March 26, 2010 - On this Midday program, a collection of reports in which MPR News explores how changing our food culture could help cure obesity.
April 1, 2010 - Homelessness is on a sharp rise in Minnesota as unemployment and foreclosures have forced people out of permanent housing. The St. Paul-based Wilder Research survey counted nearly 9,500 homeless people - up more than 20% from the 2006 count. Greg Owen, consulting scientist at Wilder Research and director of the new homelessness study; and Laura Kadwell, director for the state program Ending Long-term Homelessness, discuss the survey results and answer listener questions.
April 9, 2010 - MPR’s Euan Kerr travels to Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins, with two baseball fans wanting to “grade” the ballpark. Accessibility is a major design element of the new facility and these baseball fans utilizing wheelchairs are particularly pleased about the new Twins ballpark.
April 27, 2010 - The 21st Annual International Arts in Healthcare conference is happening now. It's entitled "Partners in Health", and it runs through Saturday at the Hilton Minneapolis.
May 27, 2010 - As part of MPR's Youth Radio Series, Youth Radio reporter Antonio Gonzalez examines how his family is doing seven months after the sudden and mysterious death of his mother, Judy Ojeda.
July 23, 2010 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian takes a look at Americans with Disabilities Act, twenty years after it’s enactment in 1990. ADA's aim was to give disabled people the freedom to participate in all realms of life: housing, education, employment and public venues. While there have been many accomplishments in those twenty years, many consider the ADA part of an ambitious social revolution that remains unfinished.
September 23, 2010 - MPR’s Tom Weber reports that after recent student suicides, there are efforts to change Anoka-Hennepin School District's sexual orientation curriculum policy. The policy states that sexual orientation topics aren't part of the curriculum, and it instructs teachers to remain neutral if the subject comes up in class.
October 8, 2010 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty repeated his opposition Friday to so-called "insurance exchanges," a key piece of health care reform. He said exchanges amount to government interfering with the free market. That's a reversal from 2007, when Pawlenty proposed his own insurance exchange program for Minnesota businesses. Pawlenty says his opposition to exchanges is the reason he declined to send the US Government a state response to questions about exchanges. Three prominent Minnesota health groups secured a copy of the response and sent it anyway. Former GOP senator Dave Durenberger, a health policy expert, says their move was understandable. Pawlenty says a 2008 state analysis of exchanges found they'd be ineffective at reining in costs.
October 8, 2010 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty is standing by his decision to ignore a federal request for input on a key piece of health care reform. The Department of Health and Human Services had asked states for their recommendations on "insurance exchanges." These are online marketplaces where consumers can compare and buy health plans. Pawlenty opposes health reform. He said today (Friday) exchanges are big government interfering with the free market. But three years ago, Pawlenty advocated a similar idea. Elizabeth Stawicki reports: During his radio show today, Gov. Tim Pawlenty expanded on why he decided against sending in a Minnesota health department report about health insurance exchanges. He said the best insurance exchange is the free market:
October 9, 2010 - Gov. Tim Pawlenty repeated his opposition Friday to so-called "insurance exchanges," a key piece of health care reform. He said exchanges amount to government interfering with the free market. That's a reversal from 2007, when Pawlenty proposed his own insurance exchange program for Minnesota businesses. Pawlenty says his opposition to exchanges is the reason he declined to send the US Government a state response to questions about exchanges. Three prominent Minnesota health groups secured a copy of the response and sent it anyway. Former GOP senator Dave Durenberger, a health policy expert, says their move was understandable. Pawlenty says a 2008 state analysis of exchanges found they'd be ineffective at reining in costs.