Minnesota day cares brace for more compliance measures
Between 2020 and 2025, Minnesota officials say $2.4 million has been recovered in child care fraud, but a viral video by a conservative YouTuber put a national spotlight on the issue.
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Between 2020 and 2025, Minnesota officials say $2.4 million has been recovered in child care fraud, but a viral video by a conservative YouTuber put a national spotlight on the issue.
The feds are in town to tackle Minnesota's growing fraud crisis. It comes as state investigators conduct compliance checks. Our Conor Wight digs deeper into the fraud and how it's affecting Minnesota's child care system.
The allegations in a viral video posted late last month of fraud at child care centers in Minnesota led the Trump administration to announce a pause of up to $185 million in child care funding for the state. Ubah Ali speaks with a mother who says she depends on the help that's now at risk.
Minnesota officials say child care centers at the center of fraud allegations were "operating as expected" during inspections this week. Friday marked the first time we heard about what they found in a review of claims made in a viral video. The allegations led to a federal funding freeze that providers say is leaving families backed into a corner. Conor Wight shows the mass confusion about what's going to happen, and when, as the threat of a federal funding freeze looms.
Minnesota officials on Friday revealed what inspectors say they discovered after rechecking nine of the child care centers discussed in a conservative YouTuber's viral video. WCCO's Conor Wight reports.
Audits completed in the past 10 years show that Minnesota has lacked the teeth to properly vet attendance records and go after possible fraudsters proactively.
Right now, Minnesota's child care system is in the national spotlight. But months ago, the federal government told state officials they needed to make serious improvements. As our Conor Wight shows us, the state was told that a lack of oversight could increase the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.
Advocates and providers are warning that if federal funding is withheld, legitimate day cares in Minnesota won't be able to survive.
A Minneapolis day care says that vandals damaged the facility early this week, after a YouTube video purporting to expose fraud among day cares in the Twin Cities metro area went viral.
On Dec. 16, 2025, security footage shows various people throughout the day dropping off young children at the state-licensed ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis. That same day, YouTuber Nick Shirley arrived and claimed that the day care was among many in Minnesota that were empty.
One family is dealing with what they call a betrayal of their trust after learning their child care program was shut down for being unlicensed.
One family is dealing with what they call a betrayal of their trust after learning their child care program was shut down for being unlicensed. As Senior Investigative Reporter Jennifer Mayerle discovered, the state says there is risk involved.
In less than a week, thousands of Minneapolis students could be out of class and parents are considering their options.
Rep. Nolan West says day cares aren’t safe enough, and he has firsthand experience.
According to DHS documents, Bakken's family child care license will be placed on conditional status for two years. She also must complete 10 hours of "practicing Safe and Healthy Child Care" training.
The nonprofit began designing the childcare incubator pilot three years ago after extensive research found the community wanted help maneuvering through the licensing process.
A woman who was allegedly caught on camera forcefully grabbing, pushing and shouting at children at a Twin Cities day care now faces a gross misdemeanor charge.
The Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery was established by Junior League women who realized there was nowhere to turn when parents were in crisis and needed help caring for their kids.
A new report by Smart Asset looked into how much it costs to raise a child each year - depending on which major metro area you live in - in the United States.
Dr. Gigi Chawla, chief of general pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota, shares some advice for how you can be prepared for many of the cuts and bruises that happen to kids at home.
The Dakota County Attorney's Office says the state can't prove "beyond a reasonable doubt that the child ingested meth while at Ms. Bakken's day care."
Officers questioned that teacher, who told them she had given gummies to the class after nap time, but only one time, adding "the gummies were Welch's Fruit Snacks and did not contain melatonin."
Child care providers in Bemidji, Duluth, Rochester, St. Paul and Virginia shut their doors Monday in an effort to show how many people rely on their services.
Child care centers across Minnesota will be closed Monday as part of an effort to show how valuable the services are for families.
A mom reacts to the viral video recorded at her daughter's child care center in Plymouth, showing aggressive behavior from employees.
Outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, protests continue. Advocates say what's happening inside the courtrooms is also alarming.
Cellphone footage is providing a closer look at what families say are ICE operations near Minnesota students.
