DULUTH, Minn.–Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s Office held a community roundtable Wednesday evening at UMD about two separate hospital mergers in Duluth. Earlier this month Ellison announced it’s his responsibility to consider whether a healthcare transaction is in the public interest and seek court intervention if he finds that it is not. Essentia Health plans to merge with Marshfield Clinic…
If it takes a village to raise a child, then there are those who feel the same about what it takes for a community’s health care. That is what brought over one hundred and thirty people together in Duluth Wednesday. It was titled “Bridging Health Care,” and the goal is just that: bringing like-minded people and organizations together to make…
DULUTH, Minn. — Hundreds of firefighters are in Duluth this weekend for the annual state fire chief conference. The event has firetrucks on display, as well as new firefighting technologies. They’re holding educational sessions on leadership, professional development, and safety measures. The fire conference is the largest of it’s kind in the Midwest. MnFIRE is a health and wellness advocacy…
DULUTH, Minn. — St. Scholastica’s new School of Heath Professions received a significant gift from Essentia Health today. Essentia is donating $1.2 million dollars to fund a permanent dean position. Dr. Michael Wendinger started as the inaugural dean this past July. Over 1,000 St. Scholastica alumni work at Essentia. The new partnership’s goal is to prepare future healthcare workers and…
RICE LAKE, Minn. — Tuesday, loggers were busy preparing trees to be hauled away. The logs aren’t just headed for paper mills and construction sites. It is a joint fundraising effort between St. Louis County and Log-A-Load for Kids. The county is donating the timber and Log-A-Load is doing the heavy-lifting. It will raise funds for children with medical conditions…
DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s homeless advocates and the non-profits they work for say chronic homelessness has hit crisis proportions, and they need help to turn the problem around. “Shelters are overrun and as a consequence people have to be outside,” said John Cole, executive director of CHUM. Cole said there’s not enough affordable housing in Duluth to meet the demand…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia St. Mary’s announced Friday that it is implementing visitor badges beginning next Tuesday When entering the new facility on Second Street, you will need to stop at the Reception Desk. There, you will need to present a photo ID in order to receive the visitor badge. The badge is good for that day only and needs…
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized another option for fall COVID-19 vaccination, updated shots made by Novavax. Updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna began rolling out last month, intended for adults and children as young as age 6 months. Now the Food and Drug Administration has added another choice –- reformulated Novavax shots open to anyone age 12 and…
DULUTH, Minn. –In May of his year the city began work on replacing all lead water pipes in the city. A pilot project was started on Eighth Street, running between 7th Avenue and 14th Avenue. An update on the pilot project was given on Wednesday. Jon Maruska, the Senior Engineering Specialist on the project, said so far, about 85 of…
Courtesy: Twin Cities In Motion MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A forecast that record high temperatures and humidity would create “extreme and dangerous” conditions prompted organizers to cancel two long-distance races Sunday in Minnesota’s two largest cities that were expected to draw up to 20,000 runners. The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon from Minneapolis to neighboring St. Paul had been expected to draw…
DULUTH, Minn. — A free training session took place Thursday to help the families and loved ones of those contemplating suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. At any given time, one in 20 people — or 5% of the population have thought about it. safeTALK,…
A Wisconsin senator is exploring Minnesota’s cannabis legalization efforts in hopes of changing the law in the state. Sen. Melissa Agard, a democrat from Madison, visited Minnesota lawmakers Thursday to talk about their successes around legalizing marijuana. Sen. Agard released a statement saying in part: “Visiting with neighboring legislators who led the charge to legalize cannabis in Minnesota was invigorating….
