FLINT, Mich. (AP) – A judge has begun hearing testimony against a Michigan official who faces criminal charges tied to a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak during the Flint water crisis. Dr. Eden Wells is the state’s chief medical executive. She’s charged with involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and lying to an investigator. The state attorney general says Wells and others could…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Attorney General Brad Schimel says the state Group Insurance Board can offer self-insurance plans to municipal employers. Gov. Scott Walker asked Schimel in April for a legal opinion on whether state law authorizes the board to set up a self-insurance plan open to municipal employers. under such a plan, the state would pay medical claims directly….
DULUTH, Minn. – As we experienced the “Fall Back” of Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, the Northland is going to be seeing less daylight. This can affect mood and sleep cycle. Verizon Wireless Solutions Specialist Rachel Agurkis visited FOX 21 to describe technology that can help with the sleep cycle. The Fitbit Charge 2 can help monitor how much light,…
SUPERIOR, Wisc. – Sunday is the day to set the clocks back for daylight saving time, which means it’s also an important time to check something else around the house. Fire officials say it’s time to change the batteries on those smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Experts say having a functioning smoke detector is a matter of life or…
SUPERIOR, Wis.-Alzheimer’s is a disease that has devastating effects on much of the elderly population. Today, a conference was held at UWS that looked at the future of Alzheimer’s treatment and where research is headed next. Event organizers said the problem of Alzheimer’s in Wisconsin seems to be increasing. “The prevalence of Alzheimer’s as our state ages is going up…
DULUTH, Minn.-Essentia Health’s holiday fundraiser has begun. Two of their gift shops, along with their community room, will be open tomorrow to sell baked goods and many different gift items like ornaments. All the funds for this sale, will go toward a great cause. “All the profits from this show and throughout the year go to our St. Mary’s Auxiliary…
DULUTH, Minn.-It’s that time of the year again, where St. Luke’s Hospital needs your help. Their Volunteer Service Guild is hosting a fundraiser sale that goes through tomorrow at the hospital’s gift shop. Multiple items are on sale there, including jewelry and clothing. Volunteers at the event said the funds raised will go toward patient care programs along with medical…
DULUTH, Minn. – It’s time to gobble up the rest of your Halloween candy and prepare for a healthy holiday season. The American Heart Association is looking to help consumers celebrate National Eating Healthy Day. The Association along with Essentia Health and St. Luke’s hosted an event Wednesday evening at Super One Foods near the Miller Hill Mall. The event…
DULUTH, Minn. — Starting today, Minnesotans can enroll in healthcare coverage through the open enrollment process. Minnesota is one of only 12 states with a state health insurance exchange. The process can be a little complicated, but there are some agencies around the area that can help. Generations Healthcare Initiative is one of those resources, with folks called “navigators” on…
DULUTH, Minn. – St. Luke’s Hospital was honored with awards from the American Heart Association recognizing their quality care for heart attack and stroke patients. The hospital held a presentation and luncheon today to thank the members of their cardiac team. “To recognize them and recognize their efforts and dedication to their craft and how good they are at it…
A new deadline, rising prices and fewer options for help will greet health insurance shoppers as the Affordable Care Act’s main enrollment window opens Wednesday. Also in store: Befuddlement. “Confusion seems to be one of the key words to describe what we’re facing now,” said Nicolas Moriello, a Delaware-based broker. Among the things Moriello has found he needs to clear…
DULUTH, Minn.- Trick-or-Treating is 24 hours away, FOX21 has tips on handling the sugar monsters that come with it. Plenty of candy will be handed out and eaten by little ones. According to one local expert, allowing children to indulge on Halloween has its benefits. “A lot of times on that first night it’s good to just let them eat,”…
DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith started the workweek with a stop in Duluth to talk healthcare Monday morning. Smith along with Commissioner Emily Piper chose to host a town hall in Duluth on the MinnesotaCare Buy-In Proposal. For Lt. Governor Smith, the goal of Monday’s meeting at Duluth City Hall was to inform residents of the plan…
The storm may be over but it has left its lasting presence on Duluth’s drinking water. The City of Duluth water system recently violated a drinking water standard related to turbidity. Although the levels have continued to drop throughout the day, Duluth’s water is still not at a level that we would normally come to expect. What should you do?…
DULUTH, Minn.- Some controversy is swirly between Essentia Health and the United Steel Workers Union after the company announced, they’re requiring all employees to receive the flu vaccine. The new policy was put in place back in September. Essentia said the policy benefits patients, but the union is hoping for a different solution. “It’s a one size fits all,” USW Local…
DULUTH, Minn.- Minnesotans working to change the flow of food through laws, policies, and systems are meeting this week. The Minnesota Food Access Summit brings together around 550 individuals from different fields, aiming to solve the issue of healthy food access. “When you have an opportunity to work with different sectors, it really helps you expand and creatively think of…
President Trump speaks during an event to declare the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency in the East Room of the White House. (AP) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency — a step that won’t bring new dollars to fight a scourge that kills nearly 100 Americans a…
SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. – This weekend the St. Croix Inn is hosting their 1st Annual Diabetes Fundraiser. All money raised from the event will go to diabetes research. There will be an ATV Poker ride on Saturday, October 28, 2017. At the end of the day riders are invited to meet in the “Diggers” lakeside lounge and enjoy music, food…
DULUTH, Minn- Medical professionals in Duluth are getting some hands on training with Narcan. It’s a drug that can save lives by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Pharmacists, dentists, nurses, and doctors all got training as part of the Minnesota Targeted Response Grant. The goal of the grant is to expand the use of Narcan and create more…
DULUTH Minn- We are learning more about the woman that was found on fire, and critically injured on Hwy 23 near Duluth last week. 24 year old Jaclyn Arnold works as a community advocate in Duluth. It’s been 4 days since Arnold was found on fire on Hwy 23. A passerby extinguished the fire, but she was severely burned. Police…
(CNN) – Judges in two separate cases have ruled in favor of pharma giant Johnson & Johnson, overturning large financial judgments awarded to plaintiffs who believe the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder products caused their ovarian cancer. One award was to a California woman for $417 million, and another was to an Alabama woman for $72 million. In the California case,…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Students at the University of Minnesota have created a task force that will develop new strategies to combat sexual assault on campus. Minnesota Daily reports that the task force created by the Minnesota Student Association will hold its first meeting in early November. The group has two parts: an advisory council that will get input from groups…
DULUTH, Minn. – CHUM held their annual Street Outreach Fundraising Dinner on Saturday. CHUM is Duluth’s largest homeless shelter and food shelf. It’s made of forty-three faith communities joined together to help Duluthians in need. On Saturday, more than two-hundred CHUM members, city officials, and business leaders came to the fundraising dinner. Organizers hoped to raise about $20,000. “Our mission…
DULUTH, Minn. – Northlanders went bowling to beat breast cancer in Duluth. In the past ten years, the charity event has raised more than $140,000 for breast cancer survivors. Each survivor is given the book “Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul.” The money is also buys them grocery cards, gas cards, and chemo bags. “Everybody knows somebody that…
DULUTH, Minn. – As the temperatures begin to cool down during the Fall, outdoor athletes adjust their gear to stay healthy and safe. One group that needs to make gear changes is bicyclists. This morning, Denis Sauve, the owner of Twin Ports Cyclery, visited FOX 21 to give some tips. Sauve says the most important parts of the body to…
CLOQUET, Minn. – The Community Memorial Hospital is celebrating new ways to help patients. The Advanced Wound Clinic opened in September, and on Thursday, it hosted an open house for the community. The clinic specializes in treating patients with wounds that are not healing or responding to traditional treatment. Clinic officials say it’s important to have facilities like this in…
DULUTH, Minn. – Health professionals from Essentia Health hosted a gathering at Clyde Iron Works on Thursday to share with the public ways in which local researchers are studying cancer and treatments. Researchers there say it’s less about finding an all–out cure, and more focused on reducing deaths from cancer, improving the lives of those living with it. “Research is…
DULUTH, Minn. – Is your health insurance healthy? MNsure navigators are helping make sure your coverage is all set before enrollment. Next week the organization is hosting a health insurance checkup. Monday, Oct. 23rd from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. you can get a jump start on open enrollment for free at Duluth Public Library. The checkup aims to see…
DULUTH, Minn. -As football season continues, and hockey and basketball season begin, it’s the perfect time of year to make recipes many folks can munch on. So, for this week’s Cooking Connection, FOX 21’s William Seay made his homemade salsa. Necessary Ingredients: 1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes, peeled, unsalted 1/2 red onion, roughly chopped 3 jalapenos, sliced (no seeds…
WASHINGTON (AP) – If President Donald Trump prevails in shutting down a major “Obamacare” health insurance subsidy, it would have the unintended consequence of making free basic coverage available to more people, and making upper-tier plans more affordable. The unexpected assessment comes from consultants, policy experts, and state officials trying to discern the potential fallout from a Washington health care…
SUPERIOR, WIS.- For the sixth-year the Superior Spartans joined the fight against breast cancer, hosting the “Dig for Pink” game, but this season the game took on a new meaning for the team. Head Coach Brenda Pluntz was diagnosed with breast cancer in July but decided to coach through her treatments. “I didn’t want it to effect the team…
DULUTH, Minn. — When we look at lakes we tend to think that the color and clarity of the water determines if it is clean or not. New research says it could be the complete opposite. Research from the University of Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota Sea Grant found that the sun reacts with nitrates and creates a reactive oxygen species. “What those…
DULUTH, Minn. – A delegation from South Korea is in Duluth today to research the famed “Duluth Model” for ending domestic violence. The model connects government agencies with non-government organizations so they work together to help victims. “If you are listening to the experience of the people you’re serving, that gives you the agenda for change,” said Scott Miller, program…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a federal waiver approving a new state program to lower health insurance premiums. The Democratic governor officially approved Minnesota’s new reinsurance program Monday. State lawmakers devoted $549 million to lower rates for shoppers who buy coverage on their own after years of double-digit increase. Dayton’s signature means the federal government…
