Midwest
Minnesota fraud whistleblower says ‘lack of guardrails was pretty shocking’
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A Minnesota woman employed by the state’s Department of Human Services is speaking out against what she describes as incompetence within the department following the discovery of rampant fraud in the state’s healthcare system.
Faye Bernstein told the City Journal in an interview that she first began to realize the high risk of fraud at Minnesota’s DHS in 2018 and 2019 following a promotion to a lead position.
“Over the years, I had often thought that DHS is sloppy,” she said. “But 2018 and 2019 are when I saw, oh gosh, this is beyond normal. If we don’t have fraud today, we’re going to have fraud soon.”
Bernstein has been a DHS employee for two decades, working in contract management and as a compliance officer, she told the outlet. In her lead position, she said she was able to see all the contracts being worked on by those in her division and witnessed conflicts with the contracts that could be deemed risky.
MINNESOTA ‘ON THE CLOCK’ AS HHS THREATENS PENALTIES OVER CHILDCARE FRAUD SCANDAL
The Minnesota Department of Human Services building in St. Paul. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, File)
“I was aware that our contracting processes were leaving us completely open to fraud,” Bernstein said. “But to realize the lack of guardrails was pretty shocking.”
Federal prosecutors estimate that up to $9 billion was stolen through a network of fraudulent fronts posing as daycare centers, food programs and health clinics. The majority of those charged, so far, in the ongoing investigation are part of Minnesota’s Somali population.
Homeland Security investigators were part of a large fraud investigation last month in Minneapolis following the release of a video alleging daycare fraud. (Department of Homeland Security)
When she tried to report the issues at the time to her deputy director, Bernstein said she was told to stop asking questions. Bernstein said she felt retaliated against after most of her duties were reassigned and was eventually “shuffled from one job to another.”
HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE ‘TIP OF THE ICEBERG’ AS MORE BLUE STATES FACE SCRUTINY
“Even our human resources people would tell us, ‘If your supervisor tells you to do something, you must do it.’ And when you didn’t, the word ‘insubordination’ came up,” she said. “They considered it insubordinate if you resisted an unlawful direction.”
Bernstein told the outlet that she has been going through emails received beginning in 2024 from members of the public warning about the alleged fraud.
“I was really surprised at how much notification we had,” she told the outlet. “Did we really ignore all those people writing in? Members of the public had advised us of this [alleged fraud] in email after email after email.”
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The state’s DHS on Friday said that recently released federal data shows Minnesota’s Medicaid program has a significantly lower improper payment rate than the national average, with an error rate of just over 2.1%, compared with a national average of 6.1%.
State officials also noted the data was collected before Minnesota began rolling out additional measures aimed at reducing fraud risk.
“We’re committed to making Minnesota a national model for preventing fraud and catching errors,” said Shireen Gandhi, the state’s interim human services commissioner. “This review shows we have strong internal controls that we continue to improve, and we are not stopping there as we accelerate our efforts to fight fraud.”
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Bernstein, who said she has only voted Democratic, said the fraud was genuine and not partisan politics.
“This is definitely not something that the Republicans are making up,” she said. “This is real.”
Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee fatal shooting; Water Street bar manager wants safety changes
MILWAUKEE – A person of interest remains in custody following a fatal shooting on Water Street that left one person dead and two others injured early Sunday.
The Milwaukee Police Department says 22-year-old Dylan Jackson was killed. An 18-year-old and a 19-year-old were also injured.
Local perspective:
Before the shooting, a bar manager says the area was already chaotic.
Tim Sluga, general manager of Duke’s on Water, said problems were brewing outside the bars before shots were fired. He said he was working Saturday night into Sunday morning and feared violence would occur.
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“Chaos. It was just chaos outside,” said Sluga. “The pistol whippings, the shootings, everything else. The street was already chaos when that happened.”
Sluga said he was working Saturday night into Sunday morning and feared violence would occur.
“My reaction in general that night was, ‘here we go again,’” said Sluga. “It’s sadly not surprising.”
Sluga said the violence over the weekend reflects a recurring problem in the entertainment district.
Dig deeper:
Last July, city leaders held an emergency meeting after increased violence in the area. Police later announced plans to increase their presence and curb loitering.
Sluga said he expected more enforcement.
“We were told by MPD there was going to be a curfew enforced this year, we didn’t see that this weekend,” said Sluga.
Some patrons say they are also frustrated.
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“It’s like the younger crowd pushing out the older crowd now. If you ain’t 21, there’s no reason for you to be down here,” said Dequan Cave of Milwaukee.
Sluga said bars themselves are generally safe, but problems occur outside.
“It’s a great place and there’s a lot of really good people,” said Sluga. “These are just issues that are out of our control.”
What’s next:
MPD said a Code Red deployment focused on safety in the entertainment district was in place over the weekend. Police also say plans may be modified to improve downtown safety.
The Source: The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Minneapolis, MN
66 cars stolen since March 20 as MPD warns thieves are using new tech
Auto thefts continue to rise in Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) said thieves are increasingly using new technology to steal cars without ever needing the owner’s key.
Minneapolis car thefts spike in 2026, St. Paul sees continued decline
According to MPD’s Crime Dashboard, 66 vehicles have been reported stolen in the city since March 20. The dashboard also shows auto thefts are up 26% compared to this time in 2025.
One of those victims is a Minneapolis man named Travis, who shared home surveillance video of his car pulling out of his driveway.
“I seen that car backed out and my keys were still in the house. Already knew someone stole the car,” he said.
