Agents: Woman bilked government

ST. PAUL (AP) — Authorities say a onetime U.S. Postal Service employee in western Minnesota cheated the government out of more than $100,000 in federal disability benefits by claiming she had a workforce injury while at the same time competing in dog agility events.

The Star Tribune reports that 57-year-old Lisa Schafer, of Glenwood, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors will recommend probation, community service and restitution, instead of a prison sentence.

Investigators say Schafer told her doctor that her medical condition required her to rest most of the day. Her doctor limited her to two hours of office work a day, a restriction that kicked in her disability benefits. During this time, Schafer allegedly participated in 30 to 40 dog-agility competitions.

Schafer’s attorney, Patrick Cotter, told The Associated Press Sunday that his client “is a very good person who made a mistake that she is correcting.”

Football player dies after collapsing

AITKIN (AP) — Police say a 15-year-old boy has died after collapsing during a varsity football game in Aitkin.

KARE-TV reports Jackson Pfister, an Esko High School player, died Friday.

Pfister was taken to Riverwood Healthcare Center with what police call a “serious medical condition.” He died a short time later.

Police and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the death.

Highways reopen in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Transportation Department has reopened hundreds of miles of highways but warned that travel remained hazardous due to severe winter conditions.

Interstate 29 from Fargo to the Canadian border was reopened Saturday morning, while U.S. Highway 2 and Interstate 94 were reopened late Saturday afternoon.

Authorities say secondary highways and roads in north-central North Dakota were impassable and blocked after more than 2 feet of snow fell in some areas.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning Friday for northern North Dakota and winter storm warnings and watches elsewhere in the state and into parts of South Dakota and Minnesota through Saturday afternoon.

Forecasters say conditions are expected to gradually improve.