Podcasts about minnesota department

West Nile virus cases are increasing across the state. The Minnesota Department of Health reports 20 cases of West Nile virus so far this year. Two of the affected people have died. Monday's daily attendance at the Minnesota State Fair hit a record. The daily attendance creeped just past 145,000 people yesterday -- about 500 more people than the record set in 2017.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Send us a textWelcome back to the American Experiment Podcast!In today's episode, Grace and Kathryn are joined by Katherine Kersten, senior policy fellow at American Experiment. Together, they expose what Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Education are hiding behind the radical ethnic studies mandate. They break down lesson plans, examine what the legislature actually required, and discuss what can be done to keep this indoctrination out of classrooms across the state.Remember to LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to help us grow and never miss an episode of the American Experiment Podcast!

Greetings!You're likely in the thick of it with back-to-school activities. But back-to-school isn't just about packing lunches and adjusting to new schedules. It's also a time when kids begin to hear harmful messages about food and bodies. In this episode of Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast, we're joined by Denise Hamburger, JD, founder and executive director of BE REAL USA, and Selena Salfen, MPH, RD, a public health dietitian working to shift systems toward size-inclusive, weight-neutral models of care. Together, they share insights on BE REAL's Let's Eat curriculum, a nutrition program for middle and high school students that focuses on tuned-in eating teaching students to consider their body cues, nutritional needs, food preferences, and past eating experiences. The lessons are designed to be inclusive across cultures, neurodiverse learners, and varying economic backgrounds.Click here to visit BE REAL USA, Let's EatKey Takeaways * Let's Eat is a new curriculum aimed at teaching nutrition without the influence of diet culture.* The curriculum is free and accessible to all students and educators. * Let's Eat encourages students to trust their bodies and make informed food choices.* The curriculum includes cultural sensitivity and celebrates diverse food practices.* A panel of 42 experts contributed to the development of Let's Eat.* Educators can access Let's Eat through professional development training.* BE REAL USA has ambassadors who are trained to deliver th.e curriculum* Denise and Selena chat about their favorite foods.Links to Resources Mentioned:* BE REAL's Let's Eat Middle and High School Nutrition Curriculum* BE REAL's Body Kind High School Body Image Curriculum* BE REAL's Ambassador Program* BE REAL's Body Kind Peer-Led College Body Confidence Seminar* National Alliance for Eating Disorders* Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy* Pinney Davenport Nutrition, PLLCMore about Denise and SelenaDenise Hamburger, JDDenise Hamburger, JD, is the founder and executive director of BE REAL USA, a nonprofit that imagines a world where every child can grow up with a healthy relationship to food and their body. In 2016, Denise created a professional development workshop for teachers called Body Confident Schools and has delivered this training to over 10,000 educators around the world. With over 250 conference, keynote, and school presentations, Denise has presented at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to the National Association of School Psychologists; at the Center for Disease Control to their Healthy Schools Division; at the United States Department of Agriculture to their Food and Nutrition Services Group; and to Amazon's Body Positive Peers Employee Resource Group.Denise co-developed Be Real's BodyKind high school, body image curriculum with a team of international body image academics, psychologists and teachers. BodyKind is the first body image curriculum developed for all students. It includes the body image experiences of people of different races, ethnicities, sexualities, gender identities, physical and mental abilities, and body sizes. BodyKind was tested in an 1150-student Randomized Control Trial in Ireland in 2024, and the program has proven to increase to student Body Appreciation, Self-Compassion and Body Appreciation. These aspects are associated with better self-esteem and better mental health.In 2025, Denise--with Ramsey County, MN Public Health--co-developed and launched a weight-neutral nutrition curriculum called Be Real's Let's Eat for middle school and high school students. Let's Eat focuses on Tuned-in Eating, which teaches students to integrate their own body cues, day's nutritional needs, food preferences and eating experiences into their eating patterns. Let's Eat lessons are relevant across cultures, neurodiversity, and economic status.Denise has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School and was an environmental attorney in her first career. She co-wrote the legal treatise Pollution in the United Kingdom. Denise is an Anti-Bias, Antiracist Certified curriculum writer. She has spent the last 25 years involved in education nonprofits, including Chicago's After School Matters.Instagram: @berealusaWebsite: www.berealusa.orgSelena Salfen, MPH, RDSelena Salfen, MPH, RD (she/her) works on chronic disease prevention in local public health, focusing on sustainable policy, systems and environmental change. Much of her work involves transitioning public health and healthcare systems from weight-focused to size inclusive, weight neutral models of practice. She also presents to educators and school-based health clinics on why weight neutral, eating disorder-aware education is vital to improving and protecting student health.TranscriptElizabeth: Welcome to Sunny Side Up Nutrition, a podcast created by three moms striving to bring you evidence-based information to help support you and the children in your life.Your hosts are Anna Lutz and me, Elizabeth Davenport, both registered dietitians, and Anna McKay, a dietitian-to-be and certified personal trainer.Anna Lutz co-owns Lutz Alexander and Associates Nutrition Therapy in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I co-own Pinney Davenport Nutrition in the D.C. metro area. And Anna McKay is in the process of completing her dietetic internship.Just a note that this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. Thanks for being here.In this episode, we're joined by two of the co-creators of the Be Real Let's Eat curriculum: Denise Hamburger and Selena Salfen.Elizabeth: Denise Hamburger, JD, is the founder and executive director of Be Real USA, a nonprofit that imagines a world where every child can grow up with a healthy relationship to food and their body.In 2025, Denise—with Ramsey County, Minnesota Public Health—co-developed and launched a weight-neutral curriculum called Be Real's Let's Eat for middle school and high school students.Elizabeth: Selena Salfen, MPH, RD (she/her), is a registered dietitian in public health. Much of her work involves transitioning public health and healthcare systems from weight-focused to size-inclusive, weight-neutral models of practice.Denise and Selena are two of the many experts who came together to create the curriculum. It focuses on Tuned-in Eating, which teaches students to integrate their own body cues, nutritional needs, food preferences, and eating experiences into their eating patterns. Lessons are relevant across cultures, neurodiversity, and economic status.Anna: Denise and Selena, we are so happy you're here. Welcome.Multiple speakers: Great to be here. Thank you, thank you.Anna: Let's jump in. To start us off, can you each tell us a bit about yourself and the work you do?Denise: Thank you. I guess I'll start. I'm Denise Hamburger. I'm the founder and executive director of Be Real USA, a nonprofit that focuses on providing the highest quality resources on body image and eating disorder prevention for schools.I've been talking to educators and parents for almost ten years now about how to create body-confident environments in schools and in homes. We have a presentation I've been giving for ten years called Body Confident Schools, which helps the adults in young people's lives develop language and understanding that supports raising kids with body confidence.This language and understanding is very different from what we get in diet culture. In the last five years, Be Real added a new piece to its mission: curriculum development. Teachers had been asking us for better resources on body image and nutrition, and we felt compelled to develop them ourselves.Our high school body image curriculum, BodyKind, was developed by a team of academics and tested in schools. We've tested it three times, and we've had four published papers on its feasibility, accessibility, and effectiveness.We're starting that same kind of testing now with our new curriculum, Let's Eat. We also have 150 ambassadors across the country who present our workshops and share our curriculum.Anna: Wow. We certainly need new curricula, so we're so glad you're doing this work and that you're in this space.Elizabeth: I want to hear more about the ambassadors, but we'll leave that for later.Selena: I'm Selena Salfen. I'm a registered dietitian, but I work in public health, so I don't see clients one-on-one. I focus more on macro-level policy, systems, and environmental change.I work on a chronic disease prevention grant, where we support schools in areas like food access, nutrition, and mental health. That's how I ended up working on Let's Eat.I'm also very committed to bringing size-inclusive, weight-neutral work into public health and undoing some of the harm done since the 1990s, when public health began to hyper-focus on weight, weight control, and BMI.I've done a lot of work with WIC, integrating weight-inclusive practices, and expanded that work into other community-based health programs.I'm also a parent to a child with sensory needs around food, which shapes my perspective. And I'm a Be Real ambassador—that's how Denise and I met.Anna: That's wonderful. I really appreciate the work you're doing. I imagine it sometimes feels like swimming upstream in public health.Selena: You know what? It's been better than I expected—and actually really exciting.Elizabeth: That's great to hear.Anna: We're recording this episode just as school is starting across the country, and we're excited to talk about this new curriculum. Denise, can you tell us more about Let's Eat and what inspired you to create it?Denise: Sure. I mentioned earlier that I've been speaking with teachers for the last ten years. They'd often ask me what curriculum they should be using—specifically one that doesn't harm students' body image.We know from research that what's typically being taught reflects