Midwest
Dr. Oz warns Walz to address alleged Somali Medicaid fraud or lose federal funding: ‘We’ll stop paying’
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz on Friday warned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the state could lose federal Medicaid funding unless it restores “the integrity” of its program.
In a post on X, Dr. Oz claimed more than $1 billion had been stolen through a massive Medicaid fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within Minnesota’s Somali community, alleging some of the funds “may have even made its way to the Somalian terrorist group (al-Shabab).”
“Our staff at CMS told me they’ve never seen anything like this in Medicaid — and everyone from Gov. Tim Walz on down needs to be investigated, because they’ve been asleep at the wheel,” Oz said.
COMER TARGETS WALZ IN NEW HOUSE INVESTIGATION, CITING NEARLY $1B IN ALLEGED MINNESOTA FRAUD
Oz claimed that more than $1 billion was stolen through a massive Medicaid fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within Minnesota’s Somali community. (@DrOzCMS via X)
Oz demanded Walz take the following corrective measures within 60 days:
- Send weekly updates on anti-fraud efforts to CMS
- Freeze enrollment of high-risk providers for six months
- Verify all current providers as “legitimate” or remove them
- Send CMS a corrective action plan to prevent fraud in the future
“If we’re unsatisfied with the state’s plans or cooperation, we’ll stop paying the federal share of these programs,” Oz warned.
The CMS administrator pointed to two Minnesota Medicaid programs launched in recent years, noting dramatic spikes in costs.
The Housing Stabilization Services program, projected at $2.6 million annually, paid out over $100 million in 2024, according to Oz.
The Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program grew from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023, he said.
WALZ ‘DERELICT LEADERSHIP’ TO BLAME IN $1B FRAUD SCANDAL WITH ‘HAUNTING REMINDS OF WATERGATE’: GOP CHALLENGER
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is demanding Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz address an alleged Medicare fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within the state’s Somali community. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“These scammers used stolen taxpayer money to buy flashy cars, purchase overseas real estate and offer kickbacks to parents who enrolled their kids at fake autism treatment centers,” Oz said. “Some of it may have even made its way to the Somalian terrorist group al-Shabab. … So why didn’t Walz stop them? That’s simple: because he went all-in on identity politics.”
Minnesota officials previously reported the problem to CMS but failed to address it effectively, according to Oz.
“We stepped in and shut down the worst program: housing. We also froze provider enrollment in a few of the most abused programs,” Oz said.
PHOTOS EMERGE OF SOMALI ILLEGAL’S TIES TO TOP MINNESOTA DEMS AFTER ICE ARREST
President Donald Trump recently announced a flurry of actions to investigate alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
“The message to Walz is clear: either fix this in 60 days or start looking under your couch for spare change, because we’re done footing the bill for your incompetence.”
President Donald Trump recently announced a flurry of actions to crack down and investigate fraud schemes in Minnesota, which he has assailed as a “hub of money laundering activity,” and cited it as the basis of his decision to terminate deportation protections for hundreds of Somali migrants.
This week, senior Trump administration officials announced fresh investigations, including a new Treasury Department probe into how taxpayer dollars were allegedly diverted to the terrorist organization al-Shabab, according to Secretary Scott Bessent.
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Walz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
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North Dakota
North Dakota lawmaker killed in Minnesota plane crash
BROOKLYN PARK, MN (CBS News) –The National Transportation Safety Board says it is investigating after an airplane crashed near Minneapolis late Saturday morning. According to the NTSB, it was a Beech F33A plane that crashed.
Two people were inside the aircraft, according to the FAA. The Brooklyn Park Police Department said that both people in the plane died. The police have been in contact with the family of the deceased.
WCCO has been able to confirm that one of the deceased in the plane was a North Dakota Representative, Liz Conmy.
North Dakota Democratic Minority Leader Zac Ista said in a statement, “I am completely devastated at the loss of our friend Liz. She lived life to its fullest, never shying from adventure or speaking her mind—often in refreshingly direct terms.”
Conmy has ties the University of St. Thomas and Minnesota State University.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the name of the other person inside the plane.
Local fire crews were on scene within minutes of receiving the call, according to officials.
The Metropolitan Airport Commission confirmed that a single-engine aircraft departed from the Crystal, Minnesota, airport.
There are no details on what could have led to the crash.
Ohio
Highway work projects starting Monday in Ohio County
MADISONVILLE, Ky. (WFIE) – Contractors working for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have three base repair projects planned in Ohio County in the coming week, which could result in temporary lane closures on Monday and Tuesday.
Drivers should anticipate lane closures with alternating traffic flow controlled by flaggers between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Crews will be making base failure repairs along a three-mile stretch of KY 369, from the Butler County line to Union Hill Road on Monday.
Base repair work is also planned on Monday along KY 878 from KY 1165 to the Breckenridge County line.
Crews will be making base repairs to KY 2671 (Sunnydale Road) on Tuesday between Sugar Grove Road to KY 54.
Copyright 2026 WFIE. All rights reserved.
South Dakota
WNBA holds preseason exhibition game in South Dakota
The WNBA came to Sioux Falls for the first time on Saturday, and it “couldn’t have been a bigger hit.” The Mercury defeated the Sky 108-104 in a preseason exhibition before a sellout crowd of 3,357 at the Sanford Pentagon. The Mercury are coached by South Dakota native Nate Tibbetts, and most of the fans in attendance were “decked out in either purple or orange.” This was “more than a basketball game.” It was a “homecoming for Tibbetts,” but also a “historic moment for women’s sports in South Dakota.” The WNBA has never been to South Dakota (SIOUX FALLS LIVE, 4/26). Lines went “out the door more than an hour before tip-off.” Basketball fans “traveled from around the region to take in the game and witness history” (DAKOTA NEWS NOW, 4/26).
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