Report: Minnesota Lottery needs to strengthen internal controls

This is Minnesota Today for Thursday, November 21st. I'm Emily Reese and here's what's happening in Minnesota. Legislative leaders met with Governor Tim Walz today for the first time since voters broke up DFL control of the legislature in this month's election. Clay Masters reports.

The House is projected to hold a 67-67 tie between Republicans and Democrats next year. If the results stay the same in two recounts, party leaders will have to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. Those leaders told reporters the meeting with the Democratic governor was cordial. Current Speaker of the House, Melissa Hortman, says they focused on areas where they can cooperate when lawmakers return in January. She says the voters still elected a Democratic majority in St. Paul.

I think we will continue to try to work as collaboratively as we can with Republicans across the board, but there's shared power in the House and there is a majority in the Senate.

A clear majority Democrats hold a one seat majority in the state Senate. I'm Clay Masters at the Capitol. The latest US drought monitor update issued this morning shows major improvement in drought conditions across Minnesota thanks to significant rain over the past week. About 65% of Minnesota is listed in drought this week down from about 79% last week.

and the percentage of the state in severe drought also dropped from about 45% to just 16%. But while recent rain and snow has helped, the state remains locked in a long-term rainfall deficit. Rain fall across much of the state this fall is still two to four inches below normal. The Minnesota Lottery needs to strengthen its internal controls to ensure that it meets all of its legal obligations, according to a new report from the Minnesota Legislative Auditor, Anika Best has more.

The 66-page report found the lottery generally complied with legal requirements, but the auditor also found problems. According to the auditor, criminal background checks of retailers were not always performed properly. Retailers with recent fraud or gambling convictions are prohibited from selling lottery tickets. The lottery also allowed retailers with expired contracts to continue selling tickets and sometimes didn't charge retailers for lost or stolen scratch-off tickets.

The Lottery's executive directors says the lottery will make changes to improve compliance. The lottery contributes about $196 million in revenue to the state budget. I'm Monica Best. A Grand Rapids woman has been charged in connection with a July hit and run crash that left a pedestrian dead in northern Minnesota. 64-year-old Cynthia Martin allegedly hit 19-year-old Carter John Haythcock on Highway 169 near Nashwalk, according to a criminal complaint filed this week.

The complaint alleges Martin left the scene after the late night crash. Another driver found a body in the road soon after. Martin allegedly called 911 the next day to report a crash, saying she thought she hit an animal. Prosecutors say her car matches debris found at the scene. Her first court appearance is next month. According to DFL party leaders, Martin served as the party's 8th congressional district chair.

After a windy, mostly cloudy day across Minnesota today, conditions will be calmer with more sunshine across the region tomorrow, and high temperatures are forecast to climb a bit this weekend into the forties for southern Minnesota on Sunday. But NPR meteorologist Sun Sungard says that'll be followed by a return to more wintery conditions, including a chance for more snow. Northern Minnesota could see some light accumulation again Sunday into Sunday night, maybe even in the metro, we'll have to keep our eye on it. But that's going to bring so much colder air. Looks like a sub freezing.

thanksgiving in much of ne the average high temperature is about 35 degrees in the Twin Cities. In s basketball team beat e last night 81 to 52. The gophers are now six

They play at Montana at home on Sunday. Go for volleyball team. Fell to number six Wisconsin last night, three to two. Timberwolves play the Raptors in Toronto tonight. The Minnesota wild play the Oilers in Edmonton tonight. The Vikings are in Chicago to play the Bears on Sunday and Minnesota United, the Lunes, back in action to face Los Angeles Galaxy Sunday evening in LA for the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Your forecast for Minnesota tonight, mostly cloudy with patchy freezing fog in the West, lows mid teens to near 30 on Friday. Mostly cloudy could see some sunshine highs mid twenties to the mid thirties. That's it for Minnesota today. Thanks for listening. Phil Picardy will have an update for you on Friday morning.