RALEIGH. N.C. (AP) — North Carolina state regulators now declare a nonprofit run by the wife of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson must repay over $132,000 for what they call disallowed expenses while carrying out a federally funded child care meal program.
The state Department of Health and Human Services revealed a larger amount in a Friday letter to Yolanda Hill following a compliance review of Balanced Nutrition Inc., for which Hill is listed as owner and chief financial officer. Robinson, who is also the Republican nominee for governor this fall, worked in the nonprofit years ago before running for elected office, according to his memoir.
Hill previously announced she was shutting down the nonprofit's enterprise and withdrawing from the Child and Adult Care Food Program on April 30. But state officials had already announced in March that the annual review of Balance Nutrition would begin April 15.
The review's findings, released Wednesday, cited new and repeat problems, including lax paperwork and the failure to file valid claims on behalf of child care operators or to report expenses accurately. The program told Hill and other leaders to soon take corrective action on the “serious deficiencies” or regulators would propose they be disqualified from future program participation.
The state health department said on Thursday that the Greensboro nonprofit also owed the state $24,400 in unverified expenses reimbursed to several child care providers or homes examined by regulators in the review.
But Friday's letter counted another $107,719 in ineligible claims or expenses that the state said was generated while Balanced Nutrition performed administrative and operating activities as a program sponsor during the first three months of the year. Forms signed by regulators attributed over $80,000 of these disallowed costs to "administrative labor" or “operating labor.” The records don't provide details about the labor costs.
This week's compliance review did say that Balanced Nutrition should have disclosed and received approval from the program that Hill’s daughter was working for the nonprofit.
The owed amounts and proposed program disqualification can be appealed. A lawyer representing Balanced Nutrition and Hill did not immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment.
The lawyer, Tyler Brooks, has previously questioned the review’s timing, alleging Balanced Nutrition was being targeted because Hill is Robinson’s wife and that “political bias” tainted the compliance review process. Program leaders, meanwhile, have described in written correspondence difficulties in obtaining documents and meeting with Balanced Nutrition leaders.
The health department is run by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration. He was term-limited from seeking reelection. Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein is running against Robinson for governor.
Balanced Nutrition helped child care centers and homes qualify to participate in the free- and reduced-meal program, filed claims for centers to get reimbursed for meals for enrollees and ensured the centers remained in compliance with program requirements. The nonprofit received a portion of a center’s reimbursement for its services.
Balanced Nutrition, funded by taxpayers, has collected roughly $7 million in government funding since 2017, while paying out at least $830,000 in salaries to Hill, Robinson and other members of their family, tax filings and state documents show.
Robinson described in his memoir how the operation brought fiscal stability to his family, giving him the ability to quit a furniture manufacturing job in 2018 and begin a career in politics.
FILE - North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, right, Republican candidate for governor, kisses his wife, Yolanda Hill Robinson, after speaking at an election night event in Greensboro, N.C., March 5, 2024. A nonprofit operated by Yolanda Hill Robinson that she recently shuttered was "seriously deficient" in its recent operations, according to a state review examining how it carried out a federally funded meal program helping some child care providers. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Hoping to show its first-round exit at the Copa America was a fluke, the United States instead displayed an alarming lack of intensity and an abundant defensive disarray that resulted in its first home loss to Canada since 1957.
Jacob Shaffelburg and Jonathan David scored off defensive misplays, and Canada dominated 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday for just its second win over the Americans in 27 matches over 99 years on U.S. soil.
While Jesse Marsch, Canada's American-born coach, glowed following a win over a team that bypassed him for its coaching opening last year, interim U.S. coach Mikey Varas rebuked himself and his players.
“The mentality is on the players. Sorry, they know it,” Varas said. “That mentality to fight and to run and to sacrifice, I can’t do that for them. I can’t do that for them. That’s on them.”
Coming off defeats to Panama and Uruguay at the Copa America, the U.S. has lost three straight games for the first time since 2015 against Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica. A defeat to New Zealand on Tuesday at Cincinnati would result in the Americans' first four-game losing streak since 2007.
“All over the park today, our mentality just wasn't quite there,” defender Chris Richards said.
Varas moved up from assistant after Gregg Berhalter was fired following the Copa America flop. The U.S. Soccer Federation has been trying to reach an agreement for Mauricio Pochettino to become the team’s 10th coach in 14 years but has not commented on the talks, which began in mid-August.
