Southeast MN struggles for common ground on nitrate
Corn once grew and livestock grazed on Paul Wotzka’s steeply sloped farm near Weaver, Minn., in rural Wabasha County, not far from the Mississippi River. These days, Wotzka rotates annual crops with perennials such as garlic, grapes and hazelnut that keep the soil continuously covered. He uses only compost, no commercial fertilizer. “We’re protecting the […]
Eyedrops from CVS, Rite Aid and others carry possible infection risk, FDA says
U.S. health regulators are warning consumers not to use more than two dozen varieties of over-the-counter eyedrops because of the risk of infections that could lead to blindness. The Food and Drug Administration advisory applies to lubricating drops sold by six companies, including CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid and Cardinal Health. Consumers should stop using the products […]
Rural Voice: Mental health and social isolation in rural communities
Rural Americans experience higher rates of depression and suicide than people who live in the city, but they are less likely to have access to mental health care services. Add to that the social isolation that can come from living in remote areas, and the still taboo nature of mental health struggles in small towns, […]
She talked about depression at a checkup — and got billed for two visits.
Christine Rogers of Wake Forest, North Carolina, was asked to complete a mental health questionnaire as part of her annual physical. A brief conversation with her doctor landed her with a charge for a separate consultation. Kate Medley/KFF Health News Christine Rogers of Wake Forest, N.C., didn’t hesitate when she was asked to fill out […]
Camp Ripley testing finds PFAS in nearby wells
Testing has turned up “forever chemicals” in some private wells around Camp Ripley, including one that exceeded federal safe levels for drinking water. The military training facility near Little Falls has been testing its own drinking water for the past several years for PFAS. The chemicals are in firefighting foam that was used for training […]
Camp Ripley testing finds PFAS in nearby wells
Testing has turned up “forever chemicals” in some private wells around Camp Ripley, including one that exceeded federal safe levels for drinking water. The military training facility near Little Falls has been testing its own drinking water for the past several years for PFAS. The chemicals are in firefighting foam that was used for training […]
Respiratory illnesses low, TB bouncing back to pre-COVID levels
Influenza concerns remain low in Minnesota, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) hospital rates are up slightly and COVID hospitalizations have plateaued in recent weeks after slowly rising for a couple of months. Meanwhile, researchers continue to uncover more about long COVID. One study of note this week found that lingering symptoms of brain fog could stem […]
Study: Abortions in Minnesota increased after post-Roe restrictions in other states
A new report finds that abortions in Minnesota have increased since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last year that overturned Roe v. Wade. In the wake of that June 2022 ruling that left abortion policies up to individual states, some states have enacted abortion restrictions and bans. Others — including Minnesota — have passed […]
The Middle East crisis is stirring up a ‘tsunami’ of mental health woes
Left: A Palestinian woman cries at the garden of Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist Hospital after it was hit in Gaza City, Gaza on Oct. 18. Right: After an attack by Hamas on a kibbutz near the Gaza border, a swing is left intact while most of this family’s house is in ruins. Five family members were […]
‘Trauma Sponges’: How a Minneapolis firefighter responds to suffering
When people think of firefighters, they might picture an image from a child’s book — a big man, wearing lots of equipment, maybe pulling a hose from a red fire engine or rushing to rescue people from a burning building. But firefighters are responding to far fewer fires these days and more and more medical emergencies. […]