Advocates for the disability community have complained to Minneapolis officials about the city's new access and outreach manager, questioning his experience. The city, however defends the hire, saying that he "brings not only the right skills to this job, but also a passion for connecting with communities."

Two days ago, the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis told attorneys advising the state that it planned to seek a temporary restraining order challenging the governor's unallotment of $15 million for the program.

Related: Unlikely alliances work to save Minnesota's health-care program for the poor
Political Agenda: State will continue to cover GAMC enrollees until April 1

Restoring GAMC is the goal of police and the homeless, patients and providers, Jews and Catholics, labor groups and hospital CEOs, and liberals and a conservative or two.

Related: State will continue to cover GAMC enrollees until April 1

Though certain policy changes have wide support, the political dynamic is too poisoned right now, one expert suggests. Others see parts being salvaged.

A problem long hidden from public view, the commercial sexual exploitation of Indian women is getting new attention. Denise Ellis shares her 12-year struggle, which highlights some of the barriers and challenges to addressing the problem.

Scientists assign levels of magnitude to earthquakes — a 7.0 in the case of the quake that tragically shook Haiti. But that single number doesn't give the full measure of the trauma a quake can cause on the Earth's surface, said Professor Justin Revenaugh, a University of Minnesota geophysicist.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Few members of Congress know Haiti like Minnesota's U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, who worries that if the Haitian government fails in the current humanitarian crisis, "the political turmoil will be unimaginable."

The full toll Haiti will pay in misery and loss will not be counted for some time. In that regard, several Minnesota-based organizations are mobilizing to help. Here are a few.

One by one today, Minnesotans in a state health-care program for the poor outlined what will happen if coverage goes away or if they're switched to MinnesotaCare.

Twin Cities' shelters are full, churches are opening their basements to help with the overflow, and hundreds of people still sleep outdoors on any given night.

Former Sen. David Durenberger says his biggest disappointment in the health-care reform debate is "Republicans sitting on the sidelines." A big surprise was that Democrats still fashioned some reform proposals that appeal to his Republican roots.