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Fraud trial juror claims she received $120K payment, was promised more if she voted to acquit

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Fraud trial juror claims she received 0K payment, was promised more if she voted to acquit

A juror was dismissed Monday after reporting that a woman dropped a bag of $120,000 in cash at her home and offered her more money if she would vote to acquit seven people charged with stealing more than $40 million from a program meant to feed children during the pandemic.

“This is completely beyond the pale,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in court on Monday. “This is outrageous behavior. This is stuff that happens in mob movies.”

These seven are the first of 70 defendants expected to go to trial in a conspiracy that cost taxpayers $250 million. Eighteen others have pleaded guilty, and authorities said they recovered about $50 million in one of the nation’s largest pandemic-related fraud cases. Prosecutors say just a fraction of the money went to feed low-income kids, while the rest was spent on luxury cars, jewelry, travel and property.

DEMOCRATIC MINNESOTA STATE SENATOR’S OWN PARTY CALLING FOR HER RESIGNATION AFTER BURGLARY CHARGE

The 23-year-old juror said she immediately turned over the bag of cash to police. She said a woman left it with her father-in-law Sunday with the message that she’d get another bag of cash if she voted to acquit, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

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A fraud trial juror in Minnesota was dismissed after claiming someone attempted to bribe her with six-figure payouts in exchange for the defendants’ acquittals. (Fox News)

Defense attorney Andrew Birrell told the judge that the bag of cash is “a troubling and upsetting accusation.”

Before allowing the trial to continue with more closing arguments on Monday, U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel questioned the remaining 17 jurors and alternates, and none reported any unauthorized contact. She didn’t decide immediately whether to sequester the jury or detain the defendants, but she did order an FBI agent to confiscate the defendants’ phones.

The aid money came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was administered by the state Department of Education. Nonprofits and other partners under the program were supposed to serve meals to kids.

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Two of the groups involved, Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition, were small nonprofits before the pandemic, but in 2021 they disbursed around $200 million each. Prosecutors allege they produced invoices for meals that were never served, ran shell companies, laundered money, indulged in passport fraud and accepted kickbacks.

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Milwaukee, WI

Check out these Milwaukee-area places to celebrate Pi Day on March 14

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Check out these Milwaukee-area places to celebrate Pi Day on March 14


For math enthusiasts and foodies, Pi Day on March 14 is upon us once again.

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We all know what pie is, but what the heck is pi? Pi ― 3.14 ― is the ratio of the circumference of a circle (the distance around the outside of it) to the diameter of that circle (the distance edge-to-edge). As we may have learned in math class, no matter the size of the circle, pi is always 3.14.

Hence on March 14, many bakeries and eateries in and around Milwaukee are offering pie sales and diverse pie selections. A selection of them are listed below.

Note that pie availability is typically while supplies last and preordering or calling beforehand is recommended. If there is a bakery or restaurant that is recognizing Pi Day and is not included in this list, let us know so we can add it.

Gather Bakehouse in Bay View

At Gather Bakehouse, the bakery will have mini 3-inch pies as well as 9-inch pies. Flavors include Dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb, cherry, French silk, honey custard and key lime. There will also be preorder options.

Location: 1100 E. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee

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Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It’s closed on Monday.

For more information: Visit gatherbakehouse.com

National Bakery & Deli in Brookfield, Greendale and Milwaukee

National Bakery & Deli will have multiple pies available for National Pi Day: banana cream, cherry, apple, chocolate cream, Dutch apple and strawberry cream.

Location: 13820 W. Greenfield Ave., Brookfield; 5637 Broad St., Greendale; and 3200 S. 16th St., Milwaukee.

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Hours for all locations: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information or to order online: Visit nationalbakery.com

Kelly’s Pot Pies & More in Greenfield and East Troy

Kelly’s Pot Pies & More will have $3.14 off any large Reuben pot pie or shepherd’s pie beginning Pi Day and running through St. Patrick’s Day. These specials will be at both the East Troy and Greenfield stores.

Kelly’s Pot Pies & More also has other pot pies, including beef, turkey, veggie, taco and pizza. They also offer quiche, cheesecake, lemon torte and key lime pie.

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To help guarantee a pie, order online two hours or more in advance.

Locations: 3785 S. 108th St. in Greenfield; and 3268 Main St. in East Troy

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

To order online or for more information: Visit kellyspotpies.com.

Mr. Dye’s Pies at 3rd Street Market Hall in Milwaukee

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At Mr. Dye’s Pies at 3rd Street Market Hall, there are a plethora of pies sold by the slice or as a whole pie including peanut butter, sweet potato, pecan, key lime and blueberry.Location: 5504 W. State St. (First Floor, South Hall located in the row of stalls to the right of Dairyland)

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday

For more information: Visit 3rdstmarkethall.com/locations/all-vendors/mrdyespies

The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago

The Elegant Farmer will participate on National Pi Day from March 9 to 15 and will offer $3.14 off 5-inch apple pies baked in a paper bag (original price is $9.99). The pies baked in a bag feature a flaky crust with a sugar cookie-like top. 

