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Minnesota Woman Convicted in $3.6 Million Medicaid Housing Fraud Scheme

Minnesota Woman Convicted in $3.6 Million Medicaid Housing Fraud Scheme

A federal jury in St. Paul, Minnesota, has convicted Sharmaine Meadows, a 45-year-old woman from Lake Elmo, for her involvement in a $3.6 million scheme to defraud a Minnesota Medicaid program. Meadows operated a company that billed the now-defunct Minnesota Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services Program for housing transition and sustaining services that were never provided between 2020 and 2025. The program was designed to assist unhoused Minnesotans in securing and maintaining housing. Evidence presented at trial showed that Meadows pushed employees to 'maximize' billings to the 150-hour cap per recipient, even when services were not delivered. Her company billed for in-person hours supposedly provided by workers in other states and countries, and submitted claims for services that could not have been rendered, such as when beneficiaries were hospitalized.
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Minnesota Department of Human Services to Replace Fraud-Ridden Housing Stabilization Services Program

Minnesota Department of Human Services to Replace Fraud-Ridden Housing Stabilization Services Program

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is planning to replace its Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, a Medicaid initiative that was shut down last year due to widespread fraud. The agency intends to develop a new program and a legislative proposal for 2028 as part of the state's Olmstead Plan, which aims to help people with disabilities live in community settings rather than institutions. Minnesota pioneered the Medicaid-funded HSS program in 2020, designed to assist elderly and disabled individuals, those transitioning from residential care, and people with substance use disorders in navigating the housing market and covering moving costs. Federal prosecutors have charged over a dozen individuals in fraud cases related to HSS, totaling at least $26 million, with one recent conviction in a $4.3 million scheme. The program, initially projected to cost $2.6 million annually, peaked at over $104 million in 2024, with many providers allegedly not delivering services.
AP NewsAP News
FBI says it stopped a Mall of America terror attack by a teen after agents sold him an assault rifle

FBI says it stopped a Mall of America terror attack by a teen after agents sold him an assault rifle

The FBI says it thwarted an attack on the Mall of America by a teenager after agents supplied him with an assault rifle
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Minnesota Ranks Seventh Safest State in U.S., Up from Eighth Last Year

Minnesota Ranks Seventh Safest State in U.S., Up from Eighth Last Year

A recent study indicates that Minnesota has improved its ranking as one of the safest states in the United States, moving up to seventh place from eighth last year. This comprehensive safety ranking considers various factors beyond just crime rates. The assessment includes metrics related to road safety, health status, and other indicators that contribute to the overall well-being and security of residents. The report highlights Minnesota's consistent performance in maintaining a high level of safety across these diverse categories. While the study provides a broad overview of safety, there is a particular focus on Minneapolis, given its status as the most populous city in the state. The discussion around this ranking often prompts residents to reflect on their personal sense of safety within the state, especially in urban centers.
Spartans WireSpartans Wire
Spartans Wire Big Ten Football Picks: Week 6

Spartans Wire Big Ten Football Picks: Week 6

Check out our picks against the betting spread for each of the Big Ten games this week
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Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation and AEOA Celebrate Over 1,000 Small Business Grants in Minnesota

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation and AEOA Celebrate Over 1,000 Small Business Grants in Minnesota

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation and AEOA Celebrate Over 1,000 Small Business Grants in Minnesota
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Otter Tail County Board Approves New Voting Systems to Enhance Election Security

Otter Tail County Board Approves New Voting Systems to Enhance Election Security

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners in Minnesota has consistently approved new voting systems to replace older equipment, prioritizing election security and reliability. This ongoing effort reflects a broader trend in the state to modernize election technology. In 2024, the county purchased 82 Express Vote Universal Voting System units. This express system utilizes touch-screen technology and generates a paper-based record for tabulation, which enhances accuracy by eliminating marginal marks and the need for voter mark interpretation. The decision to acquire this new equipment followed a recommendation from former Otter Tail County Auditor-Treasurer Wayne Stein. With 91 precincts in Otter Tail County, the replacement of outdated voting equipment is deemed essential by county commissioners. In previous years, replacements included tabulators, assistive voting devices, and poll books. The Minnesota State Legislature established a Voting Equipment Grant account totaling $7 million in 2017 to support ...
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Fairview Health Services Sues UnitedHealthcare Over Alleged Inaccurate 2027 Medicare Advantage Directories

Fairview Health Services Sues UnitedHealthcare Over Alleged Inaccurate 2027 Medicare Advantage Directories

Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services has filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare, alleging that the insurer's 2027 Medicare Advantage provider directories still list Fairview's hospitals and clinics as in-network, despite Fairview's planned exit from these plans on January 1, 2027. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Minnesota on October 1 and publicized on October 7, seeks a temporary restraining order before Medicare's annual enrollment period begins on October 15. Fairview estimates that approximately 33,000 of its patients are enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans annually. Fairview's complaint states that it decided in June not to renew its contract for UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans and formally notified the insurer in September. UnitedHealthcare, however, maintains that it is still engaging in good faith negotiations to reach an agreement. Both parties are scheduled to appear in court on October 13.
ReutersReuters
Trump online: A burst of anti-Somali and anti-Muslim rhetoric

Trump online: A burst of anti-Somali and anti-Muslim rhetoric

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - In a burst of anti-Somali and anti-Muslim rhetoric, President Donald Trump cast the Somali American community as a threat to Minnesota on Thursday, hours after he labeled Muslim US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a radical extremist.
USA TodayUSA Today
USA vs Canada live updates, lineups, score and more from friendly match

USA vs Canada live updates, lineups, score and more from friendly match

The U.S. men's national team wraps up its four-game window Tuesday, Oct. 6 against Canada at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Justin Ellis scores again as young US squad beats Canada 1-0

Justin Ellis scores again as young US squad beats Canada 1-0

Teenager Justin Ellis scored the only goal as the United States completed a successful international window with a 1-0 victory over Canada
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Lina Patton Discusses Writing Process and Themes in Debut Novel, 'The Lake Club'

Lina Patton Discusses Writing Process and Themes in Debut Novel, 'The Lake Club'

Lina Patton Discusses Writing Process and Themes in Debut Novel, 'The Lake Club'