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Minnesota health care owner charged with years-long Medicaid scam topping $3M
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday charged a Minneapolis man with more than $3 million in Medicaid fraud tied to a state-licensed home health agency.
Mohamed Abdirashid Omarxeyd was charged with eight counts of felony theft by false representation after prosecutors said he used his company, Guardian Home Health Services, to bill Minnesota’s Medicaid program for services that were never provided or were ineligible for reimbursement from 2020 through 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, Guardian submitted fraudulent claims for personal care aide services, companion care, homemaking, respite care, individualized home supports and other community support services. State officials have designated many of these services as "high-risk" for fraud.
Prosecutors allege Omarxeyd and his wife siphoned more than $2 million from the company’s accounts during the scheme.
BESSENT BLAMES WALZ AS TREASURY PROBES WHETHER MINNESOTA FRAUD FUNDS REACHED TERROR GROUP AL-SHABAB
"Defrauding programs that provide healthcare to low-income Minnesotans is a truly despicable act," Ellison said in a statement, noting his office has prosecuted more than 300 Medicaid fraud cases and recovered over $80 million in restitution and penalties.
TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WHO EXPOSED MASSIVE $250M MINNESOTA FRAUD CASE STEPS DOWN FROM POSITION
The charges come amid a wide-ranging investigation that has targeted fraud across multiple Medicaid-funded programs. Other fraud allegations involve housing stabilization services and autism intervention programs.
Prosecutors previously uncovered the massive $250 million Feeding Our Future food fraud case tied to the state's Somali community.
That fraud case has resulted in dozens of indictments and convictions, as well as shining a spotlight on fraud concerns in Minnesota. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz chose not to run for a third term amid the widening scandal.
No attorney is currently listed for Omarxeyd, whose first court appearance is Feb. 3.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
UCLA DEI director says he was fired over controversial Charlie Kirk posts: 'Glad when bigots die'
A former DEI director at the University of California, Los Angeles says he has been fired after controversial social media posts regarding the September assassination of conservative icon Charlie Kirk.
"UCLA just fired me because I wasn't sad Charlie Kirk died—a clear violation of my First Amendment rights," said Johnathan Perkins on the left-wing-dominated social media app Bluesky.
Perkins linked to a GoFundMe he started to cover his bills while he is jobless. The GoFundMe says he is planning to sue the school for alleged First Amendment violations, and solicits donations from people interested in "fighting racism" and "standing up for free speech."
"My pups, two cats and I could use your support as we plan for the next steps," he wrote in the post, adding several hashtags including #Project2025 and #DEI.
HAMLINE UNIVERSITY STUDENT BRAGS ON VIDEO THAT HE CELEBRATED CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION
Perkins was the school's former director of race and equity.
"UCLA just fired me (Dir. of Race & Equity) over Bluesky posts about not being sad Charlie Kirk died," he said in another post.
On Sept. 12, two days after Kirk was shot and killed while hosting a Turning Point USA event on Utah Valley University's campus, Perkins appeared to suggest in a now-deleted post that Kirk deserved to die.
TPUSA SPOKESPERSON ACCUSES ARIZONA TEACHERS OF MOCKING CHARLIE KIRK'S DEATH WITH HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
"Multiple times throughout his short life, Charlie Kirk has proudly proclaimed the United States' 45,000 or so annual gun deaths are 'worth it' for his beloved 2nd Amendment 'right to bear arms,'" he said. "Dude made this bed; reaped what he sowed; chickens coming home to roost, etc. Smh."
"I'm always glad when bigots die, so," he said in another post.
"It is OKAY to be happy when someone who hated you and called for your people’s death dies — even if they are murdered," he said in another.
HAWAII TEACHER PUNISHED FOR CONSTITUTION DAY LESSON ON FREE SPEECH, CHARLIE KIRK, LEGAL GROUP SAYS
"F--- Around and Find Out is really doing its thing, lately," said a fourth post.
UCLA placed Perkins on leave amid the initial wave of controversy.
"UCLA has placed a campus employee on immediate leave and has launched an investigation following reports of social media posts regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk. While free expression is a core value of UCLA, violence of any kind — including the celebration of it — is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated," the school said in a Sept. 14 statement, without referencing Perkins directly.
On Wednesday evening, a UCLA spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the school does not comment on personnel matters.
