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University of Alabama student suffers 'severe head injury' while on family vacation in Caribbean
A University of Alabama student reportedly suffered multiple skull fractures and other injuries after he fell while on vacation with his family in the Caribbean.
A GoFundMe page set up for Matthew Polaski and his family reads, "What should have been a joyful time together quickly became every parent’s worst nightmare."
"Mike, Steph, Matthew, and Evan were on a family vacation in the Dominican Republic during the holidays while Matthew was home on winter break from his freshman year at the University of Alabama," the GoFundMe page added.
"On December 28th, Matthew suffered a severe head injury after a fall. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve swelling on his brain and save his life. He remains in critical care and was placed in a medically induced coma," it continued. "Once stabilized, Matthew was transported by international medical flight to Miami, where his treatment continues."
The circumstances of the fall were not immediately clear. Fox News Digital also has reached out to the University of Alabama for comment.
The GoFundMe describes Polaski as a "hardworking, respectful young man with a deep passion for gymnastics."
"He recently began his college journey at Alabama, joined Sigma Pi fraternity, and has his whole future ahead of him. Mike and Steph have always been unwavering in their support — traveling to countless meets, tournaments, and college visits to help Matthew pursue his dreams," it added.
AMERICAN TOURIST ATTACKED BY SHARK IN VACATION HOT SPOT
An update posted Wednesday on the GoFundMe page described how Matthew Polaski suffered "skull fractures, fractured pelvis and lower back vertebrate fractures."
"They reduced sedation and checked motor responses, both arms and legs responded on chest stimulation, another good early sign. Much is still being determined with mostly with the head injury for unknowns," the update added. "Probably the most emotional update as a parent, Matthew started motion on his own, opened his mouth, and squeezed Steph’s hand in responses. I can’t imagine how many tears Steph had in that moment."
The Robbinsville Police Department in New Jersey said Matthew’s father used to be its chief.
The GoFundMe page said Matthew Polaski’s medical bills in the Dominican Republic have reached nearly $75,000.
"International medical transport costs alone are estimated between $35,000 and $55,000. Unfortunately, insurance provides very limited coverage for international medical care, and even with insurance, medical expenses in the U.S. add up quickly. This is only the beginning," it said.
Black Republican calls for total, permanent abolition of DEI: 'I want to earn every opportunity on merit'
Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas is calling for the complete and permanent abolition of diversity, equity and inclusion ideology, noting that he only wants to be judged based on his "character," "competence" and "results."
"DEI should be abolished, permanently. I never want to be chosen, promoted, or rewarded because of how I look. I want to earn every opportunity on merit, through hard work, grit, discipline, and determination," the Army veteran declared in a post on X.
"Equality means equal standards, not engineered outcomes. The dignity of achievement comes from effort, not entitlement. Judge me by my character, my competence, and my results. Anything less is an insult to everyone striving to be their best," he added.
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Billionaire business tycoon Elon Musk heartily endorsed the lawmaker's comments.
"And this is how anyone of honor should be!" Musk wrote when sharing Hunt's post on X.
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Hunt has previously expressed his disdain for DEI.
"DEI should be DOA," he wrote in a May 2025 post on X. "America was built on merit, grit, determination, and hard work—not skin color, quotas, or political games. The promise of this nation is simple: we rise by the strength of our character, not the shade of our skin. I’ve lived by that truth—and it drives the left absolutely insane."
‘MUST-SEE TV’: TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE CHALLENGES JASMINE CROCKETT TO PUBLIC DEBATE
The lawmaker, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023, is running for U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who is up for re-election this year. Lone Star State Attorney General Ken Paxton is also aiming to unseat Cornyn in the Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Homeless drifter accused of killing Barnes & Noble Christmas shopper blamed ‘fight or flight’ outburst: report
The man accused of fatally stabbing a woman inside a Palm Beach Gardens Barnes & Noble days before Christmas had traveled through several states before entering Florida, authorities said Tuesday.
