Steve Hallstrom dives into a packed Wednesday edition as the Minnesota legislative session kicks off in St. Paul. With explosive reports alleging that fraud in some state programs has reached a staggering 90%, Steve asks if the government can finally do its "one job" and protect taxpayer dollars. The show also features a deep dive into the state of local journalism with Cecille Wehrman of the North Dakota Newspaper Association, an update on the "heinous" murder investigation in West Fargo, and a look at why 15 years have passed since Fargo last saw a foot of snow. Plus, new Gallup data reveals a surprising shift in how Americans are identifying their gender and sexuality.
Key Moments
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The 90% Fraud Bombshell: Steve plays a jaw-dropping clip from news reporter Jake Holes, who cites a former U.S. Attorney’s claim that roughly 90% of a $100 million housing stabilization program in Minnesota was consumed by fraud. Steve compares the scale of Minnesota’s estimated $20 billion fraud crisis to the federal budget, calling it a "totalizing" threat to the state’s solvency.
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The Struggle for Local News: Cecille Wehrman joins the program to discuss a year-long study on "news deserts" in North Dakota. She reveals that while newspapers are under extreme stress from rising postage and digital disruption, 80% of residents in counties without a paper are desperate for a local news source to keep them connected to their government.
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Isadora Wengel Update: Steve provides somber details on the arrest of Joshua Height. Fargo Police are now characterizing the case as a "heinous and devious" murder involving potential dismemberment, and are urging the public to help locate a specific black storage tote with a red lid.
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The "One Job" Session: As Minnesota lawmakers convene, Steve critiques the DFL leadership for focusing on limiting ICE activity rather than addressing the massive financial "theft" from the state’s citizens.
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Gallup’s Identity Shift: Steve breaks down new polling showing that while LGBTQ+ identification doubled during the previous administration, it has seen its first-ever decline in the last year. He highlights that 23% of adults aged 18–29 now identify as something other than straight.
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Voter ID Logic: Steve addresses listener questions about how photo ID prevents illegal voting, emphasizing the need for proof of citizenship at the point of registration to ensure election integrity.
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Moorhead’s ICE Debate: Following a "spirited" council debate, Moorhead Mayor Shelley Carlson has assembled a committee to review the city's response to federal immigration enforcement—a move Steve argues shouldn't even be a question in the United States.
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The Weather Record: Chief Meteorologist Dean Wysocki settles a bet, revealing that the last time Fargo received a full foot of snow in a single storm was nearly 15 years ago, on November 22, 2010.