Latest news with #MinnesotaDepartmentofHumanServices
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Minnesota increasing screening requirements for autism and housing services providers
A Minnesota agency is cracking down on providers billing Medicaid for some autism and housing services. Starting on June 1, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will require the providers to undergo enhanced fingerprint background studies, participate in screening visits before Medicaid enrollment and when enrollment is revalidated, and allow state officials to make unannounced site visits. The federal government sets three levels of screening for providers — limited, moderate and high risk. The state agency says these new requirements are a result of the state moving the level of screening for providers who bill Medicaid for housing stabilization services and behavioral intervention autism services to high risk. "It's clear that these critical services need more oversight," Shrieen Gandhi, the temporary Human Services Commissioner, said in a written release on Friday. "Moving these providers into the high-risk category is only the first step. We need more staff to put eyes on these programs and make sure everyone is safeguarding resources meant to help children, people with disabilities and older Minnesotans." Gandhi decided to increase screening requirements in March. Providers were given a 30-day notice this week, officials say. New providers need to comply with the requirements by June 1, the agency says, and existing providers will be phased into the new requirements when they renew their Medicaid enrollment. In December 2024, the FBI and state investigators raided autism treatment centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud. According to the search warrant, the probe was a direct outgrowth of the investigation into the $240 million Feeding Our Future scandal. The agency said last summer that 15 Minnesota autism centers were under investigation for fraud. Anyone who suspects fraud or abuse of Medicaid funds is encouraged to call Minnesota's Department of Human Sevices at 651-431-2650 or submit a tip here. Note: The above video first aired on Dec. 12, 2024.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Joe Soucheray: Was politics a factor in Mary Moriarty's charity to Tesla vandal?
Having never driven a Tesla, but having sat in one in order to pretend to a friend that I thought the dominating computer screen was fascinating, I sensed no revulsion or any particular distaste for the car. Everybody dances to a different beat and if you want an electric car, a Tesla, then have at it, even if the front of a Tesla looks like the underbelly of a dolphin. And the Tesla truck is perhaps the ugliest machine ever manufactured. Some cars are so ugly that they become cool. You'd a pay a pretty penny these days for an Edsel, not in spite of its horse collar grill, but probably because of it. The Tesla truck looks like an industrial toaster or a hastily slapped together prop for a 1952 invasion-from-Mars movie. What were you thinking, Elon? There is no accounting for taste and the vehicle's novelty cannot be denied. Besides, the way we're going, cars will end up looking like hot dog buns and the Tesla truck will someday be as revered as a Ferrari. A fellow doesn't mean to pile on – Teslas have been getting keyed – but we have learned some lessons. Apparently, many of you who bought Teslas really, deep down, didn't care about saving the Earth. You cared about making a statement that you cared about saving the Earth. Otherwise, so many of you wouldn't now be plastering your cars with stickers that say, 'Don't blame me, I bought mine before Musk got to Washington.' But then Musk joined President Donald Trump and because the two of them are ideologically evil, it is now acceptable to insist that you find Musk dastardly, even though when you bought the car, you thought Musk was ideologically a genius. I guess the stickers promote a wish to have the cake and eat it, too. What changed? Well, Trump. Our governor hasn't helped. It would be a stretch to say that Tim Walz incited the destruction of property, but a couple of weeks back, on that whatever that tour of his is, he took great glee in Tesla's falling stock price. It is now believed that the governor didn't realize that his own State Board of Investment had 1.6 million shares of Tesla stock in its retirement fund or that Tesla owns a manufacturing plant in Brooklyn Park. In a riotous display of first-world angst, Teslas have been shot at, keyed and kicked. Tesla dealerships have been vandalized. And locally we have the astonishing case of Dylan Bryan Adams, a financial analyst in the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Adams was arrested recently in Minneapolis for allegedly keying at least six Tesla cars to the tune of more than $20,000 in damages. Allegedly seems redundant. Teslas are virtually rolling film studios. The cars filmed Adams in the act. It is unlikely Adams will be fired or even have a note placed in his file. He's been with the state since 2018 and nobody in the Walz administration has ever suffered any consequences for their incompetent handling of a $250 million food fraud. $20,000 is peanuts. In fact, Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County attorney, has decided not to press felony charges against Adams. Instead, Adams was offered 'diversion,' meaning restitution and some community service work. It almost sounds like Moriarty said, 'Oh, what the hell, he was only keying Teslas.' It'd hard to know if Moriarty's charity to Adams reflected her politics. You have to wonder if she thought about it at all. My question will go unanswered. Adams was out walking his dog when he struck. Why wasn't he at work? Joe Soucheray can be reached at jsoucheray@ Soucheray's 'Garage Logic' podcast can be heard at Jim Gelbmann: Our partisan endorsement process is unrepresentative, polarizing and self-serving Ed Lotterman: What if the Fed set a trap for Trump? Skywatch: A crow, a cup and a water snake Real World Economics: Powell hits first; Trump hits back Working Strategies: Random thoughts: Stretching job titles and happy places
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
State employee arrested for Tesla vandalism will not be charged