Palm Beach Gardens police identified the suspect as Antonio R. Moore, 40, and said he is accused of killing 65-year-old Rita B. Loncharich inside the popular bookstore on the evening of Dec. 22.
Investigators said Moore is not a Florida resident and had moved through multiple states, including through Georgia and North Carolina, before coming to Florida. Police said Moore boarded a bus on Dec. 15 from Orlando to Titusville and then traveled onward into Palm Beach County.
WOMAN IN FLORIDA BARNES & NOBLE STABBED TO DEATH, POLICE SEEK MOTIVE
According to the arrest affidavit obtained by WFLX Fox 29, Moore entered the bookstore around 7:29 p.m. and Loncharich arrived shortly afterward. Investigators said Moore approached Loncharich in a store aisle and stabbed her in the back with a pocketknife.
According to the Palm Beach Post, Moore allegedly told police a "fight or flight" response overtook him, and he took a fixed-blade knife from his jacket pocket. He reportedly told police that he stabbed Loncharich because she was the closest person to him at the time and said he did not have any prior interaction with her.
Bystanders helped the victim until first responders arrived, the local outlet reported. Loncharich was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she died during surgery.
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Police received a 911 call at 7:52 p.m. and located Moore several blocks from the scene minutes later. He was taken into custody without incident.
Moore, who police say is homeless, told investigators he had no prior relationship with the victim and offered no motive for the attack. According to authorities, he admitted to sitting in the store charging his phone just before the stabbing.
Jail records from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office show that Moore was booked on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder. He is being held without bond.
Local family members and community members described Loncharich as a "kind, gentle" person whose life was cut short during what should have been a routine holiday outing.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
3 historic NFL franchises find themselves in same boat since turn of the century
Rewind to the beginning of the 2001 NFL season.
Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt was entering his second season at the helm in place of the legendary Jimmy Johnson. Both the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets were starting fresh. The Browns hired Butch Davis to replace Chris Palmer as head coach, and the Jets moved on from Al Groh and the Bill Belichick debacle with Herm Edwards.
Hopes for all three teams were as high as they’ve been. The future looked bright.
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Fast-forward nearly 25 years, not much progress has been made by any of the three franchises. As the 2025 season nears its end, the Dolphins, Browns and Jets will all end with losing records, missing the playoffs and a grand total of zero Super Bowl appearances.
The Browns are usually teased by NFL fans as a laughing-stock franchise with the amount of futility the franchise has been through since the 2001 season began.
Cleveland was the second team in NFL history to go winless throughout a season. The Browns have had 39 starting quarterbacks in that span, including three different ones this season in Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The Browns have had nine different head coaches in that span and have made three playoff appearances, including one playoff win. The team was last in the postseason in 2023.
It’s bad in Cleveland, but the one playoff win in that span is exactly one more than the Dolphins have had since the 2001 season began.
The Dolphins have only been to the playoffs five times and have had names like Jay Fiedler, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa all come through and start games in Miami. Quinn Ewers marked the 26th starting quarterback the franchise has trotted out. There’s been 27 since Dan Marino hung up the cleats after the 1999 season.
Mike McDaniel represented the eighth head coach the Dolphins have had on the sideline, and while the team had shown bright spots with Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill connecting on the field, there just hasn’t been the same amount of success in Miami since the Marino era.
New York has entered the same realm. While the Browns and Dolphins have both had ups with their downs in recent years, most of New York’s success came in the 2000s.
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The Jets made six playoff appearances from 2001 to 2010 and were on the cusp of a Super Bowl twice with Mark Sanchez as the quarterback, Darrelle Revis locking down wide receivers and Rex Ryan running the sideline. Since 2010, the Jets have had 12 losing seasons. They haven’t made the playoffs and only finished above .500 once.
Not to mention, New York has gone through seven head coaches in that span.
