“We need legislation that reflects the needs of the public, not just big business and Wall Street,” Sen. Tomassoni said.

The legislation proposes a two-year suspension of the current five-year limit on welfare benefits for low-income families. Currently, families are cut off welfare benefits after five years. This plan would allow families an additional two years of financial support.

Amidst a deepening recession and a frigid Minnesota winter, seniors throughout the state have become increasingly dependent on food assistance programs to ensure food security and proper nutrition. However, given the state’s current financial woes, the future of these programs is far from certain.

Food assistance programs play a vital role for Minnesota’s seniors.

More than 3,000 jobless Minnesotans would get extended unemployment benefits in the first bill to clear the Legislature this year.

The unemployment extension sailed through the House on a 117-11 vote, after passing the Senate unanimously two weeks ago.

The bill now heads to Gov.

AccountAbility Minnesota aims to help taxpayers keep every penny of it. One way they do that is by offering low cost “refund anticipation loans,” which loan people money up front against the tax refund they are expecting. AccountAbility Minnesota charges no more than $30 for such a loan, compared to the hefty prices charged by commercial tax services like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt.

One in four Minnesotans uses a state human services program, ranging from home-delivered meals for seniors to pregnancy care for the uninsured.

“It’s gonna be a cold one.” We hear it every year.

The difference this year, however, is that winter heating costs are predicted to be 20 percent higher than last year, said Bill Walsh, communications director for the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

“Everybody’s going to pay more to heat their homes this year,” he said.

Luckily, those having trouble keeping up on their energ

Thirty-nine states have developed farm-to-school programs that are now active in 2,000 school districts, according to the National Farm to School Project. The 2008 Farm Bill, passed by Congress a few months ago, funded a fresh fruit and vegetable program to the tune of $1 billion for the next five years.

In Minnesota, districts in Hopkins, St. Paul, Little Falls and elsewhere are involved.

In Dakota County, the lines of people needing help with food, housing or medical care keep getting longer. And with Minnesota poised to lose up to 55,000 more jobs in the coming year and an economy that’s showing no signs of a quick recovery, officials are deeply worried.

StarTribune

This series, Our Hungry Planet, found powerful and conflicting forces around the world influencing the supply and price of food. Some individuals and businesses have profited handsomely, while others went hungry and grocery bills continued to rise.

StarTribune