Support for Those Affected by Food Shortages

Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.

ANCHOR: Northern communities are supporting those affected by food shortages. Then, another Minnesota-based company announces layoffs. And, the federal government has a new rule for work permits.

I'm Gracie J.

Agribusiness giant Cargill says it will permanently lay off 80 employees in Minnesota as part of a global workforce reduction. Cargill is a multinational food corporation located in the Western suburbs of the metro area. The company says the layoffs are not tied to automation. Affected workers will receive severance pay and job placement support at the end of the year. In recent weeks, major corporations, including Target, have announced mass layoffs.

Next, in this month's report from the northeast, the news director from AMPERS station WTIP talks to Victor Palomino about how the Grand Marais community is organizing to support those affected by the conflicts at the federal level.

Victor Palomino: Many local governments, community members and businesses are preparing to meet the growing need for food support. This includes communities in northeastern Minnesota, where Kalli Hawkins is WTIP radio's news director.

Kalli Hawkins: Our local Cook County Public Health and Human Services come forward and start preparing with additional resources and opportunities for those who are seeking those benefits. Another great thing that we've seen in our community is that a handful of our local business owners have also stepped forward.

Victor Palomino: Kalli says local coffee shops, grocery stores and other businesses are offering gift cards and discount to help people in need.

Kalli Hawkins: Basically, being a resource in a spot in town where people can go to if they need a hot meal or if they need some food. And so it's been really great to see that kind of, the synergy and the momentum in our community in the last week.

Victor Palomino: According to WTIP, Cook County officials and the county's Public Health and Human Services Department report that an average of 235 residents receive food benefits each month.

Kalli Hawkins: And that can range anywhere from as small as $23 a month that they receive. It could go all the way up to $1,158, just depending on factors such as income and household size.

Victor Palomino: WTIP also reports that county leaders say that they are working to support residents facing food insecurity through the coming months, regardless of what happens at the national level

Kalli Hawkins: From right now until the end of the year, end of 2025, there will be a food drive set up in the lobby of our local Cook County Courthouse here.

Victor Palomino: Several collection bins will be set up for self-serve donations, where individuals can contribute unopened, non-expired, non-perishable food items.

Kalli Hawkins: It's also a place for individuals that need food to stop in, look through the bins and select the items that they may need as well. So that'll be at the lobby of our Cook County Courthouse throughout the end of 2025.

Victor Palomino: In other WTIP news, construction is underway on an expansion for the Cook County Law Enforcement Center.

Kalli Hawkins: Yeah, so this is part of a larger capital improvement project with our county here. And this was approved back in August of 2023. So recently held a groundbreaking ceremony with a handful of county officials, all the construction crews there as well. Our Cook County Sheriff's is looking to address some safety issues, some space concerns there, for the Sheriff's Department particularly. This expansion project will go to improve some evidence storage and then add a new sally port so that an ambulance can fit into that back area there, within the Law Enforcement Center.

Victor Palomino: Work will continue as long as the weather allows, and is expected to be completed by next summer.

Kalli Hawkins: If you're looking to learn more about things happening, news happening along the North Shore here in the Northeast region, you can head over to wtip.org.

Victor Palomino: For North Star Stories, I'm Victor Palomino.

Anchor: You are listening to North Star Stories.

The Department of Homeland Security, also known as DHS, has announced a new rule ending automatic extensions of work permits for most noncitizens. Starting last month, those renewing employment authorization must wait for DHS approval before their documents are extended. Officials say the change allows for more frequent background checks to detect fraud and protect national security. The rule does not affect extensions granted before the new policy takes effect.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.