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Other voices: Fraud and graft thrived during the pandemic, and beyond

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

In these days of rampant virtue signaling, politicians, corporations and socially wired individuals all try to convince you that they care the most about doing the right thing. Alas, while we’ve all been recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, plenty of old-fashioned grifters have seized the day.On Sunday The Associated Press released a stunning investigation into pandemic fraud finding that large numbers of Americans — of all stripes, it appears — fraudulently helped themselves to colossal chunks of federal COVID-19 relief money.Any huge program created in an emergency is bound to encounter some corrupt actors, but the scale of the fraud in this instance indicates that the federal government did a thoroughly lousy job of erecting the necessary protections as it cut check after check to the unworthy. The news agency called it “the greatest grift in U.S. history,” and that’s saying something.The AP estimated that fraudsters potentially stole more than...

Stephen L. Carter: How Trump’s indictment compares to other espionage act cases

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

Is former President Donald Trump being treated unfairly by the special counsel? That’s the claim being made by many of his supporters following his indictment last week on felony charges related to hundreds of classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate.The critics are right that the case is unusual, but the former president’s own behavior helps distinguish it from most of the precedents. Allow me to explain.I should say at the start that I don’t root for a particular side in criminal cases. But I do believe that like cases should be prosecuted alike.We should be clear, moreover, that the question of whether Trump is being treated differently is an argument only about the 31 counts of the indictment that charge the former president with willfully retaining sensitive documents in violation of Title 18, section 793(e), of the United States Code — a part of the Espionage Act. The six other counts involve obstruction of justice and false statements to inv...

Letters: Nothing for the actual victims of opioid abuse?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

Does any money go to the actual victims?In the late ’90s Minnesota sued the tobacco companies and received $6.5 billion. The money was divided between the state of Minnesota and Blue Cross-Blue Shield. It’s tough to find out how Minnesota spent the money. Some say Medicaid was paid back any expenditures and Blue Cross was paid for the losses it occurred.Insurance companies collect premiums and and over a course of time they make the losses back by raising premiums. My point here is the government and the insurance companies were rewarded but not one victim of addicted tobacco users or their families who suffered the effects by either death or health problems and financial loss got a plug nickle.Now again we have another suit about opioid addiction and deaths where the $416 million will be rewarded to state of Minnesota, 25 percent, and the rest going to cities and counties in Minnesota to be spent as they see fit.Again not one cent to victims or the families who suffered...

Carlos Correa’s hot streak lifts Twins

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

Rocco Baldelli is firm in this: He’s never going to lay all the responsibility, all the discussion about the offense or all the discussion on the pitching on one person.But Carlos Correa?The Twins shortstop has no problem putting that responsibility on himself.“I always put pressure on myself after tough losses,” Correa said last week. “I felt like if I played better, we always have a chance to win. I feel like all the games I’ve contributed in, I’ve played really good in, we’ve won all those games. After every loss, I kind of blame myself.”Lately, the Twins have the shortstop to credit.He now has two huge home runs in the past week, one an eighth-inning grand slam in Toronto and the other a walk-off home run on Tuesday, to propel the Twins to victory, along with a solo shot against the Tampa Bay Rays. In Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Brewers, the shortstop smacked a triple off the right-field wall and with a fortuitous carom, a pair of runs scored on the play.“I’ve been feeling real...

Memorial all-abilities playground groundbreaking in Colonie

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

Tragedy brought them together but hope keeps them going. They call themselves Angel’s army. Their mission: to build a playground that children of all physical abilities can enjoy. Children like Charlie Fernandez. The first grader went blind before dying of neuroblastoma in 2021. Now the special playground will be built by the Where Angels Play Foundation, outside her alma mater, Saddlewood Elementary School. MORE NEWS from NEWS10“Any time a child is diagnosed or anything, things like this really show you that it can be a nice place and there's a lot of good people in the world” said Charlie's mom Danielle Fernandez. The playground will feature modified amenities such as braille counting panels for the visually impaired, and communication boards for the verbally challenged. Crews dug out what will be a path to a ramp for wheelchair accessibility. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The volunteers were here out of compassion, so...