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Location: 1545 Main St. (at Highways ES & J) in Mukwonago

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

For more information or to order: Order online at elegantfarmer.com or call 262-363-6770

Periwinkle’s Bakery in Waukesha

Periwinkle’s Bakery on Broadway in Waukesha will have its full pie menu for special order on March 14 and a variety of 9-inch-deep dish pies for sale that same day at its retail location at neighboring Rochester Deli. These include French Silk, caramel apple, Key West lime, wild blueberry and peanut butter French silk.

Online orders need to be placed the week prior.

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Location: 143 W. Broadway, Waukesha (Bakery for purchase inside of Rochester Deli)

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday

For more information: Visit periwinklesbakery.com

All in Favor, Say Pie in Waukesha

At All in Favor, Say Pie, you can order your pie online to pick up in Waukesha. Flavors include Door County cherry pie, apple blueberry, Dutch apple pie, cranberry apple, mixed berry and blueberry. Pies should be ordered two to five days in advance.

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For more information and to order: Visit https://sites.google.com/view/allinfavorsaypie/home

Aggie’s Bakery and Cake Shop in West Allis

Aggie’s Bakery and Cake Shop will sell pies including cherry, apple, caramel apple, blueberry, peach and banana cream pie on National Pi Day.

Location: 7328 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday

For more information: Call 414-482-1288 or visit aggiesbakery.com

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The Bake Sale in West Allis

The Bake Sale in West Allis has pie options that customers can order online days in advance which include key lime, French silk, apple, caramel apple, strawberry rhubarb, pecan, whiskey chocolate pecan and fruity pebble. Pies are available on National Pi Day while supplies last. Select pies are available in the store.

Location: 6923 W. Becher St., West Allis

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday

For more information or to order: 414-543-4230 or bakesalewestallis.com

Bishop’s Sweets in West Allis

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For National Pi Day, Bishop’s Sweets will have whole pies and slices available while supplies last. If you want a specialty pie or to ensure there is one ready, order the pie 72 hours before March 14.

The featured pie flavors include apple, cherry, banana cream, coconut cream and Bishop’s Sweets requested favorite, French silk pie. The bakery will also be introducing additional pies for people to try, including chess, buttermilk and Mississippi mud pie.

Location: 8005 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis. Bishop’s Sweets also offers delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on National Pi Day, March 14, or until the pies are sold out. Otherwise, hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. (It is closed Monday through Thursday.)

For more information: Visit www.facebook.com/BishopsSweets or call 414-763-2436.

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Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy



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Minneapolis, MN

City officials report less speeding at corners with traffic cameras in Minneapolis

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City officials report less speeding at corners with traffic cameras in Minneapolis


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Indianapolis, IN

We speak for ourselves in IPS-charter debate. Don’t dismiss us. | Letters

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We speak for ourselves in IPS-charter debate. Don’t dismiss us. | Letters


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The signers of a recent statement by the African American Coalition of Indianapolis questioning who speaks for the Black community raise concerns about process while our students of color continue to be left behind in a public education system that offers too little opportunity and too few positive outcomes.

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We agree that parents and students should be heard, which is why we’re troubled that our voices were overlooked during the public process led by the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance. We were present at nearly every ILEA meeting, sharing our personal experiences and asking leaders to take bold action, and we spent months discussing and researching ideas before offering a series of recommendations to improve schools in both IPS and the charter sector.

For many of us, speaking up to improve public education in our city goes back years. We have consistently focused on stronger accountability for all schools within IPS and on growing what works in communities that most need quality schools. So we have to ask: Did you not hear us? Or did you choose to ignore us because our opinions don’t align with yours? Are you now trying to diminish our voices by suggesting that our affiliation with certain organizations means we can’t think or speak for ourselves?

Let us be clear. Our advocacy is driven by our own experiences, and it is these perspectives that add value to the debate we’re having as a community. We live in neighborhoods that are directly impacted by the opportunity gap. It takes courage to advocate, and when voices like ours are attacked, it discourages others in our community from standing up and speaking out.

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We strongly support IPS — many of us attended the district as children and have our own students there now. We also support a system of quality charter schools, and we will continue to advocate for both despite attempts to pit sectors against one another. While these recent words and claims are unfair and deeply hurtful, we remain dedicated to bringing voices together to solve problems.

It is time to stop the toxic politics of school type and focus on progress for children, especially Black and brown students who have been harmed by a tragic opportunity gap that has existed for generations. While House Bill 1423 is not perfect, we see it as the best opportunity in many years to hold all schools accountable for improved results, expand transportation and access across IPS, and move toward financial stability across the system.

You may disagree with us on the policy, and that is OK. But please do not dismiss our voices or discount our stories, which represent so many in IPS who simply want a high-quality, safe public school experience for their children.

LaToya Hale, Greg Henson, Dontia Dyson, Cristal Salgado and Swantella Nelson are Indianapolis parents.

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