Low-income weatherization, healthcare staff recruitment and an avian influenza press conference

Published on May 3, 2022

Download a photo of weatherization expert Bob Hoium

GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — The May 2022 edition of Pioneer PBS’s public affairs program Compass features a low-income weatherization program, creative healthcare employee recruitment in Hutchinson and excerpts from a press conference in Willmar on the avian influenza outbreak. The program will air Thursday, May 12 at 9 p.m. and will be viewable online at www.pioneer.org/compass. People in Pioneer PBS's viewing area can livestream the episode at pioneer.org/live during the broadcast time. Viewers are encouraged to visit Compass on Facebook and YouTube to give feedback on the stories.

The Minnesota Community Action Partnership has a weatherization program that qualifying households can apply for through a participating local community action agency. Compass followed Bob Hoium from Prairie Five Community Action Council to learn about how the program helps income-qualifying homeowners save and go greener by reducing energy consumption.

Download a photo of healthcare worker Bem Nonescan

Next, a report from Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development found that, in December 2020, nursing and residential care facilities had almost 106,000 employees. In 2021, this area lost almost 6,000 workers, down to just over 99,500. Minnesota is projected to add nearly 60,000 new health care jobs over the next decade. Harmony River is part of the Presbyterian Homes & Services network, which is thinking about creative ways to recruit staff. For the past 20 years, PHS has been partnering with the IPR, the International Personal Resource of the Philippines (also referred to as INR, International Nurses Registry) to recruit nursing staff. And in the 2020/2021 school year, Harmony River partnered with the Hutchinson High School TigerPath program to offer a CNA certification to expose students to healthcare career pathways. Funding for this story is provided by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging. To watch the other stories in this series, visit pioneer.org/compass/aging-well.

Download a photo of Senator Tina Smith, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

Then, on April 19, 2022, Governor Tim Walz, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson and Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson gave a press conference on the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreading throughout Minnesota.

Viewers with story ideas and issues they would like to see discussed on Compass are encouraged to contact Pioneer PBS via email at yourtv@pioneer.org or call the station at 1-800-726-3178.

About Compass

Compass features current topics relevant to communities in Pioneer PBS's viewing area. Stories are digital-first, meaning they're available on Compass' Facebook and YouTube pages and website before being compiled into monthly broadcasts, which air the second Thursday of the month.

Funding for Compass is provided in part by the Mcknight Foundation, the Otto Bremer Trust and the viewers of Pioneer PBS.

About Pioneer PBS

Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit:www.pioneer.org.