Education

State lawmakers are under a lot of pressure this year to increase funding for public schools. The pressure is increasing as many parents are tired of budget problems in local schools.

University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks says now is the best -- and worst -- time for the university to pursue its ambitions to be among the top three public research universities in the world. Bruininks made his comments during his annual State of the University speech on Thursday.

The slam against suburbs is they lack culture or history. Wrong and wrong. Eden Prairie school children are discovering their suburb is loaded with culture and history, but it takes some digging to find it.

Striking teachers in the Crosby-Ironton school district say they've walked off the job mainly to preserve health benefits for retired teachers. In the meantime, parents in the district are trying to keep their children busy while school is shut down.

A recent study by the Knight Foundation shows that American high school students want more government regulation on the media. Midmorning discusses the way the First Amendment is viewed today.

The University of Minnesota is charting a course aimed at making it one of the top three public research universities in the world. In order to get there university officials say they will likely have to eliminate programs. That concerns some critics, while others worry that the U's drive for academic excellence will undercut its accessibility. And then there's the question of money. What should the university's mission be, and what's the best way to get there?