Philipsburg-Osceola’s Damarcus Law has been named The Progress’ male Athlete of the Week for the week ending May 17.
Law finished second in the 200-meter dash at the District 6 Track and Field Championships in Altoona with a time of 23.48. He was also third in the 100-meter in 11.30. He qualified in both events for the PIAA Class AA Track and Field Championships, which begin on Friday at Seth Grove Stadium in Shippensburg.
“Damarcus qualified for PIAA State Championships in two separate events,” said P-O track coach Tracy Vipond. “His time in the 200M dash of 23.01 broke the POHS all-time record.
“Damarcus is an excellent athlete, but he is equally excellent as kid.”
WASHINGTON (TNND) — A Minnesota state lawmaker said Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and his administration failed to address concerns raised in a state hearing close to two years ago, which flagged daycare facilities suspected of fraud.
Minnesota State Rep. Kristin Robbins, who is making a bid for governor, shared with the New York Post, that she presented a list of daycare facilities which received over $1 million dollars in state funding with multiple violations during a February 2024 hearing.
On that list included “Quality Learning Center,” a children’s daycare center in Minneapolis which went viral last week.
Independent journalist Nick Shirley paid a visit to the daycare during a weekday and noted how the signage of the daycare center was spelled incorrectly as “Quality Learing Center.” Shirley’s video also showed how the daycare center, which according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services provided care for 99 children, was completely absent of children.
“Quality Learning Center” has received roughly $4 million in state funding, and it has racked up 95 violations from Minnesota’s DHS between 2019 to 2023. The violations include failing to have records for all the children tallied to be in their care and failing to keep hazardous items away from children.
“They can’t say they didn’t know,” Robbins said.
“We had a hearing on it. We gave them a list, and nothing has happened. I find it shocking that this is still happening when we flagged something over and over again.”
However, Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown told Fox 9 that all ten of the facilities featured in Shirley’s video have been visited at least once by the state in the past six months for licensing renewal purposes.
“There have been ongoing investigations with several of those centers,” Brown said. “None of those investigations have uncovered findings of fraud.”
There are a total of 55 open investigations stemming from the administration of funds from the Child Care Assistant Program.
The National News Desk reached out to Walz’s office for comment, but as of publication had not received a response. But a spokesperson from Walz’s office told Fox News Digital that the governor has been a huge proponent in cracking down on fraud such as hiring outside firms to audit payments to high-risk programs and completely shutting down the Housing Stabilization Services program.
“The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action,” the spokesperson said. “He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed.”
Chuol Deng of Fort Lewis College looks to pass the ball while playing Western New Mexico University on Nov. 21 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
It’s almost 2026, which means it’s nearly time for Fort Lewis College’s basketball teams to resume their seasons.
The men’s and women’s teams will continue Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Jan. 8 at home against Western Colorado. Before that, now is a good time to look at which FLC basketball players have been excelling in key statistical categories. Both teams are well-rounded with multiple players excelling in different roles.
Both teams are having quality starts to their seasons, with the women at 9-3 overall and the men at 6-5 overall. Here are the FLC basketball players who rank in the top 10 in the RMAC in key categories:
FLC men’s basketball:
Chuol Deng in rebounds, steals
The FLC men’s basketball team has had multiple players in and out of the rotation due to injuries, but Deng, the fifth-year forward, hasn’t been one of them.
He’s been a consistent double-double threat with his scoring and rebounding. Deng has a great all-around scorer with his outside shooting stroke and added strength inside as a fifth-year player.
With Massal Diouf guarding centers this year, it’s allowed Deng to rebound against players his size and smaller. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see he’s second in the RMAC in rebounding at 8.6 rebounds per game, only behind Colorado Mesa’s Ty Allred at 9.4 RPG. Deng has had at least six rebounds in all 11 games this season, including 10+ in three games.
Deng was an impactful defender last season in his first year playing for head coach Jordan Mast at FLC, with his length and athleticism blocking and stealing. Deng has continued his strong work on the defensive end, ranking seventh in the RMAC with 1.6 steals per game.
As the season goes on and the games get more important, Deng will be relied upon even more, so don’t expect him to go anywhere on these lists.
Jaxon Smith in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game, free-throw percentage
A first-year player for FLC, Smith has made an immediate impact with his sweet shooting stroke, so it’s not hard to believe that Smith is in the top 10 in categories that require quality touch.
The redshirt sophomore guard transfer from Division I Utah State, Smith has spaced the floor for the Skyhawks and, at times, has shown finishing ability inside the arc.
