Tuesday, June 03, 2008

TACONITE TAILINGS: News - A meeting on health aspects, a press conference, links, and an Iron Ranger as co-chairman for the Public Health study.



Click on the image to enlarge and read. It is the start of things, with this meeting being held on the Iron Range.

Then there is this further information, online, from the Dean, University of Minnesota School of Public Health:

Several of us have spent the better part of the last few months working with the Iron Range legislative delegation, the Commissioner of Health, and Governor Pawlenty’s office on legislation to fund a University of Minnesota-led research project into taconite worker health. On April 28, 2008, the Governor made it official, signing the bill into law and allowing us to move forward on this important project.

We are pleased at the overwhelmingly bi-partisan show of support for this work, and for the health of Minnesota’s mine workers and their families. The law provides $4.9 million for the project which includes research by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the University of Minnesota-Duluth-based Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI).

Please join me for a meeting of the Minnesota Taconite Workers Lung Health Partnership on Thursday, June 12, 2008, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Joe Begich Building, Iron Range Resources, 4261 Highway 53 South, Eveleth, Minn.

[see agenda, in the opening image]

RSVP by e-mail to me at SPHdean@umn.edu or call (612) 624-6708, and leave your name and the organization which you represent. I hope to see you there.


--John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D.
Dean, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

In the News
[links are from the original, hopefully still live]
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Newspaper coverage

Study good use of funds
The Daily Journal, International FallsApril 25, 2008

Editorial: Getting answers for the Iron Range
Star Tribune
April 23, 2008

Legislature sends Pawlenty bill to delve into lung cancer on Iron Range
Associated Press, Star TribuneApril 24, 2008

Study of rare affliction among miners gets a push
Star TribuneApril 17, 2008

Minnesota legislators give final approval to cancer study
The Bemidji Pioneer
April 25, 2008
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Radio coverage

Iron Range cancer study passes Legislature
Minnesota Public RadioApril 24, 2008
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Television coverage

Senate Approves Cancer Study
Northland's NewsCenterApril 22, 2008

Minn. Senate Approves Miner Cancer Research in Unanimous Vote
FOX 9 NewsApril 21, 2008

Health Study Money Approved by Governor
WDIO-TVApril 28, 2008

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News
Airborne particle collectors go up on Iron Range

Press Conference:
Phase one of Miner’s Health Study underway

WHEN: Monday, June 2, 2008, 1 – 2 p.m.

WHERE: City of Virginia, City Hall, 327 – 1st Street

Read more


Dicklich named co-chair of Minnesota lung health partnership

Iron Range native and former state senator Ron Dicklich will co-chair the University of Minnesota-led Taconite Workers Lung Health Partnership

Read more