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Over $200B in COVID-19 business loans paid to ‘potentially fraudulent actors’: watchdog estimates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

(The Hill) - The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) oversight office released new findings, estimating that tens of billions of dollars disbursed by the agency through pandemic loan programs intended to help small businesses was paid to “potentially fraudulent actors.” The SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) said in a report on Tuesday that the agency disbursed about $1.2 trillion in COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds during the pandemic.But the OIG found “at least 17 percent of all COVID-19 EIDL and PPP funds were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors.” That includes over $136 billion in EIDLs and $64 billion in PPP funds, the report found.The government watchdog said it identified multiple schemes that criminals used to steal taxpayer funds and saw some using the dollars to purchase “luxury homes, gold coins, diamonds, jewelry, luxury watches, fine imported furnishings, designer handbags, clothing, a...

San Marcos to enter Stage 3 drought restrictions on July 2 as aquifer levels drop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The city of San Marcos will enter Stage 3 drought restrictions Sunday, due to dropping aquifer levels.The tighter restrictions will take effect at noon on Sunday, July 2.The city said Stage 3 restrictions are implemented when the 10-day average index well level on the Edwards Aquifer drops below 640' above mean sea level. As of Monday, the 10-day average was 638.5'. Lake Travis boat ramp to close due to low water levels; only one to remain open for now "We have been in drought for well over a year and are experiencing very high temperatures with little relief in sight," said Tyler Hjorth, director of SMTX Utilities. "It's vital that we do all we can to conserve our limited water resources and keep this situation from getting worse."As of June 22, 92% of Hays County is experiencing drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. About 54% of the country is in severe drought, while 5% is in extreme drought, the second-worst category. How often...

Brad Stuver nominated for ESPN Sports Humanitarian Award for second consecutive year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the second consecutive year, Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver is receiving national recognition for the good things he does off the pitch.Stuver is again nominated for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, given by ESPN at its annual ESPY Awards ceremony July 12 to highlight "an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports."MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersStuver is the only Major League Soccer player to be nominated for the award since its inception in 2015. Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals won the award last year.His off-the-field advocacy work is multi-faceted and helps serve some of the most underserved communities in Central Texas. He's a board of trustees member for Equality Texas Foundation, the largest LGBTQIA+ advocacy nonprofit in Texas, and he's an ...

Texas inmate dies while working in Huntsville heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's previous coverage of conditions in Texas prisons.AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A 35-year-old inmate died of cardiac arrest Friday morning while mowing a field at the Goree Unit in Huntsville, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed Tuesday. Texas inmates ‘being cooked alive’ in heatwave with no air conditioning TDCJ identified the deceased inmate as Tommy McCullough from McKinney, Texas. McCullough's family is seeking more information as they raise concerns over the conditions during the summer heat."We received a call yesterday afternoon that he passed away due to a heat stroke because he was made to stay out mowing even with heat advisory and very minimal water," McCullough's sisters said. "If you have a loved one in the Texas prison system, please check on them."Senior Warden Cynthia Tilley described McCullough as a productive and well-behaved inmate, sister Melissa Neshyba said."[She said] he was a model inmate and was always willing t...

St. Paul man sentenced to 20 years for killing ex’s new boyfriend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend outside an apartment building in the city’s North End in 2021.Larry Rucker, 42, received his sentence from Ramsey County District Judge Kellie Charles in connection with the shooting death of 48-year-old Demond A. Bingham of Little Canada. A jury in April convicted Rucker of second-degree murder and illegal possession of a gun.Larry Rucker (Courtesy of Ramsey County sheriff’s office)Officers found Bingham with a gunshot wound to his chest outside an apartment at Albemarle and Milford streets — a block west of Rice Street — around 10:30 p.m. Aug. 23. A handgun was found near his feet. It had not been fired.According to the criminal complaint, a woman told police that Rucker had become jealous of Bingham, who was her new boyfriend, and that they “got into it” outside the apartment building, which is near Lewis Park.Bingham’s cousin told officers that Bingham called h...

