September 29, 2003 - State employees could edge closer to a strike later today (MONDAY) if workers reject contract offers made by the state last month. The state's two largest unions will announce the results of balloting later this afternoon. Although state officials characterized the offers as their last and best, union officials urged members to reject the proposals, saying they unfairly transfer rising health care costs onto the backs of state employees. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo has more.
September 29, 2003 - Governor Tim Pawlenty arrived in Montreal last night (SUNDAY) for his first trade mission, a two-day trip designed to promote Minnesota's biosciences and medical industries. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum is traveling with the Minnesota business delegation, and joins me now from Montreal.
September 30, 2003 -
October 1, 2003 - Prosecutors have until noon today to charge Susan Berkovitz for shooting two people on Monday at the Hennepin County Government Center. Berkovitz was arrested after fatally shooting her cousin, Shelley Joseph-Kordell and wounding attorney, Richard Hendrickson. The three were involved in a legal dispute over the estate of Berkovitz's father. Several people who came into contact with Berkovitz before Monday's incident say she displayed erratic behavior and harassed neighbors. Others say she has a history of filing frivolous and unnecessary lawsuits. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
October 1, 2003 - Changes in the state's medical insurance program for low-income Minnesotans took effect today (WEDNESDAY). The changes mean fewer people are eligible for MinnesotaCare and those who are eligible will have to pay more. Officials at hospitals such as the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis say they stand little chance of seeing additional payments from many poor patients. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports.
October 1, 2003 - Critics of escalating prescription prices say one of the factors driving up costs in this country is advertising. The U-S and New Zealand are the only two nations that permit drug advertising. The U-S Food and Drug Administration regulates the ads, and invited researchers to testify last week on the practical effects of the advertising. Dr. Jon Hallberg was among those who testified. He's the medical director of the primary care center at the University of Minnesota, and our regular medical and health analyst here on Minnesota Public Radio's All Things Considered. He says drug advertising certainly gets people in the clinic door.
October 1, 2003 - The University of Minnesota's clerical union could be headed for a strike. Negotiations between the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 3800, and university officials broke down in early September. Helms reports.
October 2, 2003 - A federal Appeals Court today (THURS) rejected the approval of the largest rail expansion since the Civil War. The Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad want to build and rehabilitate hundreds of miles of rail track across Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wyoming for high-speed coal trains. The ruling is a small victory for the projects opponents. But even they admit it's likely to only cause a short delay for the 2-billion dollar rail expansion. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally (Gal buh lee) reports: {The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals 65 page ruling praises the federal Surface Transportation Board for its thorough review of Dakota Minnesota and Eastern Railroad expansion proposal. But it also calls for more analysis on some issues, such as noise, historic preservation and the environmental implications of more coal usage.
October 2, 2003 - This summer, a commission appointed by President Bush called for transformation of the patchwork of federal and state programs that often hinders access to mental health care. The study also called for equal insurance coverage of mental illnesses. William Cope Moyers says any such changes ought to include addiction treatment. Moyers is a vice president for the Hazelden foundation, an addiction treatment facility based in Center City. He says that addiction treatment has been excluded from coverage of mental illnesses, even though a large percentage of individuals who wrestle with addiction also have mental health problems.
October 3, 2003 -