It’s eerily amazing how three historic franchises have shared similar futility with the amount of parity in the NFL presently. There have been 12 different Super Bowl winners with 19 different teams at least making an appearance in the game.
And it's not to say excitement hasn't come through each franchise. The Brett Favre acquisition by the Jets was major news. The Browns drafted Johnny Manziel, who was a polarizing figure in college football and the NFL. The Dolphins had an electric running back in Ricky Williams and defensive stars like Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas.
But it just never paid off.
While 2001 was a big year for change among all three teams, more tough decisions could be made once the 2025 finishes and the 2026 season officially begins.
McDaniel, Kevin Stefanski and Aaron Glenn are all on the hot seat with their respective teams. Only the Dolphins replaced their general manager (Chris Grier) in the middle of the year. Glenn is only in his first season as head coach, but rumors have differed on whether he will be retained for 2026.
All three teams could be in the market for a quarterback change.
The Dolphins benched Tagovailoa for the final few games of the season despite his massive contract. The Browns didn’t appear to be set with Sanders or Gabriel as QB1 going into 2026, especially with Deshaun Watson and his albatross of a contract lingering. The Jets tried three different quarterbacks as well in 2025, but a high draft pick could lead them toward taking a flier on someone like Fernando Mendoza.
Things could always change for these three franchises, but as the 2025 season comes to a close, many things have stayed the same once the new millennium kicked off and nothing appears to be changing any time soon.
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NHL star tries to explain bizarre ketchup 'phobia'
NHL star Connor McDavid peeled back the curtain on his "phobia" of ketchup on Saturday night following the Edmonton Oilers' 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.
McDavid appeared on Sportsnet’s "After Hours" program after a one-goal game against the Flames. A fan question came into the broadcast and asked how McDavid is able to manage his extreme dislike of the condiment on the road.
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He said his teammates knew to keep it far away from him.
McDavid was then asked how the issue developed, and he stated that it just happened during his childhood.
"Honestly, you know, it stems from childhood, "McDavid said. "My brother’s the same way. Not sure where it came from. I’m gonna blame it on him. He’s worse than I am. I learned off him, so take it up with him."
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He couldn’t name one thing he liked about it.
"I don’t know what it is," he said. "The texture, it’s the look of it, it’s everything. . . . I think it’s a phobia, yeah."
McDavid’s wife, Lauren, first revealed the player’s issue with ketchup during Amazon’s "FACEOFF: Inside the NHL." He was adamant last year that it was just something that he and his brother grew up with.
Heinz Ketchup’s Canada social media account also poked fun at McDavid last October.
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Cracker Barrel ditches beloved Southern New Year's tradition of black-eyed peas without warning
For generations across the South, black-eyed peas have traditionally been served on New Year's Day.
The dish is associated with a "mystical and mythical power to bring good luck" in the year ahead, according to writer John Egerton in his book "Southern Food: At Home, On the Road, In History."
For years, Cracker Barrel served as a reliable last stop for displaced Southerners trying to uphold a New Year's Day tradition. If black-eyed peas weren't simmering at home, they could be ordered alongside cornbread and country sides.
Now, that option has quietly disappeared.
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Cracker Barrel once routinely served a traditional New Year's Day fare at its restaurants, touting complimentary black-eyed peas for customers in social media promotions — but that seemingly stopped a few years ago.
"We're operating during our usual hours and serving our standard menu on New Year's," Cracker Barrel told Fox News Digital in a statement.
When asked specifically about the black-eyed peas, Cracker Barrel did not respond.
"Black-eyed peas in the South [are] a super-huge traditional food for New Year's Day," said celebrity chef Jason Smith, a judge on the Food Network's "Best Baker in America" and the winner of "Food Network Star," Season 13.
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The meaning of the meal stretches back to Civil War times, the Kentucky-born chef said.
When Union troops raided Southern food supplies, they often overlooked black-eyed peas, supposedly considering them animal feed. That made them a staple food for Southerners during a time of scarcity and a symbol of good fortune, according to Elevating Kitchen.
