Is there a youth 'brain drain' in rural Minnesota?

by Michael Caputo, Minnesota Public Radio

Plenty of talk is out there about how young people are leaving small towns, like those in our state. Authors of a new book called "Hollowing Out The Middle" have sent out an alarm for leaders of local communities to heed: You are letting young people slip away.

One of those authors appeared on Minnesota Public Radio News' talk program, Midmorning. At the same time as the program -- Minnesota Public Radio also held a "Virtual Forum" on the struggle by small towns to retain young. Sources from the Public Insight Network participated in the discussion. They questioned the use of the term "brain drain" for what's happening; called for a focus on broadband access and said small town leaders need to be more welcoming to newcomers.

The full discussion can be replayed below: