JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A federal judge on Monday blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on thousands of health care workers in 10 states that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement. The court order said that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid had no clear authority from Congress to enact the…
Omicron variant (World Health Org.)WASHINGTON – Beginning Monday, the United States will ban travel from South Africa and 7 other African nations by non-US citizens following the discovery of a COVID-19 variant. Officials have named the variant “omicron.” A World Health Organization panel has classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern. The variant’s discovery in southern Africa sent…
WASHINGTON – Federal health regulators say an experimental COVID-19 pill from Merck is effective against the virus, but they will seek input from outside experts on risks of birth defects and other potential problems in pregnant women. The Food and Drug Administration posted its analysis of the pill ahead of a public meeting next week where academic and other experts…
BISMARCK, N.D. – Reported income by all North Dakota residents and the number of filers dropped last year largely due to the coronavirus pandemic. State Tax Department data show the reported gross income by North Dakotans dropped by 8.4 % in 2020, while the number of filers dropped by more than 18,000 from the year before. Tax Department records show…
FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – During a conversation at North Dakota State University, Bank of America’s CEO sees a bright future for our country’s economy. Brian Moynihan said during Senator Kevin Cramer’s speaker series “The Bully Pulpit” at Richard H. Barry Hall the economy is the size it was before the pandemic. He added Bank of America’s experts estimate it to…
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Biden administration is asking the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals to wipe away an order from another appeals court blocking its Occupational Safety and Health Administration vaccine mandate. Several lawsuits were brought challenging the OSHA mandate, and last week the cases were consolidated in the 6th Circuit. Before the cases were consolidated, the 5th US…
MINNESOTA (FOX 9) – Minnesota will now administer COVID-19 booster shots to all adults that are fully vaccinated, following the eligibility expansion from federal public health officials. The expansion coincides with the announcement Friday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 booster shots to all U.S. adults. The expansion of eligibility will allow more Minnesotans to get their…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 9,000 people, as the state struggles with the nation’s highest rate of new infections and low vaccination rates in certain areas. The Minnesota Department of Health on Tuesday reported 51 new deaths, which raised the state’s pandemic total to 9,047. It also reported 10,913 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, which…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KVRR) — The former CEO of Sioux Falls-based Sanford Health was paid $49 million when he stepped down in late 2020. Kelby Krabbenhoft had lead the company since 1996, turning it into a regional health care giant. He left after writing an email to Sanford employees making controversial statements about COVID-19 and mask use. Sanford Health in…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Federal regulators reached an agreement with Smithfield Foods to settle a contested citation of the company’s coronavirus safety measures during a massive outbreak last year at its South Dakota pork plant. The company will develop a plan to prevent infectious diseases at meatpacking plants nationwide and pay a $13,500 fine. The pork processing plant was one…
