Local briefs

Steve Bradach, northeast regional office director for Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., will discuss the senator's Health Care Help Line, on Friday morning.

Bradach will meet with St. Joseph's Medical Center officials at 9 a.m. Friday. At 10 a.m. he'll meet with area residents who may need help with insurance claims. Both sessions are in the council chambers at Brainerd City Hall.

Last year Dayton established a toll-free number in his Senate office that Minnesotans can call for help if their HMOs or insurance companies have either denied them care or refused to pay for care they have already received. The number 1-866-296-4319.

Safety Web site is launched

The Minnesota Safety Council has launched a Web site to help children learn about staying safe from injuries: www.safe-a-rooni-org.

The site combines education and play to raise awareness of unintentional injury risks and reinforces safer choices. The site also can help adults protect children from injury.

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages 1 and older.

Tim Penny slated to be at Crow Wing fair

Tim Penny, Independence Party candidate for governor, is scheduled to be at the Crow Wing County Fair from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday. He will be at the Independence Party booth, just north of the administration building.

Mississippi Headwaters Board to meet Aug. 16

WALKER -- The Mississippi Headwaters Board will meet 9 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Cass County Courthouse in Walker.