LEADER: From UCare via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Give it up for this shining star Dr. Tenbit Emiru - UCare Chief Medical Officer- selected as one of 19 Notable BIPOC Leaders by Twin Cities Business. Dr. Emiru is highly accomplished in her career and uses her success to lift others.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/42SXJ0G (SPONSORED: UCare)
POLL: Via Harvard, VERBATIM: “Chronic health conditions are taking a major, hidden toll on the U.S. workforce’s lives and productivity, according to a new national poll by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation. The poll, conducted among a national sample of U.S. employees, found that three-fourths (76%) of those with chronic conditions—such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma—need to manage their conditions during work hours. Yet a majority (60%) have not formally disclosed their conditions to their employer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aX9Hsj
MORE: Via UPI, VERBATIM: “The poll's findings also highlight the challenges that many federal employees and others may encounter under return-to-work policies, the researchers said. The poll uncovered that more than half of U.S. employees report living with physical chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and asthma. Meanwhile, more than one-third of U.S. employees with chronic conditions, 36%, note forgoing medical appointments or postponing care to avoid interrupting work in the past year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jTNTle
WORK: Via American Journal of Managed Care, VERBATIM: “Positive impacts on both physical and mental health as well as overall well-being were found in adults 65 years and older who continued to work, according to a new survey conducted by Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan. Adults aged 50 to 64 years reported less positive impact of working.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hT0sLJ
SUPER BOWL: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “A record number of Americans are reportedly coming down with a severe case of the Mondays after Sunday night’s Super Bowl, according to a new poll. A survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of workplace solutions firm UKG in January indicated that an estimated 22.6 million Americans were planning to be absent from work on the Monday after the Super Bowl. Just over half claimed they were planning to ask for the day off in advance, but others outright admitted to faking sick (an estimated 3.2 million) or ‘ghosting’ their bosses and workplaces altogether (another 3.2 million), the survey suggested.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jTOaEM
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
MEDICAID: Via Protect Our Care, VERBATIM: “Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a new report detailing how Republicans are trying to gut Medicaid in order to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. In recent weeks, Republican lawmakers have reignited their call for cuts to Medicaid, which would have a devastating impact on millions of families across the nation. Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in the country, providing health care to more than 70 million Americans. Cuts to the program would mean ripping away health care from millions of families who count on it, including kids, moms, seniors, people of color, rural Americans, workers whose employers don’t provide health insurance, and people with disabilities. The consequences of any cuts to Medicaid would touch nearly every household in America.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WV5Rdc REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4gF5kDj
MED RESEARCH: From Christopher Ingraham via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “Minnesota and 21 other states have sued the National Institutes of Health over the Trump administration’s steep cuts to grants that fund medical research in the United States. If those cuts are implemented, ‘cutting edge work to cure and treat human disease will grind to a halt,’ the attorneys general write.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k5pBF8
MORE: Via University of Minnesota, from Shashank Priya, Vice President for Research and Innovation, QUOTE: “As you are aware, the University has a negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with the federal government, which specifies agreed-upon F&A reimbursement rates through June 2028. Despite this, the position of the NIH, via the Guide Notice, is that it has the authority under federal regulations to deviate from negotiated rates for all grants by communicating the new rate and justifications for the deviations from negotiated rates. We understand and fully appreciate the profound impact of this notice – for you, our University of Minnesota research community and our state. The University is fully engaged in response. A team of University leadership convened early today to chart a course forward and shape a response.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aXPx0Z
From morning take…
RESPONSE: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar statement, KLOBUCHAR: “This illegal move endangers critical clinical studies and research, and extinguishes hope for so many Americans looking for cures. At the University of Minnesota alone, it could derail life-saving medical research on cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. NIH research also supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country and spurs economic growth, including nearly 8,000 jobs and $1.7 billion of economic activity in Minnesota. This lawsuit is a crucial step to reversing this.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qaqvm3
CUTOFF: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “NUWAY Alliance, a network of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment centers that are the subject of a recent KARE 11 investigation, has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)…The federal lawsuit aims to prevent DHS temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi from withholding Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) payments, also known as Medicaid payments, for SUD treatment services provided by NUWAY… A KARE 11 “Recovery Inc.” investigation, published on Jan. 30, exposed tens of millions of dollars in questionable Medicaid billing by NUWAY while executives of the nonprofit were paid exorbitant salaries.” WATCH/READ: https://fluence-media.co/416DJGE
Sign up for morning take…
