ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Republican lawmaker wants to bump up Minnesota’s smoking age to 21 in an effort to lower the number of teen smokers. The Star Tribune reports that a bill introduced Thursday would raise the minimum age to buy tobacco in Minnesota from 18 to 21. The bill was brought to the Legislature days after Edina…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth YMCA is doing its part to get people moving more throughout the month of May. Anybody is invited to take part in “Walking Wednesdays”. It’s all part of the city’s Bus Bike Walk month. Wednesday night, a group of walkers made its way from the YMCA down to Canal Park. Organizers say it’s a great…
DULUTH, Minn. – If you’re just getting your bike out for the season, it might be time for a little tune up. This evening, the Duluth Folk School hosted a beginner bike maintenance class. Instructors gave hands-on lessons to bikers, showing them how to properly fix breaks and gears, as well as how to change a flat tire. Organizers say…
(KQDS) – A tick-borne disease, Powassan, has been confirmed in six Minnesota counties so far this year, including Pine, Anoka, Cass, Clearwater, Houston, and Morrison, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Since 2008, there have been 22 reported cases in the state of Minnesota, one fatal, and researchers warn that the number could grow. The Powassan (POW) virus is…
EDINA, Minn. (AP) – A Twin Cities suburb has raised the age to purchase tobacco to 21, angering businesses who say they will lose business to nearby communities. Edina is believed to be the first city in Minnesota to raise the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21. The City Council passed the resolution unanimously Tuesday night. Mike Sheldon…
DULUTH, Minn.-Today is Melanoma Monday – a day dedicated to reminding the public about the dangers of skin cancer. Skin care professionals told us today that one in five people develop skin cancer at some time in their life. Today, Twin Ports Dermatology offered free skin checks to anyone who wanted them. “A lot of times, skin cancer can start off…
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, and local law enforcement agencies will be holding Drug Take Back events across the state on Saturday, April 29. The event is held to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription drugs and other pharmaceuticals by taking unwanted medications. Drug Take Back Day offers a safe, convenient and responsible means…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KMSP) – The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed there is one case of measles outside of Hennepin County. As of Thursday, there are a total of 29 confirmed cases of measles in the state. Twenty-eight of the cases are in Hennepin County, one case is in Stearns County. Of the 29 cases, one child had the measles,…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spring is here and soon rummage sales will be popping up across the Northland. One in Duluth this weekend will be giving back to a good cause. It’s the Annual Rummage and Bake Sale for the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. Money raised through the sale will go to teams walking in the 2017 Rise Above Seizures Walk….
DULUTH, Minn. – Happening Saturday, April 29 at The College of St. Scholastica, students on the football team will be raising money to help fight childhood cancer. Put on by the CSS football team in coordination with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Saints will be shaving their heads with the hope of finding a cure for children diagnosed with cancer. They…
DULUTH, Minn. — Certain sexually transmitted infections are on the rise; so the Women’s Health Center in Duluth offered free testing all day today. “Free STI Testing Day” is an effort from the Minnesota Department of Health to curb the rates of certain diseases. A urine sample will test for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and a blood sample will test for…
DULUTH, Minn. – Local health providers and students from the College of St. Scholastica teamed up to help seniors stay healthy. The Benedictine Living Community held its 2nd annual Senior Health Fair Tuesday. In addition to exhibits from local businesses, CSS Exercise Physiology students were on hand for health checks creating a one–stop shop for residents’ health needs. “It’s hard…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Miller Hill Mall is a long-time supporter of the Susan G. Komen organization. This year, the mall is stepping up their support for the organization through a new event. That event is the Miller Hill Bowling for a Cure Tournament. It’s being held at Skyline Lanes on Thursday, April 27 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Skyline Lanes is…
DULUTH, Minn. – This year those in the Northland living with and affected by multiple sclerosis are looking for your help in raising over $36,000 dollars. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. The annual MS Walk will be happening Saturday, May 6, starting at the Canal Park Hampton…
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Minnesota with $5,379,349 to combat opioid addiction. The $5.3 million grant will support an array of prevention, treatment, and recovery services throughout the state. “As I’ve traveled across Minnesota, I’ve heard time and again how opioid addiction is tearing apart communities and…
MADISON, Wis. – Governor Scott Walker has announced that the state will receive $7,636,938 in federal grant money to help combat the state’s opioid epidemic. “We will continue our work to implement the most effective and efficient practices, aimed at prevention, recovery, and treatment, to bring healing to the individuals, families, and communities overwhelmed by this public health crisis,” said…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is expressing confidence that a breakthrough on the stalled Republican health care bill could emerge in the House next week. But House GOP leaders are dubious, and there are few signs that an emerging plan to get the bill on track is gaining enough votes to succeed. The White House optimism is driven largely…
