ABOUT THESE STORIES

Stories about school funding in this special report were written by Mike ORourke and Jodie Tweed, members of the Brainerd Dispatch staff.

ORourke, associate editor, has been a reporter and editor for the Dispatch for 29 years. A graduate of Minneapolis Southwest High School, he received his degree in journalism at the University of Minnesota. He covers politics and is in charge of the editorial page.

Tweed, a Dispatch reporter for 10 years, is a graduate of Pequot Lakes High School. She received her bachelors degree in mass communications at Bemidji State University and a masters in mass communication at St. Cloud State University. Her beat is education.