COVID-19 ticks down in Minnesota, Flu and RSV barely present
Emergency room visits for COVID-19 have dropped during the last couple of weeks in Minnesota. While there is no guarantee that trend will continue, there has been a longer downward trend for the United States as a whole. That may be a sign that COVID ER visits will continue to decline in Minnesota as well. […]
Roots of the Dancing Debutantes: Artist Russell Sharon looks back
Russell Sharon is broad and sinewy with arms veined from years of wrestling with large artworks in many mediums. He’s constantly lighting cigarettes but rarely finishes one. He gets to talking about the past and they burn out. Russel Sharon stands in front of a pond at his shop in Randall, Minn. on Oct. 4. […]
Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2 percent in 2024 as inflation moderates
Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 3.2 percent increase in their benefits in 2024, far less than this year’s historic boost and reflecting moderating consumer prices. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, means the average recipient will receive more than $50 more every month beginning in January, the Social Security Administration said Thursday. The AARP estimated that […]
Avian flu detected in Meeker County turkey flock
A commercial turkey flock in Meeker County has been destroyed after health officials confirmed it tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The flock of 140,000 birds is the first confirmed case of the virus in Minnesota since last spring. State officials say it’s likely connected to the seasonal migration of wild birds. Commercial poultry […]
Health highlights from Wellness Wednesday
Every Wednesday on MPR News with Angela Davis, you can listen to conversations about health and wellness. MPR News host Angela Davis revisits highlights from three recent conversations. An infectious disease doctor and pediatric nurse talk about vaccine fatigue as the new COVID-19 booster rolls out. Plus, the increasing number of children who are […]
California becomes the first state to ban 4 food additives linked to disease
Pez candy is on display at a store in Lafayette, Calif., on March 24. Haven Daley | AP California has become the first U.S. state to outlaw the use of four potentially harmful food and drink additives that have been linked to an array of diseases, including cancer, and are already banned in dozens of […]
A life not fully lived: Federal bill aims to prevent more opioid overdose deaths
When she was a baby, Anastasia Shevtsova had a laugh that sounded like silver bells. More than a year after Anastasia died of an opioid overdose at the age of 15, her mother Olga Shevtsova still thinks of that laugh, her daughter’s singing voice, the way she painted a card decorated with tomatoes for her […]
Health highlights from Wellness Wednesday
Every Wednesday on MPR News with Angela Davis, you can listen to conversations about health and wellness. Coming up 9 a.m. this Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis revisits highlights from three recent conversations. An infectious disease doctor and pediatric nurse talk about vaccine fatigue as the new COVID-19 booster rolls out. Plus, the […]
Stillwater state prison to open tattoo parlor, technician training program
About two years ago, the Stillwater state prison floated the idea of opening a regulated tattoo parlor in hopes of reducing demand for do-it-yourself tattooing. The unauthorized practice is a common cause of disease transmission within prisons due to unsanitary conditions and the population’s higher rates of blood-borne diseases, like HIV and hepatitis C. “When […]
Clergy burnout is a growing concern in polarized churches. A summit offers coping strategies
Editor’s note: This story includes discussion of suicide. The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Every morning, the Rev. Karna Moskalik goes through a “grounding” routine that involves prayer, Bible reading, positive affirmations, and meditations about the best outcomes for the day’s […]