"Under University policies, employees who have received a notice of intent to terminate are provided an opportunity to respond to the notice before any action is taken," the spokesperson said.
Perkins did not return a request for comment, but defended himself in an interview with UCLA's student newspaper, The Daily Bruin, saying he did not "celebrate" Kirk's death, and doubling down on his stance on Kirk's death.
"It’s OK to not be sad when someone who’s a horrible, horrible bigot, dies," he reportedly said.
Trump says exiled Iranian prince 'seems very nice,' doubts whether he has backing to lead the country
President Donald Trump seemed to remain ambivalent about the possibility of exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi taking over the country if the Islamic regime were to fall.
"He seems very nice, but I don't know how he'd play within his own country," Trump told Reuters during an interview on Wednesday. "And we really aren't up to that point yet.
"I don't know whether or not his country would accept his leadership, and certainly if they would, that would be fine with me," he added.
EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE APPEALS TO TRUMP AS IRAN PROTESTS MARK ‘DEFINING’ MOMENT
Trump has yet to take a clear stance on Pahlavi since protests erupted in Iran late last month. On Jan. 8, during an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump said that he was unsure about meeting with Pahlavi amid the unrest in Iran, saying it might not be "appropriate."
"I've watched him, and he seems like a nice person, but I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as president," Trump said. "I think that we should let everybody go out there, and we see who emerges."
Pahlavi has made repeated appeals to Trump amid the raging protests in Iran. On Jan. 9, after the Islamic regime instituted a sweeping internet blackout, Pahlavi posted "an urgent and immediate call" to the president on X, urging him to "be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran."
The exiled crown prince made a similar plea during an appearance on "Sunday Morning Futures." He issued a message directly to Trump while speaking with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo.
"You have already established your legacy as a man committed to peace and fighting evil forces," Pahlavi said on "Sunday Morning Futures." "There is a reason why people in Iran are renaming streets after your name. They know that you are totally opposite to Barack Obama or Joe Biden. They know you're not going to throw them under the bus as they have had before."
While Trump has publicly expressed his hesitation toward Pahlavi, there was reportedly a meeting between the exiled crown prince and high-level U.S. officials. The meeting was first reported by Axios and allegedly included White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The outlet noted that Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a "transitional" leader in the event that the regime falls.
Pahlavi is the son of Iran's last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled the country for decades before being overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, during which time his family was forced to flee the country. The crown prince lives in exile to this day, unable to return to Iran.
Anti-ICE threat spray-painted on vehicle believed to be used by federal officers during Minneapolis unrest
Minneapolis agitators vandalized and spray-painted a threatening anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) message onto a vehicle believed to be used by federal officers during unrest on Wednesday, video footage from the scene shows.
The incident came after the Department of Homeland Security said an ICE agent shot an illegal immigrant from Venezuela in the leg after an alleged shovel attack during an ambush.
The video shows a vandal spraying "Only good agent is a dead one" in red paint across the side of the vehicle. It does not appear anyone was inside the vehicle at the time.
A separate "f--- ICE" message was also spray-painted on the vehicle. Its driver’s window appeared smashed, with the vehicle’s exterior showing signs of heavy damage, including torn panels and loose materials hanging from the body.
"This is what you get when you come to Minneapolis," one man can be heard saying as the vandal defaces the vehicle. At least two other vehicles were damaged.
Scores of demonstrators gathered at the scene, shouting expletives at federal agents and demanding they leave the city, the Minnesota Reformer reported. As tensions escalated, federal agents deployed tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the crowd, while some protesters shot fireworks and other projectiles toward law enforcement during the chaos.
ICE AGENT STRUCK BY RENEE GOOD'S VEHICLE SUFFERED INTERNAL BLEEDING TO TORSO, DHS SAYS
According to the outlet, at least two people were detained after fireworks were thrown. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the crowd crossed the line into an unlawful assembly, prompting assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. Mayor Jacob Frey renewed his call for residents to remain peaceful and not "take the bait."
During the earlier shooting incident, DHS said the agent fired after fearing for his life during a physical struggle in which the suspect, an illegal alien from Venezuela, resisted arrest and assaulted the officer.
DHS said federal officers were conducting a targeted traffic stop in Minneapolis around 6:50 p.m. when the suspect fled in his vehicle, crashed into a parked car and ran on foot. An officer caught up to the suspect, who continued to resist arrest and assault the officer, according to DHS.
