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Man convicted of stealing $1.9 million in COVID-19 relief money gets more than 5 years in prison

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia man was sentenced Monday to more than five years in federal prison for organizing a scheme that stole nearly $2 million in government aid intended to help businesses endure the coronavirus pandemic. A U.S. District Court judge in Brunswick sentenced 41-year-old Bernard Okojie after a jury in March convicted him of fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors say Okojie filed dozens of applications for himself and others to receive COVID-19 relief funds in 2020 and 2021, but none of the businesses named in the applications existed. The government paid Okojie and his accomplices more than $1.9 million, prosecutors said, which they used to buy a home and vehicles in addition to luxury shopping trips and a toy poodle. Authorities said Okojie was carrying nearly $40,000 in cash when they apprehended him trying to leave the U.S.Judge Lisa Godbey Wood ordered Okojie to repay the $1.9 million in addition to serving 64 months in prison.“Bernard Okojie devised a c...

Kentucky AG announces latest round of funding to groups battling the state’s drug abuse problems

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A state commission has awarded nearly $14 million in the latest round of funding to groups serving “in the trenches” to combat Kentucky’s drug abuse problems, Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Monday.A few dozen groups will receive portions of the $13.9 million, which stems from a massive settlement with opioid companies. It continues the flow of money to grassroots groups specializing in drug prevention, treatment and recovery services as Kentucky struggles to overcome the deadly scourge. “To all those struggling with addiction, our message is clear: Help is on the way. Millions of dollars in help is on the way,” Cameron said in announcing the latest awards at the Kentucky Capitol.The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is funneling the money to an array of programs — from small towns to the state’s largest cities. The awards are designed to help combat a drug problem that Cameron has branded as “the public safety challenge of our lifetime.”...

UN Security Council approves sending a Kenya-led force to Haiti to fight violent gangs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted Monday to send a multinational force to Haiti led by Kenya to help combat violent gangs in the troubled Caribbean country.The resolution drafted by the U.S. was approved with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions from Russia and China.The resolution authorizes the force to deploy for one year, with a review after nine months. It would mark the first time a force is deployed to Haiti since a U.N.-approved mission nearly 20 years ago.A deployment date has not been set, although U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said a security mission to Haiti could deploy “in months.”Meanwhile, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Alfred Mutua, told the BBC that the force should already be in Haiti by Jan. 1, 2024, “if not before then.”It wasn’t immediately clear how big the force would be. Kenya’s government has previously proposed sending 1,000 police officers. In addition, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda also have...

Grizzly bear attacks rare, but a risk in wilderness, experts say after Banff deaths

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA — Grizzly bear experts say fatal attacks are extremely rare, but it’s always a risk when people venture into the wilderness.Two people were killed on the weekend by a grizzly bear in the backcountry of Banff National Park in Alberta.Kevin Van Tighem, who worked as a biologist in the national parks and wrote the book “Bears Without Fear,” said it’s tragic for the victims and their families.“It’s a horrible thing to have happen,” he said in an interview. “The family doesn’t come out of it (unscathed), so I really feel for everybody involved.”Another bear expert who’s also a family friend of one of the two people killed said both the couple and their dog died.“These were very experienced outdoors people. I don’t know if they had bear spray on them. I highly doubt they had food sources that were left out,” said Kim Titchener, who has a company called Bear Safety and M...

Toronto police officer charged for assaulting woman during dispute

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has charged a constable with assault stemming from a dispute with a woman.A police spokesperson said an investigation was launched on Sunday, Oct. 1.It’s alleged a man and a woman were involved in a dispute, and the man assaulted the woman. No other details were released by the police force.On Monday, TPS charged 48-year-old Const. Hyung Cho with assault.He’s scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 24, 2023.TPS said Const. Cho of 32 Division has 15 years of policing experience and was suspended with pay.