Smith is sixth in the RMAC with a 3-point field goal percentage of 40.5; he’s second with 2.7 3-pointers per game, and he’s third in the RMAC with a 91.3 free-throw percentage.
FLC has dealt with plenty of injuries, so it’ll need Smith’s quality shooting more than ever down the stretch. He’s had four games with at least four 3-pointers.
Yorgio Golesis in assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio
Yorgio Golesis of Fort Lewis College drives to the basket while playing Western New Mexico University on Nov. 21 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
Another first-year player for FLC, Golesis, a junior guard, has had a quality start to the year for the Skyhawks, starting at point guard.
Golesis has great speed and driving ability, which has drawn defenders and opened up his teammates for easy looks. He’s fifth in the RMAC with 4.2 assists per game, and Golesis is fifth in the RMAC with a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Unfortunately for Golesis and the Skyhawks, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in FLC’s win over St. Mary’s on Dec. 17. It’s a huge blow for the Skyhawks, who will need other guards to step up to replace Golesis’ playmaking.
Stewart Erhart in steals per game
Anyone who’s watched the Skyhawks over the past two seasons knew this was coming. Erhart, a redshirt sophomore, is a pest on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a big reason FLC’s pressing style works so well, since he catches opposing guards off guard with his steals.
Erhart leads the RMAC with 3.0 steals per game. He’s also increased his offensive capabilities this season, which makes his defensive efforts even more impressive since he has more on his plate this year.
Cassius Carmichael in steals per game
Another player who’s in his second year for the Skyhawks, Carmichael is a worker for the FLC defense with his motor, length and athleticism. The senior forward is eighth in the RMAC with 1.5 steals per game.
Like Deng, Carmichael has been helped by FLC having more size and bodies in its front court. His defense and experience in the RMAC tournament last season will be paramount for FLC.
FLC women’s basketball:
Katie Lamb in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game
Lamb impressed as a freshman last year on a bad team, and she’s shown this season she can still put up good stats on a winning team.
The sophomore guard is seventh in the RMAC with a 29.9 3-point field goal percentage, and Lamb is sixth with 2.2 3-pointers per game. She has a quick and compact release that makes it tough for defenders to cover. Lamb has made at least two 3-pointers in 10 of 12 games this season.
Makaya Porter in blocks per game, steals per game
Deniece Ryan, left, and Makaya Porter of Fort Lewis College play defense against St. Edward’s University on Nov. 18 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
Head coach Lauren Zuniga knew she needed to make some adjustments to her roster after finishing 6-22 overall last season. The Skyhawks needed more size, length and athleticism, so Zuniga brought in Porter to help. It’s paid off so far.
Porter has been a weapon on both sides of the floor with her height and length at 6-feet tall at the forward position. The junior is second in the conference with 1.3 blocks per game, and she’s tied-ninth in the conference with 2.1 steals per game.
She is one of two players to be in the top 10 in both blocks and steals per game in the RMAC. FLC will need her to keep up her defensive prowess as the Skyhawks play tougher competition in conference play.
Josie Davis in steals per game
Josie Davis of Fort Lewis College guards the inbound pass while playing St. Edward’s University on Nov. 18 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
Talking to Zuniga last season, she held Davis in high regard as a senior in high school. Now a freshman for the Skyhawks, it’s easy to see why.
Davis is third in the conference with 2.4 steals per game. She has great length for a guard and is active for the Skyhawks’ defense. On offense, Davis is efficient for any player, but especially for a freshman.
Her development over the rest of her freshman season will be fun to watch.
Natalie Guanella in steals per game
Guanella is one of the most experienced players at FLC, with it being her third year at the school and the second year with Zuniga as her coach. Therefore, the junior knows what to do on the defensive end, tied-ninth with Porter with 2.1 steals per game in the conference.
Teen Lounge – Patrons in sixth-12th grades are invited each Tuesday in January from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Join us weekly for special activities, video games, snacks, crafts, board games, and more.
Thursday, Jan. 15, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Homeschool TECH BUILD: Students will have time to build a projectile launcher and explore different design options.
During this project, students will have the opportunity to follow plans to build, but also make modifications to improve the design.
This program is designed for youth second-12th grades and will be held each month in the Teen Area. Parent participation is encouraged.
Kendall Young Library will be hosting a Resume Workshop, presented by Iowa Works, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday …
On Monday, the Fuller Hall staff organized an eight-ball pool tournament for students over the holiday break. Mark …
The Webster City Street Department will be picking up Christmas trees on Monday, weather permitting.