During the struggle, two additional individuals allegedly joined in, attacking the officer with a snow shovel and broom handle. DHS said the agent, fearing for his life while being attacked by three people, fired a defensive shot, striking the suspect in the leg.
All three individuals fled into an apartment and barricaded themselves before being taken into custody. The officer and the suspect were transported to the hospital, DHS said.
Authorities said the man’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis have escalated in recent days following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good last week during a federal immigration enforcement operation.
$174B spending package to avert shutdown clears key hurdle in Senate
The Senate advanced a three-bill spending package through its final procedural hurdle on Thursday, teeing up a final vote later in the day.
Lawmakers are in a mad dash to avert a partial government shutdown after just exiting the longest closure in history a few short months ago, and they have a deadline on Jan. 30 to beat.
Thursday’s first vote was a key test of whether the warring parties could come together or again fall victim to political divisions as they did in September. The overwhelmingly bipartisan vote proved, for now, that Senate Republicans and Democrats have a truce in the government funding battle.
DHS FUNDING FIGHT DRIVES SENATE SCRAMBLE TO AVOID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The roughly $174 billion package, which cruised through the House last week, includes funding bills for commerce, justice, science and related agencies; energy and water development and related agencies; and interior, environment and related agencies.
If passed later on Thursday, it’ll mark six total spending bills that lawmakers have put on President Donald Trump’s desk.
But it’s only halfway to the magic dozen that are needed to fund the government. Many lawmakers acknowledge that given the short amount of time left before the deadline, and lingering issues with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, a short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), will be needed to prevent a shutdown.
DHS AT CENTER OF PROGRESSIVE REVOLT AS HOUSE ADVANCES $80B SPENDING PACKAGE
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was hopeful that another round of funding bills brewing in the House could solve the DHS issue. But he didn’t shut down the possibility that lawmakers may need to use a CR just for that agency as political divisions bubble up.
"That will be the hardest one for sure," Thune said. "And I can't predict what happens, but I think you have to, you know, reserve some optionality."
Congressional Democrats have put their foot down on the DHS funding bill, demanding restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the wake of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent.
SENATE ADVANCES $174B PACKAGE AS MINNESOTA ICE SHOOTING FUELS DHS FUNDING FIGHT
But it’s unlikely Republicans will play ball with that request, meaning the bill will stay in limbo for the time being. That divide won’t be an easy mountain to climb, and the Senate is gearing up to leave for a week, returning to Washington, D.C., the week of the funding deadline.
Senate Democrats also don’t want to turn to a year-long CR, a good sign that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus are serious about finishing the work of funding the government.
Earlier this week, Schumer lauded Democratic negotiators who worked on the package, and noted that it was full of their own spending priorities meant to push back against Trump.
"Their leadership stopped the worst of Donald Trump's devastating cuts, protected investments that millions of Americans depend on, from education to housing to jobs," Schumer said. "Though this isn't the finish line, it's a good step in the right direction."
Jon Stewart says Clintons should 'absolutely' comply with congressional subpoenas on Epstein
"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart said Wednesday during his podcast that former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should "absolutely" comply with their congressional subpoenas.
Stewart answered an audience question about whether the Clintons should comply with the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Both Clintons defied subpoenas to appear before the committee this week.
"I absolutely do," he said. "But why should they comply if the Department of Justice is not complying with releasing the files? Like, is compliance a kind of specialized individual indigenous opportunity, or should it be universal? I mean the Department of Justice has subpoenaed them to testify in the Jeffrey Epstein case while not complying with releasing the files."
"So how does that comport in any — but do I personally think they should comply? Abso-f---ing-lutely. Absolutely," Stewart said during his "Weekly Show" podcast.
TOP GOP CHAIR ISSUES STARK WARNING TO CLINTONS IF THEY DEFY DEPOSITIONS IN EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION
"And if they've got something to hide or an affair, like yes, we should know about all this," Stewart continued. "This is bonkers, how long this is going on. But absolutely, they should comply and the Department of Justice should comply, and these victims of this heinous case should finally get some of the justice and peace that they deserve."
The Clintons did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The House Oversight Committee, not the Department of Justice (DOJ), subpoenaed the Clintons to testify.
Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed to reporters Wednesday that the Clintons would face punishment.
"The [Epstein estate] complied with our lawful subpoena. [Former Attorney General Bill Barr and former Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta] came in and were deposed because of our lawful subpoenas. This same lawful subpoena was issued to the Clintons, and they defied it," Comer said.
REPUBLICAN HOUSE LEADER SIGNALS PLAN TO BEGIN CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON
The Clintons' attorneys criticized Comer's leadership of the investigation in their letter, discounting the subpoenas.
"President and Secretary Clinton have already provided the limited information they possess about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the Committee," the lawyers said.
"Your continued insistence that the former President and Secretary of State can be compelled to appear before the Committee under these circumstances, however, brings us toward a protracted and unnecessary legal confrontation that distracts from the principal work of the Congress with respect to this matter, which, if conducted sincerely, could help ensure the victims of Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell are afforded some measure of justice for the crimes perpetrated against them, however late. But perhaps distraction is the point."
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Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed in November, the DOJ was required "to publish (in a searchable and downloadable format) all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ's possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein."
The DOJ said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York earlier this month that "there are more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Act that are in various phases of review."
So far, the DOJ has released approximately 12,285 documents comprising around 125,575 pages, which is less than 1% of all records potentially related to the case, according to Axios. While there are numerous files remaining, the DOJ said it believes "a meaningful portion" of the documents are duplicates.
Fox News' Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Rescue helicopter saves hiker injured in mountain fall
→ A rescue helicopter lifted an injured hiker to safety after a fall on a mountain in Australia. See the video.
→ Las Vegas tourism drops to early 2000s levels — will these numbers keep falling?
→ The State Department shared a travel advisory for Grenada over violent crime concerns.
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→ Travelers clash over whether standing up right after landing is rude or necessary.
→ A luxury cruise line goes adults only as more travelers seek quieter, kid-free vacations.
→ Archaeologists uncover centuries-old gallows used to display executed prisoners.
→ Dozens of decades-old shoes found on a beach spark questions about their origin.
→ A lost 18th-century Spanish mission is discovered in Texas after decades of searching.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News Digital that her children uncovered ancient coins during a West Bank tour, saying the moment was "another reminder that the Holy Land isn't just a place we see on the news — it's foundational to the Christian and Jewish faiths alike."
Federal prosecutors indict 26 people for allegedly fixing college basketball games in widespread conspiracy
Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Thursday that at least 26 people were indicted in an alleged "transactional criminal scheme" to fix NCAA Division I men's basketball games and professional Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) games.
Prosecutors say the participants bribed CBA players "to underperform and help ensure their team failed to cover the spread in certain games and then, through various sports books, arranged for large wagers to be placed on those games against that team," according to Thursday's indictment.
"[Defendants] aided and abetted the carrying into effect, the attempt to carry into effect, and the conspiracy to carry into effect, a scheme in commerce to influence by bribery sporting contests, that is, Chinese Basketball Association ("CBA") men's basketball games and National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") men's basketball games, with the defendants engaging in different aspects of this scheme, with knowledge that the purpose of this scheme was to influence in some way those contests by bribery," the indictment said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney is among those charged. Blakeney was a McDonald's All-American in 2015 and attended LSU for two seasons.
Blakeney, a star player on the Jiangsu Dragons, was recruited and paid bribes to underperform and influence the outcome of games, prosecutors said. Blakeney then recruited other players on the team, corrupting the integrity of games, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors say from 2023 to 2025, the participants turned their attention to the NCAA, recruiting players and paying bribes between $10,000 and $30,000 per game. According to the indictment, more than 39 players on 17 different teams attempted to fix more than 29 NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball games, including conference tournament contests. The organizers of the alleged scheme made wagers totaling millions of dollars.
Those participating played for Tulane, Nicholls State University, St. Louis University, Fordham, DePaul among others, prosecutors said.
Charges include bribery in sporting contests, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud.
United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, David Metcalf, announced the indictment at a press conference on Thursday.
"When criminals pollute the purity of sports by manipulating competition, it doesn't just imperil the integrity of sports betting markets and imperils the integrity of sport itself and everything that sports represent to us, you know, hard work, determination and fairness," Metcalf said.
"We allege an extensive international criminal conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni and professional bettors who fixed games across the country and poisoned the American spirit of competition for monetary gain."
