Minnesota

Stephanie Hansen’s cheesy Sloppy Joe Totchos are an easy game day twist on the classic sloppy joe sandwich. Layer the mixture on top of crispy tater tots and top with tomatoes and green onions.

On our first installment of this season's Gopher Coaches Show, we catch up with Dawn Plitzuweit of the Minnesota women's basketball team. The Gophers picked up a Big Ten road win at Indiana. FOX 9's Ahmad Hicks and KFAN's Justin Gaard talk with coach Plitzuweit about the season so far, a trip to the Bahamas and getting to know the new players on the roster.

Staff at Nokomis Daycare Center held a news conference on Wednesday, speaking about the vandalism in light of Nick Shirley's viral social media video that alleges fraud by Somali child care centers. Another day care center's staff member criticized Shirley's video and stressed that Somali-run day cares should not be targeted but fraud needs to be investigated.

Ibrahim Ali, the manager of Quality Learning Center in Minneapolis, has denied any wrongdoing after the day care center was featured in YouTuber Nick Shirley's viral video, accusing it and nine other Somali-run centers of fraud. "You don’t come outside of operational hours and say they’re using taxpayer dollars. That’s completely false," he said. "When there’s a specific sign on our door that says our days and hours. He came outside those hours and then claimed, hey they’re closed."

Minnesotans can now apply for the state's new paid leave benefits, which go into effect thanks to a new state law on Jan. 1, 2026. 

Wednesday morning will see a light dusting of snow before clearing for a brighter afternoon. Temperatures gradually fall for a chilly New Year's Eve. FOX 9 meteorologist Cody Matz has the full forecast.

In the days that have followed a viral video illustrating potential day care fraud in Minnesota, Minnesota GOP leaders, including House Speaker and governor candidate Rep. Lisa Demuth, have confirmed they were aware of the efforts of YouTuber Nick Shirley prior to the video being released. FOX 9’s Soyoung Kim has the details.

Minnesota’s Paid Family Leave program is ready to roll out, with applications opening to be accepted on Wednesday, Dec. 31. FOX 9’s Tim Blotz explains what you need to know.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced it is freezing all federal childcare payments to Minnesota amid an ongoing fraud investigation focused on several day care centers.

Several Minnesota child care centers have come to the forefront of a massive fraud investigation. Tuesday night, the federal government stepped in, freezing funds to the state.

A federal judge in Minnesota is blasting the Trump administration’s mandatory detention policy as “illegal” as immigration enforcement operations continue across the Twin Cities. FOX 9’s Paul Blume has the details.

Authorities in Chisago City are telling residents to avoid the area of Liberty Lane Tuesday afternoon due to an ongoing mental health crisis.