diet culture and can be harmful. For example, a few studies have asked eating disorder patients what triggered their eating disorder, and 14% in both studies mentioned their “healthy eating curriculum” in school.So at Be Real, we decided to develop a curriculum that focuses on body cues and interoceptive awareness—helping students learn to eat based on what their bodies are telling them.Selena was reviewing our BodyKind curriculum when we started talking, and she mentioned she was looking for a weight-neutral curriculum for Minneapolis. A lightbulb went off, and we decided to create one together.It's been an amazing collaboration. I come from one angle, Selena comes from another, and we always land in the same place. I focus on making sure lessons are engaging and accessible, while Selena makes sure they reflect the needs of neurodiverse kids, immigrant kids, and food-insecure kids.The result is a free, two-day curriculum for both middle and high school students. It aligns with the HECAT standards, comes in a 42-page toolkit with lesson plans, slides, and worksheets, and includes required professional development for teachers so they can shift away from diet culture before teaching it.We were able to create this thanks to funders like the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, Ramsey County Public Health, and the Minnesota Department of Health.Anna: Wow. That's fabulous. We're so excited that Let's Eat exists. And I love that it's a two-day lesson plan—not something overwhelming. Teachers often worry about how curricula fit with state standards, but as you said, this aligns well.Elizabeth: Selena, what concerns do you have about how nutrition is typically taught to children?Selena: First, I want to acknowledge that educators who teach “good and bad” foods mean well. They've been enlisted in what's been called the “war on obesity” since the 2000s.Good people want children to avoid chronic disease, but they've been told the way to do this is through weight control, calorie tracking, and restrictive eating. We now know this approach is harmful, not evidence-based, and doesn't actually make kids physically or mentally healthier—or smaller.Many existing nutrition education tools encourage weight or body fat measurements, food logs, calorie counting, or labeling foods as good/bad. This can trigger disordered eating, poor body image, and food obsession.With Let's Eat, we focus instead on helping students learn about food in a way that builds trust in their bodies and avoids shame, guilt, or fear.Elizabeth: Denise, how does Let's Eat differ from other nutrition curricula?Denise: Great question. First, we don't use body size as a proxy for health. Instead, we empower students to be the experts on their own eating.We avoid shame-based language, rules, or fear around food. Instead, we use guidelines that leave room for nuance. We also encourage reflection on past eating experiences—like noticing how your body felt after eating—and using that information for the future.Another big difference is the diversity of input. Thanks to Selena, we had 42 experts review the curriculum, including dietitians, doctors, teachers, researchers, body image experts, and students.We're proud of how inclusive it is, and how it focuses on empowerment, curiosity, and calmness around food.Anna: I really enjoyed lending a little part to the project. What I love most is how you've taken weight out of it. Weight is woven through so much of nutrition curricula, but kids are supposed to be gaining weight. Their bodies are supposed to be changing. Let's Eat acknowledges this and empowers students to tune in and trust that they are the experts of their own bodies.Denise: Exactly. What we teach is Tuned-in Eating. It's about helping students feel capable and confident when it comes to food. We encourage them to be curious about past eating experiences—what worked and what didn't—and use that to guide future choices.Instead of rules, we provide guidelines. Rules can encourage black-and-white thinking, but guidelines leave room for flexibility.Selena: One big difference is how we approach foods that students are often taught to fear. For example, ultra-processed foods or sugar. Educators often feel pressure to talk about these, but fear-based teaching isn't helpful.Instead, we explain concepts like whole vs. refined grains in a way that avoids shame. If you prefer white rice, you can pair it with protein, fat, and fiber to balance the meal. We also celebrate cultural foods like rice and tortillas, which are often unfairly stigmatized.We're also committed to making Let's Eat neurodivergent-friendly and trauma-informed. Not every student can rely on hunger cues, and that's okay. Instead of insisting on “no distractions at meals,” we encourage students to experiment with what works for them—whether that includes a tablet or not.We also acknowledge food access and insecurity. Not all students have choices, so we avoid presenting nutrition in a way that assumes unlimited access.I'm also proud that we brought in such diverse perspectives. Reviewers included Dr. Whitney Trotter and Angela Goens, co-founders of the BIPOC Eating Disorder Conference, as well as Anna (you!) and many others.Anna: It really shows. The diversity of expertise and voices makes Let's Eat so much stronger.Creating a curriculum like this must have been a challenge. It's so much easier to be black and white—this is good, this is bad. But you've created something inclusive and nuanced.Denise: Yes, that was one of the challenges. We had to decide how much detail was actually helpful. Thanks to Selena, we avoided going too far down rabbit holes and instead kept lessons high-level and practical.We focus on the basics—carbohydrates, fats, protein—with a nod to vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Just enough to help students fuel their day without overwhelming them.Selena: And credit goes to Allie Latvala, who did a beautiful job writing for the age range. It's a big responsibility to protect young people, and while no curriculum will be perfect, we've done our best to make it safe and inclusive.Selena: Yes, and we'll continue to make adjustments as we receive feedback. We listened to students and teachers during evaluation, and we'll keep listening if improvements are needed.Anna: That's so important. What did students and teachers say during the pilot?Denise: We tested it with 250 students. Their feedback was invaluable—everything from whether the images felt too young or too old, to what activities were engaging.One teacher, Sarah, had her students list reasons we eat, beyond hunger. They filled the board with 100 reasons—celebrations, traditions, comfort, fun. We added that activity to the curriculum, because it gets students thinking about eating as a multi-dimensional experience, not just fuel.Anna: I love that. So many nutrition classes reduce eating to just nutrients or body size. Asking students to reflect on the many reasons we eat helps them appreciate the full picture.Elizabeth: Denise, for parents and educators who want to bring Let's Eat into schools, how can they access it?Denise: There are two main ways. First, it's free. At conferences, we hand out postcards with QR codes. Scanning the code takes you to our professional development training. After completing the training and a short test, teachers gain access to the full toolkit, slides, and worksheets.Second, educators can become Be Real Ambassadors. Ambassadors get access to our presentations and resources, and they bring them into their communities. Right now, we have about 150 ambassadors around the world—teachers, dietitians, public health educators, and more.We provide them with templates, letters, agendas, slides, and other materials so they can succeed in sharing this work locally.Anna: That's incredible. You're not only creating a curriculum—you're creating a movement.Anna: What challenges did you face in creating a curriculum that's both helpful and impactful without causing harm?Selena: It was definitely tricky. We could have created a “masterpiece” that said exactly what we wanted, but it might not have been usable in schools. Teachers often have to align with CDC HECAT standards.We worked hard to meet most of the knowledge expectations, but we were intentional about skipping some. For example, one standard asks students to “analyze healthy and risky approaches to weight management.” We didn't include that, because it would reinforce harmful weight-focused thinking.Another standard says to “avoid sugary drinks.” Instead, we reframed it around hydration—water, milk, and other options—while acknowledging that sugary drinks exist without making them forbidden.Denise: Teachers don't expect every curriculum to meet every single standard, but we wanted to cover most. And it was important that Let's Eat still teach the core of nutrition—like macronutrients and hydration—just in a less fear-based way.Selena: Exactly. We frame carbohydrates as “short energy” and protein and fat as “long energy.” It helps students contextualize food in ways that feel supportive, not restrictive.Anna: That's such a refreshing approach. All right, let's move into our last question. We love to ask our guests: what's one of your favorite foods right now? It doesn't have to be forever, just what you're enjoying at the moment and why.Denise: I just made a summer fruit buttermilk cake with Michigan cherries, blackberries, peaches, and blueberries. We had four cups of fruit in it. My kids were visiting, and we finished the whole cake in under an hour. It was so good I've been waking up thinking about when I can make it again.Anna: That sounds amazing. And you may not know this, but Elizabeth used to be a professional baker.Denise: Oh, then I'll have to send you the recipe!Elizabeth: Please do. Selena, what about you?Selena: I had to think about this. I love all foods, so nothing stood out at first. But then I realized I've been cooking a lot from the cookbook Curry Every Day by Atul Kochhar. It's full of curries from around the world. I know it's summer, but I still love making them.Elizabeth: That sounds wonderful. I'm going to have to check that out.Anna: Thank you both so much for joining us and for sharing your work. Let's Eat is such an important resource, and we'll link everything in the show notes so parents and teachers can access the training and curriculum.Denise: Thank you—it was a pleasure.Selena: Thank you so much.Anna: And thank you to our listeners. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review us in your podcast app. Just scroll down to the stars in Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast and leave a review.We'd also love for you to join our 12-module membership, Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding. Visit our website and look for the Membership tab to join today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit snutrition.substack.com