Amber Alert: 2 children abducted from Berkeley home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

BERKELEY, Mo. - The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert in the St. Louis area Tuesday evening.According to a spokesperson for the Berkeley Police Department, they received a call around 2:30 p.m. from the children's foster mom saying that an adult woman had come into the home and taken 11-year-old Terryjae Rhodes and 5-year-old King Rhodes.Terryjae weighs 115lbs and is 5'3" tall with brown eyes. King is 3'4" tall and weighs 40lbs. he also has brown eyes.Berkeley police said they believe the woman is an acquaintance of the family.Anyone with information to contact the Berkeley Police Department.Amber Alert for TerryJae and King Rhodes. Credit by The Missouri State Highway Patrol

St. Louisans react after argument turns deadly in The Grove

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St Louis police say two people died, and another person was hurt in a shooting that stemmed from an argument Monday in the Grove neighborhood. The shooting happened in the 4300 block of Gibson Avenue, near a security organization building. Some nearby residents told FOX 2 they heard at least 10 gunshots and ran for cover. Expired tags ‘nightmare’: Woman gets car back as neighbor’s truck gets towed away The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports that Tonette Brown, 46, and Stephen Bowden, 45, died in the shooting. A 21-year-old woman was shot and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.Authorities say shots rang out just before 8 p.m. Monday. Police are still working to learn what led up to the disturbance, including who fired the shots. Police believe all three people who were shot knew each other.Residents say they first heard yelling and screaming, which was followed by multiple gunshots. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch fo...

Feds award Colorado $826 million for broadband investment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

Colorado’s goal of 99% access to high-speed internet will get an $826 million boost from the federal bipartisan infrastructure law, officials announced Monday.Colorado’s share comes from some $42.5 billion being sent to the states and territories in what officials are touting as the largest federal investment in broadband in the country’s history.“This exciting federal support builds upon our work to make sure Coloradans can access high-speed, reliable internet,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “Here in Colorado, we continue to make bold progress towards our goal of connecting 99% of Colorado households to affordable, high-speed broadband by 2027 and we welcome the needed federal support to help connect more Coloradans.”About 90% of Colorado households already have access to high-speed internet, defined as download speeds of 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of 20 megabits per second, according to the Colorado Broadband Office....

Denver just hit 90 degrees for the first time this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

The official daily temperature in Denver climbed into the 90s Tuesday for the first time this year, more than nine months since the most recent 90-degree day on Sept. 20.While the first 90-degree mark in the city on June 27 seems to be running a bit deep into the year, the latest day for such a reading in Denver was back in 1967 when it held out until July 21, said Paul Schlatter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.“We are nowhere near the latest date” for a 90-degree reading, Schlatter said.At 2:48 p.m. Tuesday, Denver’s temperature, officially recorded at Denver International Airport, hit 92 degrees.“That’s probably where we will top out today,” Schlatter said.The record-high temperature for Denver on June 27 was 102 degrees set in 1990.Related ArticlesWeather | Denver weather: Temps to hit the 90s on dry, windy day favoring forest fires Weather | Denver weather: Warm, dry and breezy, sunny wi...

Watch live: Brush fire destroys structures in Riverside County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:32 GMT

This is a developing story. Hit refresh for updates.A brush fire erupted in a rural community west of Perris in Riverside County Tuesday afternoon, destroying several structures and vehicles. The Juniper Fire was first reported around 2:30 p.m. in the area of Santa Rosa Mine Road and El Nido Road and rapidly spread to 15 acres, according to Cal Fire.Mandatory evacuations were ordered for homes south of Santa Rosa Mine Road, east of El Baquero Road, west of Maywood Club Road and north of Rocky Hills.Crews were digging containment lines as air tankers and at least one helicopter battled the fire from above with water and flame retardant. A home burns in the Juniper Fire in Riverside County, California. June 27, 2023. (KTLA)A structure burns in the Juniper Fire in Riverside County, California. June 27, 2023. (KTLA)Sky5 view of the Juniper Fire in Riverside County, Calif. June 27, 2023. (KTLA)Sky5 view of a brush fire near Lake Matthews in Riverside County. June 27, 2023. (KTLA)Sky5 vie...