Federal ministers still lack mandate letters, two months after majority shuffled

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to issue mandate letters for his cabinet ministers, leaving those in new roles without clear marching orders two months after announcing an overhaul to his front bench.“If you don’t do this, your government’s success is likely going to be compromised,” said Sen. Tony Dean, who used to oversee Ontario’s public service.“It’s important for everybody to be on the same page, and to understand what the desired deliverables are.”Shortly after taking office in 2015, Trudeau’s government announced it would publish the lists of tasks given to each minister, known as mandate letters. The documents lay out the priorities for each federal minister, and signal to public servants the timeline or scope of policies the government wants to advance.The last round of mandate letters was issued in December 2021, three months after the last federal election. This summer, Trudeau shuffled most of his cabin...

S&P/TSX composite closes down more than 300 points, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index closed down more than 300 points Monday as utility and energy stocks led widespread losses, while U.S. markets were mixed. The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 364.09 points at 19,177.18.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 74.15 points at 33,433.35. The S&P 500 index was up 0.34 points at 4,288.39, while the Nasdaq composite was up 88.45 points at 13,307.77.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.66 cents US, according to XE.com, compared with 73.96 cents US on Friday.The November crude oil contract was down US$1.97 at US$88.82 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down nine cents at US$2.84 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$18.90 at US$1,847.20 an ounce and the December copper contract was down 10 cents at US$3.64 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Brazil’s government starts expelling thousands of people from two Amazon Indigenous territories

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s government on Monday began removing people from two Indigenous territories in a move that will affect thousands who live in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.The South American nation’s intelligence agency ABIN said in a statement that the goal is to return the Apyterewa and Trincheira Bacaja lands in Para state to the original peoples. It did not say whether or not the expulsion of non-Indigenous people has been entirely peaceful.The territories are located around the municipalities of Sao Felix do Xingu, Altamira, Anapu and Senador Jose Porfirio in Para state. Brazil’s government said the country’s Supreme Court and other judges had ordered the operation.Indigenous groups estimate more than 10,000 non-Indigenous people are living inside the two territories. ABIN said as many as 2,500 Indigenous people live in 51 villages within.“The presence of strangers on Indigenous land threatens the integrity of the Indigenous (people) and causes other damages,...

Judge plans May trial for US Sen. Bob Menendez in bribery case

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge is planning a spring trial for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife, who are accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who sought the senator’s help and influence over foreign affairs.The tentative trial date of May 6 would come just one month before New Jersey’s June 4 primary, meaning it could still be underway when voters start casting ballots on whether to return Menendez to the Senate.An indictment last month charged the Democrat, formerly the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with taking payouts in exchange for corrupt acts that included passing information to Egyptian military and intelligence officials. Among other things, prosecutors accused Menendez of ghostwriting a letter for Egyptian officials that sought to influence U.S. policy on military aid.The indictment also said Menendez used his influence to try and pressure state and federal prosecutors in New Jersey into ...

Gunfire erupts amid armored car robbery attempt near Walmart in Country Club Hills

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:53:12 GMT

COUNTRY CLUBS HILLS, Ill. — Police responded to a Walmart parking lot in Country Clubs Hills following an armored car robbery attempt that resulted in an exchange of gunfire, authorities said Monday.The shootout involved armored vehicle personnel, Walmart security personnel and unknown offenders, according to County Club Hills police.SkyCam9 flew above the scene at 167th Street and Pulaski, where evidence markers were visible near the front entrance of Walmart. SkyCam9 captured the aftermath of an apparent collision involving the armored car and another vehicle, possibly an SUV, mere feet away from the entrance to the department store.SEE ALSO: 5 years later, pregnant Chicago postal worker Kierra Coles still missingA witness who did not wish to be identified told WGN News that the alleged armed robbers targeted the armored car security. Amid the robbery attempt, however, witnesses told WGN News a shootout ensued, resulting in the shock and dismay of shoppers nearby."It's heart-wrenc...