Critical Access Quality: New Ulm Medical Center accepted a Vizient “Top Performers” award, ranked top 13 among critical access hospitals, tied to safety, efficiency, effectiveness, patient centering and mortality. Medicaid Home-Care Scrutiny: A new investigation says a small set of Twin Cities residential addresses pulled in most Minnesota Medicaid home-care payments, raising fraud concerns and questions about oversight. Cancer Prevention & Weight Loss: A large study finds metabolic/bariatric surgery linked to lower risk of obesity-related cancers and other malignancies than structured dietary counseling. Rural Care Access: Fosston and Essentia Health are back in arbitration over claims Essentia violated an agreement to keep “core services,” after labor and delivery services were paused and later shut down. Nursing Home/Assisted Living Expansion: Oak Terrace Senior Living and Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership plan to lease and reactivate Notre Dame Hall in Mankato for assisted living and memory care. Public Health Research: New ICU research identifies immune biomarkers that may flag trauma patients at risk for chronic critical illness. Food Safety: Nearly 6,000 pounds of frozen meatloaf meals were recalled in Minnesota and neighboring states due to an undeclared soy allergen. Immigration Detention Health: Rights groups report ICE custody deaths at the highest rate in over a decade, citing medical care failures and prolonged detention. Local Community Fundraising: A Minnesota family’s long-running Gillette Children’s lemonade stand fundraiser has nearly reached $100,000 for adaptive bikes.