>>Teenager Charged with Making School Threats
(Hastings, MN) – A 16-year-old boy is charged with four counts of threats of violence in connection with online threats made against several schools earlier this week. The Dakota County Attorney, Kathy Keena, says on Monday evening, the Apple Valley Police Department was contacted regarding a series of posts made on several social media platforms about threats directed at four high schools. Officers identified the source of the threats as a teenage boy from Eagan. The teen is being held at the Juvenile Services Center in Hastings. His next court appearance is Tuesday, December 23rd.
>>Minnesota Man Charged in St. Croix County Decomposed Skull Cold Case
(Hudson, MN) — A Minnesota man is charged in the investigation into a decomposed skull found in western Wisconsin more than 23 years ago. The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office says D-N-A and genetic genealogy were used to identify the remains as 91-year-old Alyce Peterson of Stillwater, Minnesota. She died in the hospital in July 2001 of natural causes. Prosecutors are charging 57-year-old Benjamin Hanson of Bayport with hiding a corpse and felony theft. The criminal complaint says Hanson worked at the funeral home that handled Peterson’s service.
>>Representative West Praises Trump’s Cannabis Rescheduling
(St. Paul, MN) — Republican State Representative Nolan West of Blaine applauded President Trump’s executive order lowering cannabis to a less restrictive drug classification. West noted the move will ease tax burdens for Minnesota’s struggling cannabis market. “Without this rescheduling, businesses faced effective tax rates near 70 percent. This change lets them deduct operating expenses like any other business, lowering taxes dramatically.” He added that the decision comes at a critical time as Minnesota works to fix its cannabis laws.
>>AG Ellison Vows to Defend Gender-Affirming Care
(St. Paul, MN) — Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned the Trump Administration’s proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care, calling it “healthcare that saves lives.” Ellison stressed the rules are not yet in effect and reminded Minnesotans that discrimination against transgender patients is illegal in Minnesota. “Decisions about care must remain between young people, their doctors, and their families, not the federal government,” Ellison said. He pledged to defend providers and transgender rights, saying he’s taken the Trump Administration to court before and will not hesitate to do so again.
>>6 Charged, 1 Pleads Guilty in Ongoing MN Fraud Schemes
(St. Paul, MN) — Six more defendants involved in the Autism and Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) fraud schemes are facing federal charges, and one pleaded guilty today (THURS). In the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) Autism fraud scheme, a man was charged with wire fraud, and a woman pleaded guilty to wire fraud. In the H-S-S fraud scheme, five people were charged with wire fraud. The court also unsealed a search warrant for Ultimate Home Health Services L-L-C, which participated in the Integrated Community Supports (ICS) fraud scheme. Medicaid has paid out over 400 million dollars for I-C-S services since 2021.
6 Defendants Charged:
Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf, 27-EIDBI Autism
Anthony Waddell Jefferson, 37-HSS
Lester Brown, 53-HSS
Hassan Ahmed Hussein, 28-HSS
Ahmed Abdirashid Mohamed, 27-HSS
Kaamil Omar Sallah, 26-HSS
1 Plead Guilty:
Asha Farhan Hassan, 28-EIDBI Autism
>>U.S. House Passes Gray Wolf Delisting Bill
(Washington, D.C.) — Republican Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach is celebrating the U-S House passage of the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which would remove gray wolves from the federal endangered species list and return management to the states. Fischbach says the wolf population is fully recovered and thriving, citing science-based decisions repeatedly overturned by courts. According to the Minnesota D-N-R, gray wolves have rebounded from near extinction in the 1970s to more than 27 hundred animals today, well above federal recovery goals. Supporters say delisting is critical for protecting livestock and pets in rural communities. The bill now heads to the Senate.
>>Former MN Senate Minority Leader Hann Announces U.S. Senate Run
(Eden Prairie, MN) — Former Republican Minnesota Senate Minority Leader David Hann is running for the U-S Senate. Hann says his campaign will focus on restoring affordability, accountability, and public safety. He criticized Democratic leaders for rising costs and government corruption, citing the Feeding Our Future fraud case as an example of waste impacting Minnesota families. Hann also called for stronger border security to curb fentanyl and enforce immigration laws, saying he would partner with President Trump on those efforts.
>>Kevin Garnett Joining Timberwolves and Lynx in New Role
(Minneapolis, MN) — N-B-A Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett is reuniting with the Minnesota Timberwolves. E-S-P-N reports Garnett will take on a new role with the Wolves and Lynx involving business, community, fan engagement, and content development. The Timberwolves are also expected to retire Garnett’s number 21 and raise it in the rafters at Target Center. K-G spent 14 seasons in Minnesota and is the only player to be named M-V-P. Garnett had a fractured relationship with former team owner Glen Taylor. Alex Rodriguez and Mark Lore (LOR’-ee) are the new majority owners of the Wolves and Lynx.