“You just never know how it’s going to translate from training to the game after three training sessions, and I asked a lot of them,” Varas said. “The first goal, that’s on me, both the goals, because when you don’t have a lot of time to work and you want to play a certain way, it creates confusion.”
Before a crowd of 10,523 in a just over half-full Children's Mercy Park, Shaffelburg put Canada ahead in the 17th minute after Tim Ream's pass bounced away from Johnny Cardoso. David added his 29th international goal in the 58th when Ream turned over the ball in front of his own goal.
Luca de la Torre scored his first international goal for the U.S. in the 66th minute off a pass from Aidan Morris, who entered with de la Torre four minutes earlier.
Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau used his right hand to bat away Ricardo Pepi’s open shot in the 86th.
“The translation of the ideas weren’t clear enough because you shouldn’t be static and you shouldn’t pass the ball just to pass the ball,” Varas said.
Canada hired Marsch as coach in May and finished fourth in the Copa America. He had interviewed in 2023 with the USSF before Berhalter was rehired that June.
“I'm not bitter,” Marsch said. “Most people, if they ask me a question, I answer it. That’s how I operate in the media.”
Canada outshot the U.S. 17-8, including 11-1 in the first half, and had a 31-12 margin in tackles, the worst differential for the Americans since a 2020 exhibition at Wales. The Canadians had been been winless in 23 consecutive games against the U.S. in America since a 3-2 victory at St. Louis in a World Cup qualifier on July 6, 1957.
“I’d much rather coach Canada than the U.S. right now,” Marsch said. “You can see the mentality that’s been developed. You can see the way this team plays. You can see how much they love playing for the national team and they’re willing to put their careers and lives and the way they play on the line to be the best they can be for each other and for the team.
Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made his second U.S. start and displaced Matt Turner, who hasn’t played a club match since April 2. Ream started following his transfer from Fulham to Charlotte.
No MLS players had started in the prior six matches and just eight of 198 starting positions have been been filled with MLS players in the 18 games the full pool has been available since the 2022 World Cup.
Canada went ahead when Schulte lingered on the ball after a backpass and played it wide to Ream, whose pass to Cardoso bounced away from the midfielder and was picked up by Stephen Eustáquio. He played the ball to David, who one-timed the ball to Shaffelburg. He took a touch and slid the ball past Schulte's left hand for his fourth goal in 17 international appearances.
David scored after taking Ream's giveaway and centering to Cyle Larin. Kristoffer Lund's challenge knocked the ball to David, who beat Schulte to the near post from 7 yards. David's 29 goals matched Larin for the Canada career scoring record.
De La Torre got his goal when the ball fell near his left foot 8 yards out after Joe Scally crossed on a counterattack to Morris, who spun into the penalty area.
“We just weren't intense enough at times,” de la Torre said.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Canada midfielder Ali Ahmed, left, and United States defender Kristoffer Lund (23) chase after the ball during the second half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Canada won 2-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Cyle Larin (9) and defender Moïse Bombito (15) compete for a head ball with United States defenders Tim Ream (13) and Kristoffer Lund (23) during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Jacob Shaffelburg scores a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against Canada, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
United States goalkeeper Patrick Schulte catches a high cross during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against Canada, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Jacob Shaffelburg (14) and United States forward Brenden Aaronson (11) chase after the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso (15) kicks the ball under pressure from Canada midfielder Mathieu Choiniere during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada defender Alphonso Davies beats United States defender Joe Scally (22) to the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Jacob Shaffelburg kicks to score a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against Canada, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Jacob Shaffelburg kicks to score a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against Canada, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Cyle Larin (9) and defender Moïse Bombito (15) compete for the ball with United States defenders Tim Ream (13) and Kristoffer Lund (23) during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Cyle Larin (9) reacts after missing a goal attempt during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada defender Moïse Bombito (15), goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau (16) and defender Joel Waterman (5) celebrate after their international friendly soccer game against United States , Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Canada won 2-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canadian players celebrate after a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada defenders Moïse Bombito, and Joel Waterman (5) celebrate after their international friendly soccer game against United States , Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Canada won 2-1. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Canada forward Jacob Shaffelburg, second from left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer game against United States, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
