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US: 44 indicted in Puerto Rico in $1.2M scheme to obtain pandemic relief funds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico indicted 44 people accused in a $1.2 million scheme to illegally obtain pandemic relief funds, authorities said Thursday.The suspects are accused of submitting at least 52 loan applications to obtain federal recovery funds that U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow said they used “to support their own personal lifestyles, taking needed resources from those whose legitimate businesses were suffering from losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”Muldrow said several of the suspects are professional baseball coaches and players, with the majority based in Puerto Rico.Authorities alleged the suspects submitted applications using fake tax documents, payroll records, ID cards and bank records.One of the suspects worked at an unidentified bank, where officials seized nearly $850,000 in money related to the scheme. They also seized three cars, a power generator and some $40,000 worth of fitness equipment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s ...

Stock market today: Wall Street rises, adding to a winning week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose again Thursday after more companies reported better profits than expected, while yields climbed after a Federal Reserve official cautioned the end to its interest-rate hikes may not arrive as soon as Wall Street hoped.The S&P 500 gained 0.9%, adding to its rally from the day before as hopes rise further that the U.S. government can avoid a disastrous default on its debt. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 115 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.5%.Video game maker Take-Two Interactive shot to the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after it forecast a huge jump in revenue for the fiscal year following this one. That stoked speculation that Grand Theft Auto VI is on the way, and its stock jumped 11.7%.Bath & Body Works was close behind with a gain of 10.7%. It reported stronger revenue and earnings for the latest quarter than analysts expected.Also helping to support Wall Street was another retailer, Walmart, which rose 1.3% after...

S&P/TSX composite breaks even Thursday, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index effectively broke even Thursday after paring back losses over the afternoon, while U.S. stock markets rose, with the Nasdaq leading the way. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 0.66 points at 20,297.09.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 115.15 points at 33,535.91. The S&P 500 index was up 39.28 points at 4,198.05, while the Nasdaq composite was up 188.27 points at 12,688.84.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.07 cents UScompared with 74.28 cents US on Wednesday.The July crude contract was down 95 cents at US$71.94 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was up 23 cents at US$2.59 per mmBTU.The June gold contract was down US$25.10 at US$1,959.80 an ounce and the July copper contract was down seven cents at US$3.69 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Widowed husband sues driver, bars after DUI crash killed bride on wedding night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The alleged drunk driver who police say slammed into newlyweds riding along a South Carolina beach road now faces a wrongful death lawsuit alongside several establishments accused of overserving her on the night of the crash, which killed the bride.Four bars gave “copious amounts of alcohol” to a “visibly intoxicated” woman, identified as Jamie Lee Komoroski, last month before she drove 40 miles over the speed limit into a golf cart carrying the couple away from their wedding reception, according to a new lawsuit filed May 17.The April 28 wreck killed Samantha Miller, 34, and injured the groom, Aric Hutchinson, and two other passengers. A toxicology report released last week showed Komoroski, 25, had a blood alcohol level of 0.261 — over three times the legal limit.The complaint alleges that Komoroski “slurred and staggered her way through” El Gallo Bar & Grill, Snapper Jacks, the Drop In Bar & Dali and the Crab Shack — all of which either allowed her t...

Danielle Smith, Rachel Notley set for Alberta leaders debate tonight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

EDMONTON — On the same day Alberta’s two main election rivals were to square off in a debate ahead of the May 29 vote, the province’s ethics commissioner found United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith, in her role as premier, broke conflict-of-interest rules. A key issue in Marguerite Trussler’s report was a call Smith made in January to then- justice minister and attorney general Tyler Shandro related to criminal charges against Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski. Earlier this month, a judge in Lethbridge, Alta., found Pawlowski guilty of mischief and other charges for his role in a protest over COVID-19 restrictions that snarled Alberta’s main border crossing into the United States in early 2022.Trussler said a premier discussing an ongoing criminal case with an attorney general is not acceptable. “In the whole scheme of things, it is a threat to democracy to interfere with the administration of justice,” she wrote. “It is the first step towa...

