Charges: $250M+ in federal funds to feed hungry children stolen by 47 Minnesotans
Federal prosecutors say at least 47 Minnesotans pocketed more than $250 million in COVID relief funds to pay for luxury rides, high-end jewelry and coastal homes.
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Federal prosecutors say at least 47 Minnesotans pocketed more than $250 million in COVID relief funds to pay for luxury rides, high-end jewelry and coastal homes.
Forty-seven Minnesotans are accused in an alleged scheme to defraud a federal child nutrition program of $250 million that should have been used to feed children across the state during the peak of the pandemic.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announced charges against dozens of people Tuesday morning in connection with what he called "the largest pandemic fraud in the United States."
In January, FBI agents served search warrants on a number of locations across the Twin Cities. Feeding Our Future was suspected of misusing $48 million of federal and state child nutrition funds.
When Linda Austad received a call from an unknown number Saturday, it set in motion a six-hour ordeal.
The Minnesota Attorney General's office is now suing the pool contractor who took tens of thousands of dollars from families and didn't finish the work.
Since we started our investigation into Charles Workman and MN Crete Pools, we discovered a troubling history with another company in his name: MPLS Concrete Restoration.
WCCO uncovered Charles Workman has a history of non-payment to subcontractors and vendors. Since we started our investigation into Workman and MN Crete Pools, we discovered a troubling history with another company in his name: MPLS Concrete Restoration.
A Brooklyn Center man faces federal charges after he lit his own camper on fire to make it look like a politically-motivated crime, and then allegedly filed several fraudulent insurance claims.
State election officials from Arizona and Georgia testified about the pressure they felt from then-President Trump to overturn the 2020 election and the threats they received after being falsely accused of fraud. Nikole Killion has the latest.
The House select committee investigating Jan. 6 will hold more public hearings this week, focusing on Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential race by pressuring local election officials. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane discussed what to expect on "CBS News Mornings".
This development comes two days after WCCO shared the frustration of homeowners who all say they hired Charles Workman to build pools for them. They paid him tens of thousands of dollars upfront, but the work hasn't been done. All together, they're in for more than a million.
Authorities say Suzanne Griffiths frequently made material misrepresentations about the status of real estate projects, failed to take promised action, falsified documents and misappropriated investments for her own use.
Jennifer Mayerle reports on the laws that would need to be changed in order for consumers to be protected from certain contractors.
After getting the money, Kyle Brenizer, 33, of St. Paul, allegedly bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and used the funds on other "impermissible expenditures," federal investigators say.
A WCCO investigation found more than a dozen families are each out of tens of thousands of dollars after paying up front to have the same contractor put in a backyard pool.
From county to county, family after family say Charles Workman left them without their money and without a pool. Some filed police reports; others sued.
The House January 6 committee is holding its second televised public hearing for this month. The panel will focus on how former President Trump spread baseless claims of election fraud. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane joined "CBS News Mornings" with a preview.
A Twin Cities man allegedly involved in the fraud of millions of federal dollars meant to feed school children was arrested Wednesday after boarding an international flight.
A Wisconsin woman is accused of leading a scheme to bilk Hmong-American investors mostly from Minnesota and Wisconsin of at least $16.5 million.
A Minnesota court will supervise the dissolution of a nonprofit meals program that's under federal investigation for allegedly defrauding the government of millions of dollars, Attorney General Keith Ellison's office announced Tuesday.
A Twin Cities man was sentenced Wednesday to five years behind bars for fraudulently applying for more than $9.6 million in COVID-19 business relief funds.
A Twin Cities woman is charged with defrauding Minnesota's Medicaid program out of more than $1.6 million through her acupuncture business, which is accused of regularly overbilling customers, even billing them months after they'd last visited the practice.
Minnesota's attorney general has asked a court to oversee the dissolution of a Twin Cities nonprofit under investigation for potential money laundering and fraud.
Feeding our Future - a Twin Cities nonprofit which claimed to be feeding tens of thousands of hungry children - has dissolved, as the organization faces a federal investigation into an alleged large-scale fraud scheme.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
After patchy morning fog and a cloudy Monday, freezing rain could lead to slick roads in the evening.
