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Ondo orders crackdown on kidnapping syndicates
Politicspunch-ng21h ago

Ondo orders crackdown on kidnapping syndicates

The Ondo State Government orders a major crackdown on kidnapping syndicates following a rise in incidents, blaming local collaborators for the attacks. Read More: https://punchng.com/ondo-orders-crackdown-on-kidnapping-syndicates/

Yelewata tragedy: Benue channels N1.275b into relief, rehabilitation, resettlement
Politicsvanguard-ng1d ago

Yelewata tragedy: Benue channels N1.275b into relief, rehabilitation, resettlement

The Benue state government has provided fresh details on how it deployed the N1.275billion donated for victims of the June 13, 2025 Yelewata attack, highlighting progress in relief delivery, rehabilitation and phased resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The post Yelewata tragedy: Benue channels N1.275b into relief, rehabilitation, resettlement appeared first on Vanguard News.

Kwara promotes 2,000 civil servants
Politicspunch-ng5d ago

Kwara promotes 2,000 civil servants

The Kwara State Government has promoted over 2,000 civil servants following the 2024 promotion exercise, rewarding dedication and boosting workforce morale Read More: https://punchng.com/kwara-promotes-2000-civil-servants/

Ramadan: Lawal donates cars to 40 imams in Zamfara
Politicsvanguard-ng7d ago

Ramadan: Lawal donates cars to 40 imams in Zamfara

Governor Dauda Lawal has donated cars to 40 Juma’at mosque imams in Zamfara as part of the state government’s support for them to diligently discharge their religious duties. The post Ramadan: Lawal donates cars to 40 imams in Zamfara appeared first on Vanguard News.

Open defecation: LAWMA arrests 46 more offenders
Environmentvanguard-ng8d ago

Open defecation: LAWMA arrests 46 more offenders

The Lagos State Government, through its Anti-Open Defecation Squad, has apprehended 46 male and female offenders during coordinated early morning operations across Lagos Island. The post Open defecation: LAWMA arrests 46 more offenders appeared first on Vanguard News.

Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal, Legitimate Autism Centers Face Closure
HealthThe Independentzerohedge12d ago2 sources

Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal, Legitimate Autism Centers Face Closure

Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal, Legitimate Autism Centers Face Closure Authored by Troy Myers via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A Minnesota autism center for adults and children, which has been operating for more than 20 years, is facing closure in the wake of the massive fraud scandal in the state that dates back more than a decade and involves more than $9 billion of U.S. taxpayer money. The Holland Center in Minnetonka, Minn., on Feb. 11, 2026. Larson told a House subcommittee hearing on Jan. 21 that her center and numerous others in Minnesota are facing collapse after becoming collateral damage from the massive fraud scandal. Adam Hester for The Epoch Times The Holland Center is one of many legitimate centers in the state, which collectively serve thousands of disabled people. Founder, owner, and CEO Jennifer Larson built the Holland Center for her autistic, non-speaking son, who is now 25 years old. She said she has recently been forced to put hundreds of thousands of her own dollars into keeping the center afloat because the state didn’t pay a single claim for nearly two months. Because of the payment delays, Larson said autism centers like hers are being forced to reduce hours, cut staff, and close in some instances. Families are scrambling for help, disabled children and adults are regressing, and parents are leaving jobs to care for their disabled loved ones. Larson told The Epoch Times her facility can’t continue much longer. “The feds say it’s the state. The state says it’s the feds,” Larson said. “The kids are going to be the collateral damage.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services paused child care and family assistance funds to Minnesota in early January due to the alleged rampant fraud. The state is appealing. The Minnesota Department of Human Services told The Epoch Times via email that the federal government’s threat of withholding funds is “not impacting the current payment situation.” However, Larson’s center accumulated nearly two months of unpaid claims from Dec. 5 to Jan. 29, totaling more than $600,000. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol building in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 3, 2026. Beginning in late December 2025, the state began using a new pre-payment review vendor called Optum, which uses artificial intelligence in its claims and reimbursement processes. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images ‘Everything Was Flagged’ Beginning in late December 2025, the state began using a new pre-payment review vendor called Optum, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) “at every step” of its claims and reimbursement processes. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had announced the contract with the new system in late October 2025. “They implemented it because of the fraud. Obviously, the state wasn’t catching the fraud in the 300 or 400 centers that popped up in the last three years,” Larson said. She blames the Minnesota government for turning a blind eye to the “crime ring” involving fraud at Somali-run autism centers to an immense scale. Neither Walz nor his office could be reached for comment during multiple attempts via emails and phone calls. Now, she said, Optum is causing the delay of claims with few or unclear explanations in the review process. “The state has failed and lost millions and millions of dollars in the system, so, clearly, the state wasn’t going to be able to tell Optum what to look for because they didn’t know what they were doing,” Larson told The Epoch Times after she recently testified in Congress. “All of us, for the first round, nobody got anything. Everything was flagged.” Larson told a House subcommittee hearing on Jan. 21 that her center and numerous others in Minnesota are facing collapse after becoming collateral damage from the massive fraud scandal. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) asked Larson: “Ms. Larson, none of this would have happened if the fraud did not occur, is that accurate?” “Yes,” she responded. “What happened in Minnesota had nothing to do with the ethical, longstanding autism providers.” Larson said in her testimony that the state government’s “clumsy response” to fraud failed to distinguish between criminals and caregivers. She said abrupt disruption or loss of service can destroy weeks or years of progress for disabled children and adults, causing lifelong consequences. Payment Process The Minnesota Department of Human Services told The Epoch Times that it sent the first batch of more than 100,000 claims to Optum for review in late December 2025. The department said every two weeks, Optum receives batches of claims from the state. The system analyzes and flags any that need further review. Unflagged claims are paid after the initial analysis, the Minnesota Department of Human Services said. The agency will continue sending payments for unflagged claims on regular two-week cycles. A provider will receive an update every two weeks on a flagged or suspended claim, accompanied by reason codes, the department said. “If a claim is flagged, we may need additional information and documents from the provider before payments are made, which may cause further delay,” the Minnesota Department of Human Services said. Claims in Optum are listed as suspended until the state reaches a payment decision. The department did not provide detailed answers on why the Holland Center or other similar, longstanding facilities might have their claims flagged. Jennifer Larson, founder and CEO of the Holland Center, and her son Caden Larson in Minnetonka, Minn., on Feb. 11, 2026. Larson built the center for her autistic, non-speaking son, who is now 25 years old. Adam Hester for The Epoch Times The agency said it did not wish to disclose what kind of identifiers cause it to suspect someone is billing for services they did not provide, but officials generally look for “patterns of concern—claims that fall outside expected norms,” some of which could be blamed on administrative errors or poor documentation rather than intentional fraud. “Optum helps the state of Minnesota identify potential fraud, waste, and abuse by conducting pre‑payment reviews,” the company said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. “Optum has no authority to approve, deny, delay, or suspend claims, and payment decisions are made exclusively by [the Minnesota Department of Human Services] and the Office of Inspector General.” Most claims should be paid within 30 days, and legitimate claims that may have been flagged within 90 days, as required by the federal government, according to the agency. Financial Hit Meanwhile, with a payroll of $250,000 every two weeks, Larson has been forced to ask many of her employees to take unpaid leave. After nearly two months of unpaid claims, her center was partially paid on Jan. 29, bringing the owed amount down to about $300,000, Larson said. She said there’s been little to no word from state or health officials on why her claims were flagged in the first place. Larson doesn’t expect to get another payment for two weeks, putting her in a several-hundred-thousand-dollar deficit she doesn’t think will ever rebalance. She’s spent so much of her own money to keep the center’s lights on, Larson said, that she’s been forced to cut back on other bills to make ends meet. Fortunately, Larson said her landlords have been understanding of the situation. New Centers Years ago, when Larson witnessed new autism treatment centers popping up around her area and the state, she was initially relieved because, to her, it meant more help was coming for disabled children and adults. “There’s a need, and there’s a high prevalence of autism in the Somali community in Minnesota,” Larson said. “And I know that and I service a lot of the kids, but we can’t take them all. We’ve always had a waiting list.” A 2023 study by the University of Minnesota showed autism rates in 4-year-olds to be much higher among Somali children compared to other races and ethnicities. The report found 1 in 18 Somali children had autism, compared to 1 in 64 for white children, 1 in 31 for Hispanic children, and 1 in 30 for non-Somali black children. But when hundreds of autism centers popped up, it was a red flag for Larson. “No one wants to talk about it because everyone’s scared of saying anything wrong,” Larson said. “That’s why we’re here. It’s because everyone’s too afraid to say something.” Independent journalist Nick Shirley, who brought national attention to the alleged Minnesota fraud at day care centers with his viral video posted Dec. 26, 2025, attended the congressional hearing with Larson. “What we saw in Minnesota is how complicit the government has been in enabling this fraud to happen. Quality ‘Learing’ Center had over 90 violations, yet they continued to give that daycare $1.9 million,” Shirley said in his testimony. Meanwhile, the closure of Holland Center would dismantle a lifetime of work for Larson that all started with the birth of her son. Read the rest here... Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 20:55

