19 days ago

926

Tikki brown Minnesota department of children, youth and families
Commissioner

Tikki Brown serves as the commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Responsible for services and policies that facilitate adoption, foster care, child protection, child support, child care and early learning, cash and food support, and youth justice.
Focus on supporting Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan’s stand to make Minnesota the best place for children to grow up while advancing equity and inclusion for the children and families we serve.
Brown was appointed assistant Children and Family Services Administration commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Human Services in 2021. She previously served as the administration's Economic Opportunity and Nutrition Assistance director.

https://dcyf.mn.gov/about-us/department-leaders

Minnesota Statute 3.971, Subd. 9,

generally deals with the Legislative Auditor's role and reporting requirements for misuse of public funds or violations, specifically mandating that state agency heads or chief executives notify the Legislative Auditor (OLA) about potential fraud, waste, or other unlawful acts involving state resources, with recent legislative updates focusing on clarifying these notification obligations for various entities, including those related to cannabis programs or grant issues
Key Aspects of MN Stat. 3.971, Subd. 9:

Obligation to Notify:

It requires heads of state agencies and other public entities to inform the Legislative Auditor of suspected fraud, waste, illegal acts, or significant violations of laws (like those governing state contracts or grants).
Focus on Misuse: This subdivision ensures prompt reporting of theft, embezzlement, or improper use of public money and property.

Legislative Auditing Role:

The Legislative Auditor (OLA) then investigates these reports, making preliminary assessments and coordinating with law enforcement if needed.

Recent Amendments (2025):

Some legislative bills in 2025 (like SCS3045A-1) proposed amendments to this subdivision to update and clarify these reporting duties, potentially extending them to new areas like medical cannabis-related issues or data security.

In essence, it's a key statute ensuring accountability by making sure wrongdoing in state government gets reported to the independent legislative watchdog, the OLA, for investigation.

Minnesota Non-Emergency Medical Transportation - NEMT

https://www.mtm-inc.net/minnesota/

Nonemergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Services ...

https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/id_008991/

Child Care Assistance Program

https://dcyf.mn.gov/programs-directory/child-care-assistance-program

The extent of fraud in Minnesota human services programs — which has become infamous across the country — is even higher than the public knew.

MN Revisor's Office (.gov) Sec. 142E.57 MN Statutes
Welfare fraud.
142E.57 REPORTING OF SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY.

(a) A person who, in good faith, makes a report of or testifies in any action or ..

https://codes.findlaw.com/mn/legislature-ch-3-3e/mn-st-sect-3-971/

Providers in 14 “high-risk,” state-run Medicaid programs being audited by the state have billed $18 billion since 2018, and “half or more” is possibly fraudulent, Thompson said.

https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/walz-pauses-payments-for-14-high-risk-medicaid-programs/

The U.S. Attorney's Office on Thursday announced new charges related to fraud in several state programs, including five more people charged in Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services Program,
autism program fraud, and a new fraud case related to Integrated Community Services.
Authorities are still working to determine how much this fraud has cost.

U.S. Attorney: Fraud likely exceeds $9 billion in Minnesota-run Medicaid services

https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/18/u-s-attorney-fraud-likely-exceeds-9-billion-in-minnesota-run-medicaid-services/

What to know about Minnesota's "industrial-scale fraud" scandal, as more charges are filed and Trump weighs in

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-to-know-minnesota-fraud-scandal-more-charges-filed-trump-walz/

Yes, “There’s Something Wrong with Walz” — and it Cost Taxpayers $1 Billion

https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/12/yes-theres-something-wrong-with-walz-and-it-cost-taxpayers-1-billion/

Minnesota Somali fraud EXPLODES: US attorney estimates $9B may have been lost; 6 charged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-hUmODRPlc
Fraud in Minnesota: New charges filed related to various state programs [FULL]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfNSM9QO480

Defendants Charged in First Wave of Housing Stabilization Fraud Cases

https://web.archive.org/web/20250919150003/https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/defendants-charged-first-wave-housing-stabilization-fraud-cases

Minnesota changed its state flag in 2024,

retiring the old, complex design featuring the controversial state seal with a new, simpler, and more inclusive flag adopted on
May 11, 2024, celebrating the state's history as the "North Star State" with water and land symbolism, a major shift to remove imagery seen as displacing Indigenous peoples.

Key Changes & Symbolism

Old Flag:

Featured the State Seal with a white man plowing land and a Native American on horseback riding away, a depiction seen as problematic and racist by many.

New Flag (Adopted May 11, 2024):

Colors: A dark blue field (night sky/state shape) and a light blue background (10,000 lakes).

Star: A white, eight-pointed star (the North Star, the state's nickname).

Design: A simpler, modern look, focusing on water and the North Star.

Why the Change?

Inclusivity: To create a more unifying symbol that represents all Minnesotans, especially Indigenous communities.

Simplicity:

The old flag was complex and didn't meet good flag design principles (too many colors, details).
Public Process: A State Emblems Redesign Commission reviewed thousands of proposals from the public to create the new flag, designed by Andrew Prekker and refined by others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Minnesota

State Flag - Minnesota Secretary Of State

https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-minnesota/state-symbols/state-flag/

New Minnesota flag and seal faces criticism from some .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_FwDUXelgU&t=0

ICE updates in Minnesota, How Somali-Owned Businesses Are Being Affected but Not Backing Down, Important Community Guidance, and how you can push back against Tom Emmer and Trump.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2225574167967542

Minnesota Somali fraud: Walz under fire as 98 mayors express ‘deep concern’ over state budget, scams