In today’s stories, the state ramps up oversight of autism and housing support programs. Then, shocked by the military-like presence by Federal agents earlier this month, some in Minneapolis are still demanding answers. And, a school in Winona is getting a new Indoor athletic complex.
Transcript
HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.
ANCHOR: In today's stories, the state ramps up oversight of autism and housing support programs. Then, shocked by the military-like presence by Federal agents earlier this month, some in Minneapolis are still demanding answers. And, a school in Winona is getting a new Indoor athletic complex.
I'm Grace Jacobson.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is placing tougher screening requirements on Medicaid-backed providers of autism and housing services. The providers are now under the "high-risk" category. That means owners will have mandated fingerprinting, screening visits before enrollment in Medicaid, and unannounced site visits. The change comes after a federal investigation of two autism centers in the state last year. And just last month, a report found DHS has 40 active fraud investigations into housing stabilization providers.
Next: When federal agents used what appeared to be a strong military-like force to serve search warrants earlier this month in Minneapolis, it left a lasting impression in the community. Reporter Mik Finnegan (Finn-uh-gin) takes us to some community meetings where residents are still searching for answers.
Mik Finnegan: Federal officials are now saying the discovery of 900 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $22 million is what prompted agents to raid a Mexican restaurant in South Minneapolis on June3. The military-style operation caused immediate protests from community members who feared a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. Some protesters witnessed ICE badges on officers uniforms.
Pastor Hierald Osorto: No one's negating the fact that there's a need to attend to criminal activity. We see it here all the time. We know. We don't want drugs on our street.
Mik Finnegan: Pastor Hierald Osorto serves this community at St Paul San Pablo Lutheran Church.
Pastor Hierald Osorto: We need leaders that are able to respond with integrity now, not later in the future, in order to prevent a future where masked officials with assault rifles becomes normalized and where we begin to accept that that kind of terror is okay.
Mik Finnegan: Community members were surprised to see Minneapolis Police and Hennepin County Sheriffs assisting federal agents.
Pastor Hierald Osorto: I've never quite believed that Minneapolis's separation ordinance. There's a careful choice in wording when I hear some of our elected officials talk about "What they're not willing to do" and "what they're required to do," and I put that in quotes.
Mik Finnegan: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara shared concerns about the federal show of force,
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: I think the manner in which some of it was handled was tone deaf for the situation.
Mik Finnegan: Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said that while she feels the Feds could have handled it differently, she raised concerns about community members disrupting the operation.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt: Right now, we need the community's help. We need the media's help in making sure that you support these people that are continuing to show up to combat the people that are trying to harm our communities.
Mik Finnegan: Other community members witnessed agents using excessive force against protesters that day. Minneapolis city council member Jason Chavez, who represents the area, said he's taking steps to protect his community, which has a large population of immigrants and people of color.
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez: You saw scare tactics being descended upon our community, and this has just caused a very traumatic incident for many of the people that live there.
Mik Finnegan: Chavez prompted City Council to investigate the police department's involvement in the event. He says the community needs that transparency to build back trust.
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez
I think that it's important to figure out what breakdown in communication happened, what was the city's role in it, and make this information publicly available so our residents know what happened, what went wrong, and what needs to change in the future. And we're going to get that report back when the city auditor is done with this work by July 31. I want accountability that doesn't deflect to what the Federal Government did.
Mik Finnegan: For North Star Stories, I'm Mik Finnegan.
ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.
Students at Cotter School in Winona will soon have a new place to work out. Cotter purchased a former dormitory from Winona State University. Thanks to a generous donation, they plan to tear it down and build a new indoor athletic complex in its place. The new facility will include turf and hard surfaces, a walking track and year-round space for student athletics and community recreation. Cotter says the project is a major investment in student wellness and Winona's broader needs for indoor sports facilities.
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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.