Justin Jefferson finally passed the 1,000-yard mark in the last game of the season for the Minnesota Vikings.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
In 2018, annual ridership peaked at more than 780,000 passengers. There was a dramatic drop during the pandemic, with an all-time low of just over 50,000 riders in 2021.
After patchy morning fog and a cloudy Monday, freezing rain could lead to slick roads in the evening.
In 2018, annual ridership peaked at more than 780,000 passengers. There was a dramatic drop during the pandemic, with an all-time low of just over 50,000 riders in 2021.
Police in Hopkins, Minnesota, are investigating a deadly shooting that happened Saturday afternoon.
A late-night stop at a gas station in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, could have turned dangerous — but quick thinking and teamwork helped prevent the worst.
Police in Champlin, Minnesota, canceled a missing persons alert late Saturday after a young mother and her infant daughter were found safe.
After patchy morning fog and a cloudy Monday, freezing rain could lead to slick roads in the evening.
Two people are dead after a head-on crash in Stearns County, Minnesota, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Early season, snow and cold have given many trails the snowpack they need. Winter fun comes with the fresh snow, but so do challenges.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
From severe weather to extreme heat and everything in between, 2025 was a year full of big swings and big storms across Minnesota.
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.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional Slender Man has been ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital after she escaped from her group home last month.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
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.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman's children join lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in condemning a video President Trump posted about her murder.
Several lawmakers are condemning President Trump after he shared a video on social media Saturday alleging Gov. Tim Walz is behind the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman.
Gov. Tim Walz has no shortage of potential GOP opponents in the race for governor. Last month, businessman Kendall Qualls narrowly won a GOP straw poll. He joins Esme Murphy on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.
The race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota gets underway in less than a month with both the DFL and GOP holding party caucuses Feb. 3. The DFL race to succeed Tina Smith pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other. Sunday morning, Esme Murphy sat down with Flanagan.
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.
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.
While no illness has been reported so far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says 54 stores in the state were affected by Gold Star Distribution's recall.
This season of giving can really do a number on our recycling systems. But we can all be part of the solution.
Police in Hopkins, Minnesota, are investigating a deadly shooting that happened Saturday afternoon.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say a man is hospitalized and another is in custody in connection to a shooting overnight Saturday in the city's North End neighborhood.
A man is dead and a person is in custody after an apparent shooting near Wolverton on New Year's Day, according to the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office.
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.
The ringleader of what authorities called the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States has been ordered to forfeit more than $5 million.
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 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.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Isiah Whitlock Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as state Sen. R. Clayton "Clay" Davis on HBO's "The Wire."
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
A western Wisconsin town is reveling in the national spotlight.
Justin Jefferson finally passed the 1,000-yard mark in the last game of the season for the Minnesota Vikings.
Abby Roque tied it with 29 seconds left with goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens off for an extra attacker, Marie-Philip Poulin scored her second goal of the game 3:12 into overtime and the Montreal Victoire beat the Minnesota Frost 3-2 on Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings finished a frustrating season by beating the resting Green Bay Packers 16-3 on Sunday.
Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist, Samuel Helenius scored his first goal of the season, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night.
The DFL race pits two prominent party leaders, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, against each other.
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.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
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."
Have you ever wondered how the actors memorize so many lines? A neurologist says everyone could strengthen their memories by taking cues from actors.
It's a beauty technique that's exploding. Depending on your age, you might not have heard of it. It's called micro-needling.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
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 patchy morning fog and a cloudy Monday, freezing rain could lead to slick roads in the evening.
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.
With temps hovering around 32 all week, watch out for icy roads in the evenings and early mornings, NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames says.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says tomorrow will be cloudy, have fog and top out in the mid-30s.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says an icy mix will be arriving in the metro by noon. It'll be light but it'll still make things slick.
With temps hovering around 32 all week, watch out for icy roads in the evenings and early mornings, NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames says.
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman's children join lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in condemning a video President Trump posted about her murder.
Sixteen years of commuting came to a close on Sunday. The Northstar line made its final ride after the Vikings game to get fans home safely to the north suburbs. WCCO's Marielle Mohs caught up with the farewell riders.
WCCO meteorologist Lisa Meadows says tomorrow will be cloudy, have fog and top out in the mid-30s.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says an icy mix will be arriving in the metro by noon. It'll be light but it'll still make things slick.