Public Affairs

Bring a book.

Stare at your phone.

Invite a friend to distract you.

Nineteen area hospitals and two regional air ambulances are counting on donated blood to respond to emergencies, and the donation process keeps getting easier.

More information about the donation process is available here.  Memorial Blood Centers are on the UMD campus on the first Thursday of every month.

Dean

How did we get from "the most trusted man in America" to "fake news"?

One thing's for sure: people were talking about sexual assault last week.

Between Bill Cosby's sentencing to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee,  it was just about all anyone was talking about, on and off the air and online.

The Loaves and Fishes Community is a small non-profit in Duluth offering "hospitality and advocacy to people experiencing homelessness."

But Joel Kilgour, a longtime resident of the men's house and community organizer and activist, says they're turning away "probably 30 guys a day."

Perhaps the most visible faces of homelessness are those of people suffering from mental illness or addiction, but Kilgour says most of us are only one step away from living under a bridge ourselves.

Snoopy

Meet Snoopy. He is a one year old male Chihuahua mix. True to the Chihuahua nature, it takes him awhile to warm up to new people. Snoopy, however, is just an active puppy at heart who just finally needs a stable family to love him. He has been vet checked, neutered and vaccinated. Come to Contented Critters and meet this little guy. 

It took more than three hours, but the Duluth City Council voted last night to table the Duluth Police Department's request to purchase over $83,000 worth of shielded helmets, body armor and crowd-control batons, among other items.

Proponents call it "personal protection equipment." Opponents call it "riot gear."

At a packed council chamber last night, members of the community alternately urged councilors to approve the purchase and table the request until more conversations could be held.

There's a national conversation taking place in our country now as the #metoo movement gathers momentum -- a conversation about consent.

But consent - what it is and, more importantly, what it's not - is an idea not limited to sexual encounters.

Hunter

Hunter is a nine month old Lab. He was turned over by his owner who was unable to tend to him due to her health. He is a healthy, happy, great looking speciment of the Lab breed. Hunter is available for adoption through Contented Critters Animal Sanctuary.

Elizabeth

By some accounts, people fear public speaking more than death.

So while Duluth Mayor Emily Larson is glad folks who are comfortable getting up in front of a crowd at a City Council meeting are speaking up about their concerns, she wanted to continue another option.

In addition to connecting with different people in different neighborhoods, her "City Hall in the City" listening sessions are giving folks a chance to share concerns in a way that makes them more comfortable.

KUMD's Adam Reinhardt reports.

Julianne "Montana" Vasichek grew up playing hockey. She was a Team USA defenseman, an All-American with UMD and a three-time NCAA champ at UMD; twice as a player and once as the Hockey Equipment Manager/Strength and Conditioning Coach.

So it was bad enough when she got sick in 2008 and it turned out to be a rare, incurable, and untreatable liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). When a blood clot in her ailing liver sent her into the hospital and from there to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, her friends came to say goodbye.

A little kindness can go a long way.

Boof

Meet Boof. He is a one year old Boxer/Heeler mix. He was given up by owners who couldn't give him the time he needed. He was raised around children, other dogs and cats.  He's a real love who needs a family who will give him the attention he needs. Boof is available for adoption from Contented Critters Animal Sanctuary.

Casper

In 2015, Minnesota had the third–highest reported number of human trafficking cases, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. St. Louis County Commissioner Beth Olson spoke to KUMD about her recent round table discussion with the head of the Blue Campaign from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as well as local agency leaders.