Federal funding cuts

The delayed Forest Service grants would have supported prescribed burns and other fuel-reduction efforts on thousands of acres near the Echo Trail, which has borne the brunt of this year’s fires.

The feds say they need more documentation from those states to support some Medicaid claims for services that are at high risk for fraud.

Between 36% and 41% of various services provided by the surveyed groups, ranging from healthcare to legal assistance, “have been or will be reduced due to funding cuts,” according to the report.

The five-month process reviewed Medicaid providers in 13 service areas in all 87 counties, with more than 3,400 providers disenrolled by the state's Department of Human Services.

Following high-profile fraud cases, Minnesota will join other states in overhauling systems to comply with stricter Medicaid work requirements.

As KAXE celebrates 50 years of community radio, Heidi Holtan talks with John Barth and Kevin Anderson about the early years.

The county and MnDOT will exchange federal funds in a "highly unusual" move, so the county can keep using labor agreements. But three projects will have to be delayed a year.

The U.S. Forest Service will close its decades-old Grand Rapids research office as part of a national reorganization. The lab produces world-renowned work on woods and water.

The office is one of 47 research and development facilities closing amid a major reorganization of the agency. The Superior and Chippewa offices and their staffing are not impacted.

The federal government is behind schedule in approving the county's requirement of project labor agreements. County staff are asking for a temporary waiver to ensure they don't lose funds.