DULUTH, Minn. – A group of concerned parents has been working together to create what they believe is the best environment for their children on the school playground. Duluth Parents for Healthy Playgrounds worked to have tire mulch removed from Duluth schools playgrounds and replaced with wood mulch. This weekend they’re hosting a fundraiser to help with the process of…
DULUTH, Minn. – History is coming to life at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Duluth. The exhibit currently on display shows medical discoveries throughout the years, including an original sample that first confirmed penicillin defeating bacteria. There are manuscripts and artifacts connected with Benjamin Franklin, Christian Bernard, Bernard Crick, Albert Schweitzer, and Dorothea Dix. Next week local experts will be…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spring is here and Summer is quickly approaching, getting many Northlanders excited for the bicycling season. The 11th Annual Continental Ski and Bike Swap is coming up on April 21st-23rd. Discounted retail bikes and gently used bikes are available for purchase. Free bike helmets will be provided for those who purchase a children’s bike. Anyone can donate a…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Medical marijuana will soon be legal in North Dakota. Legislators approved a regulatory plan last week after voters approved the drug last fall. The state health department is aiming to have a system operating in a year, with registered patients able to get the drug from eight state-approved dispensaries. Two state-approved manufacturers will make it. There…
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Spring is here and many Northlanders will be working to get ready for bikini season. At Green Light Fitness in Superior, Paul and Amanda Rockwood are helping those folks get in shape. The fitness center offers kettlebell workouts, spin classes, and Jungle Gym XT training. Amanda also coaches a Booty Camp. For this week’s Active Adventures, FOX…
Duluth, Minn. The winter snow pack is gone, wildfires have begun and on top of that human error mixed in has created devastation for one Duluth home owner. It all happened at this home on the 500 block of 18th avenue east. Using a handheld torch to burn dry pine needles quickly turned into an all-out inferno. Human flames that…
Superior, Wis. Air pollution leads to mercury and that ends ups contaminating the natural resources right here including our lakes and rivers, even the fish that live in those water sources. According to one UMD professor, Minnesota has some of the highest levels of mercury in the region. Should this cause any concern for anglers gearing up for the fishing…
DULUTH, Minn. – People rallied in Duluth today to support earned sick and safe time. The rally was part of Take Action Minnesota. There was also a listening session where perspectives were given on the issue. The task force is in the 2nd faze of the resolution that would allow low income families gain much needed sick leave from work….
DULUTH, Minn. – April is National Donate Life Month and Tuesday there’s a chance to learn more about organ donation at St. Luke’s Hospital. The Head of the Lakes Transplant Group is collaborating on a Donation and Transplantation Q & A, for community members and hospital staff. It’s an opportunity to meet transplant recipients, their families and donor families and…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The House plans to take up a $14.3 billion social services bill that would end the state’s health care exchange and send Minnesota residents to the federal marketplace instead. The bill to be heard Friday increases spending by nearly $2 billion compared to the last two years. But that increase wouldn’t keep pace with rising…
DULUTH, Minn. – This month doctors around the world are bringing light to a disease not often talked about. April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, so Dr. Rebekah Beach, a Urologist with St. Luke’s Urology Associates, visited FOX 21 to talk about this cancer. Dr. Beach says this is the most common cancer among men ages 15-44. According to the…
VIRGINIA, Minn. – Now that spring has arrived, people in Virginia are ready to get outside and do some gardening. This summer, Virginians will have the chance to maintain their own plot in one of the city’s five new community gardens. The Growing Together Project started to give people better access to healthy foods, now the program has also grown…
DULUTH, Minn. – Injuries are often unpredictable. When a crash, stroke or any type of trauma to the body happens, it can be devastating to our mental health. However, Essentia Health Medical Center in Duluth is looking to change that mindset, one pet at a time. “They need to be healthy to do this job. I want them to be…
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KMSP) – Eight-eight-percent of patients who go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochster, Minnesota for a second opinion, leave with a new or refined diagnosis, according to a new study. The study found approximately one in every five patients may initially receive an incorrect diagnosis, the Mayo Clinic said in a news release. Researchers studied the records of…
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) – A report finds Minnesota health plans had their worst financial results in a decade last year. The Minnesota Council of Health Plans, a trade group for insurers, issued the report Monday. The Star Tribune reports nonprofit insurers overall reported an operating loss of $687 million on $25.9 billion in revenue in 2016. The report cites losses…
PROCTOR, Minn. – For this week’s Active Adventures FOX 21’s William Seay traveled to Proctor to get in the ring at Lorenzi’s Boxing. The owner, Joe Lorenzi, has been boxing for 20 years. Lorenzi opened the gym nine years ago and has been at the Proctor location for two and a half years. For the workout, Coach Joe had William…
DULUTH, Minn. – When it comes to getting older, independence can often start to slip away, however, one local organization wants to change the outlook. Age Well Arrowhead is working to connect senior citizens in the Northland with volunteers, so living at home can continue for as long as possible. A trip to the grocery store can oftentimes be a…
