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Note: Issuewatch stopped publishing in April 2003. This web content item has been officially retired and is being maintained online for historical purposes only. It may contain information and links which are no longer accurate

 
  
Minnesota IssueWatch presents brief summaries, called scans, of important trends or emerging issues reported in journals, newspapers and other sources. 

January/February 1997 Contents

Criminal justice 
• Judges and cities reviving public humiliation as crime-fighting tool
Economic development 
• Businesses mostly content with Minnesota business climate
Education 
• Four states choosing a balance of objective and subjective student testing 
• Some communities begin integrating high schools and community colleges 
• Higher educational institutions begin moderating price increases 
• Stock market bringing universities record returns but higher risk 
• Students increasingly trying to make ends meet with credit card debt 
Environment
 • Business, environmental groups push sustainable development in California 
Government administration 
• North and South Dakotas consider collaborating on some state functions  
• Federal government plans to make nearly all payments electronically by 1999 
• Ohio considers decentralizing state offices 
Health care 
• Diversity among physicians may promote care of under-served groups 
• Massachusetts provides consumers with physicians' malpractice histories 
• States' Medicaid trends echo private sector shift toward managed care
Social services 
• Texas first state to take bids for private welfare management
• "Second chance" homes meet new welfare requirement for teen mothers
• Number of alliances growing between nonprofit organizations, corporations  
Transportation 
• Boston area covering freeways as part of movement to improve neighborhoods 
• L.A. project expands highway management to include city streets
Overall Trends
• American eating habits deteriorating
• Employers stressing nonmonetary means to attract, motivate workers

Information included does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Minnesota Planning or the state of Minnesota.