>>State Officials Dispute Claims They Didn’t Cooperate in Medicaid Fraud Investigations
(St. Paul, MN) — State officials are pushing back against Trump administration claims that they are not cooperating with Medicaid fraud investigations. Department of Human Services Inspector General James Clark said, “we have been working with career federal and state partners for months to help them build criminal cases against most of these individuals – providing billing and ownership information, investigative files, and treatment records for many of the businesses.” Attorney General Keith Ellison says charges against some of these providers resulted from a joint-federal investigation in which the A-G’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit took part in. Assistant U-S Attorney General Collin McDonald said Thursday that Minnesota “has fallen significantly short” in terms of what a strong state and federal partnership looks like. Fifteen defendants were charged with defrauding state programs of 90 million dollars.
>>Legislative Leaders Prepare for ‘New Look’ Minnesota House and Senate in 2027
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Legislature will have a whole new look when the next session begins in January. There are 17 retirements in the Senate, and the midterm elections are in November. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said, “I often hear people talk about term limits, but I think the natural choices that people make in their retirements bring the right kind of freshness to balance with the experience that those who are staying behind and running again bring to the work.” House Republicans are expected to introduce their candidates for the midterms today (Fri ) on the State Capitol steps.
>>EPA Awards Minnesota $57 Million for Replacing Lead Water Lines
(Washington, DC) — The E-P-A is awarding Minnesota more than 57 million dollars to replace lead service water lines. This is the final year of federal funding for the program. The money comes from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and is part of the E-P-A’s 2037 deadline to eliminate all lead pipes used for drinking water. State lawmakers invested 15 million dollars for lead service line removal this session, but construction unions and Minnesota communities were seeking 100 million. They say there are 90 thousand lead pipes that need to be removed within ten years.
>>16-Year-Old Boy Killed, Man Wounded in Shooting near Minneapolis North High
(Minneapolis, MN) — Police in Minneapolis are investigating a shooting near North High School that left a 16-year-old boy dead and a man wounded. First responders found the teen outside with life-threatening gunshot wounds Thursday evening but were unable to save him. A 44-year-old man suffered an apparent non-life threatening gunshot injury and was taken to North Memorial. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said investigators are working urgently to determine exactly what happened and to identify every person responsible for this violence.
>>Iron Range Student Suspended for Bringing Toy Gun to School
(Iron, MN) — A ten-year-old student is suspended for the rest of the year for bringing a toy gun to Cherry School on the Iron Range. St. Louis County sheriff’s officers and other law enforcement responded Thursday to a report of a student with a gun in their backpack. Deputies say the student handed over a plastic toy gun to a social worker before they arrived. Investigators determined no threats were made to staff or other students.
>>Duluth Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Girlfriend’s Car
(Duluth, MN) — A Duluth man is pleading guilty to attempted second-degree murder for shooting at his girlfriend’s car last September. Prosecutors say 37-year-old Demetrius Norwood was at her house while she was away and ran up to her vehicle and threatened to kill her when she pulled up. Police said the woman sped away and Norwood shot at her twice, striking the trunk of her car. Norwood crashed into two unoccupied Duluth squad cars before being taken into custody. A small bottle of alcohol and a handgun were found in his vehicle. He’ll be sentenced in July.
>>Woman Wanted in String of Southern Minnesota Bank Fraud Cases
(Mankato, MN) — Authorities in southern Minnesota are searching for a woman accused of stealing more than 30-thousand dollars through a string of bank fraud cases this month. According to the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect used personal information belonging to other people to withdraw money from existing home equity lines of credit at banks in Waldorf, St. Peter, Eagle Lake, Hutchinson, and Rochester between May 7th and 13th. Investigators have released surveillance images of the suspect and are asking anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office or local law enforcement.
>>Keep Wildfire Safety in Mind this Holiday Weekend in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — Minnesotans are being urged to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires this holiday weekend. The D-N-R warns much of the state is already at moderate fire danger-and conditions could worsen with warmer temperatures, wind, and low humidity. Wildfire prevention specialist Karen Harrison says more than 90 percent of wildfires in Minnesota are caused by people. She says to keep campfires contained in a ring no larger than three-by- three feet, and clear flammable materials at least five feet around the area. Officials also remind people to use caution with outdoor equipment and avoid parking hot vehicles on dry grass.
>>Minnesota Lynx Beat Toronto Temp for First Target Center Victory
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Lynx are celebrating a 100-72 win over the Toronto Tempo Thursday night at Target Center. Maya Caldwell led Minnesota with 16 points off the bench; Courtney Williams scored 15 and grabbed eight rebounds, and rookie Olivia Miles added 14 points and five assists. This was the first home victory of the season for the 3-2 Lynx. Minnesota plays Saturday afternoon at the Chicago Sky.
