December 4, 2000 - The United States Department of Agriculture is asking the beef processing plant, American Foods Group, to recall the meat it processed on November first and second for fear it may be tainted with E coli. An E coli outbreat has made at least 22 Minnesotans sick and hospitalized seven. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports... Three government agencies are investigating the source of an E coli outbreak that made at least 22 Minnesotans sick. Seven people have been hospitalized. The supermarket chain, SuperValu, has voluntarily recalled ground beef from Cub Foods stores in 4 states and from other supermarkets it owns... Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
December 4, 2000 - A new case of E. coli infection has been reported to state health officials. If confirmed, it would bring the number of illnesses in the current outbreak to at least 22. The new case is the sibling of a child who developed the illness after eating ground beef purchased at Cub Foods. Joining us now with the latest is Buddy Ferguson, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health.
December 5, 2000 - The United States Department of Agriculture is asking a Wisconsin-based beef processor to recall one point one million pounds of meat for fear it may be tainted with E coli. The move follows Friday's move by Twin Cities based Supervalu to recall beef from it's Cub Foods stores. An E coli outbreat has made at least 22 Minnesotans sick and hospitalized seven. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
December 5, 2000 - Minnesota's state epidemiologist and other food safety experts are calling on a Wisconsin based beef processor to extend its recall of potentially E coli tainted beef. The company is already recalling approximately 1 point 1 million pounds of ground beef from more than a dozen states after 22 Minnesotans were diagnosed with the food borne illness. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
December 6, 2000 - University of Minnesota doctors are hoping a drug that has shown promise treating alcoholism and gambling adiction can also help patients overcome kleptomania. The rare disorder gives people an irresistable impluse to steal. The drug, called Naltrexone, works by blocking the pleasurable high Kleptomanics feel when they shop-lift. Dr. Jon Grant, a Pyschiatric Resident at the U of M, is conducting the study. He says Kleptomania is one of the most disabling disorder's he's come across:
December 6, 2000 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports that leaders in Minnesota's Southeast Asian community are calling on government officials to assist them in addressing the issue of domestic violence. They're also asking Hmong people with domestic problems to seek help from neighbors, elders, and counselors before tragedies happen.
December 8, 2000 - The recent E coli outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa has renewed calls by some food safety experts for improved ways of protecting the food supply. One proposal gaining support in some quarters is the creation of a single federal agency to oversee food safety. The idea is to replace the plethora of federal and state agencies now charged with the responsibility. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
December 13, 2000 - How can we prevent identity theft and medical records? Somebody broke into computers at the University of Washington Medical Center to steal confidential information.
December 15, 2000 - Congress is expected to vote on and pass a 450 billion dollar legislative package today that includes funding for labor, education and healthcare. Minnesota healthcare workers are watching the bill closely, because it contains 100 million dollars for the state's hospitals. The money is intended to make up for cuts in the medicare program after the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Healthcare officials say its a step in the right direction, but that they'll need more funding to keep Minnesota's hospitals healthy. Mainstreet Radio's Tim Post has this report.
December 18, 2000 - U-S News and World Report has named a University Of Minnesota Reseacher one of the nation's ten leading innovators in science and technology. Dr. Catherine Verfaillie heads the University's new Stem Cell Research Institute. Stem Cells are the so-called "mother cells" that have the ability to divide for indefinite periods and give rise to specialized cells in the body. Verfaillie came to Minnesota in 1987 after studying medicine in her native Belgium. I asked her how she became interested in stem cell research: