NEWS RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) today (Friday, Nov. 20) was joined by dozens of lawmakers in both the House and Senate to demand answers from American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) CEO Karen Ignani in light of sharply rising health insurance premiums for small businesses.

Read more: Franken demands answers from health insurance companies

Joe Nathan column -- Anoka Technical, St. Cloud Tech and Inver Hills Community College are part of an encouraging Minnesota trend: greater numbers of students, including “under-represented students,” are attending Minnesota’s public colleges and universities.

As the economy improves, people with strong skills will have more career and employment options. The Minnesota State College and University system has committed to serve all kinds of Minnesotans. That includes those from low-income families, people who parents did not attend a two or four year college or university, and students representing communities of color.

Read more: Encouraging progress at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

When Jodi Saari of Apple Valley came down with cold-like symptoms during her second pregnancy, she thought nothing of it.

However, when a 28-week ultra-sound revealed that her child’s brain was not developing normally, Saari realized it was something much more serious. See more in Jessica Harper's ThisweekLive story.

Eight weeks later, she was diagnosed with cytomegalovirus, a virus that is in the same family as the chicken pox. CMV remains a relatively unknown illness by the public, yet it is the most common virus transmitted to a pregnant woman’s unborn child, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Apple Valley resident Jodi Saari founded a Minnesota Chapter of Stop CMV, a national organization that raises awareness about cytomegalovirus, a virus that causes birth defects in unborn children, after her daughter Avery was born with developmental delays from the disease. (Photo by Jessica Harper)

NEWS RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – Serving Our Troops, a Minnesota-based volunteer organization, received the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Civilian Award for Excellence in recognition of its work to support active duty soldiers and their families.

The award, which was presented at the Joint Senior Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., was given by Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard.

Read more: Serving Our Troops receives excellence from U.S. National Guard

NEWS RELEASE

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) introduced two bills that provide additional resources to help homeless and foster children succeed in school.

Read more: Sen. Franken introduces bill to help homeless succeed in school

NEWS RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – While chairing part of today’s (Thursday, Nov. 19) Joint Economic Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about the Administration’s plans to reform the financial regulatory system.

Read more: Klobuchar presses Geithner on small business lending

The Upsala High School Drama Club will present M*A*S*H Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 - 21, at 7 p.m. in the Upsala auditorium. See more in Morrison County Record.

The Upsala High School Drama Club will present M*A*S*H Nov. 20 - 21. Members of the cast include front row (from left): Isaac Schultz, Danica Cheney, Brooke Westrich and Kristen Wuebkers. Second row: Kim Dezurik, Rebecca Scepaniak, RuthAnn Lojovich, Jake Voss, Ethan Schultz and Caleb Benson. Third row: Ruthie Flaa, Bethanie Westrich, Jenna Johnson, Nate Schumer and Zac Piasecki. Back row (standing): Josiah Lojovich, Israil Pundsack and Mat Hansen. (Photo submitted)

NEWS RELEASE

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) offered praise today (Thursday, Nov. 19) for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act introduced last night by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains several measures that Sen. Franken has been fighting for specifically, including two key cost-saving insurance regulations, an important reform of Medicare payment rates that would help Minnesota, and a reduced medical device tax rate.

Read more: Franken praises Senate health care reform bill

Clicking on the Web -- Howard Lestrud, ECM Online Managing Editor-- Prior to making your mouth water about the wonderful food offerings to be featured on the Thanksgiving table, just take a few moments to recall why you are thankful. You may be thankful for good health, for having a job, for having a loving family and you may be thankful to be living in a free society. Sure, there are obstacles in the road, but Thanksgiving is a time to observe for its real meaning.

In this column we will look at the history of Thanksgiving once again and we will also add a few delicious recipes at the end.

Read more: Remember at Thanksgiving time to be truly thankful

Don Heinzman Editorial -- School districts where tax levy referendums failed, will point to the economy as the main reason.

While that may be part of the answer, in this economy, 70 per cent of the school districts passed their levies, notably Anoka-Hennepin where a single operating levy question was on the ballot and passed by a significant margin, only four of the district’s 37 precincts not supporting the levy question.

Read more: In spite of depressed economy, 70 percent of state districts pass levies