K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For May 25th, 2017 – Morning

BRUSSELS (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S PUSH TO GET IN FRONT OF THE PACK AT THE NATO SUMMIT IN BELGIUM IS GETTING ATTENTION. VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM THE GATHERING SHOWS TRUMP PUTTING HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE RIGHT ARM OF MONTENEGRO PRIME MINISTER DUSKO MARKOVIC AND PUSHING HIMSELF AHEAD AS NATO LEADERS WALKED INSIDE THE ALLIANCE'S NEW HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS.

BRUSSELS (AP) - CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL SAYS SHE IS CONFIDENT THAT GERMANY IS ON THE RIGHT PATH WITH ITS DEFENSE SPENDING, AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DEMANDS THAT ALLIES RESPECT THEIR PLEDGES TO INCREASE DEFENSE SPENDING. MERKEL SAID THURSDAY THAT NATO LEADERS, MEETING IN BRUSSELS, WILL CONFIRM A DECISION FROM 2011 TO INCREASING SPENDING TOWARD 2 PERCENT OF GDP BY 2024. SHE SAID THAT "CONFIRM MEANS: NOT MORE AND NOT LESS."

BRUSSELS (AP) - U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP MET HIS MATCH IN A HANDSHAKE SHOWDOWN WITH FRANCE'S NEW PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON. AT THEIR FIRST MEETING, AHEAD OF A NATO SUMMIT IN BRUSSELS ON THURSDAY, THE TWO MEN LOCKED HANDS FOR SO LONG THAT KNUCKLES STARTED TURNING WHITE. TRUMP HAS DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS "A GERM FREAK" AND CALLED HANDSHAKES "BARBARIC." HE'S NOW DEEP INTO AN INAUGURAL WORLD TOUR THAT HAS FORCED HIM TO EXCHANGE GREETINGS WITH LEADERS FROM ISRAEL TO THE VATICAN.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (AP) - BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE SAYS ARMED OFFICERS WILL PATROL SOME U.K. TRAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED THREAT OF EXTREMIST ATTACKS. THE PATROLS WILL BEGIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

BOZEMAN, MONT. (AP) - GOP LAWMAKERS EMERGING FROM A CLOSED-DOOR CAUCUS MEETING ON CAPITOL HILL ON THURSDAY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT REPUBLICAN GREG GIANFORTE BEING CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT. A REPORTER FROM THE GUARDIAN SAYS THE TECH MILLIONAIRE SLAMMED HIM TO THE GROUND AND BROKE HIS GLASSES IN AN ALTERCATION AT GIANFORTE'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN BOZEMAN ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE POLLS ARE OPEN IN A RACE FOR MONTANA'S ONLY CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.
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A POWELL PSYCHOLOGIST ALLEGEDLY BILKED ABOUT $6.8 MILLION FROM WYOMING MEDICAID IN FRAUDULENT BILLS OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, ACCORDING TO AN INDICTMENT FROM A GRAND JURY LAST WEEK.

THE WYOMING U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAID WEDNESDAY THE GRAND JURY INDICTED GIBSON CONDIE WITH 234 COUNTS OF HEALTH CARE FRAUD.

CONDIE HEARD THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM DURING HIS INITIAL APPEARANCE BEFORE U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE SCOTT SKAVDAHL IN CASPER ON WEDNESDAY.

HE WAS RELEASED ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE, AND HE IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR FOR HIS ARRAIGNMENT IN CHEYENNE ON MAY 30.

IF CONVICTED, CONDIE FACES UP TO 10 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT ON EACH COUNT.

THE INDICTMENT ITSELF REMAINS SEALED UNDER COURT ORDER.

BUT THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAID CONDIE ALLEGEDLY SUBMITTED THE BILLS TOTALING $6,848,808 FROM JUNE 2012 TO FEBRUARY 2016 FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO WYOMING MEDICAID THROUGH HIS BUSINESS BIG HORN BASIN MENTAL HEALTH GROUP.

THE BILLS ROUTINELY REPORTED AN INAPPROPRIATE AND BASELESS MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS AND FALSELY IDENTIFIED CONDIE AS THE TREATING PROVIDER EVEN THOUGH THE CLAIMED SERVICES HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY VARIOUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS, MANY OF WHOM WERE NOT LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY MEDICAID TO PROVIDE THE CLAIMED SERVICES.

CONDIE ALSO ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENTLY OVERBILLED MEDICAID FOR CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS, BILLED FOR SERVICES THAT WERE NOT PROVIDED, AND BILLED FOR SERVICES THAT MEDICAID DID NOT COVER.
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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - A WYOMING POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS MORE FUNDING WILL HELP IT IMPROVE RETENTION AND EDUCATE ITS INEXPERIENCED OFFICERS.

CASPER POLICE DEPARTMENT ASKED CITY COUNCIL FOR A MODEST BUDGET INCREASE AT ITS MONDAY BUDGET SESSION.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED FOR A $46,000 INCREASE IN TRAVEL AND TRAINING.

INTERIM CHIEF STEVE SCHULZ SAYS THE ADDITIONAL MONEY WOULD HELP THE DEPARTMENT HOLD NECESSARY TRAININGS ON FIREARMS, VEHICLES, WRITING REPORTS AND HOW TO RESPOND TO CRIMES SUCH SEXUAL ASSAULT.

HE SAYS OFFICERS ALSO NEED TO LEARN SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES SUCH AS BLOOD SPLATTER ANALYZATION.

ACCORDING THE REPORT, COUNCIL MEMBERS RESPONDED WELL TO SCHULZ'S PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT RECOMMENDED HE REQUEST MORE MONEY FOR THE TRAININGS.