ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring secure storage of firearms, in a gun safe or with a trigger lock. Mayor Melvin Carter has indicated he’ll sign the ordinance, authored by Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, in the coming days.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Legislation to improve working conditions for nurses and quality of care for Minnesotans passed as part of a Health and Human Services Committee omnibus bill (SF 2995) on Tuesday. The Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act would address issues of short-staffing, safety, and retention identified in hospitals throughout the state. The legislation creates committees that would enable caregivers and managers to collaborate and establish appropriate staffing levels on a hospital-by-hospital, unit-by-unit basis.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Thursday, the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Committee passed an omnibus Veterans budget that increases funding levels by 51 percent over the base budget. Prior to the committee hearing, Chair Senator Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) and Vice Chair and chief author Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) met with veterans, leaders, and advocates as part of Veterans Day on the Hill.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Tuesday, the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Committee held an informational hearing on conditions for staff and residents at the Hastings Veterans Home. Committee members heard testimony and asked questions of Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke, current and former veterans home staff, and Mike Maxa, adjutant to the American Legion Department of Minnesota. Following the hearing, Chair Erin Murphy (DFL-Minneapolis) released the following statement:
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Sunday, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke announced that deputy commissioner Doug Hughes and Hastings Veterans Home administrator Mike Anderson are no longer employed by the department. The announcement follows reports of years of a hostile work environment which jeopardized the care provided to veterans at the Hastings facility.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — On Wednesday, pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly announced its decision to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 monthly per recipient. The company’s move follows federal legislation to limit the maximum copay for people enrolled in Medicare at the same monthly amount. In Minnesota, the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act of 2020 ensured that patients could receive at least one month’s worth of their insulin for a maximum of $35, with a long-term limit of $50 out-of-pocket per 90 days for eligible recipients.