Berks County, PA

Colorado State

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David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Newark, NJ

Paterson, NJ

Morristown Minute

NEWARK, N.J. – Jasmine McGregor, 32, and Jhenelle Lewis, 35, both of Paterson, New Jersey, have pleaded guilty to conspiring with a physician to distribute oxycodone, a powerful opioid, without legitimate medical justification. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Paterson Residents Conspired with Physician to Illegally Distribute Opioids

Denver, CO

A dangerous drug that is being mixed into fentanyl is causing those who inject it to develop a rash of sores that resembles a case of flesh-eating bacteria. People experiencing homelessness around Denver can sometimes be seen with these bloody, weeping wounds. I recently mentioned this phenomenon to a fentanyl user who told me about the xylazine connection.

Denver homeless people suffer sores as xylazine enters fentanyl supply

The Current GA

Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a widespread disability affecting the health and quality of life of millions of people across the globe and costing economies billions of dollars in reduced productivity of employees and an overall drop in the work force .

Expert: Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – picture is unsettling

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Florida State

Uncovering Florida

Most people are guilty of doing it at least once in their lives, many people do it by accident, some do it because they find it fun, and others do it for reasons like honoring loved ones. Regardless of the situation, just about everyone has released a balloon. The difference is that intentionally releasing balloons is now illegal by House Bill 321’s standards.

Law Signed By DeSantis Makes It Illegal To Release Balloons In Florida

Aurora, CO

Aurora’s pallet shelters for people experiencing homelessness, which only allow a maximum 30-day stay, have been cycling the same individuals in and out, city staff told council members Thursday. Many return to street encampments when their time in the pallet shelter runs out, Jessica Prosser, homeless services director for the city, said. Then, the city sweeps the encampment again, and they get to come back to the shelter for another 30 days, Prosser explained. This process can repeat multiple times.

Aurora pallet shelters a revolving door for homeless

Illinois State

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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Chicago, IL

Foodie in Chicago

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

Camden, NJ

Cornelius, NC

CAMDEN, N.J. – Lisa Smith, 61, of Cornelius, North Carolina, has admitted to her role in a fraudulent scheme involving over $3.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today that Smith pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court on July 17, 2024, to a charge of bank fraud conspiracy.

Woman Pleads Guilty to $3.5M COVID Relief Scam

In a divided vote on Senate Bill 1084, which would make a variety of regulatory changes including putting a ban on lab grown meat state-wide, Florida’s Senate and House ultimately decided to pass it, sending it on to Governor DeSantis for approval. DeSantis officially approved it on May 1, 2024, and the law came into effect on July 1, 2024.

DeSantis Signed New Florida Law: Selling Lab Grown Meat Is Now A Second Degree Misdemeanor

New Jersey State

A new initiative aims to provide housing for vulnerable Medicaid members, enhancing community wellness and support. MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. - In a significant move to tackle housing instability among Medicaid recipients, New Jersey's Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman, along with Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez, today announced the availability of $95 million in funding for developers. This initiative, part of the Healthy Homes program, is designed to create affordable housing opportunities for NJ FamilyCare members who are either homeless, at risk of homelessness, or currently living in institutional settings.

$95 Million for Healthy Homes: Housing for Medicaid Members

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16

The Denver City Council will vote Monday whether pump about $580,000 into its jail-based RISE, or Recovery in a Secure Environment program. The council will consider contracts for $389,434 and $193,475 through Sept. 30, 2025, with the Mile High Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and The Empowerment Program. Inmates enrolled in the RISE program spend much of their time out of their cells during the day engaging in therapeutic activities. There are group sessions and one on one treatment.

Jail-based drug, mental health recovery program costs Denver $580,000 for a year

Alaska State

Williamsburg, VA

Cheryl E Preston

Last week Roger Allan Holmberg Sr.made the news because of a disturbance on an Alaskan airline flight. 13 News Now said a social media page indicated the pastor and his wife Patty had moved to Williamsburg, Virginia in November, 2023.

Virginia pastor banned from Alaskan airline after assault charges are filed

California State

The HD Post

CALIFORNIA – Plaintiffs, in a case against Wells Fargo alleging that the bank knowingly took part in a marketing scam, asked the court, July 8, not to grant a motion for summary judgment.

Class action lawsuit says Wells Fargo customers lost over $160 Million

I recently was part of a discussion about which was worse: Jail or homelessness. I have the qualifications to comment, unfortunately, and I will add a wild card, too: Mental hospitals. I experienced all those things: Being unhoused, going to jail, and spending time in mental hospitals.

Opinion: Jail, homelessness, mental hospitals: Which is the worst in Denver?

Whenever I author an article about the goings-on at Fusion Studios, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless property where I live, the reports do very well. Readers are thirsty for information about the way former people experiencing homelessness live.

Opinion: Denver homeless hotel diary: The good, the bad and the ugly

Two immigrants from south of the border told the City Council Monday they were harassed when using hotel vouchers for shelter in Denver. Speaking through an interpreter, Leivy Ortega and Henry Aguilar said they received vouchers for hotel stays from an unnamed non-profit. But they had problems using the vouchers, they said. Ortega said she came to Denver from Connecticut and lived in her car for 15 days. She received a three-day hotel voucher, she said, but hotel staff initially would not honor it. She did not name the hotel. She said staff finally looked at her paperwork and gave her a room, but they wanted to charge her. for it. She said they initially weren’t going to allow her to stay because she has a service animal.

Immigrants allege Denver hotel staff mistreated them

Have you ever thought about what it costs to be homeless?. Oh, I know, the quick answer is that it doesn’t cost anything. Everything is free. My readers bemoan free phones, Medicaid, food stamps … everything that is provided to people experiencing homelessness. So, they especially didn’t like it when I reported that the Denver Basic Income Project wants more money from the city.

Opinion: Living unhoused proves an expensive pit to be in; Denver Basic Income Project provides exit

The Denver City Council accepted Monday two grants totaling $24.5 million from the state of Colorado to pay for the homeless navigation campus it opened last year. One council member wants answers as to why wraparound services at the campus aren't up and running.

Denver homeless hotel wins $24.5 million grant, experiences wraparound services delay

Berks Weekly

NewsBreak

Two new members elected to the Board of Directors of Berks County Community Foundation

The Berks County Community Foundation has elected two new members to its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. D. Michael Baxter is a graduate...

Two new members elected to the Board of Directors of Berks County Community Foundation

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