Health & Science - December 10 2018

MN Department of Health Announces

The MINNESOTA Department of Health announces it is adding Alzheimer’s disease to the medical conditions eligible for treatment with medical marijuana in the Gopher State. The agency declined to add hepatitis C, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, opioid use disorders, panic disorder, psoriasis and traumatic brain injury to the list (MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE).

The Local Front - December 10 2018

CA San Francisco Board of Supervisors Approves

The Board of Supervisors approves a bill that would make SAN FRANCISCO the first major city in the nation to eliminate provisions that require developers to provide at least some parking spaces as part of their projects. The proposal faces one more vote before it could advance to Mayor London Breed for consideration (SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER).

CA City Council Unanimously Endorses

The LOS ANGELES City Council unanimously endorses a proposal to draft an ordinance that would bar dining establishments from handing out plastic straws unless a customer asks for one. The measure would apply to all eateries, a significant step further than the statewide CALIFORNIA law that applies only to full service, dine-in restaurants (LOS ANGELES TIMES).

 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

Truly the Greatest Generation

Funerals for heads of state are always solemn affairs, as they should be. On occasion, they also lend themselves to moments that elevate all of us to a higher place. Such was the case last Monday in Washington D.C., where many came to pay their respects to former President George Herbert Walker Bush, whose body was lying in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Among them was former Kansas Senator and two-time GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole, now 95 years old and confined to a wheelchair. Or he was until, with some assistance, he rose from his chair to offer Bush – like Dole, a World War II combat veteran – a final salute. The two had twice been bitter rivals for the GOP presidential nomination, but over time became fast colleagues and friends. And in the twilight of their lives, they have remained examples of the kind of dignity and respect for others to we wish all our public officials would adhere. Not mentioning anyone in particular. 

Born In the USA

Americans are notoriously inept at geography, but one might think we’d at least be up to speed on our own country. Uh, not so much. As the Las Cruces Sun News reports, former New Mexico Secretary of State candidate Gavin Clarkson was recently turned down for a marriage license by the District of Columbia Courts Marriage Bureau for not having U.S.-issued identification. The clerk apparently did not realize that New Mexico is one of the 50 states. Worse yet, when the clerk checked with her boss she was told Clarkson needed to produce a New Mexico passport. Perhaps the most comical moment came when the clerk complimented Clarkson on how well he speaks English. The Bureau eventually figured it all out and Clarkson and his fiancé were given their license. And presumably the word was spread around that The Land of Enchantment is an actual part of the United States now.  

You Gotta Have A Dream

And for California Assembly member Phil Ting, that dream is a whole state of cars that run on something other than gasoline. Yep, Ting so wants to see the nation’s number one vehicle market move entirely to cars that don’t run on fossil fuels that he introduced legislation earlier this year to require all passenger cars sold in the state to be of the zero-emission electric variety by 2040. That bill never really took off, so to speak, but Ting isn’t giving up. He introduced a bill last week that would require the state Air Resources Board to come up with a strategy for reaching his original “gas free by 2040” goal. Because when in doubt, a feasibility study is always the most...well, feasible...way to go.

 

-- By RICH EHISEN