Send us a textSummary: In this episode of the PIO podcast, Jen Longaecker, the Deputy Communications Director for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, shares her unique journey from journalism to public safety communications. She discusses the challenges faced during the 2020 civil unrest, the importance of social media in crisis management, and the strategies employed to engage the community and recruit new law enforcement personnel. Jen emphasizes the significance of storytelling in public safety communications and the need for effective messaging templates to navigate crises. In this conversation, Jen Longaecker discusses the evolving role of law enforcement and the importance of community engagement. She highlights the challenges faced by communications professionals in adapting to changing media consumption habits and the impact of AI on storytelling. Jen shares her aspirations in crisis communication and offers valuable advice for aspiring public information officers, emphasizing the importance of genuine storytelling and preparedness in crises. The discussion concludes with key takeaways on effective communication strategies and the importance of curiosity in the field.Jen's BIO:  Jen Longaecker has worked for the Department of Public Safety since 2013 in a variety of roles. She began her time with DPS as a public information officer for the State Fire Marshal division and Office of Pipeline Safety. She also served as DPS' social media manager and staff photographer. Jen left DPS briefly to work as a communications manager for a Twin Cities suburb but returned to DPS and is currently the deputy communications director, leading a team of 25 communications specialists and public information officers. Jen has experience handling strategic communications and social media messaging during critical incidents. She was in the joint information center during the historic civil unrest following the death of George Floyd and the killing of Daunte Wright, and also developed strategic communication for the COVID-19 pandemic and Line 3 pipeline construction. Jen has taken photos at several funerals for Minnesota fallen first responders and has helped local agencies with crisis communications and media relations.Before coming to DPS, Jen was a 911 dispatcher for the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Jen spent the early stages of her career as a newspaper editor and reporter covering public safety and courts. Jen lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and her dog, a pug named Evie. In her spare time, she plays the saxophone in two swing bands and is training to provide PIO support on large-scale fires and other emergencies across the country. Jen is a University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduate.Email JenSupport the showOur premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us a textSgt. Shane Warnke Jr. (Ret.) joined Liz Collin on her podcast to discuss how even more men have been moved to Minnesota's women's prison, how he says taxpayers are footing the bill for men's makeup, and what seems like the end of the K-9 program in the Minnesota Department of Corrections.Donate to Alpha News - https://alphanews.revv.co/donate-todayAlpha News Links - https://linktr.ee/AlphaNewsLiz Collin Reports - https://alphanews.buzzsprout.com/Support the show

Applications are open for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Soil Health Financial Assistance Program Grants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prisoner attacked a corrections officer at a state prison in Rush City over the weekend. Corrections officials say an inmate stabbed an officer with a homemade knife. The guard suffered a puncture wound and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released. The inmate is serving a life sentence for murder and has been transferred to a maximum security prison.The City of St. Paul has released details about a cyberattack that began more than two weeks ago. The city shut down its computer network, which included internet access at libraries, as a preventative measure.Some state lawmakers are vowing to drop political dialogue that could incite violence. A committee updating statewide K-12 health education standards is moving forward with revisions. More than 3,000 people attended CannaCon over the weekend, a cannabis convention in St. Paul with vendors looking to enter Minnesota's new cannabis market. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' spring waterfowl population count is in. The count was mixed: some species increased in numbers, others fell. The state's population of blue-winged teal dropped 60 percent from a year ago, likely due to drought conditions in the southern part of the state.

