Recent content from Jessie Van Berkel
Why are Minnesota special ed and long-term care costs rising so fast?
The demand and cost of those services for Minnesotans with disabilities will likely continue to rise, experts say.
FBI searching autism centers in Minneapolis, St. Cloud after finding 'substantial evidence' of health care fraud
Federal law enforcement suspects many autism centers are billing the state for services not actually provided to young Minnesotans with autism spectrum disorder.
Biden administration proposes end to subminimum wages for workers with disabilities
Minnesota has the second-most workers receiving subminimum wages of any state. Whether the Trump administration will support the proposed phaseout of the low wages remains uncertain.
Details on the life, career of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
The health care executive and Maple Grove resident, shot and killed in New York on Wednesday morning, was remembered by co-workers and community members as a leader and devoted dad.
Minnesota families in limbo as China halts foreign adoptions
An Esko family has waited six years to adopt a now 8-year-old boy from China. They are one of 300 U.S. families who were in the process of adopting a child from China when the country halted international adoptions.
Food shelves see record demand as Minnesotans struggle to afford groceries
Food shelves expect to see nearly 9 million visits this year, a 1.5 million jump from 2023. Gov. Tim Walz plans to use $5 million in federal funds to help with the growing demand.
Minnesota union seeks state help: 'There is no retirement option for home care workers'
Some workers who help aging Minnesotans and those with disabilities say their only option is to keep working until they physically can't. SEIU Healthcare is pushing state leaders to offer them retirement benefits.
What could Trump's return mean for Minnesotans on Medicaid and safety net programs?
From food stamps and rent help to disability insurance, social services advocates are worried the incoming administration could cut programs that low-income Minnesotans rely on.
What's next for Gov. Tim Walz after failed vice presidential bid?
The governor returns to Minnesota after months on the national stage. The makeup of the Legislature he will be working with next year remains uncertain, as do his plans when his current term ends in two years.
Minnesota House could be evenly split, but close races will go to recounts
Results show a 67-67 split in the lower chamber Wednesday morning, but in two races, DFLers lead by just a few votes.
Minnesota kids forced to cross the country for mental health help
Kids with complex needs have gone to Massachusetts, Texas and other states for care. County officials say far-flung placements are costly and traumatic.
Hennepin County approves youth crisis stabilization center
The expedited project comes as kids with complex mental health needs are stuck in the county's Juvenile Detention Center and emergency rooms.
Many Minnesotans in addiction treatment get free housing. Is the aid illegal?
Nuway Alliance and other providers offer free or subsidized housing with outpatient treatment. Some say it's an illegal kickback, others say it's essential to recovery. An FBI raid has the industry on edge.
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Minnesota kids with mental health needs cycle through juvenile justice system, often without options
Youth ruled incompetent to stand trial cannot legally be housed in juvenile detention centers, but they frequently can't find beds at residential treatment facilities.
Overdose deaths drop in Minnesota for first time in 5 years
Overall overdoses remain high, but naloxone, opioid use disorder medications and other measures are helping reduce deaths.
Meet the Walzes: Wife Gwen, two kids round out Minnesota's first family
The governor's wife, Gwen Walz, is also a former teacher and has been an advocate for criminal justice, education and gun control during Walz's time at the Capitol. They have two kids, Hope and Gus.
Abrupt closure of one of Minnesota's largest peer recovery providers leaves hundreds in limbo
The state has been investigating substance use disorder service provider Kyros amid billing fraud allegations. Other recovery organizations are scrambling to help its vulnerable clients and staff.
Many people in jail have an opioid addiction, but less than half of jails offer medication, study shows
Minnesota is seeking a Medicaid waiver to help cover incarcerated people's health care, including substance use treatment, and has a new workgroup focused on the problem.
Minnesota Medicaid fraud investigators examining more autism service providers
The state is looking into 29 providers of early intervention services, up from 15 investigations in July. State officials say they are considering additional oversight.
Facing death, Duluth woman discovers Medicaid services bill comes due posthumously
The government uses the property of some people receiving long-term services and supports under Medical Assistance to recover costs after they die. Minnesota collected $61 million last year through estate recovery and liens.
Minnesota needs to help older adults live well. Is a Department on Aging the answer?
Advocates say the state needs to do more to plan for and support a fast-growing population of older residents. Lawmakers are considering a new state agency.
Minnesota re-examines guardianships: 'They took away her rights'
Court-appointed guardians are calling the shots for a growing number of aging Minnesotans. The controversial role is in the spotlight as the Legislative Auditor's Office and a new task force look into changes.
Minnesota delays overhaul of child-care licensing rules after backlash
Care providers feared the regulations could lead to closures. DHS is holding off for a year on proposing new standards to lawmakers as it gathers feedback.
Formed by Nebraska small towns, Tim Walz brings unconventional background to race
Kamala Harris' VP pick spent half his life in rural Nebraska, graduating from high school in a county where nearly 90% of voters picked Trump in 2020. Nebraskans who knew Minnesota's progressive governor say that upbringing shaped him.
St. Paul fire truck crashes with a car, injuring two
Two people in a car were hurt, and one sustained life-threatening injuries, after a crash with a St. Paul fire truck.
Three injured and five arrested in connection with shooting in Minneapolis
The shooting occurred early Saturday near the 200 block of Washington Avenue N.
Gov. Tim Walz cancels New Hampshire visit as Kamala Harris interviews potential running mates
Other running mate contenders have also dropped events in the final days of the vetting process.
Minnesota sees rise in reports of kids left alone at day care
Summertime activities and staff shortages may be contributing to supervision slip-ups.
Margot Imdieke Cross, disability rights advocate who made Minnesota more accessible, dies at 68
From the design of Target Field to paving state park trails, Imdieke Cross was a "force to be reckoned with" in her pursuit of accessibility for people with disabilities.
Minnesota families question controversial therapy as autism treatment spending rises
The practice called applied behavior analysis, or ABA, is the overwhelming option for early intervention, but some people with autism and their families have criticized it.
Minnesota autism providers under investigation, lawmakers consider adding 'guardrails'
The Minnesota Department of Human Services has 15 active investigations into organizations providing autism services, the agency said.
Minnesota has a new agency and commissioner. What are her goals for kids and families?
The Department of Children, Youth and Families launches July 1. Tikki Brown will lead the agency that's part of a national shift in how states serve young people.
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Quiet zones, fidgets and ear muffs: Minnesota parades and festivals add sensory accommodations
From the State Fair to local parades to the Twin Cities Pride Festival, events are adding quiet areas and other tools for those with autism and sensory issues.
Family child-care providers 'panic' over Minnesota's proposed licensing rules
In-home day-care providers say state is "micromanaging" with its draft of updated standards and warn that facilities would close.
Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center worker hit youth, investigation finds
It was the second time in a year that a staff member at the detention center physically abused a young person staying there.
Man shot at University of Minnesota campus
The victim, "not a member of the University community," sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, according to a U spokesperson.
Ann Kim's restaurant in Uptown vandalized
A concrete slab and paint were thrown through the window overnight. Wrote Kim: "We are going to take our time to think about next steps."
Minnesota counties, cities slow to start spending $50M from opioid settlement
Many local governments have yet to spend any of the settlement money they started getting in 2022. Officials say they have been strategizing. Meanwhile, overdose rates remain high.
Minnesotans fear disability benefits overhaul will lead to more institutionalization
The state is revamping its systems for assessing and funding services for people with disabilities. Those who rely on the critical waiver dollars are on edge.
Metro Move aims to give reliable rides to Minnesotans with disabilities
The Met Council's new service offers people with disability waivers rides to work or community services and seeks to address transportation frustrations with Metro Mobility.
DOJ proposes consent decree with Anoka, alleging discrimination against people with mental illness
The Department of Justice is suing the suburb for discrimination, and state lawmakers also passed legislation to prevent cities from penalizing people for emergency calls.
Minnesota's child protection system needs fixes. Legislators are starting with these changes.
Measures approved this session laid the groundwork for long-term changes to Minnesota's child protection system, which has failed to prevent some cases of repeat abuse.
Minnesota poised to lose nearly 40% of its sign language interpreters
The state is assembling a plan to tackle the looming ASL interpreter shortage. Meanwhile, unfilled requests for the service from the Deaf community are growing.
Minnesota jails lack treatment even as overdose deaths spike
Inconsistent addiction treatment during and after incarceration leads to deaths and recidivism, experts say. A proposal at the Capitol aims to use federal Medicaid dollars to help.
Minnesota agencies too lax on grant safeguards, legislative auditor finds
A new report called for changes in how the Behavioral Health Division and State Arts Board give out taxpayer dollars.
Study: Minnesota's sex offender system is 'failed investment'
The state is spending more than $110 million this year on a sex offender program that locks up about 730 people. A new report calls for an end to the 30-year-old system.
Racial disparities in child protection prompt Minnesota legislation, federal complaint
Black children are twice as likely as white kids to be removed from their parents. For Native American kids, the disparities are even more stark.
Minnesota plan to close state addiction treatment facilities faces pushback
DHS wants to divert resources to address mental health crisis. Some fear Minnesota is "robbing Peter to pay Paul" and women with addiction will suffer.
Could Minnesota be among the first states to offer a basic income program?
