Midwest
Minnesota mayors say constituents ‘scared’ as fraud crisis leaves questions unanswered
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Two of the nearly 100 Minnesota mayors demanding answers about the state’s unfolding fraud crisis described a climate of relentless uncertainty that has left some constituents “scared” about what lies ahead.
“My community is reaching out to me because they’re not getting answers from DHS, from other legislators, and they’re scared. There’s so much unknown… and, as a mayor, we are the front line. We try to help them,” South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis said on “Fox & Friends” Wednesday.
So far, that help has involved putting concerned constituents in contact with county officials to find the answers they seek.
“Those that are receiving those benefits are really scared and frightened of what’s next because they don’t know,” he added.
COMER SUMMONS MINNESOTA OFFICIALS AS HOUSE PROBES MASSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES FRAUD
Crosslake, Minnesota, Mayor Jackson Purfeerst, left, and South St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Jimmy Francis, right. (Fox & Friends)
The scandal dates back to at least 2020 and involves fraudulent billing for a wide range of government services. It largely involves, but is not limited to, the state’s Somali community.
Crosslake, Minnesota, Mayor Jackson Purfeerst spearheaded a letter co-signed by nearly 100 mayors to Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials on Monday, expressing deep concerns over the development.
“Fraud, unchecked spending and inconsistent fiscal management in St. Paul have trickled down to our cities. … Our state owes it to our citizens to practice responsible fiscal management and to stop taxing our families, seniors and businesses out of Minnesota,” the letter reads in part.
Purfeerst said the number of mayors signing on to the letter is growing and stressed the extent of the crisis afflicting Minnesotans.
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY DEMANDS MINNESOTA FIX SNAP BENEFITS FOR 4 COUNTIES IMMEDIATELY UNDER PILOT PROGRAM
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sits for an interview with Star Tribune journalists in his office at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Dec. 12, 2024. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“If we do the quick math, $9 billion in fraud divided by 5.79 million Minnesotans comes out to roughly be 1,500 bucks a person that each hardworking Minnesotan has had stolen from them,” he said.
Walz, who is running for a third term, took accountability in recent remarks to reporters.
“This is on my watch. I am accountable for this. And more importantly, I am the one that will fix it,” he said.
But Walz questioned whether federal prosecutors’ accusations that the fraud could have totaled in the billions were politically motivated.
“You should be equally outraged about $1 or whatever that number is, but they’re using that number without the proof behind it,” Walz said. “But to extrapolate what that number is for sensationalism, or to make statements about it, it doesn’t really help us.”
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A spokesperson for Walz blasted the fraud investigation in a statement published in the Minnesota Star Tribune.
“This is clearly a coordinated political attack to try to silence one of the President’s most effective critics. The Governor takes fraud seriously and wishes they would too.”
Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
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South Dakota
Retired Air Force four-star general Maryanne Miller speaks at South Dakota Mines
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Students at South Dakota Mines heard Wednesday from retired four-star general Maryanne Miller about her journey to the highest ranks of the U.S. military.
Miller is a retired four-star U.S. Air Force general. She is the only member of the Air Force Reserve ever to be promoted to this level.
She spoke about finding greatness and living a life of fulfillment. Her stories came from her time in the Air Force and as a volunteer for Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity.
“We so much get focused on what is our next step in life, what’s the next career move, how do we make ourselves better in our career, and we forget about how do we make ourselves better as a human being,” Miller said. “Because they have to go tandem. If it’s not tandem, you’re going to get off track.”
Miller was commissioned in 1981 and rose through the ranks before becoming a four-star general in 2018. She was the only woman serving as a four-star officer in the military at the time. She retired in 2020 after serving for almost 40 years.
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Wisconsin
These Wisconsin Rapids restaurants are offering Easter specials
If you’re looking to make reservations for an Easter meal, check out these Wisconsin Rapids-area restaurants.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Calendars are quickly filling up with Easter services, egg hunts, photos with bunnies and brunch plans.
