December 24, 2003 - "Extremely remote" is how one expert describes the risk humans face of contracting a brain wasting disease from eating beef. Yesterday's announcement of this country's first case of mad cow disease sent futures prices for beef into a plunge. Stock prices of food businesses are also down today. However, a University of Minnesota expert says the spread of mad cow disease in this country is unlikely. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson reports.
December 24, 2003 - Last week, the British equivalent of the FDA issued a warning about the over-use of antidepressants in children under 18. The agency said the benefits didn't outweigh the risks of drugs such as Paxil and Zoloft, which have been linked with suicidal thoughts. Prozac, which is in the same class as those other drugs, the so-called "selective seratonin re-uptake inhibitors," was excluded from the warning. Dr. Jon Hallberg is medical director of the Primary Care Center at the University of Minnesota. He says the advisory presents a real challenge for those who treat children.
December 24, 2003 - Minnesota ranchers are bracing themselves for reaction to the discovery of Mad Cow disease in the U.S. A holstein cow in Washington state was found to have the disease. Countries like Russia, South Korea, and Japan are suspending imports of beef from the U.S. The cattle industry in Minnesota ranks 7th in production. At prices set before the announcement of the discovery yesterday, Minnesota had beef worth almost 2-billion dollars. Joining us on the line is Steve Brake, president of the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association.
December 26, 2003 - A veteran of the new economy, Yahoo executive Tim Sanders, says the new economy is causing millions of Americans to become anxious, isolated, lonely, fatigued and sleep-deprived. He's even coined a phrase for it New Economy Depression Syndrome, or "NEDS." Sanders recently teamed with Heartmath, a company that advises businesses on ways to reduce workplace stress, to survey Americans who use a lot of technology in their jobs.
December 29, 2003 - The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy case in Washington state has Minnesota farmers and ranchers concerned about the future. Prices for cattle have been strong for several months, but fell sharply the past few days. Some farmers and ranchers are nervous as they wait to see how far the cattle market will drop. Others see an opportunity to buy more cattle while prices are down. Farmers say the future of the beef industry depends on the reaction of American consumers. Meanwhile, politicians are lining up to call for food safety reforms. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
December 29, 2003 - Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minneapolis and St. Paul have created a Web-based organizer for medical information. You can, for free, keep track of your family's medical conditions, immunizations, medications, insurance information, and more. You can enter, and access, the information from any Internet-connected computer. Jim Levin is a pediatric infectious disease consultant and medical director of Informatics for Childrens' Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He is creator of the Children's Medical Organizer. The idea behind the organizer, he says, is to reduce hassle and stress for parents.
December 29, 2003 - Mainstreet Radio’s Chris Julin reports from Duluth, about the Woodland Hills treatment program and the efforts of incorporating ballet to help kids untangle themselves from drugs and crime.
December 29, 2003 - Republican U.S. Senator Norm Coleman is approaching the one year anniversary of his arrival in Washington. Coleman says he's living up to his campaign promise to "get the job done." He says his first year has been a success, particularly for a freshman. Minnesota DFL party leaders say there's no question Coleman's been busy, but they say he has focused on building up his own public profile-- not on helping Minnesotans. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
December 30, 2003 - Metro area bus drivers have moved a step closer to a strike. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 last night Monday overwhelmingly rejected what the Metropolitan Council labeled its final contract offer. Union officials say their members can't afford the healthcare cost increases in the proposed contract. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.
December 30, 2003 - Next week marks the end of Governor Tim Pawlenty's first year in office. Pawlenty says he accomplished nearly everything he set out to do. The governor kept his campaign pledge to balance the budget without raising state taxes, and pushed through the bulk of his legislative agenda. But during the last half of the year, he took some heat for the effects of his budget, for income he earned from a political ally when he was a candidate and for the release of a level three sex offender since he took office. Pawlenty says he doesn't think the public is paying attention to the criticism. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.