Minnesota AG to review death of Beltrami County inmate
Attorney General Keith Ellison will review the 2018 death of a Beltrami County inmate. Hardel Sherrell, 27, died of medical complications after his pleas for help were ignored by Beltrami County jail and medical staff. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension completed its investigation in August 2022 and referred the case to Beltrami County Attorney […]
Fairview and Sanford say they’ll take two more months to finish merger
Two health systems proposing to merge say they will take more time after the University of Minnesota and state officials have pushed back on a previous target deadline of the end of March to finish the deal. In a statement, Fairview and Sanford Health say they have “voluntarily extended our target planning date for completion […]
Metrics show less COVID, but we want to hear from you
Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 hospitalizations all continue to stay well below the peaks seen in late 2022. Spoiler alert: the metrics this week don’t show much change in COVID activity compared to the last few weeks. Anecdotally, however, the APM Research Lab has been hearing about more cases than any time in the recent past. […]
Twin Cities ammo plant workers warned to test their kids for lead exposure
State health officials are warning workers at the Federal Ammunition plant in Anoka County to get their kids tested for lead exposure. Four children from separate households, whose parents work at the plant, were identified with elevated levels of lead, the Minnesota Health Department said Friday. Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for young children. Elevated […]
Are there places you should still mask in, forever? Three experts weigh in
A sign requiring the wearing of face masks is displayed at the testing center for visitors to the White House on July 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. Joshua Roberts/Getty Images There are still hundreds of thousands of COVID cases reported in the U.S. each week, along with a few thousand deaths related to COVID. But […]
One state looks to get kids in crisis out of the ER — and back home
Laura Polizoti, a family intervention specialist at Youth Villages, discusses strategies with Haley that would be more beneficial for both her and her mother Carmen. Jesse Costa/WBUR If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME […]
Food shelf visits leaped last year in Minnesota, advocates say
Skyrocketing food prices and fading COVID-related federal family supports are combining to turbocharge demand at food shelves in the state, advocates say. Food shelf visits rose by nearly 2 million — 53.5 percent — last year in Minnesota compared to 2021, according to officials at Hunger Solutions, a nonprofit that supports food aid efforts in […]
Minnesota begins newborn screenings for a common cause of birth defects
Updated 4:30 p.m. Minnesota’s started screening all newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus. Officials say the state is the first in the nation to do so universally. “With early detection through newborn screening, we will be able to provide these babies with the interventions and care they need to improve their future health and well-being,” Minnesota Health […]
Lawsuit over Walz pandemic powers will continue
Updated 4:10 p.m. A holdover lawsuit from Minnesota’s pandemic peacetime emergency will go on after the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a key question about the governor’s authority remains unsettled. The lawsuit brought by a group of citizens and aided by a conservative law firm challenged Gov. Tim Walz over his declaration of an […]
Talks over new bill could allow anyone to sign up for MinnesotaCare
[MUSIC PLAYING] CATHY WURZER: Leading the program, DFL lawmakers are just wrapping up a news conference on proposed changes to Minnesota’s health care insurance program that covers low-income residents. The bill, which will be heard today in the House Commerce Committee, would create a public option through MinnesotaCare, which would allow anyone to enroll. DFL […]