>>DHS Inspector General Applauds Charges in Housing Stabilization Services Fraud
(St. Paul, MN) — State officials are welcoming federal criminal charges in the Housing Stabilization Services fraud scheme. Department of Human Services Inspector General James Clark called the charges against eight suspects a “vital step” in combatting fraud in Minnesota programs that are meant to help people in need. Clark said in a statement, “D-H-S is moving aggressively to review billing data to identify red flags across our programs and stop payments to fraudulent providers.” Investigators said the defendants set up companies to bill for fake or inflated housing services and pocketed millions of dollars.
>>Minnesota Department of Education Celebrates Second Year of Free Meals
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Department of Education is celebrating a successful second year of the state’s free meals program. Nutrition Program Services director Emily Honer says 151 million meals were served during the second year. She says the meals are not only free, but healthy and nutritious, allowing students to be better learners. Governor Walz’s office says the program has saved Minnesota families an average of $1,000 per student each year.
>>North Star Promise Program Benefits 53K College Students in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — A new report from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education shows more than 53 thousand students benefited from the North Star Promise program last school year. To be eligible, residents must attend an in-state public college, university, or tribal college and make below 80 thousand dollars a year. Spokesperson Keith Hovis explains that it’s essentially a “last dollar program.” Hovis says the average amount students received was $1,716 a semester.
>>Minnesota Democratic Congressional Delegation Concerned Over VA Staffing
(Washington, DC) — Minnesota’s Democratic congressional delegation is demanding answers when it comes to staffing issues with Veteran’s Affairs medical centers. It was announced Thursday that every V-A medical center in America is facing severe staffing shortages. In Minnesota, that equals 250 unstaffed positions. This comes as more positions could be open as the V-A announced it will reduce another 30,000 employees nationwide by the end of the month. The Minnesota delegation sent a letter demanding answers from the secretary of the V-A wanting to know how Minnesota veterans will receive their care and services during these shortages.
>>Fight Against Avian Influenza Ramping Up in Minnesota
(St. Paul, MN) — The fight against highly pathogenic avian influenza is ramping up in Minnesota following the first detected case since April. Doctor Shauna Voss of the state Board of Animal Health says they’re doing surveillance testing and looking for other infected flocks. She says fall migration is usually a higher risk period, and they were kind of waiting to find that first detection. Wild waterfowl are believed to be spreading avian influenza to commercial poultry flocks and farms. Voss says this has been an ongoing bird flu outbreak that started in 2022.
>>Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Forms Non-Profit Law Center
(St. Paul, MN) — The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is forming a non-profit law center to defend and expand the constitutional rights of gun owners through legal action. Co-founder Rob Doar will be the president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center. Doar has fought gun control laws at the State Capitol for years and has been speaking out against proposals to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines in response to the Annunciation School shooting. Doar says in a statement, “every dollar donated to the Law Center will go toward holding government accountable and defending the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.”
>>Report of Shots Fired on U of M East Bank Campus Thursday Evening
(Minneapolis, MN) — Police are investigating shots fired Thursday night on the University of Minnesota East Bank campus in Minneapolis. An alert from the U of M Police Department said a supervisor reported hearing gunshots near Rapson Hall. There was a group event going on inside the building with around 300 people. Responding officers did not find any shooting victims. Investigators cleared the scene about two hours later and said any possible suspect had left the area.
>>2nd Person Sentenced in South St. Paul Shooting
(Hastings, MN) — A man is sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the 2023 murder of 26-year-old Avontae King in South St. Paul. Dakota County prosecutors say 24-year-old Tre Iglesias pleaded guilty in July to aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and got credit for 665 days served. Court documents show Iglesias and co-defendant Andrew Fisher followed King after Fisher grabbed a bag of marijuana from his home. Fisher shot King in the chest on the sidewalk, and both men left in Iglesias’ vehicle. King died in the hospital.
>>Twins and Guardians Play Final Series at Target Field
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Minnesota Twins open a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians tonight (Fri) at Target Field. These are the last home games of a disappointing season for Minnesota. The 66-and-86 Twins had Thursday off after losing two of three to the Yankees. The 80-and-71 Guardians are battling for the final Wild Card spot in the American League. Pablo Lopez starts the opener against Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick. The Twins and Guardians are set to play a double-header on Saturday.