The announcement follows the federal government’s crackdown on illicit sports gambling and point-shaving schemes that engulfed the NBA in October.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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Robert Davi claims Hollywood blacklist persists over Trump support
After previously saying that he felt blacklisted by Hollywood due to his support for President Donald Trump that began in 2015, Robert Davi this week said he feels like it's continuing "to some extent."
"It’s still ongoing, but it might be lightening up, I think," the "Die Hard" actor told Raymond Arroyo on his "Arroyo Grande" podcast. "I don’t know, and it’s among certain elements of the industry. In other words, you’ll never know exactly where the button gets pushed."
Davi said many times his manager will tell him someone is interested in him for a project, then it doesn’t come through because he suspects "it goes up the flagpole to somebody and then, all of a sudden, it gets wiped out, but it absolutely is because there’s no reason for it."
But, he said there’s no way of gauging how many projects he’s lost because of his political leanings, especially since he knows there’s some he never even hears about.
TIM ALLEN SAYS ONE CONVERSATION MADE TRUMP WALK AWAY FROM HOLLYWOOD MOVIE INVESTING
He also revealed that he was twice asked to endorse liberal candidates.
"In 2016, some execs came to me and said, ‘Hey, if you now support so-and-so, name your ticket, and that happened twice, two different elections," he said, but his quick answer was "Why would I do that?"
An outspoken conservative, Davi said he gets frustrated with "closeted" conservatives in the industry.
"If they — and there’s some powerful ones — and if they did come forward, if they had the courage to come forward, it would help many others that are closeted," he said.
Davi added that people come up to him all the time to tell him that they follow him on social media, and thank him for what he’s been saying.
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Invoking Frank Sinatra, he said that if the Rat Pack crooner liked someone, "they had a little bit of influence" because of their connection to him.
"So celebrities do have — even though they want to say celebrities have no [influence], they do. They have some kind of effect on the younger generation, in people that are influenced," he continued.
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The "Goonies" actor said he felt if he stayed quiet about his views, "there’s going to be people out there that are going to feel even more isolated."
Even if fans come up to him and say they enjoyed his work but are now disappointed in his political leanings, he told Arroyo that he explains to them his views don’t change the work he’s done.
"As opposite ends of the spectrum as I am to Robert De Niro, I’ll go see a film that he’s in," he revealed. "I won’t not go see a film," he explained, adding that his daughter had them watching De Niro’s 2009 movie "Everybody’s Fine" over the holidays, which he said has a "terrific message."
He joked as he was watching the film he thought, "I forgive him."
Congress has two dozen lawmakers 80 or older; more than half seeking re-election in 2026: report
While some prominent elderly members of the House of Representatives and Senate have announced that they will not pursue re-election, others in the 80 or older age bracket are aiming to keep their jobs even longer.
Out of 24 figures from the Silent Generation serving in Congress, 13 have opted to run again in 2026, according to a review by NBC News. The outlet appears to be including Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, of Washington, D.C., in that tally of 13.
NBC News assesses that the 119th Congress is the third-oldest in U.S. history. A few of the senators in the batch of two dozen lawmakers have terms that stretch beyond this year, so they have time to decide on their political futures.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR CONDEMNS ALLEGED SYRIAN ARMY ABUSES AS CEASEFIRE FOLLOWS ALEPPO FIGHTING
It seems to remain unclear whether Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., will run again. The congressman has said he will decide in the coming weeks, according to NBC.
"I don’t know what the Silent Generation is. I didn’t know that we were silent," Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho quipped, according to the outlet. "You got to like the job, and you got to have enough time to spend with your family, and you got to have your health, and if you’ve got your health, and you’re doing what you want to do, why not?"
The senator will turn 83 later this year and would be 89 by the end of another six-year Senate term.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., will turn 88 later this year prior to Election Day.
REP. MAXINE WATERS CALLS FOR USING THE 25TH AMENDMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S ‘WRONG’ WITH DONALD TRUMP
"My work is not finished, and I don't know if it will ever be finished," the congresswoman told the outlet.
NBC News reported that 88-year-old Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., noted, "As long as I can be helpful to the constituents I represent, I’ll keep working."
NANCY PELOSI WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION, ENDING DECADES-LONG HOUSE CAREER
But some longtime congressional figures, like Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a former House speaker, have announced that they will not run for re-election.