Bracing for fall viruses and ‘vaccine fatigue’
Remember last fall and winter when so many people were coughing, wheezing and feeling achy? We were facing a “tripledemic” of respiratory diseases. This month, we’re going to be asked to roll up our sleeves for another round of vaccines to avoid a repeat of last year’s waves of viral illness. There’s the annual flu […]
First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, again
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk to board Maine One at the White House in Washington on Saturday en route to Florida. Carolyn Kaster/AP First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday evening after experiencing what her spokesperson said were mild symptoms. President Joe Biden — who is slated to […]
St. Paul weighs ban on marijuana smoking in city-controlled spaces
The St. Paul City Council will hear testimony Wednesday on a proposal that would ban marijuana and cigarette smoking on city property. The proposed ordinance would make it a petty misdemeanor to smoke cannabis flower, cannabis products and hemp-derived products on city-controlled property. It would ban smoking cigars, joints, blunts, pipes or vapes. It would […]
Prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables help boost heart health
People with diabetes who were prescribed fruits and vegetables, saw their blood sugar decline significantly. And adults with hypertension saw their blood pressure go down. RyanJLane/Getty Images The idea of food as medicine dates back to the ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates, and a new study adds to the evidence that a diet full of fruits […]
Where to cool off amid Labor Day heat advisory
Update: 11:40 a.m. The Twin Cities metro area and some counties in southeastern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin are under heat advisories that will continue through 5 p.m. Tuesday. Many more areas are under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. Sunday. We could see heat index values up to 100 in the Twin Cities metro and […]
Sisters celebrate 10 years of supporting Alzheimer’s caregivers
A pair of Minnesota sisters is turning the pain of losing their mother to Alzheimer’s disease into purpose. They were among the thousands of Minnesotans who are caregivers for family members and loved ones who are living with dementia. It’s a full-time job often on top of other careers, family and responsibilities and it can […]
COVID’s creep continues; a dive into diabetes rates
Wastewater monitoring has become a crucial part of COVID-19 monitoring. The Metropolitan Council was among the nation’s leaders in initiating COVID detection efforts in wastewater, along with its partners at the University of Minnesota’s Genomics Center. Wastewater detection has been particularly useful over the past year due to waning COVID-19 testing and case reporting. […]
How to protect your ears and avoid hearing loss: An illustrated guide
Kaz Fantone/NPR If you find yourself in loud clubs, concerts or cities, you might be doing more damage to your hearing than you think. People of all ages are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, but few of us know what to do about it. In this comic, narrated by an adorable cartoon ear, we […]
UCare to pay $100M to settle legal dispute with the University of Minnesota
The health plan UCare will pay $100 million to the University of Minnesota to settle a legal dispute over governance of the insurer. The agreement was announced Friday by UCare and the U of M. UCare was created by the university’s Department of Family Health in 1984, and the U has always had a majority […]
Minnesota State Fair officials offer tips for beating potential record heat this weekend
Minnesota may be headed for one of the hottest days ever recorded during the run of the State Fair — and fair officials are warning people to be prepared for the heat this weekend. The National Weather Service forecast has the high temperature on Sunday approaching 100 degrees in the Twin Cities. Saturday and Monday […]