California State

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Josue Torres

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced this week that in a significant move to alleviate the financial burden on residents, the state has cleared water and wastewater utility bills for 4 million Californians.

California forgives water utility bills for 4 million residents

Fox News

A recently passed bill in California would bar schools from telling parents about their child's gender identity or if they change their pronouns.

California transgender notification bill to head to Gov. Newsom's desk amid battle over parental, trans rights

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a collaborative effort with the state legislature to restrict students’ use of smartphones during school hours. This initiative follows a warning issued on Monday from Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy about the detrimental effects of social media on children’s mental health.

California governor moves to ban smartphone use in schools

Georgia State

Rough Draft Atlanta

With housing – particularly affordable housing – in short supply across Georgia, two new state laws about to take effect are aimed at an especially challenging group affected by the shortage: the homeless. The two bills, which the General Assembly passed overwhelmingly this year, are among a host of new laws covering a wide range […]
The post Housing bills among new state laws taking effect July 1 appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

Housing bills among new state laws taking effect July 1

Franklinton, LA

The Town of Franklinton, Louisiana, located about 70 miles north of New Orleans, not far from the Mississippi border, came under fire from the Justice Department for allegedly violating the Fair Housing Act by blocking a proposed affordable housing development within the town. The Justice Dept. contends that the town discriminated based on race and color of potential residents when it blocked zoning for a housing development that would have been financed under tax incentives to subsidize construction of housing for low-income tenants. It’s an interesting case of alleged housing discrimination that should put other communities on notice when approving (or not) new housing.

Town blocks affordable housing – Justice Department calls it discrimination

Gloucester County, NJ

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Franklinville, NJ

Morristown Minute

FRANKLINVILLE, N.J. -A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man admitted today that he defrauded the government of more than $200,000 in Social Security and Medicaid benefits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Man Guilty of $200K Social Security & Medicaid Fraud

New York City, NY

Newark, NJ

NEWARK, N.J. – Joshua Goltry, 30, of New York, admitted today to defrauding investors out of millions of dollars through a fraudulent investment scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Goltry pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court.

Fund Manager's Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme

Virginia State

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Cheryl E Preston

In Virginia, Drinking in public or offering another person alcohol in a public space is prohibited. This is a class 4 Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $250.00. Under a new law that goes into effect on July 1, this will change to a degree.WDBJ7 reports that the prohibition on drinking or offering an alcoholic beverage to someone else in public will no longer apply under the following conditions.

Drinking in public will no longer be prohibited on private Campgrounds in Virginia beginning July 1

New Jersey State

NEWARK, N.J. – Naiem Moore, 34, of Newark, admitted to possessing cocaine and heroin for distribution and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Moore entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court.

Man Admits Drug Trafficking & Illegal Firearm Possession

Wisconsin State

A state law that enabled the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee to block a conservation easement along the Pelican River, shown here, is unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday(Jay Brittain | Courtesy of the photographer) Wisconsin laws that give the Legislature’s powerful Joint Finance Committee the power to block state...

State’s high court rules Legislature can’t block conservation funds after they’ve been budgeted

Illinois State

Chicago, IL

Chicago Food Adventures

Every year, new laws that were passed the prior year go into effect on July 1. In 2024, a number of new laws will begin this Monday. Among them include higher wages for tipped employees, a gas tax increase, and driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

New Laws July 1: Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Migrants, Raises for Tipped Workers, and More

Burlington County, NJ

Pablo Estrada, 27, laundered proceeds from a mail fraud scheme, including lottery scams. Florence, NJ – Pablo Estrada, 27, of Burlington County, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in laundering over $4 million obtained from various scams. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the sentencing today.

Burlington Man's $4M Money Laundering Scheme: 33-Month Sentence

Pennsylvania State

NEW JERSEY – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with the Division on Civil Rights (DCR), has co-led a multistate comment letter supporting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule aimed at reducing criminal history-based barriers to public housing. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Attorneys General of Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania to improve access to safe and affordable housing.

HUD Rule Fights Housing Barriers for Ex-Offenders

Aurora, CO

David Heitz

About 80 people overtook Aurora’s City Council meeting Monday, causing the mayor to recess the meeting three times in an effort to bring about order. The council then agreed to extend public invited to be heard beyond the one-hour time limit. The speakers showed up to chide the City Council for not punishing the officer that shot and killed Kilyn Lewis. Lewis was a suspect in a crime which is why police approached him. Body camera footage released by the Aurora Police Department showed Lewis did not have a gun and repeatedly yelled “I don’t have nothing!” with his hands in the air. Despite this, officer Michael Dieck killed him with a single shot from his rifle. Lewis never had more than a cell phone in his hand, the video showed.

Supporters of Black man killed by Aurora police overtake council meeting

NEWARK, N.J. – Carmelo G. Garcia, 49, a former Newark deputy mayor and director of the Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development (DEHD), admitted today to conspiring with two Newark businessmen to obtain bribes. Garcia, also an executive at the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC), confessed to receiving corrupt payments intended to influence his official actions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Newark Deputy Mayor Guilty of Bribery with Local Businessmen

Colorado State

USA TODAY

Colorado defended its high Medicaid disenrollment rates after COVID by saying that what goes up must come down. Advocates and researchers disagree.

Colorado dropped Medicaid enrollees as red states have, alarming advocates for the poor

Clifton, NJ

Newark, NJ – Evangelos Megariotis, a 72-year-old orthopedic surgeon from Clifton, admitted to multiple counts of unlawfully prescribing pain medications to his patients. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the guilty plea today.

Surgeon Guilty of Illegal Narcotic Prescriptions, Faces 20 Years

Essex County, NJ

Omar Khater, 33, orchestrated a scheme to steal identities and file false tax returns. Fairfield, NJ – Omar Khater, a tax preparer from Essex County, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the IRS of over $4.4 million. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the sentencing today.

Essex County Tax Preparer Sentenced: $4.4M IRS Fraud

The Current GA

People held in Georgia immigrant detention centers will soon face new challenges in their search for lawyers to represent them in immigration court, a development that will likely doom many people’s chances of fighting deportation.

For migrants in Georgia, fighting deportation will become harder. Here’s why.

Maine State

Idaho State

Shop with Me Mama

Why Idaho Ranks in the Top 10 States Americans Are Flocking To in 2024. A lot of Idahoans are saying 'Idaho is FULL! Go find somewhere else to live!'. With that said, MANY people and their families are flocking to this state and calling it home.

Why Is Everyone Relocating To Idaho?

NewsBreak

Why a $10 Billion California Housing Bond Won’t be on November’s Ballot

A $10 billion statewide affordable housing bond has failed to make it to the November ballot, raising worries from housing advocates about funding after the state...

Why a $10 Billion California Housing Bond Won’t be on November’s Ballot

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