Kano unveils N 1.477trn 2026 budget
Financevanguard-ng4d ago

Kano unveils N 1.477trn 2026 budget

The Kano State Government’s 2026 budget has been approved at N1.477 trillion, a 7.42 per cent increase from the initial proposal. The post Kano unveils N 1.477trn 2026 budget appeared first on Vanguard News.

Zamfara partners UNDP on durable solutions for IDPs
Politicsvanguard-ng7d ago

Zamfara partners UNDP on durable solutions for IDPs

Zamfara state government has launched the Internally Displaced Persons policy and State Action Plan (SAP) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The post Zamfara partners UNDP on durable solutions for IDPs appeared first on Vanguard News.

Under Tinubu, govs no longer borrow to pay salaries — Ex-Minister Ikoh
Politicsvanguard-ng7d ago

Under Tinubu, govs no longer borrow to pay salaries — Ex-Minister Ikoh

Former Minister of State for Science and Technology and the Abia State Renewed Hope Ambassador, Chief Henry Ikoh, has said that far-reaching economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have ended the era when state governments borrowed to pay workers’ salaries. The post Under Tinubu, govs no longer borrow to pay salaries — Ex-Minister Ikoh appeared first on Vanguard News.

TechnologyDawn8d ago

India plans AI ‘data city’ on staggering scale in Andhra Pradesh

As India races to narrow the artificial intelligence gap with the United States and China, it is planning a vast new “data city” to power digital growth on a staggering scale, the man spearheading the project says. “The AI revolution is here, no second thoughts about it,” said Nara Lokesh, information technology minister for Andhra Pradesh state, which is positioning the city of Visakhapatnam as a cornerstone of India’s AI push. “And as a nation… we have taken a stand that we’ve got to embrace it,” he told AFP ahead of an international AI summit next week in New Delhi. Lokesh boasts the state has secured investment agreements of $175 billion involving 760 projects, including a $15bn investment by Google for its largest AI infrastructure hub outside the United States. And a joint venture between India’s Reliance Industries, Canada’s Brookfield and US firm Digital Realty is investing $11bn to develop an AI data centre in the same city. Visakhapatnam — home to around two million people and popularly known as “Vizag” — is better known for its cricket ground that hosts international matches than cutting-edge technology. But the southeastern port city is now being pitched as a landing point for submarine internet cables linking India to Singapore. “The data city is going to come in one ecosystem… with a 100 kilometre radius,” Lokesh said. For comparison, Taiwan is roughly 100km wide. ‘Whole nine yards’ Lokesh said the plan goes far beyond data connectivity, adding that his state had “received close to 25 per cent of all foreign direct investments” in India in 2025. “It’s not just about the data centres,” he explained while outlining a sweeping vision of change, with Andhra Pradesh offering land at one US cent per acre (three per hectare) for major investors. “I’m chasing the companies that make those servers that go sit in those data centres, the companies that make the entire air conditioning, the water-cooling system — the whole nine yards.” The 43-year-old, Stanford-educated minister is the son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who helped turn Hyderabad into a major technology hub that is dubbed “Cyberabad”. They are allies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will host the AI Impact Summit from Monday. India is now third in a global AI power ranking — sitting above South Korea and Japan — based on more than 40 indicators from patents to private funding calculated by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centred AI. With more than a billion internet users, India has seen a surge of investment as generative AI players seek inroads to the world’s most populous country. Microsoft said in December it will invest $17.5bn to help build the country’s artificial intelligence infrastructure, with CEO Satya Nadella calling it the firm’s “largest investment ever in Asia”. But critics say India lags in access to high-end computing power or commercial AI deployment, and remains more a consumer than creator of the cutting-edge technology. Some question whether data centres will create meaningful employment when up and running, but Lokesh rejects that. “Every industrial revolution has always created more jobs than it has displaced,” he said. “But it has created those jobs in countries that have embraced the industrial revolution.” ‘Learned from China’ Lokesh argues that the jobs and economic benefits would more than compensate for the giveaway cost of land. He said the state government had accounted for the vast electricity and water demands for the energy-hungry industry, and would tap “surplus water” that drains into the Bay of Bengal to cool the massive data centres. “It’s a crime that so much water during monsoons goes into our oceans,” he said. He cited China as an inspiration — admiring how India’s rival had “been able to systematically bring people out of poverty” at speed. The state’s plan to create industrial clusters was something he had “learned from China”. With a target of six gigawatts of data centre capacity — three already signed and another three in the pipeline — Andhra Pradesh is betting that speed and scale will give it an edge. New Delhi last year agreed to “in-principle approval” for six 1.2 GW nuclear power plants at Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh. “We are on a journey,” Lokesh said. “We will execute these projects at a pace that the country has never seen”.