The dish also endured because it was accessible.
"Another reason was black-eyed peas [were] cheap to buy and could feed a huge family," Smith told Fox News Digital.
Alongside collard greens, associated with money, and cornbread, symbolizing gold, black-eyed peas became a cornerstone of the Southern New Year's table.
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That ritual extended beyond home kitchens to restaurant tables, including Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel.
Sarah Moore, Cracker Barrel's chief marketing officer, told Fox News Digital last year that menu decisions reflect a balance between regional tradition and national footprint.
"I think there are two strategies here," Moore said in May. "I think, first and foremost, what we will focus on as we continue to evolve the menu is a localized regional strategy as well. We operate in 44 states. I think we have a great opportunity to bring more localized flavors and regionality into our menu."
At the same time, Moore emphasized the brand's identity, which faced public scrutiny last year amid its abandoned logo change and restaurant redesign.
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"But the other side of it is that destination menu — [the] country comforts and classics that we're known for," she said. "So, we will continue to look and evolve as to how we bring those country classics in and keep all the classics that everybody loves about Cracker Barrel on the menu."
Moore acknowledged the emotional pull of the traditional New Year's meal.
"I actually do make it every single year," she said. "I am married to a man from Kentucky."
Moore added, "It is something we will continue to look at as we build out our pipeline."
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Rachel Love, a Tennessee mother and self-proclaimed Cracker Barrel lover who championed its classic look and criticized its failed makeover, told Fox News Digital that black-eyed peas were a New Year's Day staple at her dinner table.
"My mom would have a pot of black-eyed peas simmering on the stove for good luck in the year ahead," Love said. "She'd scoop up a spoonful, hold it out and say, 'Here, try it. You don't want to start the year off with bad luck.'"
Love also recalled her late grandmother's routine.
"During the years [that] black-eyed peas were offered as a side, she would get hers from Cracker Barrel, ordering the Country Vegetable Plate," Love said.
Smith said he still turns to restaurants to serve them when circumstances require it, acknowledging that mom-and-pop eateries in the South are among the last to do so.
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"There's not too many restaurants that today partake in this age-old tradition any longer, but they should," he said.
Brad Pitt gets brutally honest as stars share sobriety stories in 2025, 'pretty much on my knees'
The start of the new year always has people interested in the cultural trend of quitting alcohol for the entire month — aka Dry January.
Dry January, which was started in the United Kingdom by Alcohol Change UK in 2013, is a challenge some people like to try by not drinking alcohol for 31 days.
Reasons for quitting alcohol for a month range from saving money, improving sleep patterns to using it as a stepping stone to cutting back or quitting entirely.
Stars like Bradley Cooper, Miley Cyrus and Tom Holland have been open about their sobriety over the years and have made new comments in 2025 on how quitting alcohol has positively affected their lives.
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During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in December, Cooper credited the "Smartless" podcast host Will Arnett as the main reason he was able to quit drinking in 2004.
"Will took the risk of having that hard conversation with me that put me on the path of deciding to change my life. It is truly Will Arnett, he is the reason. And it helped that it was the guy I thought I was emulating. It’s not like somebody else said it. Like, the king told me," Cooper told the outlet.
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Brad Pitt was a guest on Dax Shepard's "The Armchair Expert" podcast in June and discussed how attending Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings at the start of his sobriety journey really helped him.
"I just thought it was just incredible — men sharing their experiences, their foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches and a lot of humor with it. I thought it was a really special experience," Pitt said at the time.
Shepard noted that he was concerned Pitt would be uncomfortable discussing AA since that's how he met him. Pitt said he was "quite at ease" to come on the show and talk about his experience.
Pitt said when he first started attending meetings, he was shy but eventually was able to become more vulnerable.
"I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open. I was trying anything and everyone. Anything anyone threw at me. It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the f--- up in some areas. And it just meant a lot to me," the actor said.
