Is Minnesota ready for recreational marijuana?

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Minnesota State Fair polltakers are narrowly opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state but strongly support same-day voter registration and lean toward increasing the state’s gas tax for road and bridge construction.Conducted by the nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office, the annual poll at the House of Representatives booth during the 12-day Minnesota State Fair is an informal, unscientific survey of issues discussed in prior legislative sessions and may be topics of discussion in 2015.Of the 7,607 people filling out a ballot in 2014, 48.1 percent are against the state allowing the recreational use of marijuana for persons age 21 and older; however, 43.3 percent support the idea. Nearly 9 percent of those taking the poll were undecided or had no opinion.Do you think Minnesota should legalize recreational marijuana use? Take our poll and see the results.The 2014 Legislature passed a law for use of medical marijuana for nine specific illnesses, but not for recreational use of the drug. Only the use of pills, oils or vaporizing of a cannabis compound through a device similar to an e-cigarette is allowed. 2014 Minnesota House State Fair Poll ResultsFifty-four percent of polltakers support raising the state’s gas tax by 5 cents per gallon to help fund the backlog of highway and bridge needs across the state. More than 40 percent are against the increase and 5.5 percent were undecided or had no opinion. Continue Reading

TC Spotlight | Bike shops in the Twin Cities

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Bike shops get the spotlight this week, which may seem odd considering the typical biking season is winding down. But we’re talking about the Twin Cities, where a sizeable portion of the bike community rides 365 days of the year. Around these parts, all seasons are bike seasons.Below we’ve highlighted just a few of the many diverse bike shops in the Twin Cities. Use the comment section to tell us your favorite shops. If you’re a bike shop owner, feel free to use the comment section to tell us more about your shop, and use our calendar to spread the word about any upcoming events.Alley Cat Cycles1621 Harmon Place, Ste 150B, Minneapolis, MN 55403 | 612-486-5807Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 11am – 7pm; Sat & Sun 11am – 6pm; Closed TuesdaysAlley Cat Cycles, formerly Kitsune Cycles, is a hidden gem tucked, appropriately enough, in the alley just south of Hennepin Ave., between Utrecht Art Supplies and Joe’s Garage near Loring Park. Continue Reading

Double Dutch draws St. Paul youth like moths to a flame

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Like moths to a flame, Double Dutch is the perfect sport for attracting kids and keeping them moving and motivated throughout the summer.Parents, friends, community members and double dutch enthusiasts packed into the Jimmy Lee Rec Center for the Third Annual Jump Jam Double Dutch Challenge on Aug. 16. Event-goers enjoyed a family resource fair and watched this year’s lineup of Double Dutch teams square off against each other. The event capped off a ten-week fitness program centered around Double Dutch that is sponsored through a partnership between Saint Paul YWCA, Health Partners and the City of Saint Paul.“The program also offers a healthy eating and wellness component, including cooking classes,” said School Success Manager at YWCA Saint Paul Tara Munroe. “The participants come from all different backgrounds and many are new to Double Dutch. Continue Reading

Minnesota’s suicide rates

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The Minnesota Department of Health expects to share new data in early September on suicide deaths across the state with the hope rates decrease, or at least hold steady. Minnesota has seen a continuous rise in suicides over the last decade, especially among older adults— a direction that mirrors a national trend in adult suicides. Continue Reading

Minnesota state officials scramble to calm Ebola fears

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As fear grips West Africa with an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus wreaking havoc in unprepared countries — Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leona and Nigeria — the Minnesota Department of Health is in a race to calm fears of a possible Ebola outbreak in the Twin Cities.

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BEHIND THE STORY | Taking on my local co-op over Eden Foods

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I don’t consider myself much of a political or activist person. I’m used to listening more than speaking. I write about what other people are doing to make the world a better place rather than taking initiatives on my own. So lately I’ve found myself in a strange, unfamiliar place taking on a cause. It has to do with my local co-op and their decision to continue to carry Eden Foods, the Hobby Lobby of Soy products. After the Hobby Lobby Supreme court victory, allowing them to be exempted from providing health care for four types of birth control, Eden Foods revived their own case, which would allow them to be exempted from covering any type of birth control whatsoever.

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Senior Safety Pride Day 2014 honors living legacy in Twin Cities

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It was a muggy but otherwise ideal afternoon for the 13th Annual Senior Safety Pride Day, Friday, August 15 at Boom Island in Minneapolis.Sponsored by Mad Dads of Minneapolis, Phillips West, Center Point Energy, Community Action and others, the event served more than 300 seniors with grilled food, games and prizes, and live entertainment. The celebration also included a mini-resource fair, where community organizations provided information about safety, health and wellness, and economic services available in the community.Among the attendees this year were the Royal Red Hat Sabathanettes, the Jolly Seniors, Minneapolis 4th Precinct Police Inspector Mike Kjos, Public Safety and Civil Rights Policy Aide to Mayor Hodges, Nicole Archbold, and many more. Crowd favorites, the Sabathani Still Kickin’ Dancers, got things moving, eventually inspiring some in the crowd to brave the humidity and learn some new steps.Seniors have a special place in the heart of VJ Smith, President and Local Founder of Mad Dads, and the event is his way of giving back. “It feels good to honor our seniors,” said Smith. “If you think of how we got where we are today, it’s only because of them. Continue Reading

OPINION | Time shift for school students

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St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) may follow in the footsteps of Minneapolis and Edina in changing their high school start times to be later. University of Minnesota researcher Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom’s report: “Examining the Impact of Later High School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study” was released and reported on in late 2013 and has provided the basis for SPPS’ proposed change.The proposal for SPPS would start elementary schools at 7:30 a.m. and begin middle and high schools classes at 8:30 a.m. Dr. Wahlstrom’s report contributes many strongly proven academic and health-related benefits to shifting the start times. The study followed multiple, diverse school districts that have implemented changes in start times including Edina and Minneapolis public school districts as well as schools in Colorado and Wyoming. (The study includes over 12,000 students surveyed on all of the following figures and data)The health-related benefits of a start time change are numerous. Continue Reading

Minnesota’s good life for Whites only?

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Health disparities have been a big concern in America for a long time. Although Minnesota is known for many good things — lots of trails and bike paths, multiple millionaires, and 10,000 lakes — health in the American Indian and Black/African American populations is not one of them. The health disparities that people of color and American Indians experience in comparison to Whites in Minnesota is of concern to many and should be of concern to many more.

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