After a 13-week pilot where food insecure patients got free weekly boxes of produce, one-third had lower BMIs, some diabetes patients' A1Cs improved and fewer participants had to skip meals. Those are a few takeaways for Olmsted Medical Center's Harvesting Health program, set to resume next year.

"When students feel safe, supported and nourished, they are more engaged and ready to learn." The results of the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey are out, with elementary, middle and high school students reporting increased mental wellness, decreased substance use and feeling more safe at school.

A rural North Dakota hospital has been trying to hire a lab tech since late summer. No U.S. citizens have applied. Hiring a foreign applicant will mean paying the Trump administration’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly condemns attacks on journalists by law enforcement on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, during a federal operation in St. Paul. Read our full statement: www.mnspj.org/2025/11/26/m...

After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne. So ProPublica did. Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social: www.propublica.org/article/bird...

In the same year the health system set a record-breaking $1.3 billion operating margin, it also significantly increased its charity care contributions.

Measles detection in Rochester wastewater foreshadows more robust monitoring for viral diseases

The new facility, built to replace the VonWald Youth Shelter south of Rochester, opened its doors to the public on Thursday for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, expresses regret. Editor says court cases against city continue #ksleg

New, from me: After some #MayoClinic employees received letters informing them that Hunt's Silver Lake Drug — the only independent pharmacy in town — would be out-of-network in 2026, the pharmacy clarified that it will be in-network next year. (TL;DR the contract wasn't signed in time)

In Northfield, Minn., the local hospital's birth volumes have increased considerably over the past few years. Part of that probably has to do with its upgraded L&D unit and amenities. But another factor: more rural hospitals around the region are closing their childbirth services. #ruralhealthcare

How it feels to write about PBM contract negotiations

As federal data becomes less available, Walgreens launches flu and COVID tracker. www.axios.com/2025/11/04/w...

The second "Seconds Matter" story is now available! For Southeast Minnesota teens and their parents, ‘communication, not isolation’ is key to suicide prevention

CW: suicide The first story in my @postbulletin.bsky.social reporting series on youth firearm access, supported by a @healthjournalism.org fellowship, is live. The first two articles in this series address youth suicide prevention — and how firearm safety plays a key part.

I got to take a field trip to Northfield and @carleton.edu to report this sports/health combo story. QB Jack Curtis received a cancer diagnosis in June. He's determined to play every football game this fall amid chemotherapy treatment. "I'm looking forward to getting back to my normal life."

Tracie and Dave might go without health insurance next year. Today, their plan is $400/mo. But, with the expiration of the IRA premium tax credit, that plan will cost them $2K/mo. 90,000 Minnesotans are in the same boat, per the state dept. of commerce. My latest for @postbulletin.bsky.social:

With prospects for a special session of the Minnesota Legislature to consider an assault weapons ban and other gun control measures on hold if not dead, DFL political leaders are turning to a different tactic: Going to the people.

Bueller, a three-year-old black Labrador Retriever, works full-time in the child and adolescent psychiatry unit.

Beginning Nov. 17, Mayo Clinic will no longer provide OB-GYNs to staff the labor and delivery department at Owatonna Hospital Allina Health, which runs the Owatonna Hospital, said it is working to "preserve these vital services."

Forgot about Bluesky for a hot minute, my bad This enrollment season, seniors in Olmsted County, Minnesota have fewer #MedicareAdvantage options to choose from, and Mayo Clinic will be out of network with one of three available insurers come 2026.

A federal judge in Illinois has barred federal agents from using force or threatening to arrest journalists in Chicago.

The four-session class at Northrop Community Education Center will cover the science around addiction, how it affects people and their families and what help is out there.

A Rochester advisory group on homelessness caps off its first year with a statewide award

State health leaders are sharing information about measles symptoms, vaccination and travel considerations after confirming 10 new cases since Sept. 29.

On Thursday, with the Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys' rainbow entrance as a backdrop, a group of people spoke out against the health system's closure of six clinics in southern Minnesota.

