Minnesota offers $47 million in grants to reduce obesity, smoking

Minnesota will announce $47 million in grants to 40 communities to fight smoking and obesity, the first fruits of a landmark 2008 bill designed to revamp and improve healthcare in the state. The grants will help finance such projects as replacing soda with healthier drinks in public park vending machines, encouraging apartment buildings to voluntarily go smoke-free, figuring out how schools can open gyms to the public in off hours, and helping businesses promote walking and biking for employees.