May 14, 2026
The University of Minnesota Medical School and Staples, Minn.-based Lakewood Health System are expanding rural physician training in the state with a new residency program.
The Lakewood Rural Residency Program was recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Residents will start the three-year program with one year of training with the North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in North Minneapolis, followed by two years with Lakewood Health System in Staples. The program will train two new family medicine physicians per year.
Students can start applying to the program in September 2026, with the first cohort set to begin in the summer of 2027.
This new program joins the Willmar Rural Family Medicine Residency Program and the Grand Itasca Rural Family Medicine Residency Program as the only rural family medicine training programs in Minnesota — creating new opportunities for medical students seeking specialized training in rural healthcare.
More information about the new residency program can be found here.
November 5, 2026
Minnesota Democrats had a strong showing on Election Day, November 3, expanding their majority in the Senate, and breaking the two-year tie in the House to regain control of both chambers.
November 5, 2026
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported on October 29 that the number of measles cases in Minnesota for 2026 has reached a total of 80 cases — the most the state has seen in a single year since 1990.
November 5, 2026
On October 29, a federal judge ruled that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) exceeded its authority when it restricted the definition of medical frailty – for the purpose of Medicaid work requirement exemptions– beyond the language in statute H.R. 1 (i.e., the One Big Beautiful Bill Act).