>>Minnesota’s Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 3.4 % in October
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota’s unemployment rate remained at 3.4 percent in October for the second month. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reported that Minnesota lost a thousand jobs last month. Still, it translated to a zero percent change due to an upward revision of 11 hundred jobs added in September. Minnesota gained more than 33-thousand-200 payroll jobs over the last year. Officials say the state’s labor force participation rate held steady at 67.7 percent. The national jobless rate was 4.1 percent last month.
>>MN Department Of Health Claims Residents At Rochester Senior Facility Mistreated
(Rochester, MN) — A recent report from the Minnesota Department of Health claims that employees mistreated two residents at a senior care facility in Rochester. The investigation into Willow & Waters Senior Living concluded on October 24th. Health officials stated that one employee wrapped a metal chain around the wrists of two residents while another worker recorded the incident on video. Facility administrators informed investigators that the employees were disciplined and required to undergo vulnerable adult training following the incident. Fortunately, the residents were not injured, according to the report. Additionally, the employee who recorded the video was ultimately fired for violating patient privacy.
>>Camp Ripley Offers On-Site Day Care Services
(Little Falls, MN) — Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, now offers on-site daycare at the base. Minnesota National Guard First Lieutenant Colton Rossow says the well-being and care of their soldiers have always been a top priority. He says childcare has become the number one obstacle for many soldiers. Two childcare facilities are open, and a third will open early next year. Camp Ripley joins a cohort of more than 20 states in providing full-time childcare facilities to employees working on the military base.
>>MDH Finds Schools With More Low-Income Students Seeing Less Radon Testing
(Saint Paul, MN) — State health officials have found that schools with a higher proportion of lower-income students conduct fewer radon tests. This insight comes from a recent report based on data gathered between 2018 and 2022. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, school districts with a larger number of students eligible for free and reduced lunch had, on average, about 20 percent fewer buildings tested compared to districts with fewer students enrolled in these lunch programs. Additionally, the study highlights a significant overall lack of radon testing, with only a quarter of districts testing one or more buildings during the four-year survey period.
>>Ruff Start Rescue Facility Expanding
(Princeton, MN) — Construction is underway on a 12-hundred-foot expansion at Princeton’s Ruff Start Rescue facility. Executive director Azure (like Asher with a “Z”) Davis says they need more space for donations, food, pet supplies, and helping the community. He says, in addition, they are offering veterinary services for foster animals. Davis says accessibility to vet care is a challenge for everyone right now. Ruff Start will also add an overhead garage door to help keep animals from the transport van safe and warm.
