James Walsh

1 week ago | startribune.com | James Walsh

That's how many Vickie Schaefer left during a five-day stretch, trying to get someone at Hennepin County to help her renew the financial assistance her 92-year-old mother relies on to pay rent at her assisted living facility. Eventually, the Plymouth woman reached someone - on call 23 - but she worries that if others are not as persistent, they risk losing their housing, much like her mother.

1 week ago | startribune.com | James Walsh

By James Walsh Goldberg co-founded the PACER Center, teaching parents of disabled children how to be their kids' best advocates. She died last month at the age of 90. The Minnesota Star Tribune Marge Goldberg, the co-founding executive director of the PACER Center in Bloomington. (Submitted) Share Comment about the writer James WalshReporter James Walsh is a reporter covering social services, focusing on issues involving disability, accessibility and aging.

3 weeks ago | winonadailynews.com | James Walsh

For Minnesotans with minor criminal records, the wait for a clean slate is nearly over after a four-month delay. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on Monday began sending criminal records to the state court system for expungement. Under the new Clean Slate Act, which became official Jan. 1, an estimated 2 million criminal records will eventually come off the books, said Drew Evans, the BCA superintendent.

3 weeks ago | startribune.com | James Walsh

For Minnesotans with minor criminal records, the wait for a clean slate is nearly over after a four-month delay. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) on Monday began sending criminal records to the state court system for expungement. Under the new Clean Slate Act, which became official Jan. 1, an estimated 2 million criminal records will eventually come off the books, said Drew Evans, the BCA superintendent.

3 weeks ago | winonadailynews.com | James Walsh

If there was good news during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that millions of new dollars helped provide meals to thousands more Minnesota seniors. Those days appear over. Just two years after an infusion of state and federal dollars boosted the number of older Minnesotans getting meals delivered to their homes or served in congregate dining rooms, food programs are girding for tighter times.