A&nbsp;selection of news articles and opinion pieces featuring economic issues.<BR>http://growthandjustice.org/G_J_News.rss8/27/2008 9:26:11 PMhttp://backend.userland.com/rssUPNetEnginehttp://growthandjustice.org/Reforming_education_funding_could_mean_higher_taxes.html Lawmakers are meeting around the state to get input on an education funding bill. By Brad Swenson, <EM>Bemidji Pioneer.</EM>8/27/2008 11:20:04 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Cities_Debate_Privatizing_Public_Infrastructure.html Federal, state and local governments previously wary of private funds are struggling under mounting deficits that have curbed their ability to improve crumbling roads, bridges and even airports with taxpayer money. By Jenny Anderson, <EM>New York Times.</EM>8/27/2008 11:14:53 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/For_poverty_rate_and_non-elderly_median_cime_worst_performance_on_record_for_any_six_years_of_economic_growth.html Poverty and share of Americans without health insurance were higher in 2007 - and median income for working-age households was lower - than at the bottom of the last recession. A report by Arloc Sherman, Robert Greenstein and Sharon Parrot from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 8/27/2008 10:16:08 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Income_erodes_poverty_gains_in_Minnesota.html The state got a head start on economic woes, and things may not improve until later next year, the state economist said. By Warren Wolfe, <EM>Star Tribune.</EM>8/27/2008 10:03:37 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Government_food_aid_on_rise_among_Minnesotans.html The number of Minnesotans receiving government assistance to buy food has increased significantly in the past five years amid tough economic times, according to a new state report. By Charley Shaw, <EM>St. Paul Legal Ledger</EM>.8/21/2008 12:01:42 PMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Prior_Lake-Savage_district_mothballs_brand-new_school.html School districts sometimes struggle to win voter approval to both build and run a school, but it's rare for a new school to sit empty during its first year.&nbsp;By Sarah Lemagie, <EM>Star Tribune</EM>.8/20/2008 9:21:20 PMhttp://growthandjustice.org/4_of_10_Minnesota_students_pass_new_science_exam.html State officials hope to use data to help boost programsState officials hope to use data to help boost programs. By Megan Boldt, <EM>Pioneer Press</EM>.8/19/2008 11:12:49 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Truth_about_schools_need_for_levies_shouldn_t_be_sugarcoated.html In a perfect world, Minnesota's leaders would follow the law and support public schools. But this is not a perfect world, and Minnesota's leaders don't properly invest in public schools. By John Fitzgerald, Minnesota 2020.8/18/2008 11:26:06 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Jobs_slump_is_state_s_worst_since_83.html State's jobless rate was 5.8 percent in July. That's slightly worse than nationwide and reflects a troubled economy, by Mike Meyers,<EM> Star Tribune</EM>.8/15/2008 7:50:09 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/Nice_ACT_scores_but_ready_for_college.html Minnesota high school students have top scores, but only a third reach the benchmark for college preparedness, and minority students' scores lag. By Scott Shelman, <EM>Star Tribune.</EM>8/15/2008 7:52:01 AMhttp://growthandjustice.org/City_to_lay_off_up_to_217_workers.html The City of Duluth's budget deficit has swelled by more than $2 million. The gap will be closed&nbsp;using a number of strategies, including laying off&nbsp;up to 217 city employees. By Brandon Stahl, <EM>Duluth News Tribune</EM>.8/12/2008 1:18:07 PMhttp://growthandjustice.org/North_Star_fading_As_population_ages_state_faces_complex_challenges_in_restoring_its_economic_luster.html A look at why the state's role as a shinning star of the U.S. economy dimmed in recent years by Dave Beal in MinnPost.8/11/2008 11:37:15 AM