Black, Indigenous pregnancy-related deaths are disproportionately high in MN

, the number of Indigenous and black pregnancies-related deaths is disproportionately high

An MPR story by Michelle Wiley: “A snap look at Minnesota’s pregnancy-related deaths found that 48 people died from both unrelated and pregnancy-related causes, including drug overdoses and vehicle accidents, in 2017 and 2018. According to the Health Department report, 8.8 deaths from pregnancy were recorded per 100,000 live births. This is about half of the 2017 national rate, 17.3 deaths per 100,000 births.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin article by Jordan Shearer states that Natalia Benjamin left the classroom after being named Minnesota Teacher of Year for a year. She intends to have a greater impact. Beginning July 1, Benjamin assumed her new role of coordinator for multi-language learning in Rochester Public Schools. She works with students and their families. She explained that the reason she switched was multifaceted.

This also from Paul Huttner, “Here’s some quick statistics on the current drought situation in Minnesota.

• • 
    This was the fourth-driest July and June on record for the Twin Cities. (Records go back to 1870s).
    
  • 34% of Minnesota has been classified as either abnormally dry, or in drought.
  • The overall drought area in Minnesota rose to 14%, up from 7% last Week
  • The majority of the Twin Cities region is currently in severe drought.

Christine Schuster, BringMeTheNews says, “The rooftop restaurant at is a new concept that brings art, food, and entertainment together in Uptown. It opens Friday.” The Uptown Art Fair will be held on the rooftop of Art + Rec Uptown. Seven Points, the new anchor tenant, plans to open additional attractions this fall. Graves Hospitality, a Minneapolis-based company, is responsible for the construction and operation of Art + Rec. It will be completed in fall 2018.

Steven Groves reports that the South Dakota government ethics committee continued Wednesday its investigation into two complaints against Governor. Kristi Noem refused to allow the Republican governor to dismiss the complaints and extended the time for the investigation. The state’s Government Accountability Board is looking into Noem’s claims that she used her office’s powers to interfere in her daughter’s application for a real-estate appraiser license, and fly on state-owned planes to attend political events. She denied any wrongdoing.”

According to The Associated Press, the Kettle Moraine School District in Wisconsin banned its employees from displaying pride banners in their classrooms and from using their preferred pronouns as email signatures. The new decision by Superintendent Stephen Plum is simply an extension of existing policies. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Plum’s policy prohibits staff members from using their positions for partisan politics, religious views or monetary gains. What does all this have to do about a pride flag? My guess is as good as mine.

Chris Oberholtz reports in the New York Post that ” An invasive pest moth that feeds off carrots was first discovered in Minnesota by a resident of Stillwater. He reported it to Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Montgomery received a second report a few days later. Scientists identified the insect using photos with the help of the University of Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab. Angie Ambourn (supervisor of the MDA Pest Detection Unit) stated that although the impact of this insect remains to be determined, it is not associated with roots or flowers. However, the impact on carrots and celery and parsnip crops will likely be minimal.

For TV Kirsten Swanson states, “Thirty-years ago, Matt Morelli and Eunice Morelli saw their lives change forever after Marco, their son, was seriously injured in a car accident. The 28-year old, healthy and athletic athlete spent one year in a coma after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Eunice and Matt spent many years caring for their son at home. They decided that it was time for Marco to have a plan for the future a decade ago. When Marco, now 56 years old, was moved into a four-person group home, they thought they had found the right place. The home now has such severe staffing shortages, Matt and Eunice (90 and 87, respectively) are required to provide physical care multiple days per week. Every week, Matt and Eunice take Marco home from Friday to Monday to live in their tiny, two-bedroom apartment at their senior living facility.