Minnesota
‘Best Christmas Ever’ delivered to rural Minnesota family
BREWSTER, Minn. — Lots of hugs were shared, tears were shed and utter shock was witnessed as a rural Minnesota family was surprised with the Best Christmas Ever early Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14.
More than two dozen people caravaned behind a Brewster Fire Truck to deliver gifts to Austin and Stephanie VandeKamp and their 6-year-old daughter, Callee, in Brewster, Minnesota, in Nobles County.
Julie Buntjer / The Globe
“We just came to bring some joy to your life,” said Sue Hagen, one of the local coordinators for the nationwide nonprofit
Best Christmas Ever organization,
which surprises families who have experienced hard times. “Last year, with the loss of Jaelee, none of these gifts we’re bringing to you will ever replace her, but we just thought that your family deserved a little joy this Christmas.”
The Vande Kamps gave birth to their daughter, Jaelee, on Feb. 4, 2024. Shortly thereafter, Jaelee was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, TAPVR (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return). She spent her first eight months in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she had 10 surgeries and ultimately required continuous dialysis.
Stephanie didn’t get to hold Jaelee until she was 50 days old, and stayed with Jaelee for much of her hospitalization. When she did come home, Austin would go to the hospital to stay with their youngest daughter.
They were finally able to bring Jaelee home on Sept. 23, 2024. Because she was dependent on respiratory support, someone had to be awake with her 24/7, so Stephanie got very little sleep, family friend Ashley Prins detailed in the nomination letter she sent to Best Christmas Ever.
Julie Buntjer / The Globe
Jaelee died unexpectedly on Dec. 9, 2024, while attending regular follow-up appointments in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Jaelee’s death compounded the loss the family was still feeling from the sudden death of Stephanie’s dad from a heart attack on Easter morning 2022.
“The community just rallies around a family and they don’t even know who it will be,” Hagen said, noting that Bedford Industries, Sanford Worthington and District 518 were among employers who stepped up alongside community members to “help uplift a family.”
Locally, the Best Christmas Ever program is sponsored by the Astrup Family Foundation, owner of Sterling Pharmacy stores, which provides $5,000 toward a life-changing gift for a local family who has fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. Business partners included Worthington Federal Savings Bank and Runnings who, along with Sterling Pharmacy, had giving trees set up at their businesses in recent weeks to accept gifts and monetary donations for the recipients.
The VandeKamps were nominated for the Best Christmas Ever program by family friend Ashley Prins.
“I would love to make this year a joyous season again for them in regards to holidays and I would love to see the three of them be able to get away on a vacation and enjoy their time together as they missed out on so much of that during this life struggle,” Prins wrote in her letter.
Julie Buntjer / The Globe
In addition to a mound of neatly wrapped gifts — most of which were for Callee — the family was presented with a monetary gift of $7,403.07. The local Best Christmas Ever committee will work with the family on how the gift may be used.
“I don’t know what to say,” Austin said after accepting the money.
“Merry Christmas,” replied Chad Nixon, representing Worthington Federal Savings Bank.
Callee opened her largest box, which contained a child-sized recliner just for her, as well as two stuffed animals to match the chair. Stephanie and Austin received Minnesota Twins jerseys reflecting their favorite current Twins players.
Among the people on hand Sunday were last year’s recipients, the Adrian and Melissa Gonzalez family, of Worthington. The Gonzalezes lost their son, Emmitt, to cancer in September 2023.
Hagen also presented the family with over $1,000 in gift cards to local businesses, and noted that donations are still coming in. The Best Christmas Ever committee will meet again with the Vande Kamps after Christmas, she said.
The VandeKamps were completely surprised by the gesture — after admitting a bit of fear as to why a fire truck with lights on and siren blaring pulled into their rural Brewster farmyard.
“I thought right away my barn was on fire, my lambs were running everywhere, then I saw a big wad of cars and I thought, ‘what’?” Austin said.
Julie Buntjer became editor of The Globe in July 2021, after working as a beat reporter at the Worthington newspaper since December 2003. She has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture journalism from South Dakota State University.
Minnesota
Where to watch Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Chicago White Sox visit the Minnesota Twins.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins?
First pitch between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.
