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Although the Minnesota State Fair may have the public more focused on things at the end of sticks than under microscopes, state health officials recently conducted a tabletop exercise on flu vaccine distribution.

While some seasonal flu vaccine has already arrived in the state, MDH officials today (Wednesday, Aug. 26) indicated that large amounts of pandemic H1N1 vaccine might become available by late October or early November.

"We do need to take it seriously,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) of the threat poised by seasonal and the novel H1N1 influenzas. (Photo by T. W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

Read more: Large amounts of H1N1 vaccine may be available in fall

ECM Editorial Board -- Over the past 20 years test scores have been a significant part of the information available to the public for judging Minnesota’s schools.

For a great many of those years test data has served as the rallying point for school critics as if a constant harangue about failing scores would serve as the needed motivation to change education and sometimes a justification to curb investment in our schools.  A careful examination of test related results from national and international tests present a very different picture.

Read more: State education test results show commitment made to excellence

Don Heinzman Editorial -- School districts where tax levy referendums failed, will point to the economy as the main reason.

While that may be part of the answer, in this economy, 70 per cent of the school districts passed their levies, notably Anoka-Hennepin where a single operating levy question was on the ballot and passed by a significant margin, only four of the district’s 37 precincts not supporting the levy question.

Read more: In spite of depressed economy, 70 percent of state districts pass levies

Clicking on the Web -- Howard Lestrud, ECM Online Managing Editor-- Prior to making your mouth water about the wonderful food offerings to be featured on the Thanksgiving table, just take a few moments to recall why you are thankful. You may be thankful for good health, for having a job, for having a loving family and you may be thankful to be living in a free society. Sure, there are obstacles in the road, but Thanksgiving is a time to observe for its real meaning.

In this column we will look at the history of Thanksgiving once again and we will also add a few delicious recipes at the end.

Read more: Remember at Thanksgiving time to be truly thankful