Dr. Brooke Cunningham, ASTHO Member and the Commissioner of Health for the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses how her department is using the Public Health Infrastructure Grant. PHIG Partners Web Page PHIG Newsletter  

This week, discover how the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) supports our heroes with benefits like state veterans homes and suicide prevention programs, and explore the vital role of the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers in partnering with MDVA. Guests include: Anne Sonnee – Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Steve McCarthy – […] The post Serving Minnesota Veterans: The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services wants to terminate a housing stabilization program recently flagged for possible fraud.The department announced Friday it is asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to end the program. Minnesota was the first state to use Medicaid funds to find more stable housing options for residents.This is the afternoon update from MPR News, hosted by Emily Bright. Theme music by Gary Meister.

The entire landscape of student loans is undergoing a lot of change. Starting Friday, thousands of Minnesotans who are on the student loan SAVE plan will see their balances grow, with interest now being re-applied. Though SAVE borrower's payments are still on pause. It's one of many changes that are taking place over the next several years. The state of Minnesota has one person dedicated to helping borrowers navigate their repayments. Jabra Kawas is the state's first and only Student Loan Advocate under the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Kawas says last year he worked with 230 people. This year he already has 250 cases. He joined Minnesota Now to talk about the upcoming changes to student loans.

In September 2023, 45-year-old Eleanore "Ellie" Halverson and her mother, Roxanne, drove to a mental health facility in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was planning to check in for treatment. Outside the entrance, Ellie said goodbye to her mother and daughter, as neither of them were allowed to accompany her inside.Roxanne expected she would hear from her daughter within a few days, once Ellie had settled in and was granted phone privileges. But as time passed with no word, a sense of unease set in. Then she learned that Ellie had never officially checked into the facility, and no one had seen or heard from her. Fearing the worst, Roxanne reported Ellie missing in Grand Rapids.Then, on November 4, Ellie was spotted on surveillance footage in Northhome, MN. Ellie's family believed she was likely with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Geno. Police eventually tracked Geno down in rural Itasca County. He told investigators they had argued one night in early November, and Ellie had stormed off into the freezing Minnesota darkness. That was the last time he claimed to have seen or heard from her.This November will mark two years since Ellie vanished. Her family is still searching, haunted by unanswered questions and desperate for the truth about what really happened that night.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Eleanor “Ellie” Halverson, please contact the Itasca County Sheriff's Office at 218-326-3477. If you wish to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit CrimeStoppersMN.org. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund tip program is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for confidential support 24/7.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed into law the major domestic policy bill that cuts about $1 trillion dollars from federal Medicaid spending over the next ten years. The changes to Medicaid are estimated to result in nearly 10 million more people going without health insurance by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.  Medicaid is the public insurance program that covers most health care and long-term care for 83 million low-income and disabled people in the United States. Nearly a quarter of Minnesota's residents are on the state's Medicaid program, which is known as Medical Assistance. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what this means for Minnesotans, including new work requirements and restrictions that will reduce funding for the program.  Guests: John Connolly is deputy commissioner and state Medicaid director for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.   Sue Abderholden is the executive director of NAMI Minnesota, the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Steve Grove's career spans journalism, public service and Big Tech.  He helped shape content at Google and YouTube, led Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development, and now serves as publisher and CEO of the Star Tribune. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Grove about the future of media, the role of public service, the influence of technology and what it means to come home to the Midwest.Guest: Steve Grove is the CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune. He was commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development during Governor Tim Walz's first term. Before moving back to his home state, Steve built a career in Silicon Valley as an executive at Google and YouTube. He is the co-founder of Silicon North Stars — a nonprofit he started with his wife, Mary — to educate and inspire young Minnesotans to pursue careers in technology. He is also the author of the new book, "How I Found Myself in the Midwest." 

The growing season is filled with a host of challenges, including insect, disease, and weed pests, resistance concerns, agronomic issues, and soil fertility questions. The Field Notes program is designed for farmers and agricultural professionals as a weekly webinar to address all of your crop-related questions in real-time in an interactive, discussion-based format.Join us as we welcome Tony Cortilet, Plant protection manager at Minnesota Department of Agriculture, as he provides an update on the status of Palmer amaranth in Minnesota.The weekly Wednesday program features a live, interactive webinar with specialists to address in-season cropping issues as they arise. Weekly sessions will reflect current conditions and topics may range from insect and disease issues to soil fertility concerns, weather impacts, agronomics, or other situations.

Kristin Raab, Director of the Minnesota Climate and Health Program at the Minnesota Department of Health, shares how the state's “Stay Cool Minnesota” campaign is working to protect Minnesotans against the negative health effects of extreme heat; ASTHO Alum, Dr. Matthew Christiansen, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Health Affairs at Valley Health Systems, discusses ASTHO's recent Executive Leadership Forum and the value of public health; ASTHO's new data dashboard to help states use data to guide health improvement; and an ASTHO training on legal maps will take place on July 30th.  Minnesota Department of Health News Release: Health officials launch campaign to encourage Minnesotans to ‘Stay Cool' during extreme heat ASTHO Brief: How States Can Leverage Data to Guide Health Improvement ASTHO Webinar: State and Territorial Infrastructure for Suicide Prevention: Exploring New Legal Maps  