Ghana bets on $3bn IMF loan to ‘reset’ economy, ease hardship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Ghanian officials said Thursday that the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout approved for the West African nation would help “reset the economy” and ease the economic hardship on millions of citizens.Though “far from a magic solution wand,” the credit facility approved by the IMF to aid the nation’s economic growth recovery plan is “a crucial first step on the journey of strong reforms (and) inclusive growth,” Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s minister of finance, told an online briefing.One of West Africa’s regional hubs, Ghana has been reeling from an economic crisis as a result of soaring inflation, a weakened currency and rising public debt that is gulping most of its dwindling revenue. While authorities hope the IMF bailout to be disbursed in several tranches over three years will cushion the country’s economic crisis, analysts warn the country needs more sustainable reforms and improved governance to complement the credit facility.Opposit...

North York high school pauses classes, offers week-long focus on mental health

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

A North York high school is offering a unique experience to students and staff, taking a week-long break from regular activities to focus on a series of emotionally intelligent workshops.For the second year in a row, as a part of Mental Health Week, the school along with some community partners created a program called the New Normal and have even included parents in the programming.It comes as a recent Ontario School study found there was a 30 per cent increase in emergency room visits from youth related to self-harm and 56 per cent of students feel depressed about the future since the pandemic.The week involves educational seminars on different mental health topics like developing better relationships, intergenerational trauma and preparing for the future.“Our Mental Health Week is called the New Normal because it’s an attempt to reduce the stigma around mental health by normalizing conversations around mental health and increasing the access to services that support y...

Tennessee commission holds off on decertifying former officer charged in Tyre Nichols death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee commission that enforces standards for police recommended Thursday that proceedings to bar an officer charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols from serving in state law enforcement be suspended until his legal case is resolved.A panel of the Tennessee Police Officer Standards and Training Commission in Nashville agreed to a request by a lawyer for former Memphis officer Tadarrius Bean to hold off on any recommendation to strip Bean of his state police certification.Bean, 24, is one of five officers charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and other offenses in Nichols’ death. He has pleaded not guilty, as have the other four officers, and their case is being handled in Shelby County Criminal Court. Lawyer Timothy Taylor asked the commission to place Bean’s certification on inactive status as his criminal case proceeds. Should the case’s result be favorable for Bean, he could apply for reinstatement to the Memphis...

World leaders gather for G7 meetings, ready to pile fresh sanctions on Russia over Ukraine war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies gathered Thursday for Group of Seven meetings in Hiroshima, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine high on the agenda for a summit convened in the shadow of the world’s first atomic bomb attack.The G7 nations, which officials said have reached new levels of cooperation more than a year into Russia’s brutal war, were set to unveil a new round of sanctions against Moscow when the summit officially opens on Friday, as well as announce that they would redouble their efforts to enforce existing sanctions meant to stifle Russia’s war effort and punish those behind it, a U.S. official said.The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcement, said the U.S. component of the actions would blacklist about 70 Russian and third-country entities involved in Russia’s defense production, and sanction more than 300 individuals, entities, aircraft and vessels.The official add...

Navy probe prompted by suicides condemns conditions at shipyard: ‘We let our people down’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy investigation prompted by a spate of suicides is recommending widespread improvements in housing, food, parking and internet for sailors as well as changes to mental health and other personnel programs. The much-anticipated report lays out a sweeping condemnation of living and working conditions at naval shipyards that had languished for years but were brought to light by the deaths.“We let our people down.” Navy leaders said in response to the findings.The inquiry concluded that several suicides at the Newport News shipyard in Virginia last year were not connected or caused by any one issue. But the deaths underscored pervasive problems and poor living conditions, particularly among young enlisted sailors doing long-term ship maintenance at that base and others around the United States.“The focus on the maintenance mission has degraded our ability to take care of our most junior and at-risk sailors,” said the investigating officer, Rear Adm. Bradley Dunham,...