A report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor has found “serious ethical issues and numerous conflicts of interests” in some of the University of Minnesota’s research programs, prompting the school to halt registration in all its psychiatric drug studies.

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By: Karla Dumas, Registered Dietitian with the Humane Society of the United States

Balancing your schedule between classes, studying, friends, work and maybe even sleep, you may not give much thought to what your next meal will be. But before you grab that cheeseburger or pepperoni pizza, remember: What you put into your body today can set the stage for the rest of your life.

With March being National Nutrition Month, now is a good time to focus on making informed food choices.

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By: Regan Luker, University student

As a student at the University of Minnesota, one of the top research universities in the nation, I am greatly concerned with the proposed legislation dealing with patent reform. I agree there is a need to cut down on abusive patent practices under the current law by so-called “patent trolls.” However, current legislation in Congress is too broad in addressing this problem. The unintended consequences of the Innovation Act are too great to ignore.

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By: Destanie Martin-Johnson

In Grand Rapids, Minn., Our Community’s Children is a public and private partnership involving the city, its public schools and community members. The group recently introduced a new initiative called “To College, Through College,” which aims to increase post-secondary success for everyone, with a special focus on “first-generation college students, low-income families and African American and Hispanic populations.”

Professional guidance and community involvement will help the students in the program achieve success.

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By: Ethan Nelson

University of Minnesota researchers found officials’ political affiliation can determine their level of support for using neuroscience in criminal sentencing.

Republican and Independent political leaders are more likely to approve the use of neuroscience while sentencing criminals when the practice results in harsher rulings than the criminal would have otherwise received, according to a recently published by University researchers.

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By: Charlie Bartlett

Veterinary medicine student Ashley Hall recalls with frustration the day she had to bring her 6-year-old son to class so she could take an exam.

“That was not the best situation,” she said, adding that her son spent the length of the exam running around the classroom.

Hall, a student senator and vice president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, is now working to alleviate some of the burdens students with children face, which she says include strict absence policies and a lack of resources for graduate and professional student parents.

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By: Barry Lytton

After a month of studying and repairing bicycles, two people will ride away from a small shop near the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on free bikes.

A mile south of the West Bank, the nonprofit SPOKES Bike Walk Connect center began its Earn-A-Bike program on Saturday. The program, now in its third year, consists of a four-week course aimed at getting community members who might not otherwise be able to afford a bike on two wheels.

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By: Ben Gotz

As the Gophers enter the season’s home stretch, they’re a model of consistency.

But it’s not the type of consistency they’re looking for.

For the third consecutive weekend, the team won its opening contest before falling the next day.

Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Ohio State could prove particularly costly for the Gophers, as they would have moved into first place in the Big Ten with a victory.

Instead, the Gophers are tied for second place and back on the NCAA tournament bubble.

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By: Grant Donald

Two years ago, Bemidji State was the owner of the worst record in the WCHA and the Gophers handily swept them in the WCHA tournament’s first round.

Now, the script has completely flipped after the Beavers shut out Minnesota 1-0 for the second time this season, preventing the Gophers from reaching the WCHA Final Face-Off title game for the first time since 2001.

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By: David Nelson

Richard Pitino has done almost everything to get the Minnesota men’s basketball team back on track.

He’s banned Twitter, flip-flopped point guards and shuffled frontcourt rotations, all to no avail.

Fans and pundits even pointed fingers at the head coach himself as Pitino tried to fix a hole in Minnesota’s ship using duct tape.

The fact is, this season came down to not what the Gophers had on their bench, but what they didn’t have: depth.

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