>>Federal Officials Announce 15 People Charged with Defrauding State Millions in State Programs
(Minneapolis, MN) — Federal officials gathered in Minneapolis Thursday to announce criminal charges against 15 people accused of defrauding several Minnesota state-run programs. The Department of Justice says the alleged schemes involved millions of taxpayer dollars tied to programs including Medicaid, housing assistance, autism services, and meal programs. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald called the level of fraud in Minnesota “shocking” and warned the investigation is far from over. Top Trump administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, joined federal law enforcement leaders for the announcement.
>>Bemidji Man Facing Multiple Sex Crimes
(Bemidji, MN) — A Bemidji man is facing sex crime charges in five North Dakota counties after investigators say he had an inappropriate relationship with a girl from the time she was 14 until she was 17. Forty-four-year-old Scott Skjerva is accused of meeting the victim while they worked together at a café in New Rockford and continuing the relationship for several years across multiple counties. According to court documents, Skjerva admitted the encounters happened in vehicles, hotels, parks, and homes while he was married at the time.
>>Rep. Fischbach Presses for Action to Protect U.S. Sugar Producers
(Washington, D.C.) — Republican Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach is joining a bipartisan push urging the Trump Administration to crack down on what lawmakers call unfair foreign sugar trade practices. Fischbach signed a letter asking U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to investigate foreign sugar producers accused of undercutting American farmers and processors. Lawmakers say the domestic sugar industry supports more than 151-thousand jobs nationwide and generates over 23-billion dollars in economic activity. The letter warns that continued low-priced foreign imports threaten the long-term future of U.S. sugar beet and sugarcane production, including operations in Minnesota.
>>Expect Company on the Roads this Memorial Day Weekend
(Minneapolis, MN) — Despite higher gas prices and economic concerns, Memorial Day travel is expected to hit record levels this year. Triple-A projects nearly 45 million Americans, including many Minnesotans, will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday weekend. Triple-A Minnesota spokeswoman Brynna Knapp says some travelers may shorten their trips or stay closer to home as fuel prices climb. She says drivers should also expect heavy congestion Thursday, Friday, and again Monday afternoon. The average price for regular unleaded in Minnesota is now around $4.40 a gallon, up sharply from about $3.02 at this time last year.
>>Teen Injured in Dirt Bike Crash in Central Minnesota
(Rice, MN) — A 15-year-old girl from Rice was injured in a dirt bike crash Wednesday evening in Morrison County. Authorities say the
teen was riding in Two Rivers Township when she collided with a car driven by 25-year-old Chloe Supan of Bowlus that was turning into a driveway. Investigators say the girl was thrown from the bike and struck the windshield of the vehicle. She was wearing a helmet and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with unknown injuries. The driver of the car was not hurt.