If cooking isn’t your thing, or you’ve been too busy to plan and cook this year, you have options in the Wisconsin Rapids area. Several local restaurants and businesses have you covered with all of your favorite Easter treats.
The following Wisconsin Rapids-area restaurants and businesses will be offering Easter breakfast, brunch or dinner.
- Branding Iron Supper Club will offer an Easter Dinner from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 5 at 9721 State 13 S. in Saratoga. The Easter menu includes a ham dinner, a prime rib dinner, Branding Iron’s full menu, salad bar and a fresh fruit mimosa bar. The Easter Bunny will also visit from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations are available at 715-325-8102.
- Lake Arrowhead Association will host an Easter Brunch Buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 5 at Lake Arrowhead, 1195 Apache Lane in Rome. The menu will include a variety of options including a carving station for prime rib and smoked ham, mahi mahi with a Korean glaze, sliced pork loin, chicken Alfredo, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, french fries, baby red potatoes, carrots, a build-your-own omelet station, biscuits and gravy, french toast sticks, pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, vegetables and more. Reservations are required, including a $25 non-refundable deposit to reserve a spot and can be made at 715-325-2915 or banquets@lakearrowheadgolf.com or events@lakearrowheadgolf.com.
- Nekoosa Court will host an Easter Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 4 at Nekoosa Court, 145 N. Cedar St. in Nekoosa. Breakfast will include all-you-can-eat eggs, sausage, pancakes and beverages with an Easter Egg Hunt to follow.
- Olympic II will host Easter Weekend Specials from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 4 and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5 at 2520 Eighth St. S. in Wisconsin Rapids. The Easter specials include a breakfast special of an 8-ounce New York strip steak and eggs, hashbrowns and toast, as well as a tenderloin and jumbo shrimp dish, a roast turkey and ham combo, chicken breast and four shrimp, ham steak, roast chicken and roast turkey. Reservations and orders for takeout can be placed at 715-424-4744.
- Quality Foods is offering a complete Heat & Serve Easter Dinner, including a ham dinner for eight people with off-the-bone ham, mashed potatoes and beef gravy or eight three-cheese twice-baked potatoes, homemade stuffing, Hawaiian rolls, green bean casserole and eight slices of cheesecake. The store also will offer an Easter prime rib dinner for four, including prime rib, four three-cheese twice-baked potatoes, Hawaiian rolls, green bean casserole and cheesecake while supplies last at 1021 W. Grand Ave. and 1811 Baker Drive in Wisconsin Rapids. Orders must be placed by April 1 at 715-423-8350 for Baker Drive and at 715-423-9750 for West Grand Avenue. Orders must be picked up by noon April 5.
- Slice of Heaven Bakery will host a free Easter dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 at 1158 Snow Pass in Rome. Guests can eat at the event or order for takeout. Reservations are not needed, but those who need a delivery should contact rebeccalacount@gmail.com or call 608-449-0702.
- The Whitney will offer an Easter Breakfast Buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 5 at Hotel Mead Resorts & Convention Centers, 451 E. Grand Ave. in Wisconsin Rapids. Hot dishes include pancakes, pumpkin spice pancakes, french toast casserole, cheesy hashbrown casserole, quiche, frittatas, breakfast burritos, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, breakfast sandwiches, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy and chicken and wild rice soup. Cold dishes include a yogurt bar, fruit skewers, deviled eggs, muffins, cranberry bread, croissants, biscuits and an English muffin. Desserts include fruit pie, carrot cake, peach cobbler and coffee cake. The buffet is available by reservation only at 715-423-1500.
Want to add your business to the list? Please email cshuda@usatodayco.com with the name of your restaurant, your Easter hours, what your Easter menu will include, and whether reservations are required.
Detroit, MI
Metro Detroit weather forecast, March 26, 2026 — 11 p.m. Update
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