In 2024, Mayo Clinic sponsored almost 400 new H-1B work visas for physicians and other health care and IT staff.

Busy day! First up: Mayo Clinic played host to an international event earlier this week. The third annual Undiagnosed Hackathon brings together global experts to solve as many unsolved medical cases as they can. #raredisease #aiinmedicine

OOO

Gender studies scholars and domestic violence experts have long known that gender-based bigotry is a gateway to violent extremism. It’s time for national security officials to catch up. Critical and timely story from @jazzmyth.bsky.social

Rochester, Minnesota has the greatest amount of NIH funding per capita in the nation, according to the Brookings Institute. Like other cities whose economies rely on their research hospitals and universities, Rochester could lose jobs if the #NIH budget is significantly cut. Read more ⬇️

Last week, Mayo Clinic Health System said it will close six clinics in the region and scale back some outpatient services at its Albert Lea hospital and clinic. "It just kind of boggles our mind on how this is being done," the leader of an Albert Lea health advocacy group told me. #ruralhealth #mn

'We're not getting what we deserve': Southeast Minnesotans react to Mayo Clinic service cuts #mayoclinic www.postbulletin.com/health/were-...

Last week, Mayo Clinic Health System said it will close six clinics in the region and scale back some outpatient services at its Albert Lea hospital and clinic. "It just kind of boggles our mind on how this is being done," the leader of an Albert Lea health advocacy group told me. #ruralhealth #mn

Fascinating new research from @caitlinmyers.bsky.social and others shows that when laws restrict abortion, we see a jump in property crimes such as car theft, burglary. It underscores how financially destabilizing unplanned pregnancy can be — and how ill-equipped our safety net is to address it.

The Department of Justice has removed a study showing that white supremacist and far-right violence “continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism” in the United States. 🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...

The project represents the largest architectural glass recycling project in Minnesota for Rochester-based Watson Recycling.

You find the darndest things in the newspaper archives (from the Jan. 8, 1997 Albert Lea Tribune)

If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.

Using local, long-term data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a team of researchers studied the underlying causes of heart attacks in people, particularly women, under age 65.

Rochester, Minnesota has the greatest amount of NIH funding per capita in the nation, according to the Brookings Institute. Like other cities whose economies rely on their research hospitals and universities, Rochester could lose jobs if the #NIH budget is significantly cut. Read more ⬇️

It's the first year Rochester, a smaller metro area, has appeared in the national report by Doximity.

Photojournalist Bill Biggart died when the second tower collapsed on him on 9/11, but the film he shot that day and his flash card were recovered from the debris and developed, along with his flash card. You can see his amazing photos of 9/11, the last photos he took while alive, here:

"Imagine going to your doctor and instead of just a prescription, you're handed a box of fresh food." Olmsted Medical Center in #RochesterMN is in the middle of its Harvesting Health pilot program, in which food-insecure patients receive a weekly box of fruits and veg. #foodasmedicine

From late yesterday: #MayoClinic Health System is closing six of its clinics in rural southern Minnesota later this year and sunsetting some outpatient surgical services in Albert Lea.

The executive order in response to federal moves directs Minnesota’s state epidemiologist to issue a standing order for the COVID-19 vaccine, among other actions.

During a recent Friday happy hour at Edenbrook Rochester West, a skilled nursing and rehab facility, the energetic and bubbly Julie Clennon accepted one of Elder Voice Advocates' first Care Extraordinaire Awards, designed to recognize people making a difference in the long-term care industry.

My latest for the @postbulletin.bsky.social: As 2025 #covid vaccines become available in Rochester, FDA guidance has changed. Here's what to know

Earlier this year, a Mayo Clinic retiree created KidneyCouch, an online resource for those with kidney cancer or chronic kidney disease.

The Tuesday evening meeting will focus on the the two buildings that will expand Mayo Clinic's downtown clinical footprint.