Minnesota officials saw signs of massive fraud even before COVID hit
In July 2019, Minnesota state officials spotted early signs of fraud that would eventually siphon away more than $1 billion in taxpayer money, sources told CBS News.
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In July 2019, Minnesota state officials spotted early signs of fraud that would eventually siphon away more than $1 billion in taxpayer money, sources told CBS News.
The federal and state crackdowns on fraud in Minnesota are creating collateral damage in programs aimed at helping people with disabilities. One nonprofit says it's at risk of shutting down because of potential lapses in funding.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claims half of the visas held by Somali-Minnesotans are fake, and says fraudsters are using them to leech off of state welfare programs. WCCO's Caroline Cummings took those allegations to an immigration expert.
A Minneapolis-based businessman will not serve any more jail time for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud pandemic relief programs, according to court documents.
Several federal entities are looking at Minnesota, putting the state and Gov. Tim Walz on the defensive.
Several federal entities are looking at Minnesota, putting the state and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz on the defensive.
Minnesota is in the hot seat again following two separate federal investigations: One that's digging into state dollars and another that's looking at state drivers licenses.
A Minneapolis man is accused of participating in a fraud scheme that stole more than $1 million in state, federal and local grants.
A Minneapolis man is accused of participating in a fraud scheme that stole more than $1 million in state, federal and local grants.
The former head of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, accused of stealing reward money for the unsolved murder of children, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on Monday.
The former CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the organization.
Could some of the money stolen in one of Minnesota's fraud cases have gone to a terrorist group? That's what the federal government is now investigating.
A 24-year-old man has been ordered by a federal judge to pay nearly $48 million in restitution and sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the largest pandemic fraud scheme in the U.S., the Department of Justice said Monday.
A 36-year-old man has become the 78th person charged in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
A federal jury has convicted a 39-year-old Minnesota man of fraudulently posing as a decorated U.S. Marine in an effort to obtain more than $140,000 in benefits.
Republican Minnesota state Rep. Kristin Robbins talks with WCCO’s Esme Murphy about her run for governor, and her work to fight fraud in the state.
According to the FBI, last year, there were nearly 11,000 complaints of cryptocurrency ATM fraud, resulting in more than $240 million in losses.
The St. Paul City Council has voted to ban crypto kiosks in the city. The Minnesota Department of Commerce reports more than $700,000 have been stolen through cryptocurrency fraud. Jason Rantala shows us why scams are so common on these machines.
A Minnesota businessman was sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $3.5 million for his role in defrauding more than $6 million from pandemic relief programs.
Buried in a torrent of election stories on Tuesday was the announcement by the legislative auditor that there were noncompliance issues found in its audit of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's office.
Charging documents filed Wednesday say that between January 2023 and November 2025, the ringleader targeted at least 25 immigrants she met at Twin Cities churches.
Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday said that a third party will audit billing for 14 Medicaid services that are deemed to be "high risk" for fraud in Minnesota.
Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program will go dark on Nov. 1. For Nancy Masiello, the program wasn’t a handout but a hand up — one she says has allowed her to stay sober.
The former head of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, some of which was meant to help the families of three north Minneapolis children who were shot in the spring of 2021.
A man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in what federal prosecutors have called a "massive" scheme to defraud a Minnesota housing program, according to court documents filed Thursday.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
People gathered at Downtown Park in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Monday night to mourn the deaths of 7-year-old Evie Brown, Kristen Brown and Alice Brown.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
Josh Bell's two-run double started the scoring in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is looking for information about a 40-year-old man who was found dead in the Mississippi River near Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, on Friday.
People gathered at Downtown Park in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Monday night to mourn the deaths of 7-year-old Evie Brown, Kristen Brown and Alice Brown.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is looking for information about a 40-year-old man who was found dead in the Mississippi River near Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, on Friday.
With the season opener around the corner at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, there's a big question: Which passer will pass the other?
An undercover video could land a handful of activists in legal trouble. They pretended to be Minnesota voters during the primary.
Williams and Hall Outfitters in Ely has been in business for 33 years.
More than six fire departments responded in the middle of the night to Kingsway Senior Living, and staff say it took a village to relocate everyone to Belle Plaine High School for temporary shelter.
An individual is dead after a police officer shot at them with their service weapon on the Red Lake Nation Thursday, according to a special agent with the FBI.
Families heading west to the Black Hills this summer might make a stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial near Mount Rushmore. The memorial has a Minnesota connection that tells the story of the site.
More Minnesota communities are parting ways with Flock Safety and dropping the automatic license plate-reading cameras. On Thursday, the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office joined the list and announced they will no longer use the cameras.
The crash happened at approximately 7:12 a.m. on westbound I-94 at milepost 13 in St. Croix County near Roberts, Wisconsin, according to the State Patrol.
Wisconsin residents headed to the polls Tuesday — or voted early — to have their say in the 2026 primary. Here are live results.
Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday's election.
Authorities have released the name of the Madison police officer who shot and killed a 38-year-old Black man last month in Wisconsin's capital city, Madison.
David Crowley, backed by Gov. Tony Evers, faces democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a Wisconsin primary that could signal how far left the Democratic Party is willing to go.
Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, are clearing out the city's largest encampment on Wednesday.
After officials in Minnesota's capital city announced they would shut down encampments for those experiencing homelessness, the City Council approved more than $1 million to expand capacity at local shelters.
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, is taking a stand and closing encampments amid growing concerns.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Tucked away in the Midway neighborhood in St. Paul is a community treasure many have come to love and respect.