How to watch Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Minnesota
Minnesota Medicaid crisis: Thousands of care providers cut off from funding after state revalidation deadline
MN Medicaid deadline: Providers see funding cutoff
A rushed Medicaid review has left thousands of Minnesota care providers suddenly without funding, putting essential services, vulnerable patients, and jobs at risk. The sudden Medicaid cutoff comes after the federal government withheld $2 billion over fraud concerns, forcing the state to evaluate about 5,500 providers in high-risk programs in just five months.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – A rushed Medicaid review has left thousands of Minnesota care providers suddenly without funding, putting services and jobs at risk.
Providers face sudden Medicaid cutoff after federal pressure
What we know:
The deadline for Medicaid providers to complete the state’s revalidation process was midnight Sunday. Many, like Susan Holman of Legacy Place Assisted Living in Sauk Rapids, found themselves disenrolled without clear explanation. Holman said, “I’m disenrolled now. I’m disenrolled as of today.”
Holman and her husband have run their assisted living business for 14 years. She submitted all required documents on May 1, but by June 1, her application was still pending review. She then received notice that her Medicaid funding was terminated. “I don’t know if they meant to do all of this to everybody. I don’t know. But I know I’m not alone in this,” said Holman.
The review was triggered when the federal government withheld $2 billion in Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns. The state was forced to quickly check about 5,500 providers in 13 high-risk programs in just five months—a process that usually takes most states two years. As of last Wednesday, only about 1,000 providers had passed.
The impact on home care services
Why you should care:
Home care providers in northern Minnesota and along the North Shore are also facing funding cuts. Meghann Lewis and Codi Warnecke, who run Bella Mente Home Care and Heart & Hara Home Care, say the process has been confusing and communication has been lacking. “It’s just been really disorganized that there’s no up or down and there’s no one to talk to,” said Lewis.
Lewis received a letter confirming her revalidation, only to get another letter an hour later suspending her funding. “An hour later I had another private letter in the same mailbox that says we’re suspending your CFSS due to failed revalidation,” said Lewis. Warnecke said, “For the last two weeks, the payroll has come out of my personal pocket.”
Both are appealing the rejections and considering lawsuits against the state. Holman is also planning an appeal, but with as many as 5,000 businesses in the same situation, she doubts the state will resolve things quickly. Some businesses may not survive, which could put vulnerable people at risk of losing essential care.
Many providers are left frustrated and uncertain about their future. “This doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m so frustrated,” said Holman.
MN Medicaid providers revalidation limbo
A deadline for Minnesota Medicaid service providers to revalidate their services for federal funding has now come and gone. FOX 9’s Corin Hoggard explains what it could mean for some.
The state’s response and what happens next
The other side:
FOX 9’s Corin Hoggard tried to get answers from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, but the agency declined interviews and did not provide updated data about the review process.
Providers are left in limbo as they wait for appeals to be processed and hope for funding to be restored. In the meantime, they are doing what they can to keep services going for those who depend on them.
What we don’t know:
It is unclear how many providers will ultimately regain Medicaid funding or how quickly the state will resolve the appeals. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has not shared updated numbers or details about the next steps.
A man suffered serious injuries on Sunday when he hit two cows in the road while driving in central Minnesota, authorities said.
The man was on Kandiyohi County Road 29 near 13th Street Northwest in Lake Andrew Township when he struck the animals just before 11 p.m., the sheriff’s office there said.
The 22-year-old from Pennock, Minnesota, then went into the ditch and hit a tree before his vehicle rolled onto its side. He was treated at the scene and then taken to a hospital. The sheriff’s office said his injuries were not life-threatening.
-
Austin, TX5 minutes agoAustin OKs $2.35 billion of revenue bonds, eyes GO bond election
-
Alabama8 minutes agoAlabama football to adopt HeatSense, cutting edge heat safety technology
-
Alaska13 minutes agoAlaska Airlines debuts new Lounge in Portland, raising the bar for premium West Coast travel
-
Arizona20 minutes agoJudge orders Arizona couple to prison over Medicaid fraud
-
Arkansas23 minutes agoArkansas gymnatics coach Chris Brooks completes staff with hiring of Zan Jones | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
-
California28 minutes agoCalifornia Democratic gubernatorial candidate criticized over meeting with trans athlete | Fox News Video
-
Colorado35 minutes agoWhere to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
-
Connecticut38 minutes ago
Where to watch Connecticut Sun vs Atlanta Dream on June 2: TV channel, start time and streaming
