>>New Website for Reporting Fraud and Waste in State Government
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota has a new tool to report fraud and government waste in the state. State Representative Kristin Robbins from Maple Grove unveiled a new website for reporting fraud and government waste – mnfraud.com. Robbins says the secure website gives state employees, service providers and recipients of state money a place to report suspected fraud. The site is designed to collect tips so the newly created House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee can review them. Robbins is also working on a bill to increase protections for whistleblowers.
>>Additional Testing on Milk Positive for Bird Flu in Stearns County
(St. Paul, MN) — Additional testing is being done on milk from a Stearns County dairy herd that tested positive for H-5-N-1 influenza or bird flu. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health’s Doctor Brian Hoefs says further testing will determine if this is active infection or if it potentially is an infection that is waxing and waning and on its way out. Milk samples from the farm will be tested weekly until there are three consecutive weeks of negative testing. He says all milk sold in stores is safe because it is pasteurized to kill bacteria and viruses including H-5 N-1.
>>5 Arrested in Washington County for Attempting to Solicit Minors
(Stillwater, MN) — Washington County authorities say five people are jailed on felony charges for attempting to solicit minors in Newport. Officers from the East Metro Human Trafficking Force, Cottage Grove and Forest Lake conducted a sting operation last Thursday. Investigators say the suspects chatted on social media with undercover officers posing as minors and were arrested as they arrived at the meeting place. Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry said, “We are dedicated, along with our local law enforcement partners, to combat sex and human trafficking within our communities.” Fourteen people were arrested in a sex trafficking sting in Bloomington last week including ex-state Senator Justin Eichorn of Grand Rapids.
>>Rochester Man Draws 22-Year Sentence for Producing Child Pornography
(Minneapolis, MN) — A man from Rochester faces 22 years in federal prison for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 28-year-old Kevyn Heath made and distributed child pornography on an online social platform in November and December of 2023. Prosecutors say his crimes involved sexual contact with infant or toddler victims in his custody, care, or control. Heath pleaded guilty in November and must pay $106,000 in restitution.
>>Ramsey County Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years for Multiple Carjackings
(Minneapolis, MN) — A Ramsey County man will spend more than five years in federal prison for a string of carjackings in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Court documents say 22-year-old Ricardo Walker Junior carjacked someone, demanding everything in their pockets and hitting them in the head with a handgun on June 30th, 2022. Prosecutors say Walker also participated in three other carjackings between February 2021 and June 2022, all of which used threats of violence and firearms. Walker was in arrested in July 2022 in Maplewood possessing a 9-millimeter pistol in a stolen car. He pleaded guilty in November.
>>Nudieland Shooter Sentenced to 23-Plus Years in State Prison
(Minneapolis, MN) — The man accused of aiding and abetting a mass shooting at a Minneapolis backyard concert in August of 2023 is sentenced to over 23 years in prison. Hennepin County prosecutors say Dominic Burris pleaded guilty in January for the shooting at queer music venue Nudieland that killed 35-year-old August Golden and injured six others. Burris was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, but the court agreed to charge him as an adult. His co-defendant, 18-year-old Cyrell Boyd, took a plea deal to testify against Burris, allowing him to skip prison and serve his sentence at a juvenile facility in Red Wing until he’s 26 years old.
>>Minnesota DNR Puts Spring Burning Restrictions in Place
(St. Paul, MN) — Spring burning restrictions are officially in place across Minnesota. D-N-R Wildfire prevention specialist Karen Harrison says spring is the most active time for wildfires in Minnesota because of high winds and dry vegetation. Fifteen counties in central Minnesota will have the restrictions in place. Harrison says backyard fires or campfires aren’t restricted, but bigger fires to help get rid of yard waste will be. More information on burning restrictions can be found on the D-N-R’s website.
>>Spring Break Travel in Full Swing at MSP Airport
(Bloomington, MN) — If you’re flying out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) later this week, it’s important to arrive early. Airport spokesman Jeff Lea says all signs are pointing to Thursday and Friday being two of the busiest days at M-S-P this spring break. In fact, they anticipate that over 51,000 people will pass through security each of those days.
>>MnDOT Warns of E-ZPass Scam
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Transportation is warning residents about a nationwide text scam. Scammers are sending fake messages claiming that individuals have an invoice, violation, or bill related to Minnesota E-ZPass. MnDOT officials emphasize that they will never contact you via email or text message to request payment or personal information. If you receive a message like this, please delete it and report it as fraudulent activity.
>>University of Minnesota to Welcome New Men’s Basketball Coach Medved
(Minneapolis, MN) — The University of Minnesota will introduce new men’s basketball coach Niko Medved today (Tues 12pm) during a news conference. Fifty-one-year-old Medved comes to the Golden Gophers after seven seasons as head coach at Colorado State. The Roseville native is reportedly signing a six-year contract with his alma mater. He was a student manager at the U of M under Clem Haskins in the 1990s and later a Gopher assistant coach. Medved said, “this job was too special to pass up.”
