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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

World AIDS Day Observed Amid Concerns in Minnesota

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Friday, November 29, 2013   

MINNEAPOLIS – This Sunday marks the observance of World AIDS Day and it comes at a time when there are rising concerns in Minnesota.

David Kurtzon, program manager of Teenwise Minnesota, says the rate of new HIV cases has pretty much plateaued locally, but that could change as fewer young people are protecting themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.

"We have noted in the most recent Minnesota Student Survey a falling rate of condom use among adolescents,” he explains. “And while, at this point, it's difficult to determine exactly what that impact will be, there's certainly concern that that could lead to an uptick in adolescent HIV infections in our state."

In Minnesota, nearly 3,500 deaths have been attributed to HIV and AIDS, and there are now more than 7,500 people living with the disease statewide.

In addition to more use of protection, Kurtzon says another key to helping stop the spread of HIV is getting regular screenings for a greater number of people in at-risk populations.

As it is now, he says the age group most commonly diagnosed is 25 to 34, but many were unknowingly infected long before.

"And they're not finding out about it until a decade later, when they come in for a test or they become really sick,” he says. “So while we have made some advances, testing in general would catch more infections earlier, which means we could treat much better, because as we know with these new anti-retro viral drugs that are so effective, the earlier you can get going with them, the better."

One strategy that Kurtzon says is working to increase testing for some clinics in Minnesota is reaching out into the community.

"There are many cases where, especially young people but adults as well, are not going to come to your clinic or hospital proactively,” he explains. “But if you're there – if you're at their church or at their community center and you're offering free testing – you can often get a lot of people in the door."

Over the past 30 years worldwide, more than 60 million have been infected with HIV and AIDS and 25 million have died.





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