The Topline: Minnesota News in Numbers
Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of significant Minnesota news, both big and small. This week’s highlights include UnitedHealth’s fluctuating stock price, a look at home heating geography, a substantial increase in special education spending, and a successful deer hunting season.
UnitedHealth: Stock Dip and Scrutiny
A curious event followed the December 4th shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson: the company’s stock price initially surged. However, by the next day, it had plummeted, settling roughly 14% lower than its pre-shooting value. While the shooting and subsequent media attention likely contributed to this decline, other factors are also at play, including proposed bipartisan legislation aiming to force insurers like UnitedHealth to divest from any owned pharmacies.
UnitedHealth shareholders received substantial dividend payouts—approximately $7 per share last year and over $8 this year—largely derived from patient insurance premiums. These payouts significantly contribute to the high cost of American healthcare. Despite this, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty expressed confidence in meeting their long-term earnings growth projections (13% to 16%), promising returns for shareholders and value for consumers. However, recent reports from ProPublica reveal the company’s efforts to limit autism treatment access to control costs, and a lawsuit from Tennessee doctors accuses UnitedHealth of using “deny, delay, and underpay” tactics to reduce provider payments. As *New York Times* columnist Zeynep Tufekci noted, this highlights the unsettling reality of unaccountable entities profiting from patient vulnerability.
Heating Homes Across the Country
Cartographer Joshua Stevens utilized Census data to map home heating sources across the US. Electricity dominates in the mild South, while oil heating is prevalent in the Northeast. The upper Midwest shows a contrast, with rural areas primarily using propane and urban areas relying on natural gas. Stevens attributes this to the high cost and density requirements of natural gas pipeline installation, making it less feasible in sparsely populated areas. Even in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota (population 1,400), the switch to natural gas only recently occurred.
Special Education Funding Surge
MPR News reported a significant increase in state funding for special education, projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2029. This represents a jump from the historical 5-6% annual budget increases to 9% this year. With approximately 18% of the state’s school population utilizing special education services, officials attribute the rise to more comprehensive testing and diagnoses, coupled with inflation and increased educator wages. This news comes alongside the federal raid of two autism treatment centers amidst allegations of Medicaid fraud.
A Bountiful Deer Hunt
Contrary to past concerns about Minnesota deer populations dwindling due to wolf predation, hunters enjoyed a successful 2024 season, harvesting 163,743 deer—a 3% increase over the previous year and the first year-over-year rise since 2020. This aligns with the Department of Natural Resources’ assertion that harsh winters, not wolf populations, are the primary factor impacting deer numbers. The mild 2023-2024 winter likely contributed to the population rebound.
About the Author and Minnesota Reformer
*By Christopher Ingraham, Minnesota Reformer, December 16, 2024*
*(Include author bio and Minnesota Reformer information here, as provided in the original text. This section is omitted for brevity in this example.)*