"Rights have always been violated for us as Native people" Rachel Dionne Thunder told WCCO.
At Moth Oddities in northeast Minneapolis, volunteers moved through stacks of boxes as donations continued to pour in for families impacted by the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.
A shooting occurred Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after ICE officers were attacked by men with shovels during an arrest operation, three U.S. officials told CBS News.
Outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, protests continue. Advocates say what's happening inside the courtrooms is also alarming.
Cellphone footage is providing a closer look at what families say are ICE operations near Minnesota students.
"Rights have always been violated for us as Native people" Rachel Dionne Thunder told WCCO.
A shooting occurred Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after ICE officers were attacked by men with shovels during an arrest operation, three U.S. officials told CBS News.
WCCO is documenting other instances where ICE are detaining American citizens looking to act as legal observers.
Most good Minnesota high school hockey teams face the offseason reality that their best players may leave for juniors. This year, Rogers had three key players decide not to, which has benefited the roster.
In a rare primetime address Wednesday evening, Gov. Tim Walz gave a six-minute-long address to Minnesotans where he called on President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "end this occupation."
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Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
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At Moth Oddities in northeast Minneapolis, volunteers moved through stacks of boxes as donations continued to pour in for families impacted by the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
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Outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, protests continue. Advocates say what's happening inside the courtrooms is also alarming.
Cellphone footage is providing a closer look at what families say are ICE operations near Minnesota students.
A shooting occurred Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were attacked by men with shovels during an arrest operation amid Operation Metro Surge, three U.S. officials told CBS News.
Outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, protests continue. Advocates say what’s happening inside the courtrooms is also alarming.
Cellphone footage is providing a closer look at what families say are ICE operations near Minnesota students.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
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There were 584 vehicles towed during this week's snow emergency in Minneapolis. That number stands at 352 and counting in St. Paul, where parking restrictions are in place until 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.
Outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, protests continue. Advocates say what's happening inside the courtrooms is also alarming.
Cellphone footage is providing a closer look at what families say are ICE operations near Minnesota students.
At Moth Oddities in northeast Minneapolis, volunteers moved through stacks of boxes as donations continued to pour in for families impacted by the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city.
A shooting occurred Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after ICE officers were attacked by men with shovels during an arrest operation, three U.S. officials told CBS News.
WCCO is documenting other instances where ICE are detaining American citizens looking to act as legal observers.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says it began distributing payments on Friday to over 2,600 Minnesotans.
Just one day after dropping his bid for reelection, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state's paid family leave program is one of the most transformational bills the state has ever passed.
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It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
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Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
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The shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised several legal questions.
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Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
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With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
New polling shows most voters do not think last week's deadly ICE shooting was justified. But the Trump administration thinks so and suggested that Renee Good was a domestic terrorist. Experts say that's not a label to be taken lightly.
ICE is making arrests in Minnesota right next to shoppers grabbing groceries. The tense encounters are happening at places like Target, Walmart and other private businesses.
It's a question many people have been asking: What is the cost of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota? WCCO was able to get some numbers.
It's a business model picking up steam across the Twin Cities. For instance, all the major sports venues in town, like Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, no longer accept cash.
From the frozen ponds and lakes to the packed indoor rinks serving as community hubs, hockey is uniquely celebrated and cherished in Minnesota like no other state in the country.
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A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
A storm system will drop 1-3 inches of snow Thursday in the Twin Cities, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Periods of light snow will move through in waves on Thursday and Friday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Right on time, the January thaw has made it to Minnesota as high temperatures the last several days have climbed above freezing.
Temps will be in the low 30s to end the work week, then drop to single-digit highs for the weekend, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
A storm system will drop 1-3 inches of snow Thursday in the Twin Cities, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
A shooting occurred Wednesday night in north Minneapolis after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were attacked by men with shovels during an arrest operation amid Operation Metro Surge, three U.S. officials told CBS News.
Outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, protests continue. Advocates say what’s happening inside the courtrooms is also alarming.
Cellphone footage is providing a closer look at what families say are ICE operations near Minnesota students.
In a rare primetime address Wednesday evening, Gov. Tim Walz gave a six-minute-long address to Minnesotans where he called on President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "end this occupation."