No-strings-attached cash programs are popping up across the country. Minnesota has been home to five of the experiments. Now lawmakers are talking about $100 million to provide basic incomes to thousands.
Minnesota's 'archaic' tech wastes critical caseworker time, counties say
Gov. Tim Walz proposed $15 million for upgrades. Far more is needed to overhaul a crash-prone system used for child protection and other services.
Minnesotans with disabilities say Lyft, Uber departure would leave them stuck
Rideshare services have allowed more independence for many people who don't drive. But some say the companies have a poor track record of providing accessible services to all.
Trump administration denied Minneapolis nearly $1M over 'defund the police' comments
A federal audit found the rejection of the city's proposal to address rising opioid overdoses was "seriously flawed" and contained critical errors and omissions.
Group home rental licenses: Tool for oversight or discrimination?
Lawmakers are considering whether to exempt small group homes and assisted living facilities from rental licensing regulations. City officials are worried.
What the Minnesota Department of Human Services breakup means for you
State leaders hope splitting up the agency that serves about 1.5 million Minnesotans will lead to better service and more accountability.
Frustration builds as some rural Minnesotans struggle to get to medical appointments
Nonemergency medical transportation companies provide a federally-mandated service, but some say it's difficult to stay in business.
Stuck in jail: Minnesotans with mental illness languish in lockup
The wait time to access treatment for those in jail is at an all-time high. A new report suggests fixes, but they are complicated and costly.
Minnesota lawmakers eye additional oversight for peer recovery services
Legislators are considering regulations to rein in 'wild West' of peer addiction recovery services.
Many Minnesotans with disabilities earn far less than minimum wage. A push for equal pay continues.
Advocates want Minnesota to join other states ending subminimum wages, but the goal remains divisive as others fear people will be left out.
Minnesota addiction treatment centers closing, despite demand
As drug overdose deaths remain high, treatment providers said 2023 stood out for the number of program closures.
Study proposes reimbursement rate fix for Minnesota's broken mental health system
Lawmakers warn changes to provider reimbursement rates in the near future could be limited with a looming state budget deficit.
More Minnesota school staff, students train to combat teen overdoses
Naloxone has been administered at least twice in Twin Cities area schools so far this school year as the opioid crisis reaches students.
Minnesota volunteers who advocate for abused kids fear end of program could leave kids in danger
The state could become the second in the nation not to use volunteers, a move officials with the State Guardian ad Litem Board said is needed.
Terry Schneider, a pioneer of mental illness services in Minnesota, dies at 68
Schneider spent decades creating new programs for people with serious mental illnesses who few others would serve.
Psychiatric patient charged in fellow patient's killing in St. Peter
David Michael Otey bludgeoned the other man and choked an employee at the state-operated mental health facility, authorities say.
Deadly attacks draw attention to inadequacies in Minnesota's mental health system
Civil commitment can be used to stabilize some people in crisis. But to prevent crises, experts say Minnesota needs to expand treatment options.
Legislators seek ways to reform state's child protection system
The discussion about remaking the system comes after a Star Tribune investigation showing hundreds of Minnesota kids are harmed each year after being returned home.
Black unemployment rate falls to record low in Minnesota, but do numbers tell the whole story?
Community leaders question who is reflected in the numbers and whether workers are landing living-wage jobs.
Government jobs grew this year in Minnesota after post-pandemic lag
Private-sector jobs rebounded to pre-pandemic levels earlier this year, but government employment has not fully returned.
'I want you to hear me': Hildie Edwards becomes Minnesota's foremost trans youth advocate
From speaking at the State Capitol to performing at the Pride Festival, the 13-year-old is telling her story amid a national furor over transgender rights.
Twin Cities has one of the lowest inflation rates in U.S., at 1%
Minnesota low annual inflation continues to stand out from other metro areas nationwide.
Has tipping gotten out of control? How to navigate the new world of tipping
Touch-screen tip requests seem to be everywhere and the typical restaurant tip has climbed. Why are we tipping more?
Minnesota is losing more college students than it attracts, a troubling trend
Snowbirds are not the primary culprits in Minnesota's population losses. For years, it's been college students.
Former House Speaker Kurt Zellers to lead Minnesota Business Partnership
The former GOP gubernatorial candidate will lead one of the state's most prominent business advocacy organizations.
New DEED commissioner shares vision for Minnesota's jobs, economic future
New employment and economic development leader Matt Varilek said an influx of cash for his agency will help with workforce and child care challenges.
Teen employment hovers near decadeslong high amid tight Minnesota labor market
The teen unemployment rate nationally is the lowest it's been since the 1950s. Yet, employers still say there are not enough young workers to meet their labor needs.
