Minnesota plays a unique role in the arena of health, with impactful political/cultural moments, and important contributions from institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Hazelden, UCare, among others. Over the decades, MPR News and American RadioWorks have produced a breadth of reports and programming specifically dedicated to the subject of health. This collection includes interviews, debates, speeches, and documentaries that provide greater detail to the many facets of healthcare, from both a local and national perspective.
September 16, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Mark Steil reports on workers at Oak Hills Living Center, a New Ulm nursing home in southwest Minnesota, who unionized several years ago and currently are locked in a bitter strike with management. They want higher pay, but government Medicaid policies and other regulations make that a difficult goal to reach.
September 16, 1997 - The Twin Cities, with its plentiful parks, shimmering lakes, vibrant cultural life ,and booming economy is a pretty good draw these days for "out-of-staters" ... as long as you can withstand the deep freeze of winter. But for some people who move here, there's another deep freeze operating that can hurt a newcomer's ability to make friends. That's one of the reasons the group "Twin Cities Transplants" was formed, to help take the edge off what can be an icy reception for non-Minnesota natives. Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts -- a transplant himself -- went to a semi-regular meeting of "Twin Cities Transplants" to find out more. The next meeting of Twin Cities Transplants will be October 16th around 6 P-M, at City Billiards in Minneapolis. If you're interested in findi
September 26, 1997 - Gay-themed movies and T-V shows generally address the most broad themes of gay life, like the difficulty of coming out. Edmund White's latest book, "The Farewell Symphony," digs deeper into the trials and tribulations faced by homosexuals in American society today. Yet, taking a mentor's advice, White keeps you at a little distance, letting you draw your own conclusions. "The Farewell Symphony" is an autobiographical novel about White's repressive Midwest childhood and his life as a usually struggling writer in New York and Europe ... during which time he had sex with thousands of men. In the title, White may be saying farewell to Brice, his lover of five years, who died of AIDS in 1994. This was White's first reciprocated love affair and you'd think he'd be more prominent in the book, but Brice makes only cameo appearances in "The Farewell Symphony." We learn why he's mostly quiet about Brice when White is reunited with an old flame.
September 26, 1997 - Last summer, researchers at the 11th International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver were practically bursting with excitement over new drugs that had reduced HIV in some patients to undetectable levels. A year later, the drugs have worked their magic on thousands of AIDS patients bringing many back from the brink of death. The treatment successes have prompted sudden changes in patients lives, government health insurance plans and prevention programs. Tomorrow Minnesota AIDS activists will discuss these changes during the 1997 State of AIDS Conference in Minneapolis and plot their next step in dealing with the disease. As Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports, most are still optimistic about the treatment breakthroughs even though new data is beginning to dispel the notion that these drugs can cure AIDS.
September 29, 1997 - An article in today's New York Times explored the possible link between chemicals in the environment and rising cancer rates in children. For the past twenty years researchers have noticed a moderate but steady increase in childhood cancers, averaging about one-percent per year. But little is known about what's causing the increase. Much of the cancer research has been conducted at the University of Minnesota. Professor of Pediatrics, Dr. Les Robison, told Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson researchers believe the rising childhood cancer rate is real, and not a function of increased reporting.
September 30, 1997 - EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTA'S WILDFLOWERS ARE TURNED INTO LANDFILL DURING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION. NO ONE KEEPS TRACK OF THE LOST PLANTS WHICH OFTEN INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE HALF-DOZEN SPECIES OF PROTECTED WILDFLOWERS...LIKE ORCHIDS AND LILIES. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RESCUE THE PLANTS MUST RECEIVE PERMISSION FROM THE LANDOWNER AND SECURE A PERMIT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THIS SALVAGE HAS PROVOKED A QUIET DEBATE OVER WHETHER THESE PLANTS SHOULD BE RELOCATED. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S KATHLEEN HALLINAN REPORTS. (SOUND OF PULLING/BRAD...) BRAD MRZLAK IS PULLING NATIVE CALLALILIES AND STASHING THEM IN A PLASTIC TRAY. HE GENTLY GRABS THE PLANTS AT THE BASE AND EASES THEIR ROOTS TO THE SURFACE. HE'S STANDING IN A PEAT BOG--WITH WATER MIDWAY UP HIS SHINS.
December 9, 1997 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on the disturbing history of Canton Insane Asylum…and of the dead from institution that are now buried in the middle of city's Hiawatha golf course.
January 26, 1998 - Minnesota became the first state to litigate a case against the tobacco industry, when attorneys made their opening statements today. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are suing major tobacco companies to recover the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses. The state's lead attorney called tobacco a greedy industry, while tobacco's lead attorney says even if the industry behaved badly, it didn't increase the state's health care costs. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The state's lead attorney Michael Cerisi said the tobacco companie
January 26, 1998 - Muslims in Rochester are observing the holy month of Ramadan in a new mosque. A group of Muslims purchased the unassuming three-story brick building on the city's main thoroughfare and renovated it with some 650-thousand dollars. The new mosque's leaders say the larger space will acommodate Rochester's growing resident and visiting Muslim population. But they also hope it bridges a philosophical gap among Rochester Muslims that began more than four years ago. Minnesota Public Radio's Art Hughes reports. Muslims never know the exact day during Ramadan that commemorates the Night of Majesty, when God revealed himself to the prophet
January 27, 1998 - Attorneys for tobacco companies are expected to finish their opening arguments this morning in Minnesota's landmark tobacco trial. The state's attorney told jurors yesterday the tobacco industry deceived the public about the dangers of smoking and put profits before health. The State and Blue Cross Blue Shield are suing the industry for nearly two-billion dollars in smoking-related health care costs. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: The state's attorney Mike Ciresi told jurors minnesota's case comes down to what the industry knew about the dangers of smoking; when it knew it and what it did about it. He stood at a podium, spoke deliberately for about two hours and never veered far from his notes. The courtroom was packed with attorneys, public officials such as the attorney general and the u-s attorney and local and national media including the wall street journal and the LA times.