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 -
October 3, 2003 - To: Morning Edition Listeners From: Mark Seeley Re: Topics for MPR's Morning Edition, Friday, October 3, 2003 This first part is an update he sent after sending his regular note: Dear all, Plenty of frost this morning....and some record lows around the
October 3, 2003 - Executives from Minnesota's manufacturing industry gave Governor Tim Pawlenty their wish-list for state government during three seperate roundtable discussions yesterday. The governor was looking for ideas on how to shore up an important part of Minnesota's economy. The high-paying sector has lost nearly 48 thousand jobs since the start of the recession in 2001. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports.
October 6, 2003 - Nonprofit social service providers throughout Minnesota say they're being forced to lay off workers, consider mergers and think about closing as a result of the recently passed state budget. Many non-profits say cuts in government grants along with the tough economy, and a decrease in corporate and individual giving are forcing them to cut back the services they provide. They argue that the cutbacks will hurt the state's most vulnerable residents. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
October 6, 2003 - Two weeks ago, a school shooting dealt a blow to the town of Cold Spring. One student died and another is still in critical condition at St. Cloud Hospital. Everyone deals with trauma differently. But therapists working at the school say kids are resilient and tend to heal well from such emotional wounds. The counselors say their job is to help that healing process along, in the gentlest way possible. Mainstreet Radio's Annie Baxter reports.
October 6, 2003 - At a time when Minnesota is reeling from several highly-publicized killings in which mental illness may have played a role, the state Supreme Court will hear one man's challenge to Minnesota's standard for a not guilty by mental illness defense. Tomorrow (Tuesday) justices are hearing the appeal of Roger Schleicher who was convicted of killing his best friend because he said Jesus told him to do so. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: