TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalNortheast North Dakota town plagued by streak of meth incidents
STARKWEATHER, N.D. — Residents of a small Ramsey County community are worried for their safety, saying meth is taking over their town after three people were arrested for manufacturing the drug near the city's school.
Starkweather, a town of just over 100 people, has seen a recent streak of meth related incidents, with six people arrested in the last six weeks on charges related to the drug.
The Starkweather Public School has been put into lockdown three times in the last few weeks while police searched the surrounding area for suspects, according to the mayor.
"We had a high speed chase here about three weeks ago that was like 60 miles per hour down Main Street,” said Starkweather Mayor Glen Weber. “You can't have that going on in a small town like this."
Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/crime-and-courts/1015411-Northeast-ND-town-plagued-by-streak-of-meth-incidents
Snow leopard cub born at Como Zoo in St. Paul
ST. PAUL — A snow leopard gave birth to a cub at Como Zoo here this week.
The birth marks the first pregnancy for Alya, the cub’s 4-year-old mother, and Moutig, the father, who is 6.
It's the first snow leopard birth at the St. Paul zoo since 2007. Alya gave birth Tuesday, April 30.
The gender of the cub remains unknown. Both the mother and cub are being closely monitored over a closed-circuit video system. Alya is “exhibiting exceptional care” for the newborn and “displaying positive maternal behaviors,” according zoo officials.
Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/science-and-nature/1015461-Snow-leopard-cub-born-at-Como-Zoo-in-St.-Paul
Como Zoo has a new resident – a snow leopard cub born Tuesday, April 30, 2019. This was the first pregnancy for the cub’s 4-year-old mother, Alya, and 6-year-old father, Moutig, and the first snow leopard birth at Como Zoo since 2007. (Courtesy of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory)
Former Sen. Heitkamp to speak at UND commencement
GRAND FORKS - Former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is set to address University of North Dakota graduates later this month.
Heitkamp will speak at the commencement ceremony for graduate students at 9 a.m. May 11 at the Alerus Center, the university announced via its UND Today blog.
During the ceremony Heitkamp, along with pilot Clay Lacy, will be presented with an honorary doctor of letters degree from UND.
Heather Wilson, outgoing secretary of the U.S. Air Force, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony, UND previously announced. That ceremony is set for 1:30 p.m. May 11 at the Alerus Center. Wilson will leave her post as Air Force secretary on May 31 to assume the presidency of the University of Texas.
Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/former-sen-heitkamp-to-speak-at-und-commencement/article_414c6d60-5e9a-5e11-8fe3-a0b2e1493fd9.html
Mark Kennedy named University of Colorado president amid protests
DENVER (AP) — The University of Colorado named Mark Kennedy as its next president Thursday amid protests that the former Republican U.S. representative is out of step with the school's values.
Regents voted 5-4 along party lines in favor of Kennedy, who is currently president of the University of North Dakota. Kennedy has been criticized for his conservative congressional voting record, as well as for his responses during several open forums, since he was selected in April as the lone finalist for the job.
The concerns dealt mainly with his votes against marriage equality when he represented Minnesota in the House from 2001 to 2007. He voted against gay marriage and in favor of abortion restrictions — decisions that didn't sit well with left-leaning CU students and faculty, The Denver Post reported .
Some regents began wavering soon after students and faculty protested the selection, and even Colorado Gov. Jared Polis weighed in by advocating for a president who "unites the board."
Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/kennedy-named-university-of-colorado-president-amid-protests/article_bf14b88d-fd9f-5343-bab7-4ffa945e47d5.html
Burgum, Sanford 'leaning in' on 2020 re-election run
Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford tiptoed around their intentions to run for re-election in 2020 when asked Thursday by The Bismarck Tribune editorial board.
"Brent and I love what we do, we're passionate about what we do, we're honored to have the opportunity to serve," the first-term Republican governor said. "I think if we're trying to read the tea leaves, I'd say we're leaning in."
"It'd be pretty early for an announcement," Sanford added with a chuckle.
Burgum, 62, is a wealthy former Microsoft executive who entered the 2016 race after former Gov. Jack Dalrymple announced his intention to retire.
Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/burgum-sanford-leaning-in-on-re-election-run/article_a1d05f64-5648-510c-8611-3fd894010983.html
Let's hope that the Democrats can find some good candidates to run against these GOP incumbents.
Mississippi Couple Plead Guilty To Receiving $1.7 Million in Health Care Kickback Scheme
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that a Mississippi couple, KIMBERLY HOMRIGHAUSEN, age 42, and RICHARD HOMRIGHAUSEN, age 36, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2019, to conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks related to compounded medications paid for by TRICARE, a federally funded health care benefit program that serves United States military personnel and their families.
The defendants admitted to paying kickbacks to TRICARE beneficiaries to induce them to obtain compounded medications, costing TRICARE a total of approximately $9 million. The defendants received a total of about $1.7 million in kickbacks for referring the beneficiaries.
At sentencing, which is set for August 8, 2019, each defendant faces up to five years’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon is in charge of the prosecution.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/mississippi-couple-plead-guilty-receiving-17-million-health-care-kickback-scheme
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