President Biden didn’t say much about COVID
In last night’s State of the Union address President Biden used the word “COVID” only one time and “pandemic” four times, including noting that “the pandemic no longer controls our lives.” This is in stark contrast to Biden’s 2022 State of the Union, which referenced “COVID” 23 times and “pandemic” 11 times. While COVID-19 hospitalization […]
Grand Rapids will consider chlorination after outbreak
Dale Adams just thought he had a cold when he felt tired and run-down last November. “Northerners! We try and tough through everything,” he said. But after eight or nine days, the Grand Rapids city council member wasn’t getting any better. His son urged him to seek medical treatment. Doctors diagnosed Adams with Legionnaires’ disease, […]
Suicide rates rising fastest in rural Minnesota
Suicide rates in the United States have increased 37 percent since 2000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. And in Minnesota, it’s increasing faster in rural areas, when compared to urban and suburban numbers. A new report from the Center for Rural Policy and Development says there are unique challenges to rural life […]
5 tips for spotting and debunking disinformation this election year
We’ve probably all had this experience: You’re scrolling through social media and see something a bit outrageous. Maybe it’s a news headline that confirms your worst suspicions. You know your like-minded friends would agree with it. So, you share it. But … was it true? People who study misinformation say it’s easy to fall for […]
Legislation would create temporary licenses for cannabis businesses in Minnesota
Updated: 4:45 p.m. Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management is proposing changes to the state’s marijuana law, including one that would allow the issuance of a set number of temporary licenses. Those licenses would cover everything from cultivation to testing to retail and delivery operations. The goal of issuing those temporary licenses, the office said, would […]
A look at the barriers for transgender people getting cancer screenings
CATHY WURZER: I’m Cathy Wurzer. Thanks for being with us. No one likes mammograms or prostate exams, right? But they can help spot cancer when it’s treatable. But for transgender patients, these cancer screenings are more than just uncomfortable. They force trans people to acknowledge body parts they no longer identify with, not to mention […]
Minnesota may open some of the first government-run cannabis dispensaries in the U.S.
Minnesota could become the first state in nine years to open cannabis dispensaries that are run by cities and counties. That’s because of one line in the state’s new cannabis laws that allow for cities and counties to “establish, own and operate a municipal cannabis store.” The law appears to be the first of its […]
New ambulance telemedicine devices save time — and lives
Paul Kirchner’s memory is still a little hazy about the day he got hurt in a farming accident in rural Murray County last September. He went to help a friend who had hit a power line while they were combining a cornfield. “I think I was in shock from being electrocuted,” Kirchner, 66, said. “Because […]
Meet the public health researchers trying to rein in America’s gun violence crisis
A digital illustration of a circle of hands extending from the edge of the image, each holding a sheet of paper. The papers overlap in the center and, like a puzzle, come together to reveal a drawing of a handgun. Oona Tempest/KFF Health News Gun violence has exploded across the U.S. in recent years — […]
Why we fall for misinformation and how to debunk it
Have you had this experience? You scroll through your social media feed and see something a bit outrageous. Maybe it’s a news headline that confirms your worst suspicions. You know your like-minded friends would agree with it. So, you share it. But … was it true? People who study misinformation say it’s easy […]