Minneapolis, MN
Dental clinic to reach additional 15,000 children as it reopens in northeast Minneapolis
Dental clinic to reach additional 15,000 children as it reopens in northeast Minneapolis
There was a celebration Thursday years in the making. Children’s Dental Services reopened its expanded clinic in northeast Minneapolis, which will serve an additional 15,000 children each year.
“Essentially doubling the capacity of this building to be a dental safety net,” said Sarah Wovcha, the executive director of the nonprofit.
There are now 16 rooms where patients, many of whom are low-income, will be seen for a variety of reasons.
“Only about 40% of low-income people on medical assistance in Minnesota are able to see a dentist in any given year,” said Wovcha. “These folks, instead of showing up in the emergency room with a toothache or an abscess that costs the taxpayers five times more than prevention, we are serving them here.”
The project is a collaboration between Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Minnesota Department of Health, Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis.
There are several barriers to care, including the low reimbursement rate for patients on medical assistance, according to Wovcha.
“They still don’t meet the cost of care and that means that if you’re a private office and you want to accept patients, it’s going to be tricky for you,” she explained.
Care providers are also retiring faster than new professionals are graduating, according to Wovcha.
“We know there is a tremendous shortage of providers around the state,” said Stephanie Albert, the president of the Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation, which partnered on this project.
“North Minneapolis is a dental desert,” said Albert. “Fifty-four of our 84 counties have dental deserts, which means they have a shortage of dental providers and when you have a shortage of providers, you have a shortage of care.”
Children’s Dental Services is also working to address that broader need across the state by serving 66 of the 87 counties through its mobile vans. Teams bring care to families directly, whether it’s at schools, low-income housing or WIC clinics. The expanded critical access clinic in Minneapolis is the nerve center for that effort too.
“Dental disease is the most common chronic childhood illness and it’s entirely preventable,” said Wovcha.
Children’s Dental Services is getting ready to open an additional clinical dental hub in Duluth later this month and another one is in development for the Iron Range.
“They’re a critical piece to reaching folks who might not have access to care otherwise,” said Albert.
Minneapolis, MN
1 dead, 2 injured in Minneapolis shooting early Saturday morning
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (Valley News Live) – One person is dead and two others are injured after a shooting in the Dinkytown neighborhood of Minneapolis overnight.
One of the men who was injured was a University of Minnesota student, according to school officials.
According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, officers heard bursts of automatic gunfire around 2:30 a.m. Saturday near 13th Avenue Southeast and Fifth Street Southeast.
The officers found two men, and later found a third, all suffering from gunshot wounds.
One of the men died at the scene, O’Hara said. The other two who were taken to the hospital are expected to survive.
Copyright 2025 KVLY. All rights reserved.
Minneapolis, MN
Happy Halloween in the Twin Cities
Despite rainy conditions and temperatures in the 40s, many families braved the weather to continue on their Halloween traditions. FOX 9’s Rob Olson checks in with a few donning costumes as they make their rounds.
Minneapolis, MN
A look at teacher salaries as negotiations in Minneapolis continue
The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers is negotiating for higher wages with Minneapolis Public Schools.
Minneapolis teachers union approves strike as mediation with MPS continues
Earlier this week, the union president told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS teachers could make thousands of dollars more across the river.
A report from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board shows the average teacher salary in Minneapolis is $82,859 per year, while it’s $93,366 per year for St. Paul Public Schools teachers.
St. Paul is among the highest 10 paying districts in the state, which also includes Wayzata Public Schools, Stillwater Area Public Schools and Sleepy Eye Public Schools, according to the report. It shows salaries across the state vary widely. Some are in the $40,000 range, while others are six figures.
“Teachers deserve a fair salary,” said Chelda Smith Kondo, a University of St. Thomas associate professor of education. “When you have areas, such as suburban areas, where you have a lot of home ownership, you have a larger tax base. That tax base is going to provide a lot more funds to the school district there, so that will allow the school district to pay more to their teachers.”
Kondo told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that teacher salaries can play a role in graduation rates and test scores.
“The way it does is in retention,” she said. “The more that an educator feels they are fairly compensated for the work that they do, and with teachers, the impact they have, the more likely they are to stay in the profession, which directly benefits students.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS analyzed data from the Minnesota Report Card. It showed SPPS had a 76.5% graduation rate last year. At least half of the other 10 highest-paid districts were above 90%. Lower-earning districts, however, also reported high graduation rates.
Kondo said there are many variables that affect graduation rates, from attendance to whether a child’s basic needs are met. Overall, rates are improving statewide across all demographics.
“Last year in 2024, we had record graduation rates at 84%,” said Kondo. “Of course, that 84% doesn’t represent everyone; some are higher, others are a little bit lower. Overall, it shows our high schoolers are graduating.”
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