and essential services ordinances and would bring new high voltage transmission lines to the area. The site is close to Carlos Avery Wildlife Area and the St. Croix and Sunrise Rivers. The citizens of Minnesota and Wisconsin successfully halted a 230 kv line (called the Chisago Project) eminating from that site in the 1990s. A power plant in this location will revisit those same issues. Recent utility studies have found no present or future electrical need for this plant.
Up here near Wyoming (MN) a new gas-fired power plant is being proposed for construction along the N. Branch of the Sunrise River, and almost everyone seems to be on board, including the local paper, and local governments. "Sunrise River Energy" recently sent out postcard mailers to generate support, and is promising the plant not only provides local taxes and create jobs, but somehow supports renewable energy and will improve local water quality (including the nitrate levels in Lake Pepin).
However, the backup fuel is oil so the renewable energy claim is a bit of greenwashing, the electricity is bound for WI, I believe, and they promise that no wastewater will enter local ground supply, but don't say where it will go. It also will only create ~20 permanent jobs, few of which will probably be local people, and we don't know if the construction will be a local or even MN company.
This is a $500M project, and it seems it would rate a little more attention than it has gotten.
The stress educators are facing in light of school districts cutting funding, positions, etc. Part of a trend where fewer are expected to do more with less.
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