Jen Anderson was a motivational speaker who raised tens of thousands of dollars to help find a cure for cancer. An annual fundraising bike ride in the Twin Cities area was started in her honor. Anderson's fight with cancer lasted six years. She once said "Giving up is so easy. It's the choosing to fight every day that is the real challenge."

Research from the University of Minnesota says a long-term treatment approach is significantly better at helping smokers kick the habit compared to conventional, short-term programs. Under the long-term approach, care providers continually encourage smokers to reduce their use with the ultimate goal of quitting altogether.

The Basilica of St. Mary is just one of the 25 metro sites receiving preservation grants from Partners in Preservation. The organization funds restoration of historical sites throughout the nation and awarded the Minneapolis cathedral over $100,000.

Minnesota's latest effort to fight abuse of heroin and other opiates brings together a range of government departments and health care providers. The health, public safety, human services, and education departments are all involved. So are doctors, since many addictions grow out of the painkillers they prescribe.

Readmitting patients too soon after discharge is going to cost two dozen Minnesota hospitals. The hospitals will have to forfeit a small percentage of their Medicare funding -- a result of the new federal health care law, which considers readmissions as a sign the hospital could do a better job at coordinating and following up on patient care.

Twin Metals Minnesota, a joint venture pursuing the development of an underground copper, nickel and platinum group metals mine in Northeastern Minnesota, announced Tuesday that it has been selected as a recipient of Finance & Commerce's 2012 Progress Minnesota award.

Republican Senator and Finance Committee Chairman David Hann accuses the Democratic governor of going around a state law that would allow him to halt the spending of millions of dollars in federal grants for the state's health-care programs. Hann says he wants more information about how the state would spent the money. Forum Communications reports Dayton's budget office marked the funds "urgent," which means the money wouldn't require legislators' approval.

Minnesota has been awarded $15.5 million in federal funding to offer small businesses loans in hopes of boosting the local economy. The money is part of President Obama's Small Business Jobs Act, which was signed into law last year.