An undercover video could land a handful of activists in legal trouble. They pretended to be Minnesota voters during the primary.
They donned disguises and secretly recorded inside Minnesota polling places during the primary. The activists also dropped the name of a real voter in the state. That voter says he was shocked. Esme Murphy spoke with him.
Zach Lahn won the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary over Trump's endorsed candidate, but three months before Election Day, many in his own party say they still don't know who he is.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s closed-door research has yet to produce evidence linking vaccines and autism.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Get ready to watch movies and television with clarity like never before. That's how industry experts are describing the latest TV technology now on sale exclusively at Best Buy.
A lottery player in Minnesota won a jackpot of more than $34 million last week, a record for the Lotto America game in the state.
The lawsuit accuses Loon of using "kid-friendly characters" to promote its vapes in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to court documents.
Luigi Mangione's New York state trial on second-degree murder charges is being delayed.
The long-unsolved drive-by shooting gripped the hip-hop community, partly because no one was charged until Duane "Keffe D" Davis was indicted in 2023.
A Minneapolis man who ran a multi-year Medicaid fraud scheme pleaded guilty Monday.
Police are investigating after the owner of a St. Paul restaurant said thieves broke in and stole $1,300 Sunday morning.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
Back-to-back tainted food outbreaks have a lot of people asking what's safe to bring home from the grocery store.
A Minnesota woman says she fainted, spiked a 102-degree fever, and was hospitalized with sepsis three days after eating a chicken burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville, and genetic testing connected her case to a multistate outbreak, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The system uses light tracing and more than 1,500 data points to create a personalized treatment plan.
Co-stars and friends of Hayden Panettiere are remembering her for her friendship, intelligence and talent after her shocking death on Sunday.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
WCCO is tracking everything you can go out and do 4 Your Weekend, including a slate of county fairs.
Rod Stewart, who is 81, is recovering from a "routine coronary stent procedure," according to his team. He had been scheduled to perform at the Grandstand on Sept. 1 alongside Richard Marx.
Singers at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota, are warming up for their performance on stage with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Foreigner.
Josh Bell's two-run double started the scoring in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
With the season opener around the corner at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, there's a big question: Which passer will pass the other?
Flag football is exploding in popularity among girls in Minnesota. In 2025, when girls flag football started in high schools, there were 51 schools. In 2026, there are 104 teams.
Jamal Adams, the hybrid defender the Minnesota Vikings signed this offseason to bolster Brian Flores' unit, won't play this year after suffering a preseason injury, the NFL Network reports.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has made the NFL Top 100 for the sixth straight year.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
In the aftermath of the primary, Republicans in Minnesota are more optimistic about their November chances than they ever have been.
The candidates for the Minnesota general election are all set, and the campaigns are shifting into a higher gear.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, with the final barrage of political ads in overdrive and candidates making their final pitches.
Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. His collection got so big that, two years ago, he moved everything into an old toy store near downtown Lanesboro and opened the Hammarama Museum and Gift Shop.
Passing trains and scenic bluffs are a big part of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, but in the middle of it all is a garden where creativity and flowers grow together, all courtesy of a man named Herman Rusch.
Thousands of pictures of Split Rock Lighthouse are taken each year. And oftentimes a little island appears in those photos. Ellingsen Island has developed a following of its own.
There's a scenic, nearly century-old spot in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where right now you'll find thousands of flowers in bloom.
Baseball fans might remember the Metrodome's iconic blue seats, and now in Atwater, Minnesota, spectators can once again grab a blue seat and watch a game.
Maybe you've experienced the "Sunday scaries" which is when you worry about the looming work week or wish you could have accomplished more over the weekend. The "August blues" create similar feelings, one being regret.
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.
There's a certain elegance to the common loon. Its black and white plumage carries a gentle sheen of green as though dressed for a formal affair. Subtle colors that allow its piercing red eyes to steal your gaze.
Parents will be digging deeper into their wallets this back-to-school season.
Minnesotans have become quite familiar with drought in recent years. Not only how it affects the water supply, but also the rules that can come with it.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new foods for 2026.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
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.
There will be a few scattered storms across parts of central and southern Minnesota on Tuesday before a sunny Wednesday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says.
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.
A line of showers and embedded thunderstorms will move through parts of northern and central Minnesota on Monday evening, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says round 1 of scattered showers rolls through tonight.
We could see showers early tomorrow, mainly south, with another wave possible late afternoon, WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
There will be a few scattered storms across parts of central and southern Minnesota on Tuesday before a sunny Wednesday, NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer says.
The calendar shows there is still more than a month left of summer. Yet, many feel like the season has already slipped away. In this Good Question, Jeff Wagner explains why August can get a bad rap and shares how to beat the late summer blues.
People gathered in Hopkins on Monday night to remember Kristen Brown, Evie Brown and Alice Brown. Police say Kristen Brown's husband attacked her and Evie Brown at their daycare on Wednesday before taking his own life. Officials say Alice Brown was found dead in Burnsville earlier in the day after an apparent stabbing. Ashley Grams was at the vigil.
The Chaska City Council has voted to temporarily adjust alcohol laws during some special events this fall and winter. Guests will be able to buy an alcoholic beverage and walk within an approved area of the city during the events.
A 30-year-old man charged in a Medicaid fraud scheme is linked to several people accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Hennepin County, according to court documents. WCCO's Adam Duxter details the alleged scheme.