GENDER CARE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Kristen Chapman had already moved her family from Tennessee to Virginia to try to find a state that would be more welcoming to her transgender daughter, Willow. After months waiting for an appointment at the gender-affirming care clinic at VCU Health in Richmond, Willow had one on the calendar on Jan. 29. President Trump's executive order limiting transgender health care for youth came out in the afternoon of Jan. 28 . . . Chapman is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Trump administration brought by the ACLU and Lambda Legal. The suit seeks to block the order from taking effect, but even before a formal policy was enacted, the order began to be enforced. The White House issued a press release pointing to hospitals that had immediately canceled appointments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WXn7i3
PENTAGON: Via ABC News, VERBATIM: “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered an immediate pause on gender-affirming medical care procedures for all active-duty service members in a memo that was addressed to senior Pentagon leadership and military command. The Feb. 7, 2025, memo, which was obtained today by ABC News, also ordered an immediate pause on all new promotions in the military for individuals ‘with a history of gender dysphoria.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aU3Vri
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
NEXT MONTH: From Pa Nyia Vang via Hmong Times, VERBATIM: “United Hmong with Disabilities (UHD) is excited to announce the 2025 National Hmong Disability Conference, set to take place virtually on March 1, 2025. The conference, themed ‘Building for Tomorrow at the Intersection of Hmong Culture & Disability’, will provide a platform for Hmong individuals with disabilities, their families, and allies to connect, share experiences, and advocate for a more inclusive future. This year’s conference will focus on fostering understanding, breaking cultural stigmas, and advancing accessibility within the Hmong community and beyond.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EAvqtW
IMMIGRANTS: From Dené K. Dryden via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “During a Monday summit centered around health equity, Rochester area researchers and advocates spoke about how continued studies and efforts are needed to better meet the needs of immigrant and refugee communities. ‘We owe it to our community to really say, 'We're prioritizing your health ... and we're going to help create opportunities for you to go and seek the health care needs that you need in a culturally competent way,'’ said Mohamed Ahmed, associate vice president for equity and inclusive excellence at Winona State University.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aUuD34
CRUISE: From Kirsten Mitchell via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “A free cruise turned into a financial nightmare for Mike Cameron, a Minnesota truck driver of 25 years, and his girlfriend, Tamra. The couple won a free cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line and were excited to celebrate Tamra's recent lung cancer recovery. The pair set sail for the week-long trip in early January, but shortly into the week, Cameron got sick. He said he went to the ship's medical center and was diagnosed with the flu.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/40SZQyU
GAS STOVES: From Andrew Hazzard via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Cooking releases pollutants, especially when powered by natural gas, which is a source of nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. The health impacts of those pollutants are under growing scrutiny from scientists and health experts. [Wendy Zuniga] spent a month using a uHoo monitor, which tracks several pollutants in real time. When she reviewed the data, her levels were the highest on Christmas Eve, when carbon dioxide and monoxide levels jumped.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hAWHeq
BIRD FLU: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Sky-high egg prices. Millions of dead chickens. A new strain in cattle. Bird flu is making its way around the country, hitting farmers and consumers in their wallets. A second strain of H5N1 avian flu was recently detected among dairy cows in Nevada, a sign that the outbreak could be harder to rein in than previously thought. A Nevada dairy worker exposed to infected cows also tested positive for the strain, federal health officials said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/419n3yg
SINUSITIS: Form Jason Howland via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “If you catch a cold or upper respiratory infection and it lingers long enough, it may turn into a sinus infection known as sinusitis. Symptoms can include a runny nose and nasal congestion accompanied by pain, swelling, and pressure around the eyes, nose, cheeks or forehead that gets worse when bending over.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3WT6dkA
HCMC: From Christopher Magan via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “HCMC is entering the next phase of a decadeslong renovation, and the results will update part of downtown Minneapolis that has been the safety-net hospital’s home for more than a century. By the time the renovations are complete, Hennepin County leaders expect to have spent as much as $2.5 billion on a new inpatient building, mental health facility and other upgrades. The overhaul will eventually consolidate the footprint of the hospital, which now occupies about eight city blocks and 3.3 million square feet.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4176KBX
DULUTH: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Aspirus St. Luke’s leaders announced their clinic in downtown Duluth will close this spring. The primary care clinic set to close is located at 26 E. Superior Street. Patients will be seen at other locations in Duluth and Hermantown.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3WWOGrA
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CARBS: From European Molecular Biology Laboratory via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Our guts are home to trillions of bacteria, and research over the last few decades has established how essential they are to our physiology -- in health and disease. A new study from EMBL Heidelberg researchers shows that gut bacteria can bring about profound molecular changes in one of our most critical organs -- the brain. The new study, published in the journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, is the first to show that bacteria living in the gut can influence how proteins in the brain are modified by carbohydrates -- a process called glycosylation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aZClsO
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