Michael Brun
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Michael Brun joined RiverTown Multimedia at the Red Wing Republican Eagle in March 2013, covering county government, health and local events. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls journalism program.
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- Member for
- 5 years 10 months
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There were 36 fire deaths in Minnesota through 2018, a 47 percent drop compared to 2017, according to preliminary numbers released Jan. 10, 2019, from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division.
Coming down to find presents under the Christmas tree is great; coming down with an illness is not. With many clinics closed for the holidays and folks traveling out of town, it can be a particularly inopportune time to get sick. Instead of a trip to urgent care, some of the afflicted will instead turn to a virtual medical visit. Jenny Kemp of Hopkins, Minn., was in Missouri for a family Thanksgiving gathering when her skin started to itch. When the sensation persisted the next morning, she said it was time to get it checked out.
A record number of Americans are expected to hit the road, take to the sky or catch a train this holiday season, according to AAA and analytics company INRIX. More than a third of the country — around 112.5 million people — will travel by automobile, airplane or train for end-of-the-year gatherings between Dec. 22 and Jan. 1, according to a travel forecast released Dec. 13. AAA says the expected number of travelers is a 4.4 percent increase over last year and the most ever since the motor club association has been tracking holiday travel.
With all the decorating, shopping, cooking and get-togethers, the holiday season can leave a person breathless. Though these activities are all in good fun, the added commitments can also bring on additional stress this time of year.
To help curb drunken driving this holiday season, more than 300 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota will take part in an extra DWI enforcement campaign Nov. 21 and continuing weekends through Dec. 29.
Sometimes it helps to just hash things out over a warm beverage. Those experiencing memory loss and their caregivers have a new support option in the Washington County area through monthly Memory Cafés hosted by Stillwater-based family support organization FamilyMeans. The 90-minute sessions provide facilitated discussions and community resources in a welcoming environment, the organization says. We asked Jenny West, caregiving and aging community educator with FamilyMeans, to explain the Memory Café model and what how the gatherings have helped area resident.
WELCH — Xcel Energy aims to grow the share of carbon-free energy in its overall generating mix in the next decade, and Prairie Island nuclear plant will continue to play a key role for years to come.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert to pet owners and veterinarians Sept. 20, 2018, warning of the potential for neurologic adverse events in dogs and cats when treated with flea and tick medicine with isoxazoline.
Chris Meyer knows prostate cancer isn't something just old men need to think about. The Woodbury resident had his first bout with the disease in 2010 at age 40, then had to deal with a recurrence in 2016. The two-time survivor is on a mission to raise awareness about prostate cancer, especially among younger men. That includes participating the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk Saturday, Sept. 15 around Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. Funds raised from the event go to support prostate cancer research, education and screening.
To help support the need for blood around the Labor Day holiday, Memorial Blood Centers is offering all presenting donors from Sept.1-8 the opportunity to win "Hamilton" tickets. Visit MBC.org/theater for details. The need for blood is constant, and summer can be a challenging time to collect enough blood to meet the needs of hospitals. While walk-in donors are always welcome, MBC encourages appointments be made in advance. To find nearby blood drives or register to donate, visit MBC.org.