Eagle-eyed viewers have raised serious questions about a Minneapolis daycare facility at the centre of a sprawling fraud scandal in Minnesota's Somali community, after spotting unusual stock images adorning its walls during a televised tour.
Centre Director Denies Allegations Amid Public Scrutiny
The ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis was featured in a damning report from independent journalist Nick Shirley, which showed the facility apparently empty of children despite receiving over $1.04 million in state funding in the last fiscal year. In an attempt to clear the centre's name, director Ahmed Hasan allowed Associated Press reporters inside. "There's no fraud happening here," Hasan, who is Somali, insisted. "We are open every day, and we have our records to show that this place is open."
Hasan stated that 56 children are enrolled at the centre and that it is subject to routine checks by state regulators. He also reported receiving harassing phone calls since Shirley's video was published.
'Science' Wall of Stock Photos Sparks Online Frenzy
However, public attention quickly shifted from the empty rooms to the centre's decor. During the AP visit, viewers noted that seemingly random stock images were scattered throughout the building. A prominent display featured framed pictures of families on a wall with the word 'science' inscribed above it.
The bizarre tableau ignited speculation on social media platform X. "They are either stock photos or AI-generated, but zero chance they have anything to do with science," one commenter wrote. Another observed, "Looks like they went out and bought a bunch of picture frames so they could use the stock photos inside."
Many questioned what the photos might be hiding. "I wanna know what's under those stock photos. The weird placement makes me think they're covering over something," a user speculated. The consensus online was a demand for a reverse image search or AI detection check on the peculiar wall.
Broader Scandal Triggers Federal Deadline and Political Fallout
This incident is part of a much larger investigation into alleged childcare fraud within Minnesota's Somali community, which has become a focal point in the national debate on immigration and public spending. The Trump administration contends federal childcare funds have been used fraudulently.
In response, the US Department of Health and Human Services has frozen related funding. Minnesota's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) now faces a deadline of January 9 to hand over information on providers and parents receiving these funds or risk losing federal support entirely.
Amid the growing scandal, which reports suggest has cost taxpayers billions, Governor Tim Walz has announced he will not seek re-election. The DCYF has conducted on-site checks at nine facilities featured in Shirley's reporting, including the ABC Learning Center. They reported that eight of the nine, including ABC, were "operating as expected" with children present during inspections; one centre was closed at the time of the visit.
