Articles by Michael Goldberg and Steve Karnowski

Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mikergoldberg.

Attempted Bribe Doesn’t Stop Jurors From Convicting Defendants in $40M Fraud Scheme

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A jury convicted five Minnesota residents and acquitted two others on Friday for their roles in a scheme to steal more than $40 million from a program that was supposed to feed children during the coronavirus pandemic. …

Bird Flu Strikes Turkey Farms in South Dakota and Utah, Prompting Fears of More Cases

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Highly pathogenic bird flu has made its first appearances in U.S. commercial poultry flocks this season, affecting one turkey farm in South Dakota and one in Utah and raising concerns that more outbreaks could follow. The U.S. …

Recreational Marijuana Now Legal in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesotans can legally possess and grow their own marijuana for recreational purposes starting Tuesday, Aug. 1, subject to limits meant to keep a lid on things while the state sets up a full-blown legal cannabis industry. The …

Minnesota on Verge of Banning Forever Chemicals

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota is on the verge of banning non-essential uses of “forever chemicals.” And lawmakers say they are naming the legislation after a woman who spent the last months of her life campaigning for restrictions that …

Minnesota Settles Lawsuit Against Juul

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota announced a settlement Monday in its lawsuit against Juul Labs and tobacco giant Altria – the first of thousands of cases against the e-cigarette maker to reach trial – just ahead of closing arguments. The terms …

At Trial, Minnesota Says E-Cigarette Maker Juul Targets Kids

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison personally opened his state’s case against Juul Labs, accusing the e-cigarette maker of using “slick products, clever ads and attractive flavors” to hook children on nicotine as the first of thousands of cases against the …

At Trial, Minnesota Says Juul Targets Kids

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison personally opened his state’s case against Juul Labs on Tuesday, accusing the e-cigarette maker of using “slick products, clever ads and attractive flavors” to hook children on nicotine as the first of …

Minnesota Suit Against Juul Goes to Trial

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is slated to lead off opening statements expected for Tuesday in his state’s lawsuit against Juul Labs – marking the first time any of the thousands of cases against the e- cigarette …

Midwest Meat Plant Cleaning Service Fined $1.5M for Hiring Minors

One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said in early March as it announced over $1.5 …

Midwest Meat Plant Cleaning Service Fined $1.5M for Hiring Minors

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday as it announced over …