DULUTH, Minn. — St. Luke’s has announced that it and United Steelworkers Local 9460 (USW) have reached a tentative contract agreement. The agreement covers technical workers at St. Luke’s. The USW will bring the tentative one-year contract to its approximately 140 members for their vote in the near future. In a statement on its website, USW Local 9460 said…
DULUTH, Minn. — One local dermatology clinic tells us what we can do to protect our skin as cold weather is approaching. The barrier of our skin can get really dry and dehydrated from furnaces and cold winter air. A nurse practitioner at Twin Ports Dermatology recommends using soaps without fragrances in them and using moisturizing cream at least once…
DULUTH, Minn. — 10 years ago, the Rural AIDS Action Network, or RANN started as a way to prevent HIV, HEP-C, and opioid overdose deaths. One of the ways RANN has helped is by collecting and distributing sterile syringes through its Syringe Service Program. The syringe exchange program in Duluth continues today. Last year in 2022, the program collected 347,000…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household — aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months. The Department of Health and Human Services says…
(AP) — Federal regulators declined to approve a nasal spray to treat severe allergic reactions late Tuesday, calling for more research on what would have been the first alternative to injections using devices such as an EpiPen. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, that the company needs to conduct another study on repeat…
DULUTH, Minn. — Another growing homeless encampment in Duluth got torn down and moved out Monday. It comes as local and state leaders try to strike a balance between public health and safety, and caring for those facing their worst days without a roof over their heads. The lack of affordable housing in Duluth continues to be highlighted by the…
DULUTH, Minn. — The weather was perfect for this weekend’s NorthShore Inline Marathon — the largest of its kind in North America. Tone Coughlin Photography The 26.2-mile course is much like the course for Grandma’s Marathon, starting in Two Harbors and taking racers along the Scenic North Shore before entering the tunnels of I-35 and ending by the DECC. The…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration decision opens the newest shots from Moderna and Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to most Americans even if they’ve never had a coronavirus vaccination. It’s part of a shift…
DULUTH, Minn. — With kids going back to school and exposed to more germs, St. Luke’s is encouraging families to stay up to date on vaccinations. According to a St. Luke’s pediatrician, vaccinations can help prevent common infections such as measles, chicken pox, or whooping cough. The COVID and influenza vaccines can prevent day to day respiratory illnesses that can…
DULUTH, Minn. — As students are going back to school, the Duluth Area Family YMCA is also welcoming the community back. It is Welcome Week at the Y which means people can use all of their amenities and take any exercise classes free of cost. The join-fee is also waived this week. Locations include not only the Duluth branch, but…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Wisconsin has around 120,000 people living with dementia, reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. This number is suspected to double by 2040. But memory screens can offer some relief for early detection. “We get a lot of family that can call us about, you know, we’ve noticed some changes in our loved one.” Everyone ages,…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are becoming more common among Americans under 30. The American Psychiatric Association says symptoms include loneliness and lack of motivation. One way to help with these symptoms is a four-legged companion. 86% of pet owners say their pets have made a positive impact on their mental health. A furry friend…
DULUTH, Minn. — Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was one of the Senators pushing the bill which allows the government to negotiate with drug companies on the prices the 50 million Medicare patients in the U.S. will pay. Ten drugs, which are all heavily advertised are the first of what will be many prescription drugs that are likely to see their…
DULUTH, Minn. — If you have problems with snoring, mouth breathing, teeth grinding, sleep apnea, or speech disorders it may stem from your tongue being in the wrong position of your mouth. Hygienists from Mount Royal Dentistry have been offering Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy since 2020 through individual sessions online. But this summer, seven adolescents attended group therapy sessions to work…
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Monday approved the first RSV vaccine for pregnant women so their babies will be born with protection against the scary respiratory infection. RSV is notorious for filling hospitals with wheezing babies every fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Pfizer’s maternal vaccination to guard against a severe case of RSV when babies are…
DULUTH, Minn. — Most healthcare systems utilize western (conventional) medicine with pharmaceutical drugs, radiation and surgery treatments. However, holistic medicine, which takes a more natural, whole-body approach is gaining recent momentum, according to the National Institutes of Health. A local Holistic Practitioner, who is also a retired Occupational Therapist, explained how the contrasting forms of medicine can co-exist successfully. “I…
Health care in smaller, rural communities faces some special challenges. A federal grant has providers hoping it can help in some ways. A project for finding and developing health care employees was the subject of a meeting at St. Luke’s Monday. Wilderness Health is a collaborative group of independent, rural health care providers serving patients in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest…
DULUTH, MINN — On the last day of the Minnesota legislative session, the leaders of both parties got together and worked out an agreement to provide $300 million to help nursing homes across the state. State Representative Natalie Zeleznikar, talked with FOX 21 about the agreement that likely saved many nursing homes. The first-term representative knows the issues, she’d been…
DULUTH, Minn. — Calling all superheroes! It’s time to get your kids in for back-to-school examinations before class starts. The Lake Superior Community Health Center is hosting Super Hero Week to make appointments fun for the kids. Services include well child exams, immunity shots, and health, nutrition, and vision screenings. Kids will get to play games and even walk away…
DULUTH, Minn. — For the 2nd year in a row Skyline Social and Games held their Bloody Bash in partnership with local nonprofit Never Surrender Inc. All in hopes to raise both awareness and money to help end the fight of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease Organizers say that this year’s turnout doubled from last…