After a few sessions, the meetings became a time that Pitt would "look forward to." He told Shepard that he's "pretty good at taking responsibility" and "owning up to" things that have gone wrong.
According to People, Pitt became sober in 2016 — shortly after his split from Angelina Jolie.
Cyrus spoke to CBS News in October about how her decision to quit drinking has made her life better.
"I like showing up 100%, 100% of the time. The hardest part about balancing, you know, any sort of substance use or drinking when you want to do what I do is you’re going, ‘Okay, well, now I have to get sober for this thing, ’cause I wanna show up my best,'" she told the outlet at the time.
Cyrus continued, "Now, I get to trim out so much of the preparation of getting yourself into the right place mentally and physically. I’m just always ready."
The former Disney star said that she is very happy with where she is at in her life.
"The authentic joy of doing what I want to do has always eclipsed the negatives for me. I feel really good. And I really like who I am, and I like what I’m doing with my life. And I think if I was outside of myself, I would want to be a part of what I’m doing in any way that I could be. Cause I think what I’m doing is cool. So, that actually feels good. I like what I do. I like who I am," Cyrus said.
In May, Cyrus was a guest on The Zane Lowe Show and said that since becoming sober in 2020, she's been able to learn more about herself since becoming sober. "I've learned this about myself over the years. The sobriety is like; that's like my God. I need it, I live for it. I mean that it's changed my entire life," Cyrus said.
Holland spoke with Esquire in September and marked 3.5 years of being sober.
"It feels amazing. A little bit like a brand-new identity almost," he told the outlet at the time.
At the start of 2025, Holland spoke to Men's Health about his sobriety journey. "My problem was that I would have one drink and be fine, and then I would just go too far," he said.
The "Spider-Man: No Way Home" star told the outlet that he has struggled with wanting to indulge in alcohol since quitting, but his lawyer offered him "a really poignant piece of advice."
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"You’ll never wake up the morning after a night out and wish you had a drink," Holland said his lawyer told him.
Holland explained that he participated in Dry January in 2022, initially only planning to quit drinking for the month. During his break, he realized how much alcohol he was consuming.
"Every Friday after work was a write-off: Let’s get drunk and have a good time. I didn’t have bad experiences, but I would drink enough so that I would ruin my next day," Holland said.
Drew Barrymore spoke to US Weekly in March about how her decision to become sober in 2019 has positively impacted her life over the past six years.
"I think I was focused on the substances, but what finally hit me in my early forties was that I needed to focus on the behavior. That was the big revelation to me. My behavior being: I wanted to escape my pain, numb my pain, feel the highs of the invincibility of what alcohol did for me, when I didn't realize the chemical warfare that it was causing the next day and the next day," the talk show host said at the time.
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Barrymore told the outlet that she ultimately decided to quit drinking because it was affecting how she lived day-to-day.
At the start of 2025, Lucy Hale celebrated three years sober in an emotional Instagram post.
"damn. 3 years ago today, I began my journey in remembering who I am. Since then, I’ve experienced moments that can only be described as pure miracles and magic," the "Pretty Little Liars" star began her caption.
"I am deeply grateful every day—for the people who have been guiding lights, for a power greater than myself that loves me unconditionally, and for my own perseverance in not giving up. To all of you who have supported my journey, I have felt your love and it means everything to me," Hale continued.
She concluded by giving her followers motivation if they were "walking a similar path."
"If you are struggling or walking a similar path, keep going. Just keep going. You are not alone and the world needs you. ❤️," the actress concluded.
Repeat offender truck driver charged with bank robbery after claiming C-4 explosives, firing on officers: feds
A North Carolina truck driver, who is a repeat offender, has been federally charged following a bank robbery and a shootout with law enforcement, authorities said.
Willie Edward McGee Jr. is charged with bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to a complaint.
Authorities said that McGee entered a First Citizens Bank in Zebulon, North Carolina, on Dec. 26, and demanded money from a teller while claiming to have C-4 explosives. The teller gave him $3,234, and McGee fled in a semi-truck, they said.
