Health

Health
More veterans with PTSD will get help from service dogs, thanks to the 'PAWS' Act
Service dogs have long helped veterans with vision or mobility problems. Now the PAWS Veterans Therapy Act will help connect specially trained dogs to some veterans with symptoms of traumatic stress.
Explainer: What is this new COVID variant in South Africa?
South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus this week that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear from where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Hong Kong and Botswana. 
New omicron variant stokes world fears, triggers travel bans
The world is confronting a new coronavirus variant, and officials have named it “omicron." A World Health Organization panel has classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern.
South African scientists detect new virus variant amid spike
A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa that scientists say is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people in Gauteng, the country's most populous province. The WHO’s technical working group is set to meet Friday to assess the new variant and may decide whether or not to give it a name from the Greek alphabet.
Who's a hero? Some states, cities still debating hazard pay
While many workers deemed essential in their respective states have already received pandemic hazard pay or hero pay, there are thousands in places like Connecticut, Minnesota and cities around the country that are still waiting for states to distribute funds to what’s become a huge pool of heroes.
It’s flu season, and here’s why you should get your flu shot this winter
Public health experts warn that with the highly contagious delta variant circulating, it is important to protect communities not just from the coronavirus, but from the flu, too. Here are tips and advice to help mitigate infection risks and prepare for the flu during our second pandemic winter.
How to start a restaurant when you don't have much money
Esperanza and Stephanie Lopez worked for years to open Spurs Bar & Grill in Willmar — and then they took a huge hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris Farrell, who spoke to the mother-daughter team for the podcast "Small Change," told host Cathy Wurzer about their story.
Rochester school superintendent on innovating in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
As school staff and families weather yet another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota, some districts, including Rochester Public Schools, are adding extra days off in an effort to combat stress. Kent Pekel, Rochester's interim school superintendent, told host Cathy Wurzer how his district is working to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.
What are you thankful for? Guest host Chris Farrell hosts a conversation about giving thanks with a writer, a psychology professor and the director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota.