New research suggests Minnesota's COVID outcomes may not have been as good as they seemedMarch 31, 2023 11:54 AMBy Benjamin Clary and Craig HelmstetterWhile the state had the sixth lowest unadjusted COVID-19 death rate, once that rate is adjusted for age and the presence of key comorbidities, Minnesota’s death rate shifts to exactly the middle of the pack.
As states start to get opioid settlement cash, few are sharing how they spend itMarch 30, 2023 4:01 AMBy Aneri Pattani All told, drugmakers and distributors will pay over $50 billion to communities harmed by opioids. An investigation finds that only a dozen states are letting the public see how they use the money.
Play4min 33secMinnesota rushes to re-up hundreds of thousands at risk of losing Medicaid after pandemicMarch 30, 2023 4:00 AMBy Michelle WileyStarting Saturday, states can kick people off Medicaid who were allowed to stay in the program during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can stay but only if they sign up. Minnesota officials say it’s a daunting challenge to navigate those affected through the bureaucracy.
Play11min 06sec FDA approves Narcan for over-the-counter sales, here’s what you need to knowMarch 29, 2023 3:48 PMBy Cathy Wurzer, Alanna Elder, and Sam StroozasIn 2021, 1,286 people in Minnesota died from drug overdoses, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, a 20 percent increase from 2020. On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Narcan nasal spray, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses, would soon be available over the counter.
Play3min 54secMosquito season is on its way, and it'll likely be worse than the past couple of yearsMarch 29, 2023 3:28 PMBy Tom Crann, Ngoc Bui, and Amy FelegyThe bouts of drought these last couple of years have caused trouble for mosquitos. But with an snowier than usual winter making way for a wet spring, they’ll be coming back with a vengeance. Here’s how to prepare.
A barge carrying methanol broke free in the Ohio RiverMarch 29, 2023 11:33 AMBy Bill Chappell“There is currently zero evidence of a tank breach or any leaks, and air and water monitoring resources are in place,” according to Louisville Metro Emergency Services in Kentucky.
Play47min 06sec'Face It': A safe space for men and boys to talk openly about mental healthMarch 29, 2023 11:28 AMBy Angela Davis, Danelle Cloutier, and Samantha MatsumotoExperts say that many men and boys don’t talk openly about their struggles, and that makes it hard for them to seek help. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two mental health professionals who work closely with men and boys.
Woman in legal limbo at Mayo cleared to go homeMarch 29, 2023 10:19 AMBy Catharine RichertDisability advocates have been closely watching the case of Cindy Hagen, who is quadriplegic and has been at Mayo Clinic’s Austin hospital since last summer. They say her case underscores continued challenges in the systems that surround people living with disabilities.
The FDA has approved the overdose-reversing drug Narcan for over-the-counter salesMarch 29, 2023 8:51 AMBy Joe Hernandez It could take months before Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, is available for purchase without a prescription, the Food and Drug Administration said.
At trial, Minnesota says e-cigarette maker Juul targets kidsMarch 29, 2023 6:07 AMBy The Associated PressMinnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison personally opened the state’s lawsuit against Juul Labs and tobacco giant Altria. The state is seeking more than $100 million in damages.