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The American Dream for some

The American Dream for some

Two out of three Americans are making more money today than their parents did in the '60s, but for African-American men, that statistic is much lower.

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Beltrami County youth suicide rate highest in the state

Beltrami County youth suicide rate highest in the state

Beltrami County health advocates are reacting to a report showing the county has the highest suicide rate in the state for young people. Agencies are reaching out to schools, but drastic funding cuts are making it a challenge.
by Tom Robertson

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Orphans of the AIDS epidemic

Orphans of the AIDS epidemic

Journalist and author Melissa Fay Greene tracks the tragic impact of AIDS in Ethiopia, and the efforts of one Ethiopian woman to care for orphans of the epidemic.

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One employer eases a vet's deployment and reintegration to civilian life

One employer eases a vet's deployment and reintegration to civilian life

Some business go to great lengths to help employees and their families when they're called up for military service. That assistance, says one central Minnesota man, helped make his deployment and transition back to civilian life, more manageable.
by Mark Zdechlik

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What is a DBE?

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, or DBE, program was put in place by the federal government nearly 30 years ago, to encourage businesses owned by minorities and women to bid on government contracts.
by Dan Olson

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Excerpts from Joanne Wagner's whistleblower lawsuit

Joanne Wagner is the former director of MnDOT's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity. Wagner filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the agency in July 2007, claiming she was demoted after she recommended against awarding a contract to Granite and McCrossan. She settled her suit in early November for $170,000, and is leaving the agency. Here are excerpts from her lawsuit.

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A timeline of the MnDOT projects in question

This timeline shows the progress on two major MnDOT contracts which are now under scrutiny by federal investigators for inadequate hiring of minority and women-owned businesses.

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MnDOT falls far short on goals for hiring women and minority contractors

MnDOT falls far short on goals for hiring women and minority contractors

Women and minority-owned businesses in Minnesota have missed out on tens of millions of dollars worth of state highway and transit contracts, in possible violation of federal law. The federal government has launched an investigation, and a MnDOT employee filed a whistleblower lawsuit, saying she was threatened with firing because she brought the issue to her supervisor's attention.
by Dan Olson

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MnDOT admits it hasn't met DBE goals

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has fallen short for years on its own goals for hiring minority and women-owned businesses on construction projects.
by Dan Olson

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