Social Issues

The Department of Agriculture reports food stamp recipients redeemed almost $150,000 from Oct. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2012 at the state's farmers markets and with direct marketing farmers -- such as those at roadside stands.
Census to offer Internet option in gov't surveys
For the first time, the Census Bureau is giving U.S. households a chance to respond to government surveys over the Internet, part of a bid to save costs and boost sagging response rates in a digital age.
Ranks of English learners swelling in Minnesota schools
Nearly 65,000 English learner students are enrolled in Minnesota schools, representing more than 200 languages. That number has grown rapidly in the past two decades, soaring by 50,000, a 300 percent increase in English learners.
In Minnesota, the world in the classroom
The challenge of learning English can have many dimensions for the thousands of Minnesota students identified as English language learners. For some, it is a matter of survival in a new country. For all, it takes resolve, resilience and time.
In Minn., new tactics to help immigrant students
To boost English learners' performance, some Minnesota schools are trying new approaches designed to help them more quickly grasp the language. Among them is Kennedy Elementary in Willmar, Minn., which has a growing number of students from Somalia.
English language programs trace roots to mid-1970s
Though immigration has been a prominent feature of U.S. growth since the nation's founding, the modern age of English language learning programs traces back to only the mid-1970s.
A parent's longest wait
It's hard to image one's children in fear and out of reach.
Kerry and Juan Cuate opened a Mexican bakery, Panaderia Mi Tierra, in downtown Worthington, Minn. The bakery now caters to the larger community, bringing the diverse population together.