Minnesota

Minnesota facing growing number of measles cases

Published

3 months ago

September 6, 2024

Minnesota facing growing number of measles cases

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Measles is much more than a rash. It can lead to deafness, brain damage and death.

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 46 cases of measles in the state so far this year, which is the most since 2017.

46 may not sound like a lot, but infectious disease experts are worried.

“We are all very terrified that this is just going to explode because we have such low vaccination rates in certain pockets of our population, which put a lot of kids at risk,” said Dr. Stacene Maroushek, pediatric infectious disease specialist with Hennepin Healthcare.

As a result, MDH is accelerating vaccine recommendations.

Normally, one measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is given when a child is one year old and a second when the child is four. Now, MDH recommends the second dose one month after the first.

The department is not breaking down the cases by ethnicity, but they do say measles is spreading in unvaccinated children in the Somali community. For years in that community, there have been false and unfounded reports that the vaccine is linked to autism.

“There have been millions of dollars in many studies done to basically debunk that,” said Dr. Maroushek.

Saed Yusuf says his five children are all fully vaccinated. Yusef is a registered nurse and clinical supervisor at Hennepin Health, and he’s a Somali American.

“I would say overall, it’s just lack of awareness and misconception, misunderstanding and also lack of education,” Yusuf said.

Only 24% of Somali American children in Minnesota have both measles shots. That compares to 87% of others in the population, which experts say is also a dangerously low number.

According to the CDC, measles is considered one of the most contagious of all diseases. The virus can remain active in the air and on surfaces for two hours.

Esme Murphy

Esme Murphy, a reporter and Sunday morning anchor for WCCO-TV, has been a member of the WCCO-TV staff since December 1990. She is also a weekend talk show host on WCCO Radio. Born and raised in New York City, Esme ventured into reporting after graduating from Harvard University.

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Minnesota

Faribault inmate dies after being found unresponsive, DOC says

Published

55 mins ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Faribault inmate dies after being found unresponsive, DOC says

Anoka-Hennepin schools need to slash budget, and more headlines

03:52

FARIBAULT, Minn. — Authorities are investigating after an inmate at a southern Minnesota prison was found unresponsive and later died.

The inmate was found at the Minnesota Correctional Facility—Faribault around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Corrections said.

Staff tried to save the inmate’s life, the department said, and they were transported in an ambulance. Medics pronounced the inmate dead at 1 p.m.

“Local law enforcement and [the Department of Corrections] are investigating the incident,” the department said.

Officials gave no information about the inmate’s cause of death.

Earlier this year, family and friends of inmates at the Faribault prison accused state officials of withholding information about a series of lockdowns. The advocates said it was not staff shortages that caused the lockdowns, but drug overdoses.

Anthony Bettin

Anthony Bettin is a web producer at CBS Minnesota. He primarily covers breaking news and sports, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings.

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Minnesota

Minnesota DNR delays NewRange permit for copper-nickel mine

Published

9 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Minnesota DNR delays NewRange permit for copper-nickel mine

HOYT LAKES, Minn. (Northern News Now) – A setback for plans to mine copper and nickel on the Range.

The Minnesota DNR is delaying a decision on NewRange’s NorthMet facility permit to mine until next summer.

The company, formerly PolyMet, has been pushing to mine copper and nickel just south of Babbitt for nearly 20 years.

In 2018, the DNR gave the company the green light to issue a permit to mine.

However, after pushback from environmental groups, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed the permit in August 2023.

Now back in the DNR’s hands, the agency is mulling whether to reissue NewRange’s permit to mine in light of the company considering changes to its original mine plan.

The DNR announced on Monday it will delay a decision until August, which would mark a year from when NewRange said it planned to spend a year studying potential changes.

Environmental groups like Friends of the Boundary Waters are celebrating the decision to delay.

Executive Director for Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Chris Knopf released the following statement after the decision:

“The people of Minnesota should be thrilled by DNR’s decision to pause the proceedings on PolyMet’s permit to mine. Months ago, when PolyMet, or NewRange Copper Nickel, announced it would look into changing its mine plan, it confirmed what we’ve known all along: the project is fundamentally flawed and cannot meet environmental standards.

We have been frustrated to see state agencies such as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) spend millions of taxpayer dollars defending shoddy permits PolyMet now wants to revisit. PolyMet and these agencies have wasted public resources on a project that should never have been permitted in the first place.

We are happy to see DNR make the right decision to stop defending the indefensible. We hope that DNR will take additional steps to put Minnesota’s water first and throw out this dangerous mining proposal that, time and time again, has been shown to not meet legal or environmental standards.”

Northern News Now reached out to NewRange for comment but has not heard back.

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Minnesota

Minnesota Wild take on Winnipeg Jets in matchup of top two NHL teams

Published

17 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Minnesota Wild take on Winnipeg Jets in matchup of top two NHL teams

Judge dismisses Trump charges in D.C. election case after Jack Smith’s request, and other headlines

03:32

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It’s a battle of the top two NHL teams as the Minnesota Wild (13-3-4) and Winnipeg Jets (17-4) square off Monday night in St. Paul.

Monday’s game marks the second meeting between these teams this season. The Jets won the last matchup 2-1 in overtime back on Oct. 13.

“From the first time we played them, even through now, watching different game and going through the scouting stuff, they’re playing really solid,” said Wild Head Coach John Hynes. “I think their record is indicative of the style of game that they’re playing, the commitment that they’re getting from their guys.”

Kirill Kaprizov will be a gametime decision, Hynes said. The 27-year-old hasn’t played since Thursday, when he collided with Drake Caggiula during a game against the Edmonton Oilers and suffered a leg injury.

“I think he’s excited,” Hynes said of Kaprizov. “He feels good. He’s ready to go. He doesn’t like missing games. We’re hoping he has some goals in his pocket that we could have used last game, but can use them tonight.”

Kaprizov, who has 13 goals and 21 assists on the season, participated in morning skate on Monday.

This week marks one year since Hynes took over as Minnesota’s head coach. His stamp on the team is working.

“He understands how we have to play and what needs to be said in certain situations,” said left wing Marcus Foligno. “But for me, the biggest thing is how well-prepared he is for the games that we play and he makes us all feel really confident going into those games.”

Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

Ren Clayton