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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Minnesota Makes Progress on Reducing Premature Births

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Wednesday, November 19, 2014   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The latest figures show the preterm birth rate in Minnesota continues to trend downward, but the progress has been slow toward the goal of healthier babies here and across the nation. As of last year, the U.S. premature birth rate had fallen to 11.4 percent. In Minnesota, the rate dropped to 9.8 percent, says Martha Overby, director of program services with the state chapter of the March of Dimes.

"We are focusing our attention on making sure that babies went to full term, 39 weeks or 40 weeks, and unless medically necessary avoiding early elective deliveries," says Overby. "Minnesota has really led the charge on that front."

The March of Dimes is leading the campaign to reduce the nation's preterm birth rate, with a goal of 9.6 percent or less by 2020.

Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and babies who survive often face the risk of serious and sometimes lifelong health issues. Overby says, further reducing the number of babies being born too soon can save billions of dollars in health and societal costs.

"The average birth in Minnesota is just under $5,000," she says. "The average stay in a neonatal intensive care unit is around $55,000; that's why it's important to reduce our preterm birth rate."

Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn't clear, but factors that may increase the risk include smoking, some infections and some chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.


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