Stories from September 23, 2022

One of the 48 defendants accused of defrauding federal child nutrition programs was charged previously with defrauding Medicaid. Artab Anab Awad, 52, of Plymouth is charged with wire fraud and money laundering as part of the Feeding our Future investigation. Federal prosecutors say she conspired with Aimee Bock — the nonprofit's founder — and stole $11 million from meal programs for needy kids. This is the evening MPR News update, hosted by Hannah Yang. Theme music by Gary Meister.
Feeding our Future defendant charged previously with Medicaid fraud
One of the four dozen defendants accused of defrauding federal child nutrition programs was charged previously with filing phony Medicaid claims.
Federally funded nutrition programs in the wake of a pandemic and a scandal
To better understand how the pandemic shifted the landscape of federally funded nutrition programs, we talked to Youthprise Nutrition Director Christa DeBoer. Youthprise has been serving meals to kids since 2014 through USDA funding.
How art and poetry inspired Maggie O'Farrell's new novel
Full of the beauty and drama she used to bring to life the Shakespearean story of “Hamnet,” Maggie O’Farrell turns to Renaissance Italy in her new novel, “The Marriage Portrait,” where she paints a picture of a resilient young girl trying to avoid being killed by her new husband.
Man charged in bomb threat that prompted evacuation at U of M
A 36-year-old man faces a felony charge for allegedly making a bomb threat that caused part of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus to be evacuated.
Nursing on the frontlines
The nursing strike across Minnesota earlier this month put a spotlight on the nationwide strain on our nursing workforce. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two nurses about what nurses do, how their work has changed and what can be done to address job stress and a worsening nurse shortage.
Showers, windy on Friday; weekend looks warmer, brighter
Scattered rounds of rain showers will keep it cool Friday. Temps will mainly remain in the 50s with a blustery south wind making it feel cooler. Clouds decrease Saturday into Sunday.
Minnesota vigils mourn Mahsa Amini, whose death sparked protests in Iran
Demonstrators plan to gather in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the death of a 22-year-old woman in Iran in police custody earlier this month. That's after a vigil for Mahsa Amini was held at the University of Minnesota on Thursday.
Minnesota has one of the nation’s longest early-voting periods. That itself is a campaign issue this year. This is a morning MPR News update, hosted by Tom Crann. Music by Gary Meister.
Occasionally wet, windy, cool Friday; brighter through the weekend
Friday will be occasionally rainy, windy and cool. Temperatures will remain mainly in the 50s. Skies should partially clear Saturday afternoon with more sun on Sunday.
Stop thinking just about Election Day. We're in voting season now
Voting for the midterms has started in some states. With more people voting early and mailing in ballots, elections are increasingly less about Election Day and more about what happens weeks earlier.
Relieved Wild welcome Kaprizov back after summer in Russia
Kirill Kaprizov’s return to his native Russia after the Minnesota Wild were ousted from the playoffs last spring led to a stressful offseason for the entire organization.
Breakout Lions star St. Brown will give Vikings another test
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s touchdown catch to beat the Vikings last year was the first of his career. From that day through last week's 36-27 win over Washington, St. Brown has 68 receptions for 740 yards and eight touchdowns. He even ran twice for 68 yards against the Commanders.
Most Feeding Our Future defendants avoid pretrial detention
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis says three of the suspects in the huge food program fraud case have left the country, but prosecutors still do not consider most of the others to pose a flight risk, and have not asked judges to detain them.
FedEx delivers unexpected bad news to Wall Street
A surprise warning from FedEx has shocked Wall Street and worried some about the direction of the economy.
Hurricane Fiona has left hundreds of thousands in Puerto Rico without power or water
Hurricane Fiona's unrelenting rains led to swollen rivers and washed out roads and bridges in many areas of Puerto Rico. It's isolated many mountain communities and slowed the recovery.
Early voting starts for November election
Minnesota has one of the nation’s longest early-voting periods, which begins Friday. That itself is a campaign issue this year.
CO2 pipeline proposal draws mixed reactions in SW Minn.
Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions has positioned its CO2 pipeline project as a way to combat climate change. But some environmental groups and landowners say their safety concerns haven’t been answered.
Powerful Hurricane Fiona roars by Bermuda as it approaches Canada
Hurricane Fiona pounded Bermuda with heavy rains and winds early Friday as it swept by the island on a route forecast to have it approaching Canada late in the day as a still-powerful storm.