Allen discusses the strain on America's largest power grid due to data center demand, Taiwan's $3 billion wind farm project, the potential sale of Allete and new data center regulations in Ohio. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! America's largest power grid is under serious strain. Data centers and AI chatbots are using electricity faster than new power plants can be built. PJM Interconnection covers thirteen states from Illinois to Tennessee and Virginia to New Jersey. The company serves sixty seven million customers. This summer, electricity bills could jump more than twenty percent in some areas. The region has the most data centers in the world. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is threatening to pull his state out of the grid entirely. Recently, PJM's CEO has announced he's leaving and PJM Board members have been voted out. PJM spokesman Jeffrey Shields says the problem is simple economics. "Prices will remain high as long as demand growth is outstripping supply. Right now, we need every megawatt we can get." The grid lost more than five point six gigawatts in the last decade. Old power plants shut down faster than new ones come online. Meanwhile, data center demand keeps growing. By twenty thirty, PJM expects thirty two gigawatts of increased demand. Almost all of that will come from data centers. Ørsted has secured three billion dollars in financing for a major wind farm project in Taiwan. The Greater Changhua Two project will supply clean energy to over one million households once it's fully operational. The wind farm sits thirty to thirty seven miles off Taiwan's coast. Taiwan wants twenty percent of its electricity to come from renewable sources by twenty twenty five. This project is a critical step toward that goal. Ørsted plans to sell part of its ownership stake after the project is completed. This strategy lets the company recycle money into new projects while keeping operational control. Allete is one step closer to being sold. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has withdrawn its opposition to the six point two billion dollar deal. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners want to buy the company. Allete runs Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin. The sale still needs approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. That's the last hurdle before the deal can close. The new owners have agreed to several customer protections. They'll freeze rates for one year and reduce the company's allowed profit margin. They've also promised fifty million dollars in additional clean energy investments. AEP Ohio has won approval for new rules that protect customers from data center costs. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved the plan on July ninth. Large data centers will now have to pay for at least eighty five percent of the electricity they sign up for, even if they use less. AEP Ohio President Marc Reitter says the rules align data center demand with infrastructure costs. "This infrastructure will support Ohio's growing tech sector and help secure America's data storage facilities here in the U.S." The requirements will last twelve years, including a four year ramp up period. Data center owners must also prove they're financially able to meet their obligations. RWE has extended CEO Markus Krebber's contract until twenty thirty one. The early extension adds another five years to his current agreement. Krebber has led the German energy company since twenty twenty one.

This week, we explore educational opportunities and support for Minnesota's military community at Saint Paul College, delve into inclusion efforts and the 35th anniversary of the ADA with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and get an update from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Guests include: Alan Duff – Saint Paul College Julie Severson […] The post Saint Paul College and 35th Anniversary of the ADA appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

State lawmakers convened at the Capitol Tuesday for the first legislative hearing since two colleagues were shot last month.An effort to start the process of modifying a Minneapolis police reform agreement is now on pause. The Minneapolis City Council has voted to pause the effort to start modifying the existing MPD agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Supporters of the proposal want the city to add provisions from a federal consent decree that was dismissed by a judge earlier this year to its existing pact with the human rights department.The organization Abbey‘s Hope reached a milestone Tuesday in its effort to match Minnesota kids with life jackets. Scott and Katey Taylor formed the group after their 6-year-old daughter Abbey died following an incident in a wading pool where she got stuck in a filter pump.The historic Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis is reopening in full next month.The Minnesota Department of Transportation has temporarily turned off the lights on the Mississippi River bridges at Winona amid an ongoing mayfly hatch. The twin bridges carry State Highway 43 across the river to Wisconsin. The lights attract the insects in swarms and can create dangerous driving conditions.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) recently released its second draft of new Health Education Standards. The Sexual Health portion includes required student learning expectations that violate related laws and are developmentally inappropriate. Doug Wardlow, True North Legal's new Director of Litigation, and Rebecca Delahunt, Director of Public Policy at MFC join Grace on the podcast to discuss this issue and how you can take action.Learn more and take action: https://www.mfc.org/healthbenchmarks25

State lawmakers convened at the Capitol Tuesday for the first legislative hearing since two colleagues were shot last month.An effort to start the process of modifying a Minneapolis police reform agreement is now on pause. The Minneapolis City Council has voted to pause the effort to start modifying the existing MPD agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Supporters of the proposal want the city to add provisions from a federal consent decree that was dismissed by a judge earlier this year to its existing pact with the human rights department.The organization Abbey‘s Hope reached a milestone Tuesday in its effort to match Minnesota kids with life jackets. Scott and Katey Taylor formed the group after their 6-year-old daughter Abbey died following an incident in a wading pool where she got stuck in a filter pump.The historic Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis is reopening in full next month.The Minnesota Department of Transportation has temporarily turned off the lights on the Mississippi River bridges at Winona amid an ongoing mayfly hatch. The twin bridges carry State Highway 43 across the river to Wisconsin. The lights attract the insects in swarms and can create dangerous driving conditions.

Lately, it seems like no matter where you drive in Minnesota, you run into road construction — lane closures, detours, backed-up traffic and a lot of orange cones. If you're wondering, “Why now? Why so many projects all at once?” — you're not alone. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests take a closer look at what's behind this busy construction season. Guests: Anne Meyer is the media relations coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  Charles Carlson is with the Metropolitan Council. He serves as the executive director of Metropolitan Transportation Services. 

State lawmakers convened at the Capitol Tuesday for the first legislative hearing since two colleagues were shot last month.An effort to start the process of modifying a Minneapolis police reform agreement is now on pause. The Minneapolis City Council has voted to pause the effort to start modifying the existing MPD agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Supporters of the proposal want the city to add provisions from a federal consent decree that was dismissed by a judge earlier this year to its existing pact with the human rights department.The organization Abbey‘s Hope reached a milestone Tuesday in its effort to match Minnesota kids with life jackets. Scott and Katey Taylor formed the group after their 6-year-old daughter Abbey died following an incident in a wading pool where she got stuck in a filter pump.The historic Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis is reopening in full next month.The Minnesota Department of Transportation has temporarily turned off the lights on the Mississippi River bridges at Winona amid an ongoing mayfly hatch. The twin bridges carry State Highway 43 across the river to Wisconsin. The lights attract the insects in swarms and can create dangerous driving conditions.

Prosecutors are moving forward with their case against the man accused of killing former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. Vance Boelter, 57, is charged in a six-count criminal complaint with the murder of the Hortmans early on June 14 and with shooting and wounding DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette earlier the same night. Boelter is also charged with stalking the lawmakers.A Minnesota Department of Education employee no longer works there after a conservative news site reported on a prior conviction of criminal sexual conduct.And boaters can expect to see extra law enforcement officers on Minnesota waterways Friday and through the holiday weekend.Go deeper with the latest edition of the Minnesota Today newsletter.Prosecution moves forward after alleged Hortman assassin waives hearingsMinnesota education agency employee out after sex-crime conviction surfacesLaw enforcement warns boaters to drive sober this holiday weekendSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The podcast covers a shocking discovery about a convicted sex offender working for the Minnesota Department of Education, responsible for auditing taxpayer money. It also covers President Trump's threat to arrest a socialist mayor in New York City if he interferes with immigration enforcement. #DonaldTrump #IceDeportations #NewYorkCity #ImmigrationEnforcement #trumpnews 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:25 - Sex Offender Employed by Walz Administration in Minnesota00:05:41 - Trump Threatens to Arrest Zohran Mamdani00:12:08 - Is Political Violence Provoked by Rhetoric or Policy?00:14:58 - Trump Calls for Citizen-Only CensusSupport the show

