Jessie Van Berkel

Shireen Gandhi is stepping in as @MinnesotaDHS temporary commissioner following Jodi Harpstead's departure. Gandhi has been at DHS since 2017, most recently serving as "deputy commissioner for agency effectiveness."

Hennepin County OKed $15M today to create a youth behavioral health crisis stabilization center in Mpls & $7M/year to run it. The fast-tracked facility comes as kids who need treatment are stuck in detention centers and ERs. startribune.com/hennepin-count…

What went wrong with Minnesota's "groundbreaking" Housing Stabilization Services program? I looked into the original vision, when and how problems emerged and what's next for a state program investigators say has been the target of "massive" fraud. startribune.com/what-went-wron…

Here's some of our past reporting on issues with Housing Stabilization Services: startribune.com/housing-stabil…

Federal investigators searched eight locations in Minnesota on Wednesday as they look into what they are calling a “massive scheme” to defraud the state’s Housing Stabilization Services program. startribune.com/housing-stabil…

A look at the political legacy of Melissa Hortman, a no-nonsense leader who didn’t seek the spotlight, took care of her team, relished organization and, above all, wanted to get stuff done. startribune.com/assassinated-r…

Massive Disability Services Day turnout at the Capitol. The major theme on many signs: “cuts have costs.” AG Ellison currently urging crowd to contact his office if they see cuts from Trump administration.

Minnesotans with disabilities say state’s proposed budget cuts would ‘bring us backward’ startribune.com/minnesotans-wi…

DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead is leaving the job, Gov. Walz announced today. She's departing as the agency is under renewed scrutiny for fraud in its programs and as the massive department is splitting up. startribune.com/minnesota-depa…

BREAKING: FBI searching autism center in downtown Minneapolis:

MN Dept of Human Services has not tried to recover more than $40M in overpayments to Medical Assistance providers and "generally had inadequate internal controls," new legislative auditor's report finds. auditor.leg.state.mn.us/fad/pdf/fad240…

Minnesota has the second highest number of people with disabilities who are paid subminimum wages. The Biden administration proposed a rule this week to end the nearly 90-year-old practice that has led to some workers being paid cents on the dollar. startribune.com/biden-administ…

What could Trump’s return mean for Medicaid & other safety net programs? He previously proposed cuts to programs that help poor families and people with disabilities afford health care, food and housing. startribune.com/what-could-tru…

Thousands of Minnesotans get free or discounted housing from addiction treatment providers -- an offer some say supports recovery and prevents homelessness. It also may be illegal. A potential crackdown on the widespread practice has many on edge. startribune.com/many-minnesota…

Deadly overdoses fell by 8% in Minnesota last year, the first decline in five years. Greater MN saw a particularly big drop in deaths, per early state data. startribune.com/overdose-death…

Minnesota wants guardianship to be a last resort. But the number of people under another's care and control continues to grow. Legislative auditors and a new task force are re-examining the system that some advocates say is overused and too restrictive. startribune.com/they-took-away…

When it comes to ensuring a growing number of older Minnesotans can live well, some warn that in this state "there is absolutely no driver of the bus." Is a Department on Aging the answer? startribune.com/minnesota-need…