Rensselaer County leaders express worry over Burdett Birth Center closing plan

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Mary Fran Wachunas handles all things health in Rensselaer County as the Public Health director, but she says she was surprised as anyone to suddenly learn St. Peter’s Health Partners intends to shut down the Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital. "[I was] surprised at the fact that St. Peter’s didn’t reach out to public health to tell us what their plans were," she says to NEWS10's Mikhaela Singleton. A statement from St. Peter’s Health Partners says the system can no longer maintain its maternity services in Troy, citing COVID effects on finances and staffing, as well as the Burdett Center operating at a “substantial loss”. The full statement reads:The COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on health care, including financial and staffing effects that continue to be felt today. However, even before COVID, maternity services at Samaritan Hospital were operating at a substantial loss. And while St. Peter's Health Partners has made many efforts over t...

Albany man sentenced in fatal stabbing case

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Jimmie Lee Allen, 60, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of Rodney McLean. Allen was convicted of one count of murder in the second degree. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, Allen intentionally caused the death of McLean in the area of 97 Clinton Street in August 2022. The prosecution was handled by Assistant District Attorneys Fallon and Blain-Lewis.

MoDOT’s Emergency Response Team celebrates 30th anniversary

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS – When the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Team first took to area roadways, it was to help with a battery jump or provide a stranded motorist with a gallon of gas.In 1993, there were eight operators and one supervisor on the team, working morning and afternoon rush hours.“On Interstate 70, 64, and Interstate 270,” said Tom Blair, MoDOT District Engineer for St. Louis. “Now, 30 years later, we have 20 operators and three supervisors and patrol 225 miles of roadways, and we do it 24-7.”They’re the crews that move incidents and clear vehicles from lane and shoulders, contributing to more efficient traffic flow, saving drivers gas and time, as well as reducing congestion and emissions. Violent twist follows parents’ intervention on daughter’s Snapchat sessions “I think one of the things is, in recent memory, not just in Missouri, but I come from other states and jurisdictions. It’s about safe driving and reckless driving. We’ve got to slow down an...

Denver Nuggets Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope celebrate first NBA championship at Raising Cane’s

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

Following the Denver Nuggets’ historic NBA championship win, the first in the team’s 56-year history, standout forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope joined fans at the Raising Cane’s Central Park Boulevard location Wednesday morning.“I’m excited that Cane’s could be there to celebrate alongside Michael, KCP, and Nuggets fans during this historic time for the city and team, and I enjoyed Facetiming with them after their shift in Denver,” Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves stated in a news release Wednesday. “There’s no better way to celebrate a monumental moment than with Chicken Fingers and Cane’s sauce!”Porter Jr. and Caldwell-Pope were met with a roaring crowd, interacting with fans both at the counter and in the drive-thru.“This was such a fun experience, working with the crew and serving our fans at Raising Cane’s,” Porter Jr. stated in the release. “I used to work at a snow cone stand back in the day with my brothers and sisters, so ...

P-22 died of severe injuries, chronic conditions, final necropsy shows 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:24:25 GMT

Famed mountain lion P-22 died of multiple severe injuries and chronic conditions that impaired his ability to function in the wild, final necropsy results released Wednesday showed.The conditions also would have lowered his quality of life if he had been placed in human care, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Park Service.Late last year, the cougar was captured and humanely euthanized after being struck by a car near Griffith Park, the urban park he once roamed.Wildlife officials had been searching for the him over concerns for his health and after he was implicated in two dog attacks.The lion was believed to be 12 years old and had kidney, liver and possible heart disease.P-22 had recent trauma to his head and right eye, including an orbital fracture with bleeding and early stages of scar tissue development, officials detailed.“P-22 also had injuries consistent with older, significant trauma, including a diaphragmatic rupture, through which th...