Steve Grove, the current CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune and the former head of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, a Northfield High School graduate, discusses his new book, “How I Found Myself in the Midwest.” Grove will be hosting a reading from the book on tonight, 6:15pm – 8:30pm at […]

Steve Grove, the current CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune and the former head of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, a Northfield High School graduate, discusses his new book, "How I Found Myself in the Midwest."Grove will be hosting a reading from the book on tonight, 6:15pm - 8:30pm at The Grand Events Center. Content Bookstore co-hosts the event. Music provided by Craig Wasner and Mike Hildebrandt beginning at 6:15 pm. At 7 pm, Steve will read from and discuss his memoir with Benya Kraus, president of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Grab a drink and a bite and settle in for a delightful evening!RSVP and learn more about the event here.Learn more about the book: Just after turning forty, Steve Grove left Silicon Valley as a Google executive to move to his home state of Minnesota with his wife and fellow tech exec, Mary Grove, and their one-year-old twins. Gone from the Midwest for two decades, Grove returned home with fresh eyes. Yearning to put down new roots, he traded his career at Google for a position in state government with Governor Tim Walz. Far from working at a fast-paced tech company, Grove's shift to leading a large government bureaucracy brought a sequence of struggles and triumphs vividly portrayed with both humor and affection.But this story of reinvention takes on new urgency when crisis strikes, as the coronavirus pandemic and the tragic murder of George Floyd unfolds just miles from his newfound home, thrusting Grove's work into an unexpected spotlight. Tasked with distributing billions in aid, rolling out pandemic restrictions, redeveloping neighborhoods, and navigating deep divisions in a state long proud of its exceptionalism, Grove's journey through crisis brings new insights about himself and his new community. His experiences of the political, geographic, and racial divisions in his home state yield surprising discoveries about what also binds us together.From making new friends and building a family to reconciling with his past and exploring his faith, Grove's journey to find purpose by going local provides a roadmap for anyone looking to discover what gives meaning to their life. Along the way, Grove shares insights about a part of the country that many people ignore at their peril, and why he is optimistic about America's future. How I Found Myself in the Midwest will move and inspire you, no matter where you choose to call home.

In this heartfelt episode, Sarah shares the emotional journey she and her husband took as they followed a deep calling to adopt an older child. Along the way, they experienced two unexpected pregnancies—both ending in miscarriage just weeks apart. Through the heartbreak, hope, and healing, Sarah discovered a powerful truth: everyone's path to family is different, and no one should have to live up to someone else's expectations. This episode is a moving reminder that there is no one “right” way to build a family—and that choosing your own way is more than enough.Follow us on IG for more:https://www.instagram.com/spillinitpodcast?igsh=MWM1ZTZncDBiczZ4Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qrhttps://www.instagram.com/thecortreport?igsh=NWxsaDdkOXRhbm56&utm_source=qrhttps://www.instagram.com/grayed_early?igsh=MWRwZ2VodzRmaHZuNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qrhttps://www.instagram.com/choose_happiness24_7?igsh=YXFia3NvNnp5Zms4Have an inspiring story you would like to share? Fill out the following Questionnaire and we will be in touch.If you or someone you know is navigating adoption, miscarriage, or grief, here are some trusted Minnesota-based resources for support:

This week, we explore the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to end Veteran homelessness, learn how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District is supporting wildfire response in Los Angeles, and get an update from the MN Patriot Guard. Guests include: Derek Holt – Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Col. Eric Swenson […] The post Ending Veteran Homelessness and MN Army Corps of Engineers Wildfire Recovery appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

This week, we're joined by the Director of Government Affairs from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and a Minnesota State Senator to discuss the 2025 legislative session and receive updates from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Guests include: Jon Kelly – Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Sen. Aric Putnam – Minnesota Senate Director […] The post 2025 Legislative Session appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how smoke from Canadian wildfires could continue to affect our air quality this summer and what we can do to stay healthy when skies are smoky. Guests:Jessie Carr is the supervisor of environmental epidemiology in the environmental health division of the Minnesota Department of Health. Matt Taraldsen is a meteorologist and supervisor of the team that issues air quality conditions, alerts and forecasts at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.   Dr. Dylan Wyatt is an emergency medicine physician with Aspirus St. Luke's health care system in Duluth.AirNow.gov allows you to check current air quality conditions. You can also download the AirNow mobile app and sign up to receive air quality alerts and forecasts via email.MPCA current air quality conditions: Current air quality conditions | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (state.mn.us)MDH air quality and health website: Air Quality, Climate and HealthMDH Wildfire Smoke web page: Wildfire Smoke - MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)Minnesota Outdoor Air Quality Guidance for Schools and Child CareDIY Air Cleaner to Reduce Wildfire Smoke Indoors

Melissa Magstadt, Secretary of Health for South Dakota and an ASTHO Member, explains the state's first-in-the-nation anonymous naloxone kit distribution program; Colton Anderson, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Public Health Infrastructure and Improvement, tells us about ASTHO's Quality Advisory Group; an ASTHO webinar scheduled for June 12 aims to help public health practitioners tell the story of public health; and Dr. Broke Cunningham, an ASTHO Member and the Commissioner of Health for the Minnesota Department of Health, will speak at the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Conference. Emily's Hope News Release: Emily's Hope and South Dakota agencies team up to make lifesaving naloxone widely available ASTHO Blog Article: Quality Advisory Group Supports Performance Improvement in Health Agencies ASTHO Webinar: INSPIRE – Readiness - Tackling Public Health Communication Conundrums: Rumors and Public Trust Minnesota Rural Health Conference Web Page  

Waiting for a stoplight to turn green can be really annoying, especially when you're running late. It would be awesome if you had a magic wand you could wave to get the light to change. But alas, such things don't exist. But how do stoplights know when to switch colors? We asked Jerry Kotzenmacher with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to help us find the answer.Got a nagging question that just won't yield? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we'll put you in the express lane to answersville.

This month we've seen many special events marking five years since the murder of George Floyd.  He died on Memorial Day after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than 9 minutes during an arrest.  What followed was chaos and many uncomfortable conversations about race. In 2021, MPR launched a podcast called Early Risers to help parents talk to kids about race. It was created in partnership with Little Moments Count, which is a collaborative of organizations working to improve interactions between parents and their children. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the original host of the Early Risers podcast, Dianne Haulcy, and the current host, Andre Dukes.  She asked them how it's going, and if we have made progress in engaging children in conversations about race. Guests: Dianne Haulcy hosted Early Risers until 2024. She is now the assistant commissioner of early childhood at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Andre Dukes is the current host of Early Risers. He has spent the last decade of his career focused on child development and academic success in north Minneapolis. He is also the vice president of Family and Community Impact at Northside Achievement Zone, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.      

This Memorial Day, we're live with the Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Minneapolis VA, and more: Hour 1 Chaplain Lt. Col. Tim Usset, Minnesota National Guard Butch Whitehead, Minnesota Disabled American Veterans Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, National Guard Hour 2 Commissioner Brad Lindsay, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Director Patrick Kelly, Minneapolis […] The post Memorial Day Live 2025 appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

According to the Associated Press, the Justice Department announced Wednesday it will cancel consent decrees with Minneapolis and Louisville that aimed to reform policing after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The decision comes just before the five-year anniversary of Floyd's murder. In January, Minneapolis approved a federal consent decree requiring court oversight of police training and use-of-force practices. However, the Trump administration requested a delay and told the court it will not proceed. “The United States no longer believes the proposed consent decree would be in the public interest,” the DOJ stated. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the department will continue reforms under a separate agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The court-ordered reform process within the city of Minneapolis and its police department has reached a new phase. After George Floyd's murder, the state Department of Human Rights found that the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department engaged in patterns and practices of racial discrimination. It led to a court-ordered agreement, that now is being enforced by an independent monitor. On Tuesday, that monitor released a report that looks at the progress made in one full year of the agreement. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights commissioner Rebecca Lucero joined Minnesota Now to explain where things stand one year in.

This week, we explore how the Magnus Veterans Foundation supports Veterans and their families, connect with the administrator of the Preston Veterans Cemetery from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and get the latest from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Guests include: BG (ret) Tim Kennedy – Magnus Veterans Foundation LT COL (ret) Shawn […] The post Magnus Veterans Foundation and Preston Veterans Cemetery appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

 In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Emily returns for a second week in a row to join Brad in discussing a common but often overlooked type of stress: anticipatory stress. They explain what it is, how it manifests both physically and mentally, and offer practical strategies to manage it—like reframing your thoughts and using deep breathing for biofeedback. Emily and Brad also share personal experiences and remind listeners that it's okay to struggle, and it's even more important to seek help when needed. Resources from UMN Extension and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are highlighted throughout.Resources mentioned:UMN Extension – Managing Farm StressMinnesota Farm & Rural Helpline and resourcesanticipatory stress webpageMDA farm stress resourcesNorth Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center resources pageQuestions, comments, scathing rebuttals? -> themoosroom@umn.edu or call 612-624-3610 and leave us a message!Linkedin -> The Moos RoomTwitter -> @UMNmoosroom and @UMNFarmSafetyFacebook -> @UMNDairyYouTube -> UMN Beef and Dairy and UMN Farm Safety and HealthInstagram -> @UMNWCROCDairyExtension WebsiteAgriAmerica Podcast Directory 

About 4,500 people are released from Minnesota prisons each year. Many of them have spent years, if not decades, behind bars, separated from friends, family and community.What happens when they finally return? How do they rebuild their lives during this complex and often precarious transition?That was the topic at a collaborative Sahan Community Live and North Star Journey Live event recorded on April 24 at the St. Paul Neighborhood Network. Co-hosted by MPR News senior editor Brandt Williams and Sahan Journal digital producer Alberto Villafan, formerly incarcerated Minnesotans shared first-hand stories of what makes reentry such a difficult process. Community leaders and reentry advocates also shared what helps and what holds back people as they exit incarceration and reintegrate into their community.Guests: Antonio Williams is the founder and executive director of T.O.N.E. U.P., a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering formerly incarcerated individuals.Rea Smith is the Women's Services Project Coordinator of the Behavioral Health Division at the Minnesota Department of Human Services.Erick Washington is the co-founder of the Kingsmen Project.James Becker is the assistant federal defender and federal defender representative in the District of Minnesota Reentry Court program.David Riley is an addictions counselor at RS Eden, a Minneapolis-based organization that offers treatment for drug addictions, housing assistance and reentry support.

Did you know that congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common congenital viral infection in newborns and a leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss? Despite its prevalence, awareness and screening for cCMV remain inconsistent across healthcare systems. In this episode, we dive into the critical importance of cCMV screening, early diagnosis, and intervention. Join our expert guests Dr. Ingrid Camelo and Dr. John Noel as they discuss: The impact of cCMV on neonatal and long-term health outcomes Best practices for screening and diagnostic methods The role of early intervention, including antiviral therapy How advocacy efforts are shaping the future of universal screening policies Tune in to stay informed on how pediatricians and healthcare providers can play a vital role in improving outcomes for infants affected by cCMV. Special thanks to Dr. James Grubbs for peer reviewing this episode. CME Credit (requires free sign up): Link Coming Soon! References:  American Academy of Pediatrics. A targeted approach for congenital cytomegalovirus. Available at: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/139/2/e20162128/60211/A-Targeted-Approach-for-Congenital-Cytomegalovirus. Accessed August 13, 2024. Chiopris G, Veronese P, Cusenza F, Procaccianti M, Perrone S, Daccò V, Colombo C, Esposito S. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: update on diagnosis and treatment. Microorganisms. 2020 Oct 1;8(10):1516. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8101516. PMID: 33019752; PMCID: PMC7599523. Gantt S. Newborn cytomegalovirus screening: is this the new standard? Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Dec 1;31(6):382-387. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000925. Epub 2023 Oct 11. PMID: 37820202. Minnesota Department of Health. Minnesota implements universal newborn screening for cytomegalovirus. Available at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2023/ccmv020823.html. Accessed August 13, 2024. National CMV Foundation. Advocacy: universal newborn CMV screening. Available at: https://www.nationalcmv.org/about-us/advocacy#:~:text=Minnesota%20was%20the%20first%20state%20to%20enact%20universal%20newborn%20CMV%20screening. Accessed August 13, 2024. New York State Department of Health. Newborn screening for cytomegalovirus. Available at: https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2023/2023-09-29_newborn_screening.htm#:~:text=ALBANY%2C%20N.Y.,all%20babies%20for%20the%20virus. Accessed August 13, 2024. UpToDate. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection: clinical features and diagnosis. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/congenital-cytomegalovirus-ccmv-infection-clinical-features-and-diagnosis?search=cmv%20screening&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1%7E28&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H92269684. Accessed August 13, 2024. UpToDate. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection: management and outcome. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/congenital-cytomegalovirus-ccmv-infection-management-and-outcome?search=congenital%20cmv&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2%7E66&usage_type=default&display_rank=2. Accessed August 13, 2024. UpToDate. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir: an overview. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ganciclovir-and-valganciclovir-an-overview?search=ganciclovir&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2%7E80&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H6. Accessed August 13, 2024. University of Texas Medical Branch. Neonatology manual: infectious diseases. Available at: https://www.utmb.edu/pedi_ed/NeonatologyManual/InfectiousDiseases/InfectiousDiseases3.html#:~:text=may%20be%20required.-,Cytomegalovirus,Clinical%20findings. Accessed August 13, 2024. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541003/. Accessed August 13, 2024.                                                                                                             