BAYFIELD, Wis. – Apple Fest has come and gone, but now it’s apple overload. Trees are still full. One orchard is finding a way to help out families in need with the extra apples. Each year, the apple harvest brings thousands to Bayfield. “Well, they are literally falling off the tree,” said Gene Lemmenes while picking apples. “It’s almost a…
CARLTON, Minn. — Today the 9th Annual Suicide Awareness Memorial Walk took place at Carlton High School. Friends, family and everyone was welcome to walk side by side for support on Saturday morning. As Minnesota suicide rates have been on the rise since 2000. “I lost my son; it’s a very excruciating time. It was very painful. I felt…
CARLTON, Minn. – This weekend, hundreds of people in Carlton will be focused on breaking the stigma of mental illness as they take part in the 9th Annual Suicide Awareness Memorial Walk. It’s taking place on Saturday, October 14, 2017, from 9:30 -11:30 a.m. at Carlton High School in Carlton, MN. There will be a short, non-competitive, walk followed by…
PROCTOR, Minn. – The Black Woods Blizzard Tour, a snowmobile race for ALS, is aiming to raise $1 million for the second straight year. Thursday night, they held their open house at Black Woods Event Center in Proctor. The event taught new riders more about the annual fundraiser. “It’s the friendships that you make, it’s the stories that you hear,…
DULUTH, Minn. — A Nationwide Movement to “Petal it Forward” took place in the streets of Duluth Wednesday morning. As Engwalls Greenhouse employees stood outside of St. Lukes and Essentia Health, with over 800 flowers to give away! “It was exciting for us to give them away and then we see people’s faces light up, people give us hugs. But…
DULUTH, Minn. – Many Northlanders will be rocking out this weekend at Clyde Iron Works for an important cause this weekend. It’s all to support Circle of Hope. Rockin’ for Hope is a fundraising event to benefit local breast cancer patients going through life saving treatments, and funding Stage IV breast cancer research at the University of Minnesota Medical School…
DULUTH, Minn. – This week schools across the country are celebrating National School Lunch Week. This is all with a goal of educating students and encouraging them to eat healthy foods. Northland schools offer farm-to-school initiatives, customizable meals, and innovative ways to help kids make healthy choices. The Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA), founded in 1956 as a state–wide association…
DULUTH, Minn. – As Fall ushers in cool weather, many Northlanders may feel a change in their body. Annita Winkels, DPT, visited FOX 21 to give some tips on keeping the body feeling great throughout Fall and Winter. Winkels says in temperatures between 35 and 45 degrees the body needs an extra 10 minute warmup before any type of exercise….
PROCTOR, Minn- Some would say that parenting is tough to begin with, but what if you had to do it all over again as a grandparent? Sadly it’s not uncommon in the Northland for grandparents to have to become a parent once again because of the choices made by their children. Parents that abuse drugs or alcohol are seeing their…
CABLE, Wis. — The “Walk with Walker” campaign is once again in the Northland. It’s goal is to spread the message of health and fitness throughout the state. For the 61st time, many people walked along side First Lady Tonette Walker Wednesday morning. The walk took place on the North Country Trail, which is the longest in the nation. They…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin health officials say the expiration of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program won’t immediately affect children and families in the state. Wisconsin Public Radio reports the program provides health coverage to families that make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but don’t make enough to afford private insurance. Funding lapsed over the weekend while…
DULUTH, Minn. – While the country mourns and tries to make the slightest sense of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, mental health experts are speaking out. Extreme tragedies can take a toll on one’s mental health, according to Kelly Chaudoin-Patzoldt, a mental health professional at St. Luke’s. She says it’s important to talk to other about your feelings and also…
DULUTH, Minn. – Last month multiple hurricanes blasted their way through much of the Caribbean including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Recovery efforts are just beginning down there and today, one International Falls resident decided to lend a hand. John Decker is a registered nurse and isn’t sure which location he’s going to yet, as he heads out today….
DULUTH, Minn. – Some Northland families came together on Sunday to make wishes come true for local children. It was the 3rd Annual Walk for Wishes at Bagely Nature Center at UMD. Make–A–Wish Minnesota teamed up with UMD to put on the 5k run and 2.5k walk. The event raises money for children fighting illnesses, by granting them a wish…
DULUTH, Minn. – Patients who died in the Essentia Health hospice program were remembered at a special memorial services in Duluth and Superior. Family members lit candles in remembrance of their loved ones, and the names of all who passed away in hospice from last July until this June were read out loud for the group of mourners. “Opportunity to…
DULUTH, Minn. – Breast cancer awareness month kicks off on October 1st and medical providers were in Duluth this weekend for the annual Breast Cancer Imaging Conference. The conference teaches professionals about the newest breast imaging technology available. That new technology can detect breast cancer much earlier on than older machines. “We don’t have a cure for breast cancer yet…
