Bill would require parental consent for STD exams

Parental consent would be required before minors could seek medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy or substance abuse if a proposed bill by Minnesota Republicans becomes law. The bill aims to rollback a 40-year-law that allows minors medical privacy.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin spoke with the bill's sponsor:

"It seems if you talk to any parent, most would assume they have the right to know about the medical condition of their child," said Sen. David Hann, a Republican from Eden Prairie who sponsored the bill. "I think it's a surprise to find out that we don't."

The bill would make Minnesota the only state to require parental approval before a minor could be screened or treated for STDs [PDF].

Also clicking on MN Today:

Obesity forces new limits on Duluth tour boats

Because of Americans' increased girth, new rules will lower the number of passengers allowed on tour boats like the Vista Fleet in Duluth (Duluth News Tribune).

Cravaack's 2012 fundraising off to weak start

Minnesota Rep. Chip Cravaack, a former commercial airline pilot who ousted powerful former Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Obserstar, raised a less-than-impressive $121,000 according to first-quarter fundraising reports (Politico).

Ely Echo: Cell tower call up is to the judge: For those who want to go where they can see no other sign of man, there are places within the BWCAW that come pretty close to offering that desolation. But you have to get off the beaten path to find them. What we have today is too many people who don't want to work to find solitude. They expect to find it within an hour of their car.

Best Buy stores to outsource music, movie selection and stocking

Stocking will be outsourced, store inventory to shrink (Pioneer Press).

Low performs in the Current Studio

Duluth-based indie-rock mainstays Low have returned with their ninth full-length album, "C'mon," which features guest turns by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline as well as members of Trampled by Turtles and the Trans Siberian Orchestra (The Current).

Minnesota Vikings find two unlikely allies at state Capitol

Well-respected outstate lawmakers quietly line up support in uphill quest (Pioneer Press)

Property-tax shock hits Lakewood Township

Richard Bodine was shocked when he opened a notice from the St. Louis County Assessor's Office recently to find parts of his property had more than quadrupled in market value since last year (Duluth News Tribune).

Bachmann riles House GOP

House Republican leaders are increasingly concerned that Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is creating division within GOP ranks. One longtime conservative grandee of the House told National Review that he has never seen the conference simmer in such a fashion (National Review).

Strangling our rivers

Sediment from Minnesota's farm country threatens to choke off life in the state's two great rivers. A solution is no clearer than the water flowing through Lake Pepin (Star Tribune).

Authorities stop casket cruise on Red

Detroit Lakes man riding river in coffin cover let off with a warning (Fargo Forum).

Today's photo

[image]

"Friday April 15. A good day to burn things. Josh is seen here throwing some flames in the air. The cops didn't take long to show up. However, they just came to see the show. Little bit of photoshopping done to this one but overall I'm happy with the outcome. 42mm 1/8 sec f/10 ISO 250. SB 600 camera left 1/2 power." Credit Keith J Semmelink/Flickr

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