Author Archive
Tips from a COVID-19 Case Investigator: I”™m Vaccinated. Now What?
By LINDSEY FENNER As more neighbors and loved ones are getting vaccinated, we”™re entering a hopeful yet complicated time of the pandemic. If you”™re like me, only some people in your household or social group are fully vaccinated (I”™ll probably be last on the list!). This means while there are some things fully vaccinated people can do with other fully vaccinated people, they should be careful when they”™re around folks who haven”™t been vaccinated yet. First a definition: “Fully vaccinated” means someone who has completed their full vaccine series (2 shots for a 2-dose series like Moderna/Pfizer, and 1 shot for the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine) and it has been at least 2 weeks since they had their final dose. Had one shot of a two-dose vaccine? Nope, not fully vaccinated. Had your last shot yesterday? Still not fully vaccinated. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came out with new [...]
Living Near Major Roadways
How Phillips and surrounding South Minneapolis communities continue to be burdened with traffic-related air pollution By H. LYNN ADELSMAN Many statements and studies exist to promote that East Phillips deserves to be a “Green Zone” and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) confirms there are multiple negative health effects from air pollution worse in the central city. Yet for over 5 years the city continues to push for an expanded public works department storage and maintenance facility with over 100 diesel vehicles to replace the Roof Depot site in East Phillips. Why is there no effort directed to place this facility in the western or southern most neighborhoods of Minneapolis? This will increase traffic in Phillips and the surrounding communities to further add to existing high emission levels harmful to residents. The concentration of high traffic related air pollution (TRAP) in communities where there is less private property ownership and low equity [...]
BEANS ”“ Good for the Earth, Good for You, Good for Your Wallet
By MARY ELLEN KALUZA The Scarlet Runner Bean, native to the highlands of Mexico and Central America, is not only delicious and nutritious, it is lovely like a precious stone. The bright red flowers of the Scarlet Runner attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The pictured beans were grown right here in Phillips. World population is growing by 3 billion people over the next 40 ”“ 50 years, and with it is a growing demand for beef. Over the past 60 years, global production of cattle meat has grown over 40%. Cattle grazing accounts for 80% of the loss of Amazon forests alone. One acre devoted to beef produces just 15.6 pounds of protein. One pound of beef needs 1800 gallons of water to get to our table. Additionally, and alarmingly, all meat production accounts for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions, with beef taking in the lead at 2/3 of that. We need protein for repair and growth of cells, fighting disease, moving oxygen in our blood, and more. Meat is a good source of [...]
