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CBP director faces charges for allegedly defrauding FEMA and lying to feds

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CBP director faces charges for allegedly defrauding FEMA and lying to feds

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) director in Michigan has been accused of running a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after a series of floods damaged her home in 2023.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a criminal complaint against 55-year-old Serina Baker-Hill on Wednesday, charging her with engaging in a scheme to defraud FEMA and lying to federal agents.

Baker-Hill is a career employee with CBP and serves as director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering.

“Following efforts with our interagency partners, I can report that a career Director level employee at US Customs and Border Protection has been charged with allegedly attempting to defraud FEMA, as well as lying to federal agents,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X. 

RUBIO PAUSES FOREIGN AID FROM STATE DEPARTMENT AND USAID TO ENSURE IT PUTS ‘AMERICA FIRST’

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“This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people. Justice will be done. Thanks to our partners @AGPamBondi @TheJusticeDept and our @FBIDetroit team for their work.”

FEMA approved Michigan’s request for a federal disaster declaration after a series of floods devastated the Detroit area in August 2023. The disaster declaration allowed residents to apply for FEMA assistance.

The DOJ said Baker-Hill applied for assistance after her home was damaged by flooding, and a FEMA inspector determined there had been damage to the basement of the house.

While the inspector was conducting the inspection, Baker-Hill allegedly said she could not safely live in the home while repairs were being made. So, FEMA approved benefits to help her pay for the repairs. She was also provided two months of rental assistance, which the approval letter indicated was to be used solely to help Baker-Hill pay rent and essential utility costs while in temporary housing.

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A CBP director in Michigan has been accused of defrauding FEMA and lying to federal agents. (CBP Field Operations/X)

Investigators reviewed Baker-Hill’s bank records and say they discovered that none of the money was used for rental, hotel or utility expenses.

Surveillance video from the home was also reviewed by investigators and allegedly showed that she and her husband continued to live in the home after receiving rental assistance funds from FEMA.

USAID HEAD PETER MAROCCO TELLS LAWMAKERS HE’S EYEING POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FOREIGN AID FRAUD: REPORT

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch on the uniform of a Rio Grande Valley sector chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol.  (CBP)

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Records also did not show a significant drop in utilities that were consistent with the home being unoccupied during the time period, according to the DOJ.

Agents from the FBI and CBP Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) interviewed Baker-Hill, who denied committing a crime or defrauding the U.S. government.

 

The investigation is ongoing. Once complete, a determination will be made on whether to seek a felony indictment.

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Minnesota

What are the fastest growing suburbs in the Twin Cities?

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What are the fastest growing suburbs in the Twin Cities?


The outer edges of the Twin Cities are booming with new places to live. 

So far this decade, the Twin Cities metro has, on average, added about 17,000 housing units per year, according to data from the Metropolitan Council. That includes homes, condos and apartments.

If you go by total housing units added, at the top of the list is Lakeville, a city growing so fast it put a pause on accepting new building permits. It has added 4,861 units from 2020 to 2025.

It’s followed in order by Woodbury (4,271 units), Maple Grove (3,599 units), Rosemount (3,186 units), Cottage Grove (2,279 units) and Blaine (2,677).

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“Those suburban edge communities have the land supply, and they have the infrastructure, and the connection to the metro,” Todd Graham, the Metropolitan Council’s principal forecaster, explained.

Space to add homes and infrastructure to handle the growth, all while staying within the metro bubble, is why developers are targeting those communities.

Cottage Grove has been adding about 287 homes a year this decade, but the mayor tells us of a new trend. 

“What’s changing is we are seeing additional multifamily apartments, higher density,” said Myron Bailey. “And then we’re putting a little bit more focus on some affordability options, especially around our business park.”

Which suburbs will grow the most in the future?

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If you go by population, Blaine and Maple Grove are forecasted to add about 20,000 people each from 2020 to 2050.

But if you go by percentage, two communities stand out. Corcoran in Hennepin County is expected to more than triple its population from 6,185 in 2020 to 19,600 in 2050. Carver in Carver County will see its population nearly triple from 5,241 in 2020 to 14,900 in 2050.

“We’re planning for it in the City of Carver. We have a long-term financial plan, we have a strategic plan, we have a comprehensive plan,” said Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson.

For example, new builds will push the limits of Carver’s current water treatment plant sometime in the next decade. 

“We are already thinking about where and how we’re going to build a new one to expand our capacity to bring fresh water into homes,” she said.

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Cottage Grove is building a second water tower right now on the west side of Highway 61, with plans for a third in the future. The city also has ample space to add homes and businesses.

Carver, meanwhile, has a smaller footprint, but it has an agreement in place with the neighboring Dahlgren township.

“When the landowners in that community are approached by developers for homes or commercial, they would then become part of the City of Carver, and then our boundary area would expand,” said Johnson.

Corcoran’s boundaries are the opposite of Carver’s. The town covers just under 36 square miles, making its land size similar to Maple Grove and Plymouth. Most of it still consists of farmland, prairies and wooded areas with home developments spread throughout.

A spokesperson for Corcoran told WCCO that new developments will be focused on the eastern third of the city, where growth can be best supported. That includes a new water tower and water treatment plant in the city’s northeast district.

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With more neighborhoods and people come a need for more entertainment, dining and shopping. Bailey said that’s becoming apparent in his community.

“The biggest complaint that I get is we don’t have enough restaurants or retail in our community. So, that’s been frankly one of the things that I’ve been trying to work on,” said Bailey.

One element of growth that is particularly challenging for smaller towns is maintaining their small-town image. Johnson said much of Carver’s development is happening on their western edge, where farmland is plentiful. The downtown area near the Minnesota River, however, will keep its historic charm. 

“We have one of the largest contiguous areas on the National Register of Historic Places. That’s never going to change, and we’re working really hard to maintain that area and promote our historic downtown,” she said.

Corcoran is taking a similar approach, balancing the need for growth while preserving the city’s existing character. Being a rural community is part of the city’s identity, meaning growth will have to happen in a “thoughtful and intentional way.”

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Closer to the heart of the metro, cities like Edina and Bloomington are projected to add thousands of households over the next several decades. There’s very little space to build new subdivisions and homes, but that’s not where the growth is expected to happen. 

“They identify that they have land supply available for transition to either high-density apartments or mixed-use neighborhoods,” said Graham. 

That includes rezoning land initially developed for commercial property to allow for apartments and condos. 

“In the Southdale area, you’ve seen that there are apartment buildings going up and there are plans for more of that,” Graham said.

To see how your community in the Twin Cities is projected to grow by the year 2050, click here.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for May 4, 2026

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 4 drawing

30-36-42-60-63, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 4 drawing

Midday: 3-0-1

Midday Wild: 6

Evening: 1-8-0

Evening Wild: 3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 4 drawing

Midday: 9-9-3-3

Midday Wild: 0

Evening: 0-2-0-8

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 4 drawing

Early Bird: 13

Morning: 12

Matinee: 08

Prime Time: 15

Night Owl: 10

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 4 drawing

19-21-24-32-35

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 4 drawing

20-32-35-51-60, Powerball: 07

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

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P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
  • Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
  • Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
  • Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Nebraska

Huebner for Nebraska – Ad from 2026-05-05

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Huebner for Nebraska – Ad from 2026-05-05


Details for Huebner for Nebraska – Ad from 2026-05-05




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