September 26, 2009 - More than a thousand people rallied last night at a Minneapolis town hall meeting hosted by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Texas Congressman Ron Paul. reporter Jess Mador has more.
October 16, 2009 - Thirty-three thousand of the poorest Minnesotans may lose state health coverage sooner than expected. Earlier this year, Governor Tim Pawlenty cut the General Assistance Medical Care program, which provides coverage for adults without dependents who don't qualify for other healthcare assistance. The program was originally projected to end in March. But now estimates show funding may not last that long. Rupa Shenoy reports that has advocates scrambling to find another option.
October 16, 2009 - Negotiations continue in Washington on how to craft legislation that reforms health care and has enough support to pass. Earlier this week, a reform bill passed out of the Senate Finance Committee. It must now be reconciled with a substantially different health care bill that was approved in July by the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee. Joining us now with her take on how this is playing out is Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator, DFLer Amy Klobuchar.
December 3, 2009 - Archbishop John Neinstedt of the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese supports that letter to Senators, but he's also careful to say he does support healthcare reform. In fact he's called it "one of the most important issues of our lifetime." In a telephone interview earlier today, I asked Archbishop Neinstedt about his approach to the health care dilema.
December 10, 2009 - Democrats in the U-S Senate appear to be moving toward a health reform bill that would not include a government-run "public option" insurance program. Under the tentative compromise, the federal government would instead negotiate with private insurers to provide non-profit health insurance plans. The compromise would also allow people aged 55 to 64 to "buy into" Medicare. But even if the Senate approves the deal, it would still need to be reconciled with the House-passed version of the bill, which includes a public option. Minnesota DFL Congressman Keith Ellison is an outspoken supporter of the public option, and he joins MPR’s Cathy Wurzer to discuss the subject.
December 22, 2009 - Medical experts call diabetes a growing epidemic. About one in three people will get the disease. About twenty-four million people already have it. Many people can prevent diabetes with simple lifestyle changes. But Medicare and most private insurance programs don't pay for prevention efforts. Rupa Shenoy reports that gap could be plugged by legislation included in the healthcare reform bill working it's way through the US Senate.
December 31, 2009 - As part of MPR's Youth Radio Series, Youth Radio reporter Mara Kumagai Fink reflects on an event that profoundly changed her family's life…the New Year's Day when her mom fell on a ski trail and was paralyzed from the neck down.
December 31, 2009 - A portion of the billions of dollars in cuts Governer Tim Pawlenty made to balance the budget last summer are now on hold. Ramsey District Court Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled that a $5.3 million food program cut from the budget should be restored. In question are the remaining cuts. Guests Rep. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall): Former minority leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He's currently running for governor. Sen. Tarryl Clark (D-St. Cloud): Assistant majority leader in the Minnesota Senate. She is challenging Republican Michele Bachmann for Congress. David Lillehaug: Former Minnesota U.S. attorney. He's an attorney with Fredrikson and Byron. Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen): Serves on the Minnesota Senate Transportation committee. The toll of grief on a marriage A new debut novel explores the connection between chronic pain and the emotional pain of loss. St. Paul writer Kate Ledger brings her experience observing and writing about doctors to her contemplation of marriage and grief. 10:30 a.m. Guests Kate Ledger: Author of the new novel "Remedies."
January 7, 2010 - MPR’s Rupa Shenoy reports on advocates push for more end-of-life rights for domestic partners. A 2009 bill that would have protected the rights of surviving members of domestic partnerships to make end-of-life decisions did not pass before the legislative session ended, but advocates hope state lawmakers will support it when they return to the capitol.
January 11, 2010 - MPR’s Steven John interviews U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar about China’s use of cadmium in children's items. The chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning Asian manufacturers against the use of cadmium in children's items. That's after lab tests found that Chinese manufacturers were substituting the heavy metal in place of lead in cheap charm bracelets and pendants being sold in this country. Cadmium is known to cause cancer, and, like lead, it can hinder brain development in the children. Senator Amy Klobuchar led the fight to ban lead from toys manufactured in China. She's traveling in southern Minnesota today and we caught up with her.