Duluth, Minn.– The Duluth Fire Department was on the scene of a fire at 128 E Locust St. in Duluth early Saturday morning. A caller told dispatch that they could see flames coming from the basement. When fire crews arrived they also saw flames coming from the basement window in front of the house. The homeowner told police he was…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Institutes of Health is beginning a handful of studies to test possible treatments for long COVID, an anxiously awaited step in U.S. efforts against the mysterious condition that afflicts millions. Monday’s announcement from the NIH’s $1.15 billion RECOVER project comes amid frustration from patients who’ve struggled for months or even years with sometimes-disabling health problems — with…
DULUTH, Minn.—“It’s a big deal. I feel honored that I get to participate and that our community has this new hospital. I’ve been treated very well here so I’m excited,” said first St. Mary’s Medical Center patient Bethany Johnson. After 4 years, Essentia’s Health opened St. Mary’s Medical Center is welcoming their patients over from their legacy building, with new…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance says nearly 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the United States. “There are women in their 20s and 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s,” said Chickie Broman, Ovarian Cancer Survivor. “There are women that have families that have children, small children, there are women that, have careers, and they have to…
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 100,000 people in the U.S. have become allergic to red meat since 2010 because of a weird syndrome triggered by tick bites, according to a government report released Thursday. But health officials believe many more have the problem and don’t know it. A second report estimated that as many as 450,000 Americans have developed…
MINNESOTA–It continues to be hazy in the Northland from wildfire smoke from Canada. It’s not going away too quickly as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has extended their air quality alert until Tuesday afternoon. Medical professionals from St. Luke’s warned how children, teenagers in athletics, people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other heart or lung…
(FOX 9) — A new study reveals the impact of running can extend beyond the body and could help prevent Parkinson’s disease, a neurological condition that affects balance and coordination and can cause involuntary movements like stiffness and shaking. In a study published in the journal Science Advances, Italian researchers say intensive exercise, including running on a treadmill can stimulate the…
(FOX 9) – For the first time, researchers have been able to estimate the level of Alzheimer’s disease in every county across the United States. The research was released this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. The research reveals that the highest percentages of those 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia live in the east and southeastern United States. The author of the…
HERMANTOWN, Minn. — It might still be summer time but school is just around the corner, and for athletes it’s never too early to start thinking about sports physicals. Sports physicals are exams to evaluate the health of athletes and make sure they are in top shape to compete in their sport. The appointments focus on muscular and cardiac health,…
DULUTH, Minn.–“To avoid any HIPPA violations I’ll just say that nurses are almost daily in tears trying to deal with the struggle of knowing that we don’t have enough staff. It’s very stressful,” said RN Staff Nurse Stacee Rosier. Essentia nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association are getting their signs ready for an informational picket July 21, calling staffing levels…
DULUTH, Minn. – The U.S. Navy parachute diver who was injured in a hard fall at the Duluth Airshow Saturday is “progressing well and expected to make a full recovery,” according to a spokesperson for the Airshow. The two parachute members disconnected late as they were falling around 90 mph, which caused the one member to hit the ground. He…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association are headed back to the picket line this week amid continued concerns over what they call “disastrous staffing levels.” It’s been six months since nurses at Essentia reached a new contract that gave them more input in the staffing process. But the Minnesota Nurses Association says Essentia executives aren’t listening…
DULUTH, Minn. — Essentia Health coworkers with United Steelworkers Local 9460 will be holding an informational picket Friday along with Essentia workers with the Minnesota Nurses Association. Below is the full statement from USW: “Our union is locked in tough contract negotiations with Essentia Health for our Red Book contract, as well as a Year 3 wage re-opener for our…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Another experimental Alzheimer’s drug can modestly slow patients’ inevitable worsening — by about four to seven months, researchers reported Monday. Eli Lilly and Co. is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval of donanemab. If cleared, it would be only the second Alzheimer’s treatment convincingly shown to delay the mind-robbing disease — after the recently approved Leqembi from Japanese drugmaker…
Summer is a very busy time for many people, but the need for a steady supply of blood continues year-round. Wednesday the Red Cross held a blood drive at their chapter office by the Miller Hill Mall. The entire morning was booked with appointments and there were just a few openings left heading into the afternoon. Volunteers from St. Cloud…
St. Luke’s in Duluth and Aspirus Health in Wisconsin announced Wednesday they have agreed on a proposal to join their systems. The health care systems said their approach and philosophies are a good match. The St. Luke’s system includes two hospitals and more than 40 clinics. Aspirus has 17 hospitals and 75 clinics. “Evolving community needs require us to find…
https://www.fox21online.com/content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-fox-21-avatar.pngIn Silver Bay Friday afternoon, it might have felt a little bit like Christmas. The community center that is important in bringing people together, received some financial support. T-Mobile has donated fifty thousand dollars as part of its initiative to help small towns. Silver Bay’s North Shore Area Partners will use the funds to further develop a gathering place downtown….
With many area burning restrictions lifted or eased in recent days, it is expected that more people will be wanting to light fireworks on their own. Those who deal with fireworks and those who deal with the aftermath of injuries are reminding people to be careful. Despite the lack of rain early this summer, sales have been pretty steady at…
