>>Medicaid Fraud Offenders Face Prison Under New Minnesota Guidelines
(St. Paul, MN) — People convicted of stealing more than one million dollars from Minnesota’s Medicaid program will now face presumptive prison sentences under new state sentencing guidelines. The change follows a request from Attorney General Keith Ellison after lawmakers approved tougher Medicaid fraud penalties earlier this year. Under the new guidelines, a first-time offender would face a presumptive four-year prison sentence instead of probation for the most serious Medicaid fraud offenses.
>>Wildfire Activity Picks Up Near Loon Lake
(Ely, MN) — Wildfire activity is increasing again in northeastern Minnesota, especially near Loon Lake, as stronger winds move into the region. The July Lightning Incident has now burned more than 64,700 acres, with about 960 firefighters assigned. The Little Knife Fire has grown slightly to 4,815 acres but is now 90 percent contained, and management will return to the Superior National Forest tomorrow. Crews are also making progress on the Camp Fire, now 69 percent contained, while firefighters continue building containment lines on the Sioux, Wolfpack, Bear Trap, and Thumb fires. Officials continue to urge visitors to follow closures, burn restrictions, and avoid flying drones near the fires.
>>Ely Wildfire Recovery Fund Receives $30,000 Donation
(Ely, MN) – The Ely Wildfire Recovery Fund is receiving a $30,000 gift from three organizations dedicated to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness region. The organizations, Boundary Waters Connect, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and Save the Boundary Waters are each contributing $10,000 to support residents, workers and small businesses impacted by the wildfires. The money will be administered through the United Way of Northeast Minnesota.
>>Senate Funding Bill Includes Help for Minnesota Hemp Industry
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that the Senate’s bipartisan government funding bill does include a delay to the federal hemp ban. The Senate bill would fund the federal government and delay the looming federal hemp ban until at least December 11th of this year. This provision will give Minnesota hemp farmers, brewers and small businesses additional time to plan for the future. The Minnesota hemp industry employs around 3,400 workers around the state and brings in millions of dollars in tax revenues.
>>Vance Boelter Appears in Court to Face State Charges
(Minneapolis, MN) — Convicted killer Vance Boelter is due in Hennepin County court this afternoon (1:15) on state charges in last year’s shootings that killed former House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Boelter was sentenced in federal court last month to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years after pleading guilty. Prosecutors are moving forward with the state case, where first-degree murder charges carry a mandatory sentence of life without parole if he’s convicted.
>>Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Otter Tail County Crash
(Underwood, MN) — A 45-year-old Dalton man suffered severe, possibly life-threatening injuries in a motorcycle crash Friday night south of Underwood. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office says the rider lost control of the motorcycle and went into a ditch. He was airlifted by Life Link to Essentia Health in Fargo for treatment.
>>Blatnik Bridge Design Unveiled August 12
(Duluth, MN) – If you’re curious as to what the new Blatnik Bridge in Duluth-Superior will look like, there’s a public unveiling planned for August 12th. The Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation are holding an open house along with the contractor for the project, Ames-Kraemer Joint Venture II. The groups will share information on the new bridge design, traffic impacts expected this fall and the project timeline. The open house is from 5-7 p.m. at the Superior High School Performing Arts Center.
>>Poll Finds Most Minnesotans Support Year-Round E15 Sales
(Burnsville, MN) — A new survey commissioned by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association finds broad bipartisan support for allowing year-round sales of E15 gasoline in Minnesota. The poll of 950 adults found 68 percent support permanent access to the fuel blend, with backing from Democrats, Republicans and independents. Support increased to 76 percent after respondents received information about E15. The U.S. House has already passed legislation allowing year-round E15 sales nationwide, but the measure is still awaiting action in the Senate.
>>Bernick Family Foundation Opens $300,000 Grant Program
(St. Cloud, MN) — The Bernick Family Foundation is accepting applications for up to 300-thousand dollars in grants to support youth education and healthy lifestyles across parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Eligible nonprofits, schools and government entities can apply for grants ranging from five-thousand to 40-thousand dollars through September 30th. Funding is available in communities served by Bernick’s, including Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Waite Park, Willmar, Superior and Dresser. Applications are available through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation’s online grant portal.
