Tuesday, January 29, 2013
While it was once common to award grant money up front, the current policy is to repay organizations only after they’ve paid for the expenses and submitted their invoices.
The $70,000 Minnesota Department of Health grant holds big promise for the Somali community. Somali women's health education and advocacy group Isuroon is using the money to combat teen pregnancy and gather people together to discuss sexual health, an uncomfortable subject in a culture that considers it taboo. There was just one problem: While the state once awarded nonprofits grant money in advance, the current policy is to repay organizations only after they’ve paid for the expenses and submitted their invoices. Isuroon is a small, relatively new organization—and it had just $2,000 in its account when it received the grant. As a result, the Minneapolis nonprofit found it hard to round up the necessary upfront costs. “Now there’s $70,000 …
Friday, January 18, 2013
There have also been 60 confirmed flu deaths this season.
Nearly 500 flu hospitalizations last week have pushed this year’s totals above the deadly 2009 pandemic. Minnesota had 476 confirmed flu hospitalizations between Jan. 6 and Jan. 12, bringing the season’s total to 1,842, according to figures the Minnesota Department of Health released Thursday. There were also 33 deaths confirmed last week for a season total of 60. Those deaths include St. Louis Park teen Carly Christenson and 17-year-old Max Schwolert. This time last year, flu cases were lower in Minnesota than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. (Hopkins-specific data is not available on Flu Trends, but flu cases in the Twin Cities metro are in line with the state as a whole.) Overall in Minnesota, activity is …
Monday, January 14, 2013
High profile investigations of groundwater contamination have led to an increase in complaints about deceptive sales activities.
Editor's Note: The following announcement comes from the City of Hopkins. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is reminding Minnesota residents to beware of false claims, deceptive sales pitches, and scare tactics being used by some water treatment companies to sell expensive and unnecessary water treatment systems. High profile investigations of groundwater contamination in Washington County and elsewhere in the state have resulted in a noticeable increase in the number of complaints regarding such deceptive sales activities. City water is safe to drink unless you are notified directly by the city that the water is not safe, as Minneapolis recently did due to a broken water main. The United States Environmental Protection Agency …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Schools and organizations haven’t seen the big outbreaks reported elsewhere.
Hopkins institutions appear to be doing well weathering a flu season that officials have classified as “intense” as it approaches the severity of the 2009 pandemic. There have been at least 138 flu-like outbreaks in Minnesota schools since the start of the season, according to a Minnesota Department of Health report released Thursday. Yet Hopkins Public Schools has not seen an increase in absences from flu, spokeswoman Jolene Goldade said via e-mail. The district is preparing for it, though. Elementary schools are putting prevention information in the weekly parent newsletters, and the secondary schools have flu-prevention tips scrolling on the TV announcement monitors. Blake School spokeswoman Tracy Grimm said that institution isn’t …
Monday, January 7, 2013
The Minnesota Department of Health is partnering with more than 40 local public health agencies to provide free or low-cost radon test kits.
More than 40 percent of Minnesota homes have dangerous levels of radon gas, the Minnesota Department of Health announced Monday. That’s why Gov. Mark Dayton has declared January "Radon Action Month" in Minnesota. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from the soil. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United State each year are from radon. Radon is everywhere, but it’s particularly dangerous indoors, where it can concentrate. Both old and new homes can have unsafe amounts of radon. The state Health Department estimates that one in three Minnesota homes have high levels of radon, and 80 percent of the counties in the state are rated high-radon zones. Click on the PDF to the right of this article to read more about…
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1011 1st St S, Hopkins, MN
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
One patient is in his 60s, the other in his 50s. The infection is tied to steroids used at clinics in Fridley, Edina, Shakopee and Maple Grove.
A Minnesota man in his 60s and another in his 50s have come down with the state's eighth and ninth cases of fungal meningitis, the Minnesota Department of Health announced Thursday afternoon. Women ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s have accounted for six of Minnesota's nine cases. Federal agencies have linked the rare infection to steroids produced at a now-closed compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts and used at six clinics in Minnesota: The outbreak is now in 18 states and has killed 24 people. Minnesota is one of 11 states where people have come down with the infection but no one has died. Fungal meningitis is different from the more common bacterial and viral forms of meningitis and is not spread person-to-person. More:
Monday, October 8, 2012
Officials still trying to reach about 100 who got steroid shots at clinics in Edina, Maple Grove, Shakopee and Fridley.
Minnesota officials on Monday were still trying to reach about 100 people who received steroid shots tied to a multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis that has killed 8 people and infected 105 others in nine states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Minnesota Department of Health staff worked through the weekend to call by phone 831 people who got steroid treatment at six clinics located in Edina, Maple Grove, Fridley and Shakopee. Three Minnesotans Infected So far, three Minnesota women have been hospitalized with the infection but are doing well, according to MDH spokesperson Buddy Ferguson. The MDH said all three are in their 40s but hasn't said more about them or where they got the infection. A 39-…
Friday, July 6, 2012
The Minnesota Department of Health helps you stay safe while temperatures remain high.
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Friday, July 6, 2012
Editor’s Note: The following advisory comes from the Minnesota Department of Health. With heat warnings or advisories currently in effect for the Twin Cities and broad areas of greater Minnesota, state health officials are reminding people that extreme heat can affect your health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) suggest a number of things you can do to protect yourself and your family during hot weather: Signs of heat-related illnesses vary but can include the following: heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, and fainting. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can cause death or permanent disability …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Edward Ehlinger biked, planted vegetables and exercised with the students during a visit that promoted health and wellness.
Health Commissioner Edward Ehlinger visited Alice Smith Elementary on Friday to recognize the school’s health and wellness efforts. Ehlinger biked through the Avenues neighborhood with students who rode their bikes to school. He ate a healthy breakfast in one of the classrooms and learned about the school’s nutrition program, including the Farm To School program that brings local produce onto the lunch menu. Ehlinger also planted vegetables in the school’s garden and exercised with the students during an "active break" that gets them moving in the classroom. Alice Smith has a host of programs to encourage healthy living, including a Safe Routes to School grant that promotes walking and biking to school and a fruit and vegetable snack …
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Alice Smith Elementary School
801 Minnetonka Mills Rd, Hopkins, MN
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