The impending closure of three large child care centers in Duluth is raising awareness of what parents and providers are calling a crisis situation in child care. The closures have left parents of about 200 children scrambling to find new care.

But there’s already a shortage of around 1,000 child care slots in Duluth. Statewide, recent estimates put the need at more than 40,000 child care slots in greater Minnesota.

MPR News’ Duluth correspondent Dan Kraker attended a press conference following a meeting between state lawmakers, Duluth officials, parents and child care providers to talk about the situation. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to share the latest developments.