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.
December 31, 2003 - Earlier this month, two advisory panels to the Food and Drug Administration recommended that a form of emergency contraception be available over-the-counter. The pill marketed as "Plan B" -- and widely known as the "morning after" pill -- is intended to reduce a woman's chance of pregnancy after having unprotected sex. It is currently available by prescription. Dr. Jon Hallberg is medical director of the Primary Care Center at the University of Minnesota. He says making the pills available over-the-counter would increase access to emergency contraception, especially on weekends and holidays when getting in to see a doctor is difficult.
December 31, 2003 - U.S cattle futures fell today for the fifth straight market session since last week's announcement that a cow in Washington has bovine spongiform encephalopathy, more commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. It's the first known case of mad cow in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented several safety measures to ensure beef carrying the deadly brain wasting illness out of the food supply. Researchers at the University of Minnesota and the Minneosota Health Department held a video conference today to discuss the new rules and address any concerns that cattlemen, veterinarians and consumers might have. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
January 7, 2004 - US Agriculture officials said yesterday that the cow diagnosed with the first US case of Mad Cow Disease was born in Canada. The American beef industry has been reeling since the December 23 announcement of the case of mad cow, the nation's first since its discovery in Great Britain in the mid-80s. The spector of Mad Cow has raised concerns in among US consumers about the safety of the beef supply. Dr. Jon Hallberg is medical director of the Primary Care Center at the University of Minnesota. He says that, although the disease is extremely rare in humans, it is 100-percent fatal.
January 26, 2004 - With health care costs and the number of uninsured people both rising, state lawmakers say health care will be a big issue in the upcoming legislative session. Senate DFLers and House Republicans are offering dramatically different proposals to lower the rising cost of health care. Meanwhile, a task force appointed by Governor Pawlenty is scheduled to release its ideas for reforming Minnesota's health care system by the end of the week. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
January 30, 2004 - Governor Pawlenty today (fri) released details of the first phase of his plan to help Minnesotans import less expensive prescription drugs from Canada. The governor showcased a state website that lists two Canadian pharmacies that have 829 different medicines for sale to consumers. Minnesota is the first state in the nation to offer such a plan. Some critics say the website doesn't do enough to help Minnesotans obtain cheaper prescriptions. Others oppose the site and say they're contemplating legal action to shut it down. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 6, 2004 - A Roseville cancer clinic is reeling this week following its decision to end contracts with two large Minnesota insurers who had serious concerns about patient care at the facility. Parker Hughes Cancer Center has been under investigation by the insurers and state officials for months. The Star Tribune newspaper published a series of critical investigative stories about the clinic in December. Since then the clinic says it has notice a significant decline in new patients. Yesterday the clinic and its research institute laid off 89 people - a third of its staff. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
February 19, 2004 - Several DFL lawmakers unveiled a plan today to ban smoking in all public buildings in Minnesota, including bars and restaurants. They say the ban would help reduce smoking related illnesses and boost business. Critics say the bill is unfair because state government should not impose additional regulations on businesses. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
February 24, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says federal concerns won't prompt him to shut down a state website that provides consumer information on Canadian pharmacies. The Food and Drug Administration sent Pawlenty a letter yesterday (MONDAY) calling the website "unsafe, unsound and ill-considered". Attorney General Mike Hatch says the FDA doesn't have any grounds for legal action against the website. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...