He ran to a neighbor’s home, where more camera footage showed “two guys walking through the alley going toward my car.”
He said a family member eventually connected him to people who knew the teens involved.
“He called me back like an hour later, and he was like he figured out who got my car. They were asking for money. They wanted me to give them $1,500 just for them to tell me the location where my car was.”
Travis said the teens sent him photos and videos of the car’s surroundings.
“They were sending me pictures of where the car was parked, what’s around the car.”
He and several relatives spent hours comparing the images to real locations.
“Me and a few other family members and a few friends, we run around and start driving around looking for the car off of the videos that they sent us.”
By 10 p.m. Friday, they found it in an apartment parking lot.
“As soon as I hit the car starter on the car, the car started right up. The first thing was just jump in the car and pull the car up out of there.”
But the damage was extensive, and he said the loss of sentimental items hurt the most.
“They threw out my son’s car seat. They threw out like programs from funerals and stuff. They broke my sunroof. They broke my windshield.”
He said the theft has been hard on his family.
“It’s kind of hard, you know, because I have a 4‑year‑old son. They threw his stuff out. That kind of messed me up.”
According to MPD, non‑Kia and non‑Hyundai vehicles stolen without keys are up nearly 60% compared to this time last year. Kia and Hyundai thefts, where thieves peel or punch the ignition, are also rising.
MPD said the city is also seeing signs of a nationwide trend involving key‑programming devices. These are tools that can reprogram a car to start without the owner’s key. Officers have recovered these devices during recent arrests, including one case involving a 13‑year‑old.
The department says a relatively small group of individuals is responsible for a significant share of auto thefts in the city. MPD also said it does not have a dedicated auto‑theft unit, and that there are fewer property-crime investigators now than in 2020. A new pilot program uses forensic scientists to process stolen vehicles for evidence.
Travis said he gave officers everything he found, the videos, the photos, the social‑media accounts, but felt the department didn’t respond the way he hoped.
“Basically, they didn’t do anything. All they say is they’re juveniles and ain’t too much they could do. Even if they catch them, they lock them up, they’ll get right back out.”
He believes the teens who stole his car have real technical skill.
“What I seen how y’all started my car and everything like that, y’all could really be out here and take that and really make some good money. Plenty of people out here that lost their car keys. You could be making hundreds of dollars programming car keys to people.”
He said the experience has changed how he lives.
“I’m definitely nervous. Now I gotta move different. Make sure my car locked up at night, make sure it’s safe, upgrade my security a little bit more.”
He’s keeping the car at a relative’s house until he can repair the damage.
“I didn’t feel safe. They took my garage keys and everything out of the car.”
Travis said he hopes the teens who stole his car understand the impact on families.
“People have kids, people have family out here. People go out every day, they work. If they came to me and was like hey, we need a few dollars, I’ll give you a few dollars instead of coming and just taking my car that I gotta get to work and get my son to day care.”
He also hopes they choose a different path.
“Just find something else to do with your time,” he said. “Something really bad could happen to y’all.”
The Minneapolis Police Department provided the following responses to KSTP’s questions:
Are the recent increases concentrated in any specific precincts or neighborhoods?
- We are compiling data that will likely be available tomorrow. Auto thefts are occurring in all five precincts with the largest recent increase occurring in the Second Precinct.
Is MPD able to share the percentage of auto‑theft cases that have been solved or cleared so far this year?
- That will need to be a data request. I will see what I can find out.
Does MPD have any updated prevention guidance for residents, especially with the rise in key‑programming technology?
- Car manufacturers are the best source for prevention guidance related to newer technologies used to steal vehicles. In addition to locking your vehicle, removing valuables from plain sight, never leaving a key fob inside or near your vehicle, and never leaving a vehicle running unoccupied, manufacturers also recommend storing key fobs in RFID-blocking cases and keeping them away from doors and windows.
What is the department’s response to people who feel they need to track down their own stolen vehicles, or who feel MPD isn’t doing enough to help them recover their cars?
- Auto theft has a significant impact on victims, and having a vehicle stolen is frustrating and personal. To date, there have been approximately 1,400 auto thefts, compared to 2,190 during the same period in 2023. While that represents a meaningful decline, auto theft remains an ongoing concern.
- Many stolen vehicles are recovered, and both investigators and patrol officers are actively working to address these cases alongside other public safety priorities. Technology has played an important role. License Plate Readers, both fixed and mobile units in squad cars, have helped officers locate stolen vehicles and, in some cases, make arrests.
- We recognize that some vehicle owners have access to tracking technology and may be able to provide real-time location information. That information can be valuable to officers. However, we strongly urge individuals not to approach or attempt to recover their vehicle on their own.
- If a stolen vehicle is located and occupied, individuals should not approach and should call 911 immediately. If the vehicle is unoccupied, they should notify police of its location and wait for officers to respond. For safety and evidentiary reasons, the vehicle should not be moved until it has been officially reported as recovered.
Editor’s note: The video says the victim’s car was stolen on Saturday, but it was actually Friday.
Indianapolis, IN
WISH-TV in San Jose with Purdue basketball
SAN JOSE, Calif. (WISH) — WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun is in San Jose covering Purdue basketball in the NCAA Tournament.
Purdue will play Texas in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. If it wins that game, it will play the winner of Arizona and Arkansas in the Elite 8, with a chance to advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis.
Tune in to WISH-TV for live coverage starting on Wednesday in San Jose.
The Boilermakers are in the Sweet 16 for the third straight season. Tipoff against the Longhorns is scheduled for 7:10 ET on Thursday.
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