How Relaxed COVID-Era Rules Fueled Minnesota's Biggest Scam
Politicszerohedge13d ago

How Relaxed COVID-Era Rules Fueled Minnesota's Biggest Scam

How Relaxed COVID-Era Rules Fueled Minnesota's Biggest Scam Authored by Kristin Robbins via RealClearPolitics, In my testimony before the Senate last week as chair of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee, I outlined the genesis of Minnesota’s massive fraud scandal, how it expanded under relaxed COVID-era rules, and what steps the federal government can take to help stop the theft of federal tax dollars throughout the country.   Minnesota’s fraud crisis didn’t happen overnight; it took years. But it exploded when COVID hit, right when oversight was thrown out the window. How did Minnesota get so bad? In March 2020, Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar authored a bill called the MEALS Act, which eventually became part of a larger COVID relief package. That law allowed states to waive the normal eligibility requirements for the National School Lunch Program. It eliminated income requirements and site inspections and expanded distribution methods. This opened the door for Feeding Our Future, which became the largest COVID fraud scandal in state and national history, stealing at least $250 million from taxpayers. To date, there have been 78 indictments and 61 convictions, with more cases headed to trial this spring. This was organized, deliberate theft, enabled by weak controls, refusal to take multiple reports of fraud from whistleblowers and the legislative auditor seriously, and a government culture that refused to treat fraud like a crime. The Feeding Our Future case revealed something even more disturbing: As many as half of the defendants were also receiving state money through other Medicaid-funded programs. But even after that became public back in 2023, Tim Walz and his agencies did nothing to stop those defendants from receiving additional state dollars. Billions of federal COVID dollars didn’t start the staggering fraud in Minnesota, but that did supercharge a system that had already been compromised. The original fraud scandal was tied to the Child Care Assistance Program, a federal program meant to help low-income families with children. There had been allegations of fraud reported with CCAP since 2011. By 2014 and 2015, there were raids, charges, and convictions of child care providers for billing non-existent or absent children, often exceeding $1 million in fraud in a single case. Then in March and April of 2019, just months into the Walz administration, the legislative auditor published two major reports outlining CCAP fraud. Those reports detailed fraudulent providers and alleged movement of millions of dollars in cash out of Minnesota to Somalia, including allegations that some of that money was funding terrorism. Whistleblowers have told us that shortly after those reports were released, the Department of Human Services shut down the criminal investigation unit for child care fraud. Rather than pursuing fraud as a crime, the Walz administration began renaming fraud as “overpayment.” Cases were routed to an internal “overpayment committee” to decide whether reimbursement should even be pursued. Staff were no longer allowed to speak with their counterparts at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension without supervisor approval. Our committee has now uncovered fraud in multiple Medicaid programs, including autism centers, sober homes, non-emergency medical transportation, integrated community supports, and housing stabilization services. In December, we held a hearing on credible allegations of fraud in two additional areas: adult day services and assisted living facilities. We have now seen allegations of fraud in 14 Medicaid programs. It is staggering. The former first U.S. attorney who led these prosecutions estimated fraud at $9 billion, and that doesn’t include fraud in SNAP or child care programs. Minnesotans expect their tax dollars to go toward roads, schools, health care, and public safety, not to fund criminals purchasing resorts in Kenya and luxury homes and cars. Even more alarming are the allegations that Minnesota taxpayer dollars have made their way into the hands of terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab, directly or indirectly. The money is literally flown out in suitcases from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. In 2017, estimates suggested $100 million in cash left annually. According to TSA, outbound cash was $342 million in 2024 and $350 million in 2025. That is astonishing. And it is wildly disproportionate compared to other airports. Minneapolis’ outbound cash is 99% higher than Dallas, Atlanta, LAX, and JFK, and 90% higher than Seattle. So where do we go from here?  Minnesotans are right to be outraged, and I hope other states learn from Minnesota’s failures. We need a culture that treats fraud as a crime, not as “overpayment.” We need to standardize and enforce basic internal controls. Both federal and state government need to require documentation, not attestation, to verify eligibility. We need more audits and stronger oversight. We need the federal government to enforce existing laws requiring states to pay back funds within one year when fraud or “overpayment” is found. We need more resources at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and CMS to investigate these cases. And we need stronger federal authority to track and investigate large sums of cash leaving our country. We need leaders willing to stand up to this injustice and protect the most vulnerable. Citizens in Minnesota and throughout the country deserve better. The time for accountability and justice is now. Kristin Robbins has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019 and is chair of the Minnesota Fraud Committee. Tyler Durden Wed, 02/18/2026 - 09:40