Deputies with the Rocky Mount Police Department said that McGee's truck was found in a Hobby Lobby parking lot following the initial robbery.
According to surveillance and officers at the scene, McGee allegedly exited the vehicle armed with a Ruger AR-style 5.56 rifle and fired at officers.
Police returned fire and struck McGee. No law enforcement officers or civilians were injured. While taking McGee into custody, officers recovered the AR rifle he allegedly used to shoot at officers and a handgun from his waistband.
McGee, according to records reviewed by WRAL-News, has a lengthy criminal history. The local outlet said that the suspect has dozens of charges dating back more than 20 years.
WRAL reported that he has offenses spanning from Duplin, Wake and Durham counties.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called the incident "domestic terror."
"As alleged, this defendant didn’t just rob a bank — he threatened innocent civilians with explosives and then opened fire on police officers," Blanche said. "That is not desperation, it is domestic terror. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and professionalism of our law enforcement partners, he is alive, in custody, and facing decades in federal prison."
"Let this serve as a warning: if you bring violence into our communities or target the men and women who protect them, this Department of Justice will meet you with the full weight of the federal government and ensure you are removed from the streets for a very long time."
The investigation remains active. Anyone with further information about the alleged crimes is asked to please call the FBI at (704) 672-6100. Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina, for comment.
James Cameron says the 'fundamental issue' with putting guardrails on AI is that humans can't agree on morals
"Avatar" director James Cameron argued that the "fundamental issue" in creating guardrails for artificial intelligence is that humans can't agree on morals, noting that finding a universal moral code is nearly impossible.
During an appearance on "Just Foolin' About with Michael Biehn" last week, Cameron argued that morality is subjective, pointing out that religions and political systems adhere to different moral frameworks, making consensus difficult to achieve.
"The fundamental problem is — they call it ‘alignment,’ right? You have this artificial superintelligence. As long as it is aligned with human good, then it won't betray us, it won't turn against us, it'll only improve our lives, right?" he explained. "Except, the big fundamental problem is that we can't agree on one godd--- thing about what is best for human beings."
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Cameron added that by creating guardrails to constrain AI, what humans are actually doing is "trying to impose morality on a conscious system that's smarter than us," but also looks to humans as its "parents to give it moral guidelines."
The issue with creating these guardrails, according to Cameron, is that "everybody's morality is different," which inevitably leads to disagreement over which moral framework would be best suited to keep AI in line.
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Aside from his concerns over how to properly regulate AI, Cameron has been vocal about how he feels about the technology in terms of assisting in the production of movies.
Originally a skeptic, Cameron denounced the use of AI in films in 2023, saying he believed "the weaponization of AI is the biggest danger."
"I think that we will get into the equivalent of a nuclear arms race with AI, and if we don't build it, the other guys are for sure going to build it, and so then it'll escalate," Cameron said at the time.
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Cameron's stance on AI has evolved in recent years, and he now says that Hollywood needs to embrace the technology in several different ways.
Cameron joined the board of directors for Stability AI last year, explaining his decision on the "Boz to the Future" podcast in April.
"The goal was to understand the space, to understand what’s on the minds of the developers," he said. "What are they targeting? What’s their development cycle? How much resources you have to throw at it to create a new model that does a purpose-built thing, and my goal was to try to integrate it into a VFX workflow."
He continued by saying the shift to AI is a necessary one.
"And it’s not just hypothetical. We have to. If we want to continue to see the kinds of movies that I’ve always loved and that I like to make and that I will go to see — ‘Dune,’ ‘Dune: Part Two’ or one of my films or big effects-heavy, CG-heavy films — we’ve got to figure out how to cut the cost of that in half.
"Now that’s not about laying off half the staff at a VFX company. That’s about doubling their speed to completion on a given shot, so your cadence is faster and your throughput cycle is faster, and artists get to move on and do other cool things and then other cool things, right? That’s my sort of vision for that."
