Interim UpdateDear friends and neighbors of District 1B, I hope you’re enjoying these final weeks of summer before the kiddos head back to school. But before pencils are sharpened and lunchboxes are packed, we’ve got one last milestone of the season: the Minnesota State Fair!  Every year, the fair is a highlight for me—not just for the conversations and community, but for the chance to taste-test the most creative (and occasionally outrageous) foods you can imagine. This year’s lineup does not disappoint. A few caught my eye: The Uncrustaburger—a hamburger sandwiched between two deep-fried PB&J Uncrustables (yes, it’s real). Dill Pickle Iced Tea—sweet tea with a briny kick, served with a dill spear on the side. Pizza Cheese Curd Tacos—because why choose between tacos, pizza, and cheese curds when you can have all three? And the Croffle Cloud—a croissant-turned-waffle topped with fruit, whipped cream, and a cotton candy halo. Stretchy pants might just be the official uniform of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. The fair runs August 21 through Labor Day, so there’s plenty of time to get your fill—literally! After all that talk about fried food and fair fun, it’s only fair (pun intended) that we bring the spotlight back home. There’s been plenty happening right here in District 1B, from parades to policy wins, and I’m excited to share some updates on what I’ve been working on with—and for—you! Fraud, Waste, and Housing the Dead?!Every once in a while, a news story stops you in your tracks—and this is one of them. According to a recent KARE 11 investigation, Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program has been caught billing Medicaid for “housing support” payments made to… wait for it… people who were already dead. Yes, you read that right. Taxpayer dollars were literally being spent to “support” folks who had already passed away. If that doesn’t make your blood boil, I don’t know what will. This isn’t just a small oversight—it’s a flashing neon sign that this program has been absolutely overrun with fraud and mismanagement. And the frustrating part? For years, Governor Walz’s administration and others fought against commonsense fraud prevention measures—including a bipartisan Inspector General bill we introduced just months ago. Here’s the bottom line: Taxpayer money has been abused at a staggering scale—this program ballooned from a $2.6 million initial estimate to over $100 million a year. Dozens of providers are under investigation, and federal agents have already executed search warrants in what’s being called a “massive scheme to defraud Medicaid.” Now, the state is moving to shut the program down completely—a move I fully support until real safeguards are in place. Minnesotans deserve better than a government that shrugs at fraud while families and seniors are struggling to make ends meet. We need to end this culture of fraud once and for all and demand real accountability from the agencies that are supposed to be serving you, not wasting your hard-earned tax dollars. As your representative, I’ll keep pushing for stronger oversight, tougher enforcement, and common-sense safeguards so this never happens again. Because here in District 1B, we call things like we see them—and paying to house the dead is about as wrong as it gets. Ox Cart Days, Community Pride, and a Small-World Moment I had such a wonderful time catching up with friendly faces at Ox Cart Days in Crookston this past weekend. Senator Mark Johnson and I teamed up for the parade, handing out candy and swapping stories with folks along the way (and yes, I may have sampled one or two pieces myself—strictly quality control, of course). One of the highlights of the day was running into Red Lake County Sheriff Mitch Bernstein. We had a great conversation about the infrastructure bill I authored earlier this year for the City of Red Lake Falls. This bill, once approved by the legislature and signed by the governor, will fund much-needed improvements to the city’s sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems, along with repair and reconstruction of city streets—curbs, sidewalks, gutters, the whole works. It’s always encouraging to hear firsthand how the work we do at the Capitol makes a real difference for people back home. Now here’s a fun twist of small-town Minnesota: Sheriff Bernstein is actually the father of my media assistant at the Capitol, Dominica Bernstein. Clearly, public service runs in the family! As I shared my solid endorsement of Dominica, her parents, Mitch and Krista, beamed with pride—and for good reason. Dominica has a ton of integrity, a heart to serve the people, and mad skills across the board. A big thank you to Sheriff Mitch Bernstein, and Krista Bernstein—a Red Lake County Central Schools K-12 vocal and classroom music teacher for the past 17 years—for their dedicated service to Red Lake County. And thank you to everyone in Crookston for a warm welcome and a memorable Ox Cart Days. Events like these are always a wonderful reminder as to why I love serving this incredible community.  Sorting Out Our Waters: PWI UpdateWhen it comes to Minnesota, we’re known for two things: friendly folks and a whole lot of water. And while nobody’s arguing about the friendly part, there is some work to do when it comes to keeping our official list of public waters up to date. Who knew that bodies of water, especially smaller ones, can come and go? In 2024, the Legislature asked the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to refresh the state’s Public Waters Inventory (PWI) by 2032. Think of it as fall accounting of our lakes, rivers, and wetlands—making sure the inventory reflects what actually qualifies as public waters under state law. This isn’t a total do-over. Instead, the DNR’s team of hydrologists will be making targeted corrections—removing waters that don’t meet the statutory definition and adding those that do. They’ll be updating twelve counties a year, with four counties in play at any given time. Starting tomorrow, the DNR will officially kick things off in Clay, Aitkin, Benton, and Blue Earth counties. Here’s the good news: this process isn’t happening behind closed doors. Landowners and residents will have the chance to see proposed maps, attend local meetings, and share feedback before anything is finalized. And if you’re a little curious (or just like maps), you can follow along online as each county’s update moves forward. If you’d like more details—or just want to keep an eye on where the DNR’s clipboard lands next—you can visit the project website [here]. Let's Stay Connected!As always, thank you for your support, the wonderful conversations, and for showing what it truly means to be part of such a special community. Representing District 1B is an honor I don’t take lightly, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to serve you. If you ever have questions, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call me at 651-296-5091, send me an email at rep.steve.gander@house.mn.gov, or follow along on my Facebook page to see what I’ve been up to! Until next time, I hope you enjoy the sunshine this weekend—whether that means time on the lake, a neighborhood barbeque, or just a good book on the porch. Sincerely, Representative Steve Gander Minnesota House of Representatives, District1B |