>>Medicaid Director Says Progress Being Made in Fight Against Fraud
(St. Paul, MN) – It appears Minnesota’s Medicaid program is making progress when it comes to stopping fraud. In the past 90 days, Optum has been reviewing fee-for-service Medicaid claims before payments are made, and red flagging items that need another look. In regard to the new success, state Medicaid Director John Connolly said, “We did not have tools up to the task of responding to the increasing fraud schemes that we have been grappling with particularly in the last year or so. And so, I think this is a step in recognizing that we needed more. We have gaps that we need to deal with, and this is a really key step in closing those gaps.” Optum will continue to review pre-payments for the next nine months, keeping an eye on the 14 highest risk services for fraud.
>>Rep. Morrison Initially Denied Entry to Whipple Detention Facility
(Minneapolis, MN) — U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison was initially denied entry Thursday evening during an unannounced oversight visit to the Whipple detention facility in Minneapolis, despite a federal court order affirming her right to inspect ICE facilities. The visit was Morrison’s third overall and her first since a federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration must restore members of Congress’ ability to conduct unannounced oversight of immigration detention facilities. Morrison said she continues to receive reports of inhumane conditions inside the taxpayer-funded facility and raised concerns about the administration’s “Operation Metro Surge.” During the visit, Morrison, a physician, learned there is no protocol to prevent the spread of measles between detention facilities, including transfers between Whipple and Texas, where a detention center is currently experiencing an outbreak.
>>Stewartville Man Killed in Rochester Semi Crash
(Rochester, MN) — A 48-year-old Stewartville man is dead after a crash involving a semi-truck in Rochester Thursday. The State Patrol says the man was driving a Chevy Express van north on Highway 63 when it collided with a northbound Freightliner semi just before 11 a.m. The van driver died at the scene. His name has not yet been released. The semi-driver, a 55-year-old man from Grand Meadow, was uninjured. Troopers say the road was wet at the time, and the victim was not wearing a seatbelt.
>>Mangione to Stand State Trial in June for Shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO
(Manhattan, NY) — Luigi Mangione will face a state trial for the alleged killing of UnitedHealthcare C-E-O Brian Thompson before the case goes to federal court. A judge in New York Friday set the state murder trial for June 8th. Mangione pleaded not guilty to murder, weapons, and forgery charges. Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024. His federal trial is scheduled to begin October 13th.
>>Woman Crashes Car near Robbinsdale City Hall While Followed by Federal Agents
(Robbinsdale, MN) — Police in Robbinsdale say a woman crashed her car into a retaining wall near City Hall Thursday while federal agents were trying to stop her. The vehicle was unoccupied and the woman was found inside experiencing a high level of anxiety. Officers say they learned federal agents were attempting to stop the vehicle to arrest a different passenger. The woman cooperated and was given a ride home. The Robbinsdale P-D said it does not cooperate with ICE agents.
>>PUC Approves Xcel’s Transmission Line Project in Southern Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved Xcel Energy’s Mankato to Mississippi River transmission line project. According to Xcel Energy, the new transmission line will relieve congestion on the 345 kV system in southern Minnesota and Wisconsin, improve reliability, and allow more renewable energy to reach customers. The utility estimates the project will generate $3.8 billion in economic savings over the next 40 years.