Fox News' Elizabeth Stanton contributed to this report.
Critics warn Minnesota legislation now taking effect is setting up the 'next billion-dollar fraud'
As a massive fraud scandal continues to unfold in Minnesota, a new law in the state is set to take effect on Jan. 1 granting 20 weeks of paid leave, which critics say just opens the door for more fraud in the state.
The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, will allow Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks a year off with partial pay to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and up to 12 weeks to recover from their own serious illness. Benefits will be capped at 20 weeks a year for employees who take advantage of both.
"Everyone deserves paid time away from work, to heal, to grow, and to live," Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said at the signing ceremony in 2023. "This time is not optional. It’s not a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have if we truly are going to be the best state in the country to raise a family."
The new state paid leave program is separate from, and in addition to, existing federal and Minnesota parental and maternity-leave rights, although it can run concurrently with them for the same period of time, and is being enforced by a new government agency called the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development with more than 400 full-time employees overseeing the process.
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Critics on social media in recent days have expressed doubt about the safeguards put in place to prevent fraudsters from exploiting the new law given the massive scandal in Minnesota’s nonprofit and welfare programs, which prosecutors say could total $9 billion.
"In the middle of a massive fraud scandal, Minnesota Democrats are bragging about creating a new entitlement just as ripe for abuse," Red State writer Bonchie posted on X. "The scheme involves businesses forced to pay a premium, with the state paying workers for 20 weeks of ‘paid leave.’ Are Minnesotans tired yet?"
Bill Glahn, a policy fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, who has been at the forefront of fraud coverage in Minnesota for many years, told Fox News Digital he has been "describing this as the next billion-dollar fraud."
Glahn explained that Republicans previously refused to even hear similar proposals when they controlled the Minnesota House, but that Democrats passed the law after gaining full control, without any Republican support. Instead of using private insurance companies to administer paid leave, Glahn is faulting Democrats for creating an entirely new state-run bureaucracy staffed by hundreds of unionized government employees.
"This is going to be just like all these Medicaid programs that they start de novo, where they say, ‘Oh, we’ll probably have two or three million dollars worth of claims on this,’ and then it quickly balloons up to 100, 200 million," Glahn said.
Glahn outlined several ways the system could be exploited, including fake companies, fake employees, minimal contributions followed by large benefit claims and multiple people claiming paid leave to care for the same relative without any realistic oversight. Because claims are tied to private homes rather than centralized locations, he argues that fraud detection is practically impossible.
Glahn also warns that individuals could work briefly, qualify, then repeatedly claim long periods of paid leave, effectively getting paid for a full year while working only part of it and explained that Minnesota has a pattern of creating new entitlement programs that attract fraudsters who quickly identify loopholes and overwhelm oversight.
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"When you build a multi-billion-dollar state benefit program with weak oversight, fraudsters line up," Townhall columnist and prominent commentator on Minnesota fraud, Dustin Grage, told Fox News Digital. "We’ve already seen what happens in Minnesota. The paid family leave system will be a magnet for abuse."
A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development told Fox News Digital that assertions about the likelihood of fraud in the new law are "not based in fact."
"Paid Leave has launched with strong systems in place to verify identities and work histories and to detect and prevent fraud. We accept tips about potential fraud from all sources, and we investigate all reports," the spokesperson said. "Every leave must be certified by an appropriate professional. For example, a medical provider must attest that medical leave is necessary and also must verify who they are. Identifications are verified through licensure information, certification that is required on every application."
"Employers are a key part of this as well. They will be notified of every leave application, have an opportunity to review to make sure that information looks correct and notify us of any concerns."
Still, the rampant fraud in Minnesota touching at least 14 programs has caused major skepticism of the safeguards in place for this new law that Democrats have pushed for years.
"It’s going to be just like every other program," Glahn told Fox News Digital.
Associated Press contributed to this report.