Health

Health
Droughts, wildfire smoke clouds outlook for agriculture - and concern for farmers’ health
The increasing drought and smoke from Canadian wildfires are adding to Minnesota farmers’ challenges this summer. But there’s a debate over whether the smoke may actually help as it shields already drought-stressed crops.
They're illegal. So why is it so easy to buy the disposable vapes favored by teens?
The FDA cracked down on the nicotine devices, yet they're stocked on many store shelves. The reason has to do with burgeoning overseas production, lack of clear rules, and lax enforcement.
WHO says aspartame is a 'possible carcinogen.' The FDA disagrees
Moderate consumption of aspartame is OK, scientists say. But heavy consumers may want to reduce their intake. The WHO says aspartame may "possibly" cause cancer. The FDA questions the evidence.
How will a new Minnesota law affect mergers between large health care companies?
A law recently signed by Gov. Tim Walz outlines new ways for Minnesota’s attorney general to oversee hospital deals like the proposed merger between Sanford Health and Fairview into one mega-hospital system.
FDA approves Opill, the first daily birth control pill without a prescription
From convenience stores to online, the tablet "will be an available option for millions of people in the United States," the director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research says.
Minnesota's new health system merger law: Key questions, answered
A new Minnesota law banning anti-competitive health care mergers could affect several proposed deals involving state health systems. The law’s author, DFL Rep. Robert Bierman, spoke to MPR News Thursday about the future of health care in Minnesota.