Community News, Wednesday
Earlier today, the City of Duluth's Life Safety Team – with the support of the Duluth Police Department – removed the remaining encampments at Priley Circle in Downtown Duluth. Two individuals were arrested on obstruction charges.
A section of Priley Circle will remain closed for an unspecified period while city staff perform maintenance and restore the area.
The encampment received a seven-day notice on Tuesday, July 30, to vacate Priley Circle and remove personal belongings amid escalating public health and safety issues. Residents were urged to comply voluntarily.
The decision to placard the encampments at Priley Circle aligns with the City of Duluth's standard enforcement procedures for any property posing a public health and safety risk. In July alone, Priley Circle saw 138 service calls, including reports of an explosion, an overdose, and other behavioral health incidents. Delaying action could pose significant health and safety dangers to residents, nearby workers, and the broader public.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY
A new home visit program in St. Louis County that serves pregnant individuals at risk for hypertensive disorders has been honored as a model practice by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).
"Heart-to-Heart" is a partnership between St. Louis County Public Health and Aspirus St. Luke's developed to address a worrying trend in maternal health. Aspirus St. Luke's staff noted a significant increase in the number of patients experiencing poor birth outcomes due to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. More specifically, from 2020-2021 there was an 81% increase in deliveries complicated by hypertension and preeclampsia and a 30% increase in preterm deliveries.
St. Louis County Public Health, which already offered free home visit programs for new and expectant families, enhanced its services to help at-risk individuals with increased screenings, education early in the pregnancy, and referrals when needed for follow-up care. Public Health nurses meet with patients where they are at, removing barriers to care in a nonjudgmental and culturally appropriate manner.
While the program is still relatively new, initial data shows a high success rate of patients remaining healthy throughout their pregnancies.
"This program is changing lives and is keeping mothers and pregnant people safe and at home," said Mallory Cummings, Maternal Child Health Project Manager and Doula Coordinator at Aspirus St. Luke's "It's also there to ensure our patients are alive and thriving."
"One of our foundational Public Health responsibilities involves maternal and child health," said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health Division Director. "We are lucky to have partners such as Aspirus St. Luke’s to be really public health-minded and forward-thinking in interventions. They saw what was happening in their maternal population and saw us as an extension of the healthcare system, and so we are very grateful for them identifying those needs and then engaging with us to address those needs."
Heart-to-Heart is funded by a Promising Practices grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. Based on the program's initial success, the County Board approved funding an additional part-time Public Health Nurse position to serve more families.
DULUTH MEDICAL DISTRICT
A new $14 million, 330-space Medical District East Parking Ramp officially opened Tuesday to patients, visitors and staff of Aspirus St. Luke’s and the public. The three-level, city-owned ramp managed by Interstate Parking was built using a state funding grant.
Dr. Nick Van Deelen, President of Aspirus St. Luke's Minnesota Region, thanked local and state government leaders for their investment in the Aspirus campus.
Erdman was the architect and contractor for the project, which features a gateless entry and payment options through an app or at a kiosk by the entrance.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Construction work will begin Monday, August 19, at the junction of Highway 2 and Munger Shaw Road in Solway Township, resulting in the closure of both roads for an estimated six weeks.
The county is adding left-turn lanes to Highway 2 at the junction. Additionally, the project will permanently shut the link between County Road 161 (Old Hwy 2) and US 2, just east of Munger Shaw Road.
Detour signage will guide Munger Shaw Road motorists to use Hermantown Road, Jeffrey Road and Maple Grove Road. Highway 2 drivers will be rerouted via Canosia Road, Maple Grove Road and Midway Road.
Solway Town Hall will only be accessible from the north during this period. Munger Tavern can be reached from the south via Munger Shaw Road or west on Old Highway 2. The Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church will only be accessible from the east.
To facilitate the detour, the County is currently grading and applying calcium chloride to the alternative route and other local gravel roads expected to experience increased traffic.
The construction is scheduled to be completed by September 28.
FLOODWOOD NEWS
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will start pavement construction on Highway 2 near Floodwood on August 12. The project is a bituminous mill and overlay of the highway between Highway 200 and County Road 845/Maki Road. No work will occur in the City of Floodwood between Ash Street and Highway 73.
Motorists can expect lane closures, flaggers and use of a pilot car during operations. Work is expected to be complete by mid-October.
