Health

Health
Some state lawmakers see new opportunities to pass vaccine exemptions
Vaccination bills are popping up in more than 15 states as lawmakers aim to potentially resurrect or create new religious exemptions from immunization mandates, establish state-level vaccine injury databases or dictate what providers must tell patients about the shots.
The CIA believes COVID most likely originated from a lab but has low confidence in its own finding
The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory. That's according to an assessment that points the finger at China even while acknowledging the spy agency has “low confidence” in its own conclusion. 
$20 million from 3M settlement to fund outdoor projects in east metro
The money was set aside for enhancing water resources, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreational opportunities in the east metro. Seven years after the settlement, that funding is finally ready to be distributed.
University of Minnesota and Essentia announce new health care alliance
The University of Minnesota and Essentia Health are proposing a new nonprofit for academic medicine in Minnesota. The university currently operates under a collaborative agreement with Fairview Health Services. That agreement ends next year. 
Minnesota sees decline in flu and COVID-19 hospitalizations, RSV cases climb
Statewide data released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health indicates that hospitalizations for influenza and COVID-19 have slightly declined for the first time in over a month.  
RFK Jr. plans to keep a financial stake in lawsuits against the drugmaker Merck
RFK Jr. plans to keep collecting referral fees in lawsuits against the drug company Merck even if confirmed as HHS secretary, according to new filings with the Office of Government Ethics.
Federal health agencies told to halt all external communications
In a memo obtained by NPR, acting Health Secretary Dorothy Fink forbade staff from public communications on most matters until Feb. 1, unless they get express approval from "a presidential appointee."
The link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk
MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent advisory calling for expanding the warning label on alcohol to link it to an increased risk for some cancers.