January 30, 2001 - A new report says the costs of problems associated with addiction to alcohol and drugs consume about 16-percent of Minnesota's entire state budget. The study by National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University examined the 1998 budgets of all 50 states. It found Minnesota ranked sixth in the per capita spending on substance abuse. Minnesota Public Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
February 1, 2001 - Governor Jesse Ventura is defending the health care plan he proposed in his two-year budget. State lawmakers and health advocacy groups have criticized Ventura for not spending enough money on long-term care, the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center and health insurance for children. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 1, 2001 - Activist, author and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke to students at St Cloud State University last night (Wednesday). Nader spent two hours criticizing the government, corporations and what he says are American's "low expectations" for their country. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Post reports.
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February 13, 2001 - The Centers for Disease Control launched an ambitious campaign to cut the number of people infected by HIV in half by the year 2005. At least one Minnesota AIDS organization claims the state's AIDS and HIV positive population is on the rise -- marking a significant reversal of recent trends. Meanwhile AIDS authorities in Wisconsin say recent numbers including a nine and a half percent jump in new HIV infections and an 11-percent increase in AIDS related deaths, will make it difficult for the state to meet the new CDC goal. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally has this report:
February 13, 2001 - The University of Minnesota is keeping the heat on state lawmakers to spend more money on the school than what the Governor is proposing. Yesterday (mon) U-of-M President Mark Yudof went before the Senate Higher Education Budget Division to press his point. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports:
February 15, 2001 - AIDS Activists spent the day at the Capitol today (thursday) lobbying the state legislature to increase funding for HIV and AIDS prevention. Officials with the Minnesota AIDS Project want the state to spend an additional 2 million dollars to improve education efforts regarding HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The group says it's disappointed with Governor Ventura's budget because it cuts HIV prevention spending for the first time since the epidemic began. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 15, 2001 - The Minnesota Nurses Association, the state chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons and long-term care facilities want the legislature to limit how much temporary nurses agencies can charge nursing homes. The groups say the so-called "nursing pools" are taking unfair advantage of the state's worker shortage by charging exhorbitant rates for workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...