School Threats Shut Down District, Audit Finds Fraud Oversight Gaps in State Autism Program

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said they did not have authority to investigate unless the allegation also included non-kickback conduct that met the definitions of fraud, theft, abuse, or error. The OLA says DHS has long had legal authority to investigate and should amend its administrative rule defining fraud to clearly include those kickbacks. The program is called early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention. In 2020, the total cost of that program's benefit was three But in 2024, the total cost went up to $325 million. This morning, members of the Senate DFL caucus announced their plans to prevent fraud. Senator Aaron Mayquade said upgraded IT systems are badly needed. To say that they are inadequate would be an understatement. It's quite shocking. On a black screen, a cursor blinked over spaces where staff manually enter names, codes, case numbers. And in the corner of the screen, right next to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, it says, copyright, 1994. It is 2026. We cannot attempt to provide services using technology that's five years away from being ready for Y2K. And I actually think the technology we had before this system was called paper. The Senate DFL caucus says they know Minnesotans are angry about fraud. And the senators say they have come up with a package to strengthen oversight, improve transparency in government, modernize their systems, and hold bad actors accountable. While that report came out today, there are several cases for why this report was needed, according to state auditors. These cases aren't... explicitly listed in the report, but they are examples. So two people pleaded guilty to wire fraud after claiming to provide services for children with autism. A woman, Asha, Faran Hassan, pleaded guilty late last year. And then earlier this month, a man, Abdi Najib Yusuf, did the same. According to the federal indictment, Yusuf would recruit families to his company's Star Autism Center. And if they didn't have a diagnosis, Prosecutors say that he would work with service professionals to get children qualified and then submit millions of dollars in claims for Medicaid reimbursement. And they say that he'd then share kickback payments to parents. And in that case, he collected more than $6 million. We know that he didn't get everything that he billed for. The state did deny at least $1.2 million over two years. But that's just one example of the fraud that they're talking about within this government program. Number three today, lawmakers heard a bill that has to do with privacy and your car. House Democrat Brad Tapke authored a bill for clear restrictions on the use of license plate data by both law enforcement agencies and private entities like Flock. The tech company Flock has used automatic license plate readers to help carry out the Trump administration's immigration agenda here in Minnesota. That's according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The bill had its first hearing last week on Thursday, and this morning it was presented in the House Judiciary Committee. Representative Tapp...

kept a press conference and why he says this bill is needed. We also heard from Nate Braunhut from Shakopee. He believes his license plate data was used by ICE agents to actually intimidate him. License plate data is being misused. So Minnesotans expect that when they get a license plate, when they're driving through the state of Minnesota, that they will have an expectation of privacy. But that private data, names, addresses, information about those people are being absolutely misused across the state and across the country. On the morning of February 15th, I was driving around Shakope looking for potential ice activity. I came across a blacked-out SUV with an out-of-state plate. As we drove, it became very, very apparent that I was being led by a federal agent to my home. When we got there, we parked in front of my house and sat for a period of time. I was... absolutely enraged that an armed federal agent had taken this blatant act to try to instill fear and intimidate me and had rolled up in front of my house. We sat there for a period of time, and I started to wonder like, how did we get here? And the only thing I could rationally surmise is that he accessed my identity by my license plate. And number four today. Funeral arrangements have now been finalized for the Minnesota soldier killed in Kuwait. Master Sergeant Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake died in an Iranian drone attack in a command center on March 1st. She was 39 years old, and she leaves behind a husband, a son, and a daughter. This Thursday, there will be a public visitation from 2 to 6 at Mueller Memorial in White Bear Lake. A memorial service is planned for noon on Friday at Eaglebrook Church, also in White Bear Lake. Sergeant Amor's family is going to have a private gathering at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Those are the four things to know today. Now let's check in on our next weather forecast. Hi, next weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows forecast for tonight dropping down to 17 year overnight low after some light snow this evening. Tomorrow we'll see those temps climb back to 40 and a warming trend into the weekend. And now here's more to know. A bill designed to plug a ghost gun loophole in state law is advancing to the Minnesota Senate floor. Ghost guns are firearms that are privately assembled from parts, including 3D printers. They also don't have a serial number, like you see on guns you buy from a licensed dealer. Last year, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled it is legal to have these untraceable guns because Minnesota doesn't have a clear law.

We have about 15 snow angels that volunteer their time with us, and we have shoveled this season probably, I think, about 44 sidewalks and driveways and paths. That was another snow angel named Sophie Sue. She says they are always looking for volunteers and are accepting applications from those who need the help. We've got the details on our website, WCCO.com. And this snowstorm was one that you had to plow at least twice throughout Sunday. Yeah, it just kept on going. Just kept on going. And Joseph Dame said this morning, it... was that heavy, wet snow. So it was really hard for a lot of people. And, you know, if you're old or if you have some sort of an ailment, it can be quite impossible. Yeah, this is really important help. Absolutely. So, okay. Couple that weekend snowstorm with the ongoing partial government shutdown and then sprinkle in some spring break, you get the perfect storm for airport security workers. TSA workers are now entering their second month without a paycheck. And that's leading to some staffing struggles and longer security lines in certain cities. The vice president of the TSA union, Ruark Hotop, tells WCCO Homeland Security is now requiring anyone calling sick to have a doctor's note. I just got off the phone here about five minutes ago with our local TSA president there in Minnesota. He was telling me he's like our staffing is pretty low. Democrats are demanding reforms to ICE before voting to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Maria, let's talk sports. The Minnesota High School State Boys Basketball Championship just days away. Now listen to this. The Northfield Boys basketball team beat rival Austin in the section final. Now they're off to the state tournament for the first time since 1932. Wow, that's a long time. And if they can go on to win the tournament, it would be their first ever state title. Tyler Houghton, a senior guard on the team, says they're pretty excited about it, as you can imagine. We've done something that hasn't been done in 94 years, which is really, really special. And we've all been working for this for years and years. And to have that hard work finally pay off, it's something else awesome to be like a part of the team that made history. The tournament begins on March 24th. You can catch games at Williams Arena, Target Center, and Concordia University. Speaking of basketball, the wolves host the Phoenix Suns tonight, but aunt, he's out. He's dealing with a sore right knee. The wolves are just six and four this season when without him, so not terrible, but not great. Tip off tonight at seven at Target Center. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild, they're in Chicago tonight. Not a bad place to play on St. Patrick's Day, right? No, absolutely not. Hopefully they haven't been part.

Partying too much, though, because they need to win. They've lost three in a row. That's at 6.30. Three in a row? Yeah. Don't have too many green beers tonight, guys. It's time to take a breath with your daily bright spot. Speaking of green beers, happy St. Patrick's Day, Johnny. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Do you plan on celebrating tonight? I might get a Guinness or four. Classic. Or four. Well, hey, if you are going to get that many beers, you got to find a safe and responsible ride home. And there's actually one that you can get for free. Metro Transit is providing free bus and light rail rides. It's through a partnership with Molson Coors. The Miller Light free rides start at 6 p.m. They last through the end of service. Do you like the green beers? Isn't it just regular beer that's dyed green? I think it's just regular with, yeah, I'm pretty sure. So, yeah, then yeah. In that case. As long as they're cold. As long as they're cold, cold beer can't go wrong. Okay, enjoy the celebrations tonight. Everyone, be safe. Happy St. Patrick's Day. This has been four things to know. But Johnny Connor, I'm Maria Lizignolli. We're here with the news you need every weekday afternoon by 3 o'clock. Listen to Four Things to Know, a WCCO Daily News podcast, wherever you get your podcasts.

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