Forget fiscal cliffs, the Mayo Clinic has a different top agenda item for President Obama: health care. Mayo CEO Dr. John Noseworthy announced Wednesday an invitation to Obama and members of Congress to work with Mayo to fix the U.S. health-care system, which he called "unsustainable" in its current form.

"To preserve and strengthen our nation's economy, it is imperative that we take action now to create a new health-care model for America," Noseworthy said.

Although Obama passed the a wide-ranging health-care reform bill in his first term that is beginning to be implemented, Noseworthy was critical of the current model, the Rochester Post-Bulletin reports.

"Care for patients is fragmented, reimbursement inequitable and imprecise," he said. "An uncertain economy, challenges of an aging population and the federal deficit have combined to put even greater pressure on our nation and the country's not-for-profit health-care organizations."

The Rochester-based health care giant got a quick thumbs up from Minnesota's newly elected, wildly popular senator. "I am pleased that Mayo is on top of this right away," Amy Klobuchar told the paper. "I have been working with them for years and in fact worked with them on the quality index that we got in the health care bill which rewards high-quality, low-cost care."
The full story is here. __________________________________ Monticello officials are investigating accusations that a school bus driver choked a seventh-grade student. Travis Walker, 12 years old, told KMSP the driver became angry after he answered his cell phone aboard the bus. Walker's mother admits the boy has gotten in trouble with the driver once before, but she says that's no excuse to attack a child. School officials say the driver will remain suspended until four separate investigations are complete: by the Wright County Sheriff's Department, bus company Hoglund Transportation Inc., the school district and the Department of Education. __________________________________ Ryan Jay Muehlhauser, a 55 year old pastor at Lakeside Christian Church in Cambridge, was arrested Sunday night and later charged with eight felony counts of criminal sexual conduct. Charges outline sexual assaults against two men whom the pastor was supposed to be counseling about their sexual orientation. According to the charges, one victim met Muehlhauser two years ago at an event put on by Outpost Ministries, which tries to help homosexuals find "healing and restoration through relationship with Jesus Christ," according to its website. The victim said Muehlhauser "blessed" him in counseling sessions by cupping his genitals outside of his clothing and that Muehlhauser asked the victim to arouse himself in front of him. The victim also reported that Muehlhauser would have him strip naked for more "spiritual guidance" and have him masturbate while Muehlhauser prayed over him, according to the KARE report. The second victim reported similar activities. "You have a defendant who spends a significant amount of time working with and grooming victims, these are often cases that take place over a period of months and years," Isanti County Attorney Jeffrey Edblad told the station. "They don't happen in a vacuum." Here's the full story. __________________________________ News tip? Email us at DatelineMN@startribune.com Follow us on Twitter: @DatelineMN