January 23, 2003 -
January 28, 2003 -
January 30, 2003 - Job vacancies in Minnesota continued to decline in the last 3 months of last year. The number of job openings fell by almost one third from the end of 2001. Two years ago, before the recession, the survey found there were more jobs than people looking for work in Minnesota. Now there are twice as many job hunters as jobs. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
February 4, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty has appointed the CEO of the Mercy Hospital and Health Care Center in Moose Lake as his health commissioner. Pawlenty says Dianne Mandernach will lead the Health Department in safeguarding the public health, preparing the state for a possible bioterrorist attack and addressing the rising cost of health care. Mandernach says her experience at a rural medical center will help her address the state's health care needs. Her appointment, however, comes with some controversy. Supporters of legalized abortion worry about Mandernach's opposition to abortion. They say she may support restrictions on the state's family planning grants. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 6, 2003 -
February 7, 2003 -
February 10, 2003 - Minnesota health officials announced details today . Officials say it should take a few weeks to vaccinate about 27-hundred health workers who have volunteered. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
February 13, 2003 - Hundreds of people, including nursing home residents, their relatives, and nursing home employees, held a rally at the state Capitol Thursday morning to urge lawmakers not to cut state funding for long-term care. That's a big order given the cost of nursing homes -- about $1 billion. How the state cares for the elderly and disabled in nursing homes is a huge issue for those people, their families, those who work in nursing homes and the cities and towns where the nursing homes are located.
February 13, 2003 -
February 17, 2003 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on bills that ratify contracts for state workers clearing legislative hurdles. The bills include pay and benefit provisions agreed to by state employee unions and the Ventura administration. But they're missing another provision -- health benefits for same-sex domestic partners. Gay and lesbian groups say removing the benefits is a slap in the face.