More than half of Minnesota's residents can now call 211 for information about social, health, crisis and community services.
Most of the 2 million Qwest phone customers are the first to have access to the free service, which started Sunday and is provided by First Call Minnesota. The service will expand statewide by the end of the year.
Service started Sunday for the Twin Cities area, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, Bemidji, Brainerd and other cities.
More residents will be added as other phone companies initiate the round-the-clock service, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Board on Aging.
