Feeding Our Future fraud defendant returns to U.S., appears in court

And fall colors are emerging across Minnesota 

View in Browser | Listen Good morning, A change from the recent weather, high temperatures Friday will see 70s spread across more of southern and western Minnesota. Get the latest on Updraft. Feeding Our Future fraud defendant returns to U.S., appears in court One of the three defendants in a sprawling food aid fraud case who'd left the country has returned to Minnesota and made his initial court appearance Thursday. Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin is among 49 people accused in what federal prosecutors say was a brazen scheme to steal $250 million from two U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition programs for children. The alleged ringleader was Aimee Bock, 41, the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Feeding our Future. Bock has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and bribery. Born 100 years ago and raised in Minnesota, Oscar Pettiford changed the sound of American music If you've ever learned a band instrument, or know someone who has, chances are you've heard the tune "Blues in the Closet" — a signature of the bebop era. What you may not know is that its roots go back to north Minneapolis, where one of its creators grew up. And today — Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 — marks exactly 100 years since that jazz pioneer, Oscar Pettiford, was born. What else we're watching: Break out the flannel and cider: Fall colors are emerging across Minnesota. It's time to break out your buffalo plaid flannels and venture out to look at the fall colors. The last week of September acquainted us with cool temperatures of fall and, while it may be warmer this weekend, fear not — fall is here to stay. Or at least fall colors are. Climate change makes storms like Ian more common. Hurricane Ian was just shy of a Category 5 hurricane when it barreled into Florida. The wind was strong enough to destroy homes, and relentless storm surge and rain flooded entire neighborhoods in a matter of hours. Storms like Ian are more likely because of human-caused climate change. St. Paul rolls back part of its new rent control policy. St. Paul's city council has voted 5-2 to roll back parts of its rent control policy that was put in place less than five months ago. The details of the rent control policy made it one of the most stringent of its kind in the country. The new amendments to the policy, which were passed last week, mean that now, low income housing and newly constructed buildings are exempt from the three percent cap on annual rent increase. Max Nesterak has been following this story closely. He's deputy editor of the Minnesota Reformer. —  Sam Stroozas, MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today! SPONSOR   Connect With Us MPRnews.org MPRnews on iOS MPRnews on Android Podcasts from MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe You received this email because you subscribed or it was sent to you by a friend. This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101