MPR People


Lorna Benson

Lorna Benson

Reporter
Minnesota Public Radio
lbenson@mpr.org

Lorna Benson is a St. Paul-based correspondent for Minnesota Public Radio. She has been reporting for MPR since 1990, and hosted All Things Considered from 1997 to 2003. She has also worked at Minnesota Public Radio bureau stations in Rochester and St. Peter, where she was the news director. For a brief time in 1996, Benson worked at KPBS radio in San Diego, where she hosted Morning Edition and a weekly call-in program. She has been honored by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society, the Minnesota Medical Association, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Minnesota, Eli Lilly & Company and the Minnesota Education Association. Benson was the 2003 Commencement speaker at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Lorna Benson Feature Archive

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'Make It OK' campaign aims at mental illness stigma

A new campaign called "Make It OK" is encouraging Minnesotans to talk more openly about mental illness. (12/18/2012)
Sandy Hook Elementary School memorial

Trauma of Newtown shooting can extend to those without direct connection

New details about the Connecticut school shooting will emerge over the next few days and weeks. For some people, the extensive media coverage may become too much to bear. It's OK for people tune out as they cope with the trauma of the event, says a psychologist. (12/18/2012)

Some MN teens healthier than those in '90s

Minnesota teens have experienced substantial declines in rates of sexual activity, smoking, binge drinking and other risky health behaviors since the 1990s. (12/12/2012)

Fecal transplant offers rare hope against deadly colon disease

In an experimental treatment that may be the only way they can save some people who have contracted a dangerous colon infection, some Minnesota doctors are transplanting donated human feces into their patients' colons. (12/10/2012)

Prostate cancer scan advance helps Mayo doctors with early detection

A new scanning technique only available at the Mayo Clinic is helping doctors detect recurrent prostate cancer months, even years, earlier than before. The scan allows men with cancer to get treatment that is both faster and potentially more effective than current tests. (12/03/2012)

Minn. works to coordinate effort on housing safety

Health and housing leaders unveiled a new "Healthy Homes" plan this week that will try to coordinate the state's prevention work on problems such as mold, radon and carbon monoxide. (11/24/2012)

Alzheimer's Association encourages checking on family members with disease, symptoms

The Alzheimer's Association said it typically sees an increase in calls to its 24-hour helpline during and after Thanksgiving and Christmas. (11/22/2012)

Obese truckers have higher accident rate

Severely obese truckers have about a 50 percent higher accident rate in their first two years on the job than their colleagues who are a normal weight, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota-Morris. (11/20/2012)

Truckers' health focus of Mayo doctor's study

When many people think of truck drivers and their lifestyle, they likely envision someone who sits a lot, eats loads of unhealthy food and consumes too many soft drinks. (11/20/2012)

U study: Metro teens report surprising level of steroid use

University of Minnesota researchers have found that Twin Cities teens are using steroids and muscle-enhancing substances at higher rates than previously thought. (11/19/2012)

MN records 13th illness from bad steroids

Public health officials have confirmed Minnesota's 13th fungal infection linked to contaminated steroids. (11/15/2012)

Minn. launches effort to prevent early births

A new health campaign launching in Minnesota seeks to dispel the notion that it's safe to schedule an elective delivery before 39 weeks of pregnancy. (11/13/2012)

U of M to phase out 20-year-old HIV seminar program

A nearly 20-year-old HIV seminar program at the University of Minnesota is being retired because attendance has dropped. (11/12/2012)

Ritchie: Record number of ballots in Minn.

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said that Minnesotans cast a record number of ballots in Tuesday's election. (11/07/2012)

Minn. confirms 11th fungal meningitis case

Minnesota has confirmed its 11th case of fungal meningitis linked to contaminated steroids. (11/06/2012)