February 25, 2002 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone has revealed he has a mild form of Multiple Sclerosis. He says the persistent pain in his lower right leg that he and his doctors have attributed to sports injuries was diagnosed a month ago as "primary progressive multiple sclerosis." Despite the illness, Wellstone says he will continue with his re-election campaign for a third term in the U.S. Senate.
February 25, 2002 - Joining us now is Joel Ulland (YOU land), the public Public Coordinator of the Minnesota chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
March 5, 2002 -
March 6, 2002 - Medica health plan is reportedly considering capping premiums for almost all of its health plan members. The StarTribune reports the company had a good financial year and wants to pass the good fortune on to consumers. A Medica spokesperson declined to discuss what options the company is considering. Medica and Attorney General Mike Hatch will hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss the company's finances. Last year, Medica split from Allina Hospitals and Clinics, after Hatch began investigating lavish company expenses. Medica officials told the paper they've instituted aggressive cost cuts. The company could be reaching the point where it has more in reserves than the non-profit is allowed under state law. Healthcare consultant Allan Baumgarten says he's not surprised Medica is so profitable:
March 7, 2002 - State Health officials confirmed today that a 4-year-old boy died from a rare strain of meningococcemia, the same bacterial infection that causes meningitis. Edward Fink died yesterday morning, about two and a half hours after he was taken to the emergency room at Long Prairie Memorial Hospital. Health officials haven't determined how he was infected. But they have distributed antibiotics to about 35 people, including the hospital personnel who treated the boy and kids at his day care. Dr. Paul Van Gorp is the first doctor who saw Edward Fink when he arrived at the hospital. He says he administered antibiotics immediately.
March 12, 2002 - In the late 1800s, the railroad brought new residents to young cities and towns. Trains hauled carloads of crops to previously inaccessible markets. Soon industry followed lining the tracks like magnets. Now a new ambitious expansion plan from the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern railroad has many communities along the line contemplating their roots. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally continues our series "Tracking the Plains" with this report.
March 13, 2002 - A comprehensive study released today by the Mayo Clinic found Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, affects 7 and a half percent of school age children. Prior research has found widely varying percentages of students with ADHD, but Mayo researchers are confident they have an accurate number given the scope of the project. The research also found that ritalin and other stimulants used to treat ADHD were rarely prescribed to children without the disorder. Minnesota Public Radio's Laurel Druley has this report.
March 14, 2002 - The Minnesota Zoo is celebrating a major breakthrough in a decade-long attempt to artificially inseminate a clouded leopard. Researchers don't know if the procedure they performed earlier this week will result in leopard cubs, but they are happy to have even completed it. Clouded leopards are extremely hard to breed. The males tend to have low sperm counts and the females have erratic heat cycles. So a few months ago, researchers decided to use a norplant implant to shut down the reproductive system of a seven-year-old clouded leopard female, named Kuala. They then started her system back up by using hormonal injections to stimulate ovulation. That finally occured earlier this week and tropics zoologist Beth Jo Schoeberl (SHOW-burl) says researchers immediately sedated the cat and made a surgical incision directly in her uterus to inseminate her.
March 14, 2002 - The Minnesota House has spent most of the day debating budget-cutting bills. The bills are part of so-called "phase two," the Legislature's attempt to plug the remaining 439-million dollar projected hole in the state's two-year budget. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum joins me now from the Capitol with an update. How far along are House members with this plan? Just about done - today passed four of five budget-cutting bills most controversial - and the bulk of the cuts are in health and human services bill - nearly 62-million dollars this biennium - repeals the expansion of health insurance for children - reduces eligibility for general assistance and general assistance medical care programs - low-income adults - many Democrats - including Representative Tom Huntley of Duluth - criticized the cuts in the bill... "This bill goes specifically after our most needy citizens - those in regional treatment centers, those with mental illness, and balances the budget on their backs."
March 14, 2002 - That's Dr. Jack Lake, Director of the Liver Transplant Program at Fairview-University Medical Center.