Minnesota

Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty regarding the announced merger of Delta and Northwest.

“We will be closely scrutinizing the impact of the merger and will strongly stand up for Minnesota’s interests during the review process. Our goal will be to maintain hub operations, related levels of flight service, and the maximum number of airline jobs in Minnesota.

Northwest Airlines A330-300 at Minneapolis Airport: Photo by Mike Smail (CC)    » read more »

Includes Foreclosure Counseling Workshops, funding for mediation, lender compact

April 14, 2008 -- Saint Paul – To provide Minnesota homeowners with additional tools to prevent foreclosure, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced expanded foreclosure counseling workshops to be held around the state, creation of a compact with lenders to reduce foreclosures, and state funding for voluntary third-party mediation when counseling is unsuccessful.    » read more »

Minnesota has identified one possible case; other states have more cases

April 11, 2008 -- State health and agriculture officials are investigating whether there are any cases of illness in Minnesota that may be linked to recalled cereal from the Malt-O-Meal company after at least 21 cases of Salmonella agona have been identified in at least 13 states.

Salmonella bacteria

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified one case of Salmonella agona in the state that matches the genetic fingerprint of the other states’ cases and the strain of Salmonella found in the cereal that was recalled April 5.    » read more »

April 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

Illnesses, injuries occur each year that can be prevented with better practices

April 9, 2008 -- While the vast majority of swimming pools in the state are operated safely, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) each year investigates a number of incidents involving pools where the public’s health and safety were put at risk.

A swimming woman: Photo by Gabriel (CC)

In the last nine months there have been nine reported serious incidents at Minnesota swimming pools or water parks, where people became ill, were injured or died.    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated $2.7 million in emergency funding to fight bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Minnesota.

Following his visit to northwestern Minnesota last month, Governor Pawlenty asked U.S Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer to expedite federal efforts to cull infected cattle and to allocate additional resources for the fight against bovine TB.

Cows in cattle barn at Minnesota State Fair: Photo by Matthew Logelin (CC)    » read more »

Senior citizens and veterans who don’t normally file need to do so to receive payments

April 1, 2008 -- Saint Paul – With the federal tax deadline two weeks away, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today encouraged all eligible Minnesotans to file a federal tax return to ensure they will receive a stimulus check later this year.

While most Minnesotans file every year, those who do not, such as senior citizens receiving Social Security payments or veterans receiving Veterans Administration benefits, must do so this year in order to be eligible under the stimulus plan. To be eligible individuals must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income in 2007.    » read more »

Federal money will be used to expand current foreclosure prevention counseling; Marquette Financial Companies adds $500,000 grant

April 1, 2008 -- Saint Paul – With more Minnesota homeowners potentially facing foreclosure this year, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that foreclosure prevention counseling in the state will be greatly expanded through a $4.3 million federal grant, the second-largest such grant made to any state. In addition, Marquette Financial Companies is providing the state a $500,000 grant for foreclosure prevention deferred loans.    » read more »

Chlamydia accounts for more than three-fourths of 17,057 STD cases

March 31, 2008 -- The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Minnesota climbed to a new high of 17,057 in 2007, according to new data released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for National STD Awareness Month in April. Reportable STDs in Minnesota include chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The number of cases of STDs in 2006 was 16,428.

“The rate of chlamydia, which can cause infertility, has more than doubled in the past 12 years and is the driving force behind these record number of STD cases,” said Peter Carr, director of the STD and HIV Section at MDH. “Chlamydia accounted for more than three-fourths of the total number of cases.”    » read more »

March 28, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, of Ramsey, Minnesota, died March 26 in Taji Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Source: DoD

Consumers urged to cook raw chicken products thoroughly and to avoid using microwave

March 28, 2008 -- State health and agriculture officials said today that two recent cases of salmonellosis in Minnesota have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The implicated product is Milford Valley Farms Chicken Cordon Bleu with a stamped code of C8021. This product is sold at many different grocery store chains.

This the fifth outbreak of salmonellosis in Minnesota linked to these types of products since 1998. The findings prompted the officials to urge consumers to make sure that all raw poultry products are handled carefully and cooked thoroughly, and to avoid cooking raw chicken products in the microwave because of the risk of undercooking.    » read more »

March 14, 2008 -- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed that a five-year-old girl in the Twin Cities metro area has died from complications of influenza. This is the state’s second pediatric influenza-related death of the 2007-2008 influenza season.

The first death occurred in a 12-year-old, unvaccinated child with a chronic underlying medical condition. The girl who died in the most recent case had received a flu shot, but not until after she was already ill.    » read more »

DNR would transfer 60 acres from Jay Cooke State Park to Department of Veterans Affairs

March 11, 2008 -- Saint Paul – In order to provide additional dignified burial places and a lasting memorial for veterans and their families, especially those in northeastern Minnesota, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced a plan to have the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) transfer 60 acres of land in Jay Cooke State Park to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) for development of a new state veterans cemetery.    » read more »

There's still time to sign up! Twins Kids Challenge at Lee County Sports Complex

02/29/2008 -- Families with children are invited to participate in this triple play of fun - the Twins Kids Challenge - which includes quarter mile, half twin (one mile), and twin (two mile) running events. The Hammond Stadium fountain will be the event's backdrop and serve as the finish line, and Twins mascot T.C. will be a special guest.    » read more »

Public flu vaccination clinics planned in response to death, new CDC vaccination guidelines

Feb. 29, 2008 -- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today confirmed that a 12-year-old Twin Cities metropolitan area girl died recently from complications of influenza. The girl had not been vaccinated, and had an underlying medical condition that may have put her at increased risk of influenza complications.    » read more »