Dr. Kaitlan Baston, former Commissioner of Health for the New Jersey Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, outlines what New Jersey has been doing to address opioids; Kate Murray, Program Supervisor for Long COVID and Post-COVID Conditions at the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses her program and how the work is going; an ASTHO webinar on May 1 focuses on Academic Health Departmetn Partnerships; and ASTHO Member and the New York Commissioner of Health, Dr. James McDonald, will speak at Blooming Day 2025 on May 2. New Jersey Department of Health News Release: NJ Health Department Announces Waiver to Improve Access to Opioid Treatment Services New Jersey Department of Health News Release: ICYMI – Governor Murphy Announces Jeff Brown to Serve as Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health Minnesota Department of Health Web Page: Long COVID Resources and Support ASTHO Webinar: Pathways to Academic Health Department Partnerships: Successes and Best Practices Blooming Day 2025 Web Page  

President Donald Trump's administration said it will soon resume collections on defaulted student loans for the first time in five years. The office of Federal Student Aid may start taking funds out of borrowers' tax refunds, Social Security benefits and — eventually — paychecks.The Department of Education says borrowers in default should start making monthly payments or enroll in an income-driven repayment plan.MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how the change could affect millions of borrowers.Guests: Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. Brittany Tweed is the director of financial aid for Metro State University. Resources shared during the show:Student Loan Advocate at the Minnesota Department of CommerceFederal Student Aid

It is the time of year when bears are coming out of hibernation and looking about for their next meal. Maybe you have seen a bear this season or heard of one in the neighborhood. This is a possibility not only for people who live in northern Minnesota. There have been bear sightings in the Twin Cities region this year.Andy Tri, bear project leader for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, joins MPR News host Emily Bright to talk about the state of bears in Minnesota.

For the fifth year in a row, more than half of Minnesota's electricity came from carbon-free sources, according to a new clean energy report. The Minnesota Department of Health has updated its advice on how much fish is safe to eat from certain lakes with so-called "forever chemicals."Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

A Marshall man jailed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is speaking out, saying he's being detained because he protested police killings four years ago. Aditya Harsono tells MPR News his student visa was revoked last month and he was arrested by plainclothes ICE agents. Court documents indicate Harsono's visa was revoked over a misdemeanor conviction for criminal damage to property in 2022. He believes his 2021 protest against the police killing of Daunte Wright is the real reason for his arrest.Republicans in north-central Minnesota are choosing a nominee for a vacant state Senate seat. Eight Republican candidates are running in a primary to replace Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids. He resigned last month after he was charged with attempting to solicit a minor. Democrats have endorsed Denise Slipy of Breezy Point. She will face off against the winner of the Republican primary in an April 29 special election.Sen. Tina Smith joined St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to criticize President Donald Trump's administration for delaying funding that had been approved to renovate an apartment building in St. Paul.

Scams are becoming more common and more expensive.Last year, more than 2.5 million Americans reported that they had been scammed. And that number has been increasing, along with the losses.   The amount of money lost to scammers in 2024 topped more than 12 billion dollars. That's up from about $2 billion in 2019, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers have also gotten more sophisticated, increasingly impersonating government agencies and businesses to manipulate people out of their money. MPR News host Angela Davis revisits a conversation about the latest examples and trends in scams, how anyone could fall for them and how to protect yourself. Guests: Jacqueline Olson is the assistant commissioner of enforcement at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Susan Adams Loyd is the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Minnesota and North Dakota. Donna DiMenna was the target of a scam in 2023. She lives in the Twin Cities where she works as an organizational psychologist with expertise in executive development.   If you think you've been targeted by a scam, report it to your local law enforcement.Here are other resources for filing complaints and getting trusted advice on protecting yourself from scams: The Better Business Bureau is a nonprofit consumer organization that maintains a Scam Tracker database, which allows the public to report and look up scams in their geographic area. You can also call to report a suspected scam to the Better Business Bureau at 651-699-1111. The Minnesota Department of Commerce provides many consumer fraud resources and its service center addresses complaints about businesses regulated by the department, including banks, insurance and debt collectors. To file a complaint, call 651-539-1600. To report or get additional help with scams involving seniors, call the Commerce Senior Fraud Line at 952-237-7571.

Be ready for the annual statewide tornado drill today in Minnesota. There will be two drills Thursday — the first at 1:45 p.m. That's aimed at people in schools, offices, stores and other businesses. The second drill is at 6:45 p.m. and aimed at people who are home, along with second-shift workers.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says a lack of federal funding is forcing it to cancel plans to spray for invasive moths in parts of Minnesota this year.Minnesota veterans rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to boost property tax relief for disabled veterans.A Ramsey County judge has dismissed a defamation claim from a Minneapolis Police Department leader who sued a conservative news outlet. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell alleged Alpha News and content creator Liz Collin defamed her in a book and a video. Blackwell argued the video uses “deceptive framing and editing” to lie about her testimony in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin.

Be ready for the annual statewide tornado drill today in Minnesota. There will be two drills Thursday — the first at 1:45 p.m. That's aimed at people in schools, offices, stores and other businesses. The second drill is at 6:45 p.m. and aimed at people who are home, along with second-shift workers.The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says a lack of federal funding is forcing it to cancel plans to spray for invasive moths in parts of Minnesota this year.Minnesota veterans rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to boost property tax relief for disabled veterans.A Ramsey County judge has dismissed a defamation claim from a Minneapolis Police Department leader who sued a conservative news outlet. Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell alleged Alpha News and content creator Liz Collin defamed her in a book and a video. Blackwell argued the video uses “deceptive framing and editing” to lie about her testimony in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin.

Nearly 200 Minnesota Association of Professional Employees rallied outside a state office building on the grounds of the State Capitol to protest Trump administration cuts to public health. Most of the participants work for the Minnesota Department of Health, which is cutting 170 jobs due to federal budget cuts. And Gov. Tim Walz visited Philips Image Guided Therapy today, a medical manufacturing facility in Plymouth. The company is planning an expansion, backed by $3.5 million in state funding.Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.