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.
Democrats are rethinking their midterm election strategy due to the controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
Another man has been convicted in the sexual assault of a woman at a central Minnesota college.
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Admission and parking prices for the Minnesota State Fair will remain the same in 2026, organizers announced.
Wednesday will bring light snow to the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota before a sharp turn to dangerous cold.
Democrats are rethinking their midterm election strategy due to the controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
Admission and parking prices for the Minnesota State Fair will remain the same in 2026, organizers announced.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened at approximately 3:23 p.m. in Greenvale Township.
According to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, nearly 60% of the state's total labor force and employment growth came from foreign-born workers from 2019 to 2023.
Off-duty police officers in the Twin Cities have been "targeted" by federal agents looking for proof of U.S. citizenship, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said Tuesday.
Democrats are rethinking their midterm election strategy due to the controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
Another man has been convicted in the sexual assault of a woman at a central Minnesota college.
Lutsen Mountains is known for great runs and great views of Lake Superior, but it might not be a view you'd want to enjoy for five hours while stuck on a ski lift.
Walz's office was served subpoenas along with the offices of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Attorney General Keith Ellison Tuesday afternoon.
Faith leaders held a news conference Tuesday in the Twin Cities to announce the participation of "hundreds of Minnesota places of worship" in "A Day of Truth and Freedom" — which calls for people to not work, shop or go to school this Friday.
A Wisconsin man accused of sending the state Supreme Court's chief justice intimidating emails has been sentenced to probation.
Some schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are delayed or closed on Tuesday as early morning rain makes the roads slick.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
When he's not playing zone or man, Hall is carving it up at local hills. He has qualified for multiple professional snowboard competitions.
Two people were killed and another hurt in a crash in western Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon.
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.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
Democrats are rethinking their midterm election strategy due to the controversial immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
The president says he will hold meetings with allies there to discuss his push to acquire Greenland.
President Trump told world leaders, CEOs and policymakers at the Davos economic forum that he wouldn't use force to take control of Greenland.
A well-known name and voice in the Twin Cities is joining the race to represent Minnesota in the United States senate.
There are calls tonight for a pastor to step down because of his role as acting director of ICE field office in St. Paul. Ubah Ali has the demands and potential charges for the protesters who stormed into a Sunday service.
Admission and parking prices for the Minnesota State Fair will remain the same in 2026, organizers announced.
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.
WCCO gathered data on core staple items from Aldi in Apple Valley, Target in Fridley and Cub Foods in north Minneapolis.
Minnesota drivers have something to celebrate this holiday — a price drop at the pump.
With costs still high and budgets stretched, getting smarter with money matters more than ever.
Another man has been convicted in the sexual assault of a woman at a central Minnesota college.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison no longer faces a trespassing charge stemming from an arrest in Florida earlier this month.
Authorities are investigating after a 27-year-old man was shot in Alexandria, Minnesota early Tuesday.
In an exclusive interview from her jail cell, Aimee Bock defended her conduct in Minnesota's Feeding Our Future fraud case, but admitted regrets.
Outside of the Twin Cities, communities in greater Minnesota are feeling the impact of ICE activity. A week ago, hundreds of protesters confronted federal agents at a Somali mall in St. Cloud.
Parents looking to get their children vaccinated are navigating confusing times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced new guidelines on the shots it recommends for kids. But the Minnesota Department of Health disagrees with the changes.
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.
Roughly 12,000 Minnesotans have already applied for the state's new paid family leave program, according to an update by the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
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 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were revealed on "CBS Mornings" on Wednesday. See the full list.
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Bob Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Grateful Dead classics including "Sugar Magnolia," "One More Saturday Night" and "Mexicali Blues."
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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."
Keyonte George scored a career-high 43 points, Jusuf Nurkic recorded his second career triple-double, and the Utah Jazz rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-122.
John Mobley Jr. scored 26 points and made five 3-pointers, Bruce Thornton had 23 points, seven rebounds and four steals, and Ohio State beat Minnesota 82-74 in overtime.
Cole Caufield scored the winner with 15 seconds remaining to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
"I'm honestly so proud to be a part of the group of Minnesotans representing our country at the games," said Greta Myers, who recently punched her ticket to the Olympics.
Carlos Beltrán was a nine-time All-Star during his 20-year MLB career. Andruw Jones was a five-time All-Star and won 10 Gold Gloves.
You have seen the protests against ICE on the street, but Minnesota's battle against the federal surge is also in federal court.
As residents in the Twin Cities protest in the streets against ICE and federal immigration enforcement actions, Minnesota's battle against the federal surge is also playing out in the federal court system.
The shooting death of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised several legal questions.
The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent has raised many legal questions. Constitutional law professor David Schultz, who has taught a class on police, criminal and civil procedure, has some answers.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
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.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
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."
It's a saying Minnesotans and Wisconsinites know well: "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." The problem is that even proper clothing might not be enough to withstand the bitter chill headed for the bold north.
Parents looking to get their children vaccinated are navigating confusing times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced new guidelines on the shots it recommends for kids. But the Minnesota Department of Health disagrees with the changes.
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.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
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.
After a round of organized snow on Wednesday, arctic air will pour in.
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.
Wednesday will bring light snow to the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota before a sharp turn to dangerous cold.
Wednesday will bring light snow to the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota before a sharp turn to dangerous cold.
It's a saying Minnesotans and Wisconsinites know well: "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." The problem is that even proper clothing might not be enough to withstand the bitter chill headed for the bold north.
The Justice Department served subpoenas to the offices of several Minnesota officials, President Trump is in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and more.
After a round of organized snow on Wednesday, arctic air will pour in.
The federal government is using the courts to try to get top DFL leaders to hand over information, plus more of the day’s top stories.
The president says he will hold meetings with allies there to discuss his push to acquire Greenland.
Physics and fun aren't two words you usually would put together. But at the University of Minnesota Physics Force Show, they're ready to show you science isn't scary — it's actually entertaining.