Health

Publish an obituary in Hometown Focus

WHAT IS PUBLISHED FOR FREE:

  • HTF will publish a full obituary and a photo (if desired) on our website free of charge.
  • HTF will publish an abbreviated obituary (no photos) in the print edition of the newspaper free of charge.

HOW TO PAY FOR A FULL OBITURARY:

  • A full obituary and a photo (if desired) published in the print edition of the newspaper is charged by the column inch.
  • Once HTF receives the obituary, photo and your request for a full obituary, we will provide you with the cost prior to publication.
  • Payment is due prior to publication and can be handled by phone if paying with a credit card.

The deadline for submission of the print edition obituaries (both full and abbreviated) is first thing Thursday morning, although sooner is always better.

Please email: editor@htfnews.us

DMD is added to Minnesota’s newborn screening panel

Audio Article

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will add Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to the list of conditions for which Minnesota newborns are routinely screened. Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham approved the addition of DMD to the Newborn Screening Program following a recommendation by the state’s advisory committee. DMD is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, a genetic […]

Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 18 – 24

Audio Article
Everyone plays a part in keeping antibiotics effective

On Friday, November 17, the Lowry Avenue Bridge, I-35W Bridge and Capella Tower were lighted up in purple in honor of U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (November 18 – 24). State agencies and other partners are using U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week to shed light on the importance of ongoing antibiotic stewardship to protect human, animal and environmental health. This annual campaign […]

Health officials and pediatricians emphasize the ABCs of safe sleep

Audio Article

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is encouraging parents and caregivers to tune into what pediatricians are saying about the best ways to keep babies sleeping safely. Between 2014 and 2021, Minnesota averaged 46 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) each year. Nearly all those tragic deaths involved unsafe sleep environments. To prevent such tragedies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) […]

Widespread naloxone availability is a key response

Audio Article
Overdose deaths in Minnesota held steady in 2022

Overdose deaths held steady from 2021 to 2022—1,356 to 1,343— marking a plateau after several years of sharp increases, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Statewide Trends in Drug Overdose: Preliminary 2022 Data Update. At the same time, the preliminary data showed fentanyl-related overdoses continued to take a tragic toll, keeping deaths at a historically high level. Fentanyl, […]

Healthy for Life

Audio Article


As our day-to-day life is continually changing, it is essential to feel grounded and to seek out those things that bring you back into perspective or relaxed if needed. As constant challenges interrupt our time and energy, you may want to make sure you keep note of those simple pleasures that make you feel in place. Here are a few […]

Massage For HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Let massage help your posture


Did you grow up with an adult in your life, telling you to sit up straight in your chair or not to slouch when you walk? There’s a lot of good advice in those reminders, though they may not have been received well. Our bodies really like to be in balance. They work to keep our eyes level and spine […]

Massage For HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Audio Article
Susan says: stretch!


This article’s topic is something I have gone over before, it’s about the importance of stretching. I am revisiting it for two reasons. The first is I strongly believe in the power of stretching. Thanks to my friend Julie, I was reminded of the importance of stretching after a workout in the gym. Second, I came across an excellent article […]

Massage For HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Audio Article
Oh, ouch! Massage helps seniors keep moving


Oh, ouch! Bending and twisting can be such a challenge at times and the older I get, the more I feel it. Sometimes, more than others. This last week I had a few clients in for massage who fit the bill. Two are in their 70s and the other one is in his 80s, so their aches and pains are […]

MASSAGE FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Combine massage with your summer fun


How is your summer going? Are you enjoying the warmer temps? Doesn’t it feel wonderful to be out in the summer heat, being able to enjoy sunshine? It does feel extraordinary and especially nice after the long winter we just went through. I find it to be the incentive I need to get outside and spend time doing the things […]

Losing your Medical Assistance coverage? Check your options through MNsure’s marketplace

Audio Article

STATEWIDE – As roughly 1.5 million Minnesotans who currently have Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program) or MinnesotaCare coverage are scheduled to go through the eligibility renewal process over the next year, some will find out they are no longer eligible for these public health care programs and need to find new health insurance. Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace, MNsure, is […]


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