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has decided not to press charges against a man arrested in Minneapolis last week in connection with the vandalism of several Tesla vehicles. According to the arrest report, on March 29 Dylan Bryan Adams, 33, was apprehended on suspicion of vandalizing six Tesla vehicles. The Minnesota Department of Human Services said that Adams is a state employee and released a statement about his arrest. 'We are reviewing the matter at this time. State employees are expected to follow our code of conduct and hold themselves to the highest ethical standards through their words and actions,' the statement reads. The vandalisms occurred to vehicles owned by residents of Edina, Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Nebraska. During a press conference last week, Minneapolis police said they arrested Adams after allegedly catching him on camera keying six Teslas and causing thousands of dollars in damage in each case — felony level damage. The department turned the case over the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for possible prosecution. The Minneapolis police chief released a statement to the Pioneer Press Tuesday saying that any frustration about the suspect not being charged should be directed at the county attorney's office. 'The Minneapolis Police Department did its job,' said Chief Brian O'Hara said in a written statement. 'It identified and investigated a crime trend, identified, and arrested a suspect, and presented a case file to the Hennepin County Attorney Office for consideration of charges. This case impacted at least six different victims and totaled over $20,000 in damages. Any frustration related to the charging decision of the Hennepin County Attorney should be directed solely at her office. Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined. In my experience, the victims in these cases often feel the same.' An official with the Hennepin County Attorney's office said they are holding Adams responsible despite not pressing charges. 'We want to make sure we are very clear. What Mr. Adams did was wrong and we are holding him accountable for keying the cars. The HCAO did not reject or decline this case. We offered diversion as we often do with property damage cases when the person has no record. Mr. Adams will have to complete the requirements of the program. He will also have to pay every penny in restitution to the victims. If he does not meet those requirements, we will proceed through the criminal legal system process.' said Daniel Borgertpoepping, spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. Woodbury duplex destroyed in fire Trump's transportation officials buck a long-held practice of using 'road diets' to slow speeders Pedestrian dies after she's struck by teen driver in St. Paul Foul play not suspected in deaths of 2 in vehicle at St. Paul shopping center Authorities asking for help finding woman believed held against her will
New York Post
22-04-2025
- New York Post
Tim Walz employee who allegedly caused over $20K in damages to Teslas let off by woke Minnesota DA — as cops slam deal
A progressive district attorney has declined to charge a Tim Walz state employee allegedly caught causing $20,000 damage by vandalizing half a dozen Teslas — a decision ripped by the 'frustrated' local police chief. The suspected vandal, 33-year-old Minnesota government employee Dylan Bryan Adams, was allegedly spotted keying the vehicles and stripping their paint off while out walking his dog around the city. Despite what police believe to be evidence of Adams committing felonies, Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty will seek diversion rather than criminal charges. 3 A man caught on camera causing thousands of dollars in damages to at least six Tesla vehicles in Minneapolis. 3 Dylan Adams, who works for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, is accused of causing damage to several Tesla vehicles. Hennepin County Sheriff's Office 'This is an approach taken in many property crime cases and helps to ensure the individual keeps their job and can pay restitution, as well as reducing the likelihood of repeat offenses,' the attorney's office said in a statement, CBS News reported. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at the time of the incident that the damages in each case was the equivalent of a felony. The chief said in a scathing statement on Monday that Moriarty's decision not bringing charges is frustrating for his officers and the public. 'The Minneapolis Police Department did its job. It identified and investigated a crime trend, identified, and arrested a suspect, and presented a case file to the Hennepin County Attorney Office for consideration of charges,' he told KARE in a statement. 'This case impacted at least six different victims and totaled over $20,000 in damages. Any frustration related to the charging decision of the Hennepin County Attorney should be directed solely at her office. 3 A man who police say is Dylan Adams is caught on vehicle surveillance vandalizing a Tesla. FOX 9 via Minneapolis Police 'Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined. In my experience, the victims in these cases often feel the same,' O'Hara said in a statement. Moriarty has been Hennepin County's top prosecutor since Jan. 2023, but quickly came under fire for her woke policies that allowed accused rapists and killers to stay free. During her very first week in office, she dropped the charges against a 35-year-old man accused of raping a teen girl due to attorney misconduct, CBS News reported at the time.
CBS News
22-04-2025
- CBS News
No charges yet for man caught on camera vandalizing Teslas in Minneapolis
A man caught on camera causing thousands of dollars in damages to at least six Tesla vehicles in Minneapolis will not face charges — at least for now. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said the man, who works for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, still needs to pay up for his actions. The Minneapolis Police Department and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office have been at odds on many issues and this is another one to add to the list, with the police chief saying he is frustrated. Last week, Minneapolis police arrested a man caught on surveillance video in downtown Minneapolis vandalizing at least six Teslas, causing about $20,000 in damage. Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the damage caused in each case was equivalent to a felony. He said at the time of the arrest this case was a no-brainer. "Frankly, this is pretty stupid. There's high-quality video in all of these cars. It's committing a crime with a spotlight on you," O'Hara said. A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney's Office says it is seeking diversion instead of criminal charges. "This is an approach taken in many property crime cases and helps to ensure the individual keeps their job and can pay restitution, as well as reducing the likelihood of repeat offenses," the attorney's office said in a statement. O'Hara responded with his own statement. "Our investigators are always frustrated when the cases they poured their hearts into are declined," he said. "In my experience, the victims in these cases often feel the same." The attorney's office says criminal charges remain on the table if the vandalism continues.
