Dianne Mandernach

Meet the New Commish

tptadmin — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:57:55 -0500

Dr. Sanne Magnan is Minnesota's new Commissioner of Health. Meet her as she sits down at the Almanac table with Cathy and Eric.

Health Commissioner Gone

Mary Lahammer — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:20:43 -0500

Odd timing, leaving when the heat is off, but Health Commissioner Mandernach is calling it quits. Interesting that more pressure is on Transportation Commissioner Molnau. This could come as a blow to Gov. Pawlenty, who's enjoying record approval ratings — and that was before the floods. People tend to rally around a leader in crisis and Minnesota has certainly had more than its share this summer. The governor's swift response and media savvy have helped him through the tragedies, but Mandernach's resignation will stir up the controversy of earlier this summer. Here's the story that it appears MPR's Tom Scheck broke.

This Week's Political Panel

tptadmin — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:39:18 -0500

And there's plenty to talk about both local and national. Republicans Sarah Janecek and Dan Dorman square off against Democrats Mary Jo McGuire and Senator Tarryl Clark.

The Political Panel

tptadmin — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:21:33 -0500

What's the fallout from the Health Department's handling of the asbestos cases? And do any of us care if our candidates used drugs while young? Two of the topics we tackle with Democrats Jane Ranum and Javier Morillo-Alicea and Republicans Fritz Knaak and Brian Sullivan.

Asbestos on the Range - Part 2

tptadmin — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:02:28 -0500

Our Mary Lahammer was in Mountain Iron for an emotional hearing concerning the State Health Department's handling of asbestos-related cancer among taconite miners.

Miners Sound Off

Mary Lahammer — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:54:33 -0500

We traveled up to the Iron Range to cover the hearing on the Health Department's delay of releasing data on the spike in cancer deaths in miners. The atmosphere was charged. It was standing room only. Miners were mad. They testified for about 90 minutes. Then Commissioner Mandernach came to the table where people sit and face lawmakers to testify. Instead she stood up, turned her back to lawmakers and faced the crowd to apologize to them. It was a gutsy move. One man shouted back that her apology was not accepted. The big news (as in the new development that a lot of MSM missed) was the fact the University of Minnesota is going to take the lead on the study now because of the lack of trust of the Health Department. I questioned Mandernach afterwards and she said she was willing to let the U take the lead if that means they can get to the bottom of what's killing miners. Channel 9 was the only other metro media to show up — that's a disappointment to me; this is an issue that should matter to every Minnesotan. People are dying. Public information you pay for was kept private.

Asbestos on the Range

tptadmin — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:35:45 -0500

The State Health Department decided to wait to make public dozens of incidents of cancer deaths of Northern Minnesota miners. A legislative committee will meet next week to find out why there was a delay. State Health Commissioner Dianne Mandernach and State Senator John Marty debate face to face.

Headlines

tptadmin — Thu, 3 May 2007 07:34:49 -0500

Protestors rallied against Bush's war bill veto, ticket scalping is poised to become law, smaller budget bills near completion and the state has an emergency plan for you.