State officials question $9B Medicaid fraud estimate

State officials say they've not seen evidence to substantiate estimates from federal prosecutors that billions of dollars in Medicaid funds have been subject to fraud. The comments come a day after the U.S. Attorney's Office announced charges against people alleged to have defrauded state housing and autism programs.It’s flu season, and with end-of-year celebrations happening, health officials are reminding Minnesotans to get vaccinated.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS. 

Blizzard conditions are impacting much of the Red River Valley today. Snow, falling heavily at times this morning, will total 3-4 inches, with totals closer to 2 inches for the Fargo-Moorhead area and Fergus Falls. Expect high winds gusting to 50-60 mph along the western edge of Minnesota as temperatures drop into the single digits. There’s a chance of snow statewide Thursday.The first person charged in a scheme to defraud a state program for children with autism is expected to plead guilty Thursday morning. Asha Hassan is also charged with ripping off taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs.The 29-year-old is alleged to have bilked Minnesota's Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program out of more than $14 million and used some of that to pay kickbacks to the parents. Six Minnesotans are suing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging that federal agents violated their rights while they were observing immigration arrests. The ACLU and several law firms filed the lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of the plaintiffs. They say federal agents detained or threatened people who were not breaking any laws.One of the men arrested by ICE agents at a construction site in Chanhassen last weekend has filed a petition in federal court seeking release.

The gusty winds that caused today’s blizzard conditions in northwest Minnesota also brought much colder air across the entire state.The Department of Homeland Security says federal agents have not broken the law in their treatment of observers during immigration arrests in Minnesota.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Blizzard conditions are impacting much of the Red River Valley today. Snow, falling heavily at times this morning, will total 3-4 inches, with totals closer to 2 inches for the Fargo-Moorhead area and Fergus Falls. Expect high winds gusting to 50-60 mph along the western edge of Minnesota as temperatures drop into the single digits. There’s a chance of snow statewide Thursday.The first person charged in a scheme to defraud a state program for children with autism is expected to plead guilty Thursday morning. Asha Hassan is also charged with ripping off taxpayer-funded child nutrition programs.The 29-year-old is alleged to have bilked Minnesota's Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program out of more than $14 million and used some of that to pay kickbacks to the parents. Six Minnesotans are suing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging that federal agents violated their rights while they were observing immigration arrests. The ACLU and several law firms filed the lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of the plaintiffs. They say federal agents detained or threatened people who were not breaking any laws.One of the men arrested by ICE agents at a construction site in Chanhassen last weekend has filed a petition in federal court seeking release.

A winter storm will bring accumulating snow, gusty winds and possibly blizzard conditions to parts of Minnesota over the next 24 hours. A mix of rain, snow and maybe some freezing rain will spread across the state through tonight. It’ll change over to all snow most quickly across the north... with more than a half-foot possible in the far north by late tomorrow. A dusting to maybe an inch for central and southern Minnesota.That story and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Gov. Tim Walz signed two executive orders today to try to address gun violence in Minnesota.One order establishes a statewide safety council to develop an action plan to prevent mass shootings and other violence. The council will make policy and funding recommendations to the governor. The other order promotes safe firearm storage and authorizes the state to collect data from insurance companies on claims involving firearms for data analysis.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, or DEED, says the state gained about 40,000 jobs in September compared to the same time a year ago. With the federal government shutdown now over, more current data will be released in the coming weeks. Olmsted County authorities today identified the person who shot and wounded a student in the Stewartville High School parking lot Friday as a man who graduated from the school last year.Those stories and more in today’s evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.