Dayton picks seasoned official

for stadium oversight board

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton has named a new chairman to lead the embattled board overseeing the new Minnesota Vikings stadium.

Dayton named Michael Vekich as the authority’s new long-term chairman on Thursday. Vekich is an experienced state official who has served two stints as executive director of the Minnesota Lottery and is currently chair of the Minnesota State Board of Trustees.

He also appointed Best Buy company official Laura Bishop as a regular member on the five-person board.

Minnesota nabs $8M in health care fraud in national sweep

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Several Minnesota residents are facing charges of defrauding the state of millions of dollars in health care money as part of a national crackdown.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a lawsuit Thursday against a Brooklyn Center woman and her daughter for allegedly claiming more fraudulent personal care assistant expenses. The lawsuit says Juanita Swain and Aretina Williams bilked $929,000 in Medical Assistance funding from the state.

It follows charges earlier this week against Lillian Richardson and six accomplices in a $7.7 million fraud scheme. Richardson had previously been convicted of Medical Assistance fraud in 2012.

The charges are part of a nationwide sweep to crack down on health care fraud. States have charged more than 400 people for $1 billion or more in fraud.