>>Emmer Touts Conservative You Tuber’s Fraud Investigation Video
(Delano, MN) — The investigation into alleged federal fraud in Minnesota is intensifying. This follows the release of a YouTube video by a right wing influencer that appears to show abandoned daycare centers in the state continuing to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies. Republican Congressman Tom Emmer said, “This Nick Shirley goes out there and finds more evidence of fraud in one day than Tim Walz, and our Attorney General Keith Ellison have found in seven years. Why did he find it? Cause he looked for it.” Despite raising concerns about the report’s accuracy, state regulators dispatched inspectors to each center featured in the video to determine whether any licensing violations or other issues existed. A manager at the Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis said it serves 50 to 80 children on an average day and employs 25 workers.
>>State Medicaid Director Updates DHS Fraud Prevention Plans
(St. Paul, MN) — The state’s Medicaid director is giving an update on how the Department of Human Services (DHS) is detecting and preventing fraud. John Connolly says the process has started by an auditing partner to review more than 80,000 claims in 14 high-risk Medicaid services. He says the red flags they’re looking for include: “Is there an escalation in billing that might be concerning. A trend that’s identified as questionable. Are there certain rules that might not have been followed in terms of who’s eligible for the services and things of that nature or certain elements of the claim that need to be present but weren’t.” Connolly says any claim that appears to have red flags won’t be paid and could be referred to the Office of Inspector General for D-H-S for further investigation.
>>Senator John Hoffman of Champlin Announces Run for Fifth Term
(Champlin, MN) — Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman is seeking a fifth term in office next year. In a Facebook post, Hoffman wrote that “we’ve seen firsthand where hate and dehumanization can lead. My family survived it.” He and his wife, Yvette, were shot in their Champlin home in June during what law enforcement has described as a politically motivated attack. Hoffman said he is running for reelection to “keep leading with dignity.” He represents Senate District 34 in the northwest metro.
>>St. Cloud Minister Jose Running for Minnesota House
(St. Cloud, MN) — A minister from St. Cloud is running for the Minnesota House next year. John Jose is seeking the Republican nomination in House District 14-A. State Representative Bernie Perryman is vacating the seat and running for Minnesota Senate. Jose says he served eight years in the U-S Navy and Naval Reserve. He became an ordained minister in 2001 and has been involved at Joy Christian Center in St. Cloud for 30 years.
>>Reclassifying Cannabis as Schedule III Substance Won’t Happen Overnight
(Redwood County, MN) — President Trump’s executive order reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance won’t happen overnight. Shawn Weber of the Minnesota Cannabis Growers Cooperative & Industry Council says it’s a step in right direction. He says, “In the short term, nothing changes. In the long term, the D-E-A will have to reschedule it and then there will be a series of meetings to address rules and regulations, and that could take months to a year.” Weber says rescheduling would change the federal tax code and ease the banking industry’s fear of federal regulators.
>>Murder Charges Filed in Attack on Security Guard at Wyoming Hospital
(Wyoming, MN) — A Chisago City man is now charged in the deadly assault of a security guard on Christmas Day at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, Minnesota. Thirty-five-year-old Jonathan Chet Winch is facing one count of second-degree murder in the death of 43-year-old Andrea Merrell. The criminal complaint says a security camera appears to show Winch on top of Merrell hitting her multiple times. She died two days later of traumatic head injuries. Investigators say Winch was placed on medical hold and trying to get away in a hospital security vehicle when stopped by Merrell.
>>Team USA Rallies Past Slovakia at World Juniors
(Saint Paul, MN) — Team U-S-A pulled off a 6-5 comeback win over Slovakia Monday night in the World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena. James Hagens scored twice, and Will Zellers of Maple Grove netted his third game-winning goal of the tournament. The U-S erased an early 2-0 deficit and took its first lead just 18 seconds into the third period. Caleb Heil of Victoria made 26 saves in net. The Americans close preliminary play tomorrow (Wed 5pm) against Sweden.
>>Minnesota Wild Skate Past Golden Knights in Vegas
(Las Vegas, NV) — The Minnesota Wild cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Golden Knights Monday night in Las Vegas. Marcus Johansson scored 26 seconds into the game and Minnesota built a 5-0 lead before Vegas answered in the second period. Matt Boldy netted his 25th goal and Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber, and Joel Eriksson Ek all lit the lamp. Filip Gustavsson made 14 saves for the win. The Wild’s seven-game road trip continues with a New Year’s Eve matinee (Wed 3pm) in San Jose.
>>Wolves Rout Bulls in Chicago to Snap 2 Game Skid
(Chicago, IL) — The Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a two-game losing streak Monday night with a 136-101 win over the Bulls in Chicago. Naz Reid scored a game-high 33 points off the bench, Anthony Edwards had 23, and Julius Randle added 17 points and 14 assists. The Wolves improve to 21-12 while the Bulls fall to 15-17. Minnesota plays the Hawks in Atlanta at 2 pm on New Year’s Eve.
