A growing number of rural Midwestern churches -- where generations have been baptized, married and buried -- are closing their doors as rural America loses residents to cities and suburbs. "There’s a kind of sadness to see the rural decline,” one observer says.

Beltrami County - like other rural areas around Minnesota - has decided the venerable old bookmobile is no longer the most cost-effective way to provide library services to residents far from any brick-and-mortar library. OK, then what is? There's not exactly any consensus on that yet.

People in their 30s and 40s have continued to move to parts of rural Minnesota, new research shows -- perhaps drawn by a higher quality of life, a slower pace, more security, cheaper housing and a better place to raise children. The results add nuance to larger trends of population decline, young people leaving and elderly populations increasing in rural areas.

The Minnesota Justice system is reeling from a Cook County Court shooting that left three injured. KARE-11 reports concerns over safety are being raised, and although most courts have electronic security more than 60 percent are without metal detectors.

A new study finds that the gap is narrowing between the amount of households in rural Minnesota and Twin Cities-area that have some form of Internet access. A new study released by the Center for Rural Policy and Development said 70.6 percent of households have some form of broadband Internet access, as opposed to with the 79.2 percent of households in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.

Reports of the demise of rural Minnesota seem to be greatly exaggerated. While it's true that college-aged residents are leaving rural counties, research by a U of M sociologist finds people in their 30s and 40s and migrating into rural areas. And bringing educational degrees and earning power with them.