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.
August 29, 2000 - After several years of falling C-section rates, Caesarean births are increasing again. The national C-section rate is close to 22-percent of all births. The rates have been rising for the past three years, with a 4-percent increase last year alone. Dr. Bill Gold is the Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield. He says he's not sure why c-section rates are going up.
August 29, 2000 - By a 257-to-114 vote, union members approved a contract last night with the Pepsi Bottling Group, ending a two-month old strike by workers at the Pepsi bottling plant in Burnsville. Union officials had previously rejected two contract offers from the company. The union was seeking a three-year, four percent annual pay raise. They also wanted better retirement and health care benefits. Larry Yoswa is the head of Teamsters Local 792, and he's on the line now.
August 29, 2000 -
August 30, 2000 -
September 1, 2000 - The U-S Department of Health and Human Services has released a report that ranks Minnesota among the top 10 states for binge drinking, youth smoking and teen marijuana use. Some health care experts say results of the agency's annual National Household Survey on Drug Abuse show the state needs to do more to stop teens from experimenting with "gateway drugs." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 4, 2000 - St. Louis County Commissioners are being asked to reconsider their denial of support for a methadone clinic that's opening in Duluth. Clinic operators have the necessary permits to open, but would like a vote of support from the county. But county Commissioners say there's no need for the clinic in St. Louis County. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Kelleher reports: {Colonial Management Group of Orlando, Florida, now operates two methadone clinics in the Twin Cities, and dozens in other states. They plan to open a third Minnesota clinic in Duluth.
September 5, 2000 - When Americans pick a representative to send to Congress, they send that same person to Washington for several terms. While the power of incumbency makes it difficult to replace a sitting Representative, it also means an open seat becomes a magnet for Congressional hopefuls. Such is the case this year in Minnesota's fourth district. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen has this look at the race to succeed the retiring Bruce Vento...
September 6, 2000 - Republican Linda Runbeck will have one competitor in the 4th District primary: Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation Commissioner Patricia Reagan. Reagan has run for public office many times, under several different names. She says she's now using her middle name Patricia because she feels former president Ronald Reagan has been mistreated.
September 6, 2000 -
September 6, 2000 - With less than a week to go until the September 12 primary, three DFL candidates in the Fourth Congressional District have started running television ads. The Fourth District candidates are competing for voters' attention in a campaign that's largely been dominated by the big-money Senate candidate ad buys. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...