Duluth, Minn Duluth’s homeless shelter for teens known as Life House has crunched attendance numbers and the growth is large. A surge of more than 400% since 2012. The numbers stem from the rise in teenage homelessness in our area. For instance, in 2012 the number of teens seen only about 25% of them were homeless. If that isn’t…
DULUTH, Minn. – Spring is in the air, which means that allergy season has arrived in the Northland. Many people may start to notice a runny nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat, which can mimic a common cold, but are actually caused by allergies. Doctors say about half of adults in the Northland experience some types of allergies. “People with…
DULUTH, Minn. — It’s the start a new season, and the American Red Cross is still in need of blood donations and volunteers. March has been National Red Cross Month, and there are still blood drives left before this month is done. One was today at the Red Cross office, but there’s another opportunity to make a blood donation tomorrow…
DULUTH, Minn. – Saturday was Northland Community Wellness Day at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. With over eighty interactive exhibits, the event promoted healthy families and communities across the Twin Ports region. It was a fun way for Northlanders young and old to learn about health and wellness, public safety, sustainability, and financial literacy. “It’s a perfect way for people to…
DULUTH, Minn.-Some local doctors and politicians came together today to express their dismay over the possibility of repealing the Affordable Care Act. The Northland HealthCare Alliance, headed up the event, with the goal of making the community aware of what a repeal of the ACA would mean. One Duluth City Council also expressed concern, believing many Northlanders would lose health…
WASHINGTON (AP) – Speaker Paul Ryan has abruptly pulled the Republicans’ troubled health care overhaul off the House floor. The decision was a humiliating setback for President Donald Trump and congressional leaders. The bill had appeared all but certain to be defeated Friday. The roll call was on track to occur in about an hour. The measure has been a…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is calling for the U.S. House to vote on the Republican plan to overhaul the national health care law. Walker said on Twitter Friday morning that “House members need to vote to repeal Obamacare today.” He says this is the chance to “more process forward” to get rid of the current law,…
Courtesy Tracy Remme ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) – A 5-year-old boy who briefly lost the teddy bear that has helped him through cancer treatment was reunited with his stuffed animal thanks to Mayo Clinic workers, a round of social media shares, and a police escort. Aiden Remme, of Brewster, Minnesota, was undergoing his 60th round of chemotherapy when Teddy went missing….
MOOSE LAKE, Minn. – Addiction to drugs and alcohol is an issuing affecting families around the country. Many Minnesotans have had friends and family members suffer from some type of addiction. One Minnesotan who has faced these challenges is award-winning author and public speaker Daniel D. Maurer. Maurer’s non-fiction brand deals with personal transformation and how a person’s story affects…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Some top Minnesota lawmakers want to crack down on a medical marijuana company whose former executives face felony charges for shipping marijuana oil to New York. County prosecutors charged two ex-executives at Minnesota Medical Solutions with felonies alleging they collaborated in late 2015 to ship $500,000 worth of marijuana oil to New York. The charges…
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republican leaders have postponed a vote on their health care bill in a setback for President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan. Prospects for the Republicans’ showcase health care bill had looked grimmer by the minute Thursday, despite Trump’s personal lobbying of conservatives. That still left the legislation short of the votes needed for passage. A…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The American Red Cross is issuing a call for type O negative and AB blood donors, after severe winter weather in areas of the country caused around 250 blood drives to cancel in March alone. Type O negative blood and type AB plasma are two of the most in-demand blood products by hospitals. Type O negative…
Linda Seemeyer MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The head of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services says she doesn’t know how many people may lose insurance in the state under the proposed federal health care overhaul. Linda Seemeyer was asked about the proposal Tuesday during a forum hosted by Wisconsin Health News. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicted 24 million would…
LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Michigan health officials are launching a vaccination campaign aimed at preventing serious diseases in children. The “I Vaccinate” campaign by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Franny Strong Foundation and other health officials will use television, radio, digital, social, and outdoor advertising to stress the importance of vaccinations. A website also was launched…
DULUTH, Minn. – For thousands of years, people have healed with nature’s touch. Essential oils are used around the world and found in the seeds, bark, stems roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They have been used historically for food preparation, beauty treatment, and healthcare practices. This morning, doTERRA Wellness Advocate, Linda Carrillo, explained how essential oils have changed…
DULUTH, Minn. – This weekend Northlanders are promoting wellness in the region and at home for the whole family for the Northland Community Wellness Day. This is a free community event highlighting local wellness resources and services through interactive exhibits, workshops, and family-friendly activities. There will be more than 80 wellness-related exhibits in Romano Gym at the University of Minnesota –…