Trees should …
Teen Lounge – Patrons in sixth-12th grades are invited each Tuesday in January from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Join us …
The Fuller Hall Holiday fun week free throw contest was held on Dec. 23.
As we head into the new year, it’s time to take a look back at the top sports moments in White County over the past 12 months. In 2025, local athletes excelled in multiple sports on the every level, including the college, high school and middle school levels, as well as in youth sports.
The Lady Bears, including Ariana Marfell, No. 26, and Isabella Hodson, No. 14, shown during an NAIA tournament game.
The Lady Bears, including Ariana Marfell, No. 26, and Isabella Hodson, No. 14, shown during an NAIA tournament game.
The Truett McConnell women’s soccer team made history in 2025, posting a 19-2-2 record, earning the program’s first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Quarterfinals and a regular season Appalachi…
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(TNND) — Federal agencies are surging personnel to Minneapolis in the wake of a viral video, in which YouTube personality Nick Shirley alleges he visited Somali-run childcare centers pulling in big bucks from the government without actually serving children.
However, FBI Director Kash Patel said he surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes even before Shirley’s video was posted late last week.
Patel said the FBI dismantled a $250 million fraud scheme that stole federal food aid meant for vulnerable children during the pandemic. Patel said that case led to 78 indictments and 57 convictions.
“The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,” Patel said via X. “We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing.”
Homeland Security agents are going to the suspected fraud sites in Minnesota, the agency said.
And a federal prosecutor said recently, while announcing new charges in the ongoing fraud schemes, that the state has flagged 14 high-risk Medicaid programs, suspended payments for those programs and ordered a third-party audit.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said those 14 programs in Minnesota have cost $18 billion since 2018, and he said there’s reason to believe that more than half of that amount was fraudulent.
“The fraud is not small. It isn’t isolated. The magnitude cannot be overstated,” Thompson said during a Dec. 18 news conference. “What we see in Minnesota is not a handful of bad actors committing crimes. It’s a staggering industrial-scale fraud. It’s swamping Minnesota and calling into question everything we know about our state.”
One of the newest defendants received $6 million in Medicaid funds based on fraudulent claims to a program meant to provide one-on-one therapy to children with autism, Thompson said.
Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf, 27, allegedly paid kickbacks to parents in the Somali community to have their children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and enroll in his program.
Two other defendants in a Housing Stabilization Services fraud scheme allegedly came from Philadelphia to pluck $3.5 million in fraudulent Medicaid payments from Minnesota because they heard it was “easy money,” Thompson said.
As for Shirley’s viral video, KARE TV in Minnesota reported that the state commissioner in charge of childcare centers sent inspectors to double-check the facilities.
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown reportedly said several of the centers have been under ongoing investigations, but none of the investigations uncovered findings of fraud. And she said a state inspector visited each of the day cares seen in Shirley’s video within the last six months. She said the inspectors found children present.
Chris Edwards, a federal budget expert at the Cato Institute, a libertarian-leaning think tank, said he’d be “a little cautious” with Shirley’s claims.
But Edwards, an advocate for smaller government, did say Minnesota has a big problem with fraud.
“It’s huge,” Edwards said. “I mean, Minnesota is not a big state, and this is a lot of money for a fairly small state.”
Federal aid programs run by states are vulnerable to fraud, because state administrators don’t have a strong incentive to be frugal with the taxpayer money, Edwards said.
“It’s federal money. It’s free. The money is free to the states,” he said.
The automated nature of the claims process and the massive size of federal programs also contribute to the fraud risk, Edwards said.
“There’s too many government programs, and the fact that the feds are providing so much of the funding, it’s just a recipe for this sort of trouble, combined with the fact that with computers now, the programs can be looted very quickly and rapidly, and it takes auditors years to sort of catch up,” he said.
Turning Medicaid into a block grant, giving states a fixed amount of money, might help, Edwards said.
But the best solution would be to leave it to states to fund the welfare programs, he said.
States, which must balance their budgets, would keep better track of their own dollars, he said.
“And so, the state policymaker, whether Republican or Democrat, knows that if spending is going up rapidly on some program, they’ve got to … trim other programs,” Edwards said. “So, there’s just a natural incentive for them to be more frugal with locally raised money.”
Edwards said the federal government should take what it’s learning in the ongoing Minnesota fraud investigation and apply it to the other 49 states, looking for some of the same sort of patterns of abuse.