‘It was only a joke’: Akwa Ibom govt defends Eno’s ‘empty barrels’ remark against critics
PoliticsPremium Times12h ago

‘It was only a joke’: Akwa Ibom govt defends Eno’s ‘empty barrels’ remark against critics

The public has intensified criticism of the Akwa Ibom Governor over his “empty barrels” remark against critics, saying the comments were unbecoming of his office, even as the state government claims he was merely joking. The post ‘It was only a joke’: Akwa Ibom govt defends Eno’s ‘empty barrels’ remark against critics appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Lagos gets new Accountant-General
Politicspunch-ng22h ago

Lagos gets new Accountant-General

The Lagos State Government appoints Adetola John as the new Accountant-General, a strategic move to ensure continuity in public financial management. Read More: https://punchng.com/lagos-gets-new-accountant-general/

India Monitors West Asia Situation, Ensures Safety of Citizens
Politicshinduhindustan-times2d ago2 sources

India Monitors West Asia Situation, Ensures Safety of Citizens

The Indian government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia, particularly after disruptions at international airports, and is taking measures to ensure the safe return and safety of Indian citizens, including those stranded in Gulf Nations.

“Washington Commanders Don’t Play in Washington”: Cam Newton Backs Chicago Bears’ Move to Indiana
SportYahoo3d ago

“Washington Commanders Don’t Play in Washington”: Cam Newton Backs Chicago Bears’ Move to Indiana

When your favorite team has been playing at the same location for more than 50 years, it’s hard not to get emotional at the idea of losing them to a neighboring territory. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Chicago Bears’ fan base has been dealing with as the future of their beloved franchise continues to be used as a political pawn between the state governments of Indiana and Illinois.

Kwara orders reversal of tricycle levy to ₦700
Politicspunch-ng4d ago

Kwara orders reversal of tricycle levy to ₦700

The Kwara State Government has ordered the reversal of the daily tricycle levy to ₦700, addressing complaints of overcharging from operators. Read More: https://punchng.com/kwara-orders-reversal-of-tricycle-levy-to-%e2%82%a6700/

Lagos issues 30-day traffic advisory for Lekki–Epe expressway rehabilitation
Politicsvanguard-ng5d ago

Lagos issues 30-day traffic advisory for Lekki–Epe expressway rehabilitation

The Lagos State Government has released a comprehensive traffic management plan ahead of the second phase of rehabilitation on the Epe-bound carriageway of the Lekki–Epe Expressway, expected to last 30 days. The post Lagos issues 30-day traffic advisory for Lekki–Epe expressway rehabilitation appeared first on Vanguard News.

Zamfara Govt reinstates 650 verified local Govt staff
Politicsvanguard-ng5d ago

Zamfara Govt reinstates 650 verified local Govt staff

The Zamfara State Government has approved the reinstatement of 650 verified staff across its Local Government Areas, with immediate effect on salary payments. The post Zamfara Govt reinstates 650 verified local Govt staff appeared first on Vanguard News.

Bayelsa Govt appoints 18 new permanent secretaries
Politicsvanguard-ng8d ago

Bayelsa Govt appoints 18 new permanent secretaries

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa The Bayelsa State government has approved the appointment of 18 new Permanent Secretaries to strengthen its civil service and enhance service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies. In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Buruboyefe Perekiye John, the appointments were approved by Governor […] The post Bayelsa Govt appoints 18 new permanent secretaries appeared first on Vanguard News.