Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Childcare funding in Minnesota is on hold. The Trump administration froze the money after a conservative influencer raised concerns about daycare centers in Somali communities. The claim was that some were acting as fronts and misusing funds.
Now, the Department of Health and Human Services is investigating whether there are fraudulent claims tied to daycare, food, and other services. Alex Adams is Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families under HHS.
Yesterday, I spoke directly with the Director of the Minnesota Child Care Services Office. She could not tell me with confidence whether those allegations of fraud are isolated or whether there's fraud stretching statewide.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is calling the freeze political. He says his administration has been cracking down on fraud and accused President Trump of using the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans. The Trump administration is suing Virginia for allowing some unauthorized immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges.
NPR's Adrienne Florido reports on the ongoing effort to claw back tuition benefits for immigrants without legal status.
Virginia law allows immigrants without legal status who attended high school in the state to pay reduced in-state tuition rates when they enroll in a public college. The Justice Department argues that's illegal because US citizens who aren't residents of the state don't get the same benefit. Attorney General Pam Bondi accuses Virginia of treating U.S. citizens like, quote, second-class citizens.
The Justice Department has sued other states, including California, Texas, and Illinois, over similar policies extending tuition benefits to immigrants in the U.S.
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Chapter 2: What recent developments are affecting childcare funding in Minnesota?
illegally. Many often have limited or no access to financial aid programs. Adrian Fladiva, NPR News.
Parts of the northern U.S. will be ringing in as snowy New Year. Wintry weather remains in the forecast from North Dakota to parts of New England. Bruce Convisor has more from New York.
Lake effect snows are common for communities south and east of the Great Lakes, Ontario, and Erie. Wind-driven snows blowing into northern New York from Lake Ontario are expected to pound the region with two to four feet of snow, and forecasters add some places could receive more. The heavy snow will be whipped up by driving winds gusting to 40 miles per hour.
That creates the potential for whiteout conditions. Some communities have already received more than 20 inches of snow. The winter storm warning is in effect through Saturday morning. Farther west, buffalo should be spared the worst of the storms, but nearby communities such as Orchard Park could receive one to three feet of snow.
The winter storm warning there is in effect through very early Friday. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Kahnweiser in New York.
On Wall Street, Dow futures are down 36 points at this hour. This is NPR News in Washington. Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell has died. Alejandro Alonso Galva of Colorado Public Radio reports Campbell was the first Native American to chair the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Former Senator Nighthorse Campbell started out representing the state as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party several years into his term. During his nearly two decades in Congress and both the House and Senate, Nighthorse Campbell helped create national parks and championed Native American issues.
He was also a chief of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, a celebrated jewelry designer, and a member of the first U.S. Olympic judo team. In 2012, Night Horse Campbell ushered the Christmas tree for the U.S. Capitol.
Ever since I was a teenager, I got through college by driving a semi. And the only difference with this is it's so long. But, you know, police go with you. There's police escorts. And I tell people it's kind of fun having red lights and fire rings in front of you than chasing you.
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