Mabton, WA

With the emergence of AI and other new technologies, people have become more susceptible to scams online, especially older people. Seniors are targeted by scammers due to their little knowledge of the internet, so here are five scams that older people should look out for. If someone calls you claiming to be a government department and is asking for money, you should hang up, as that isn’t standard procedure and is likely a scam. While it may be a dream come true to receive a call telling you that you won the lottery, it is definitely a scam and you should hang up. If you receive an email that claims to be from Amazon and is asking for personal information, check the email address it comes from. Some scammers will ring you and say, “Can you hear me?” and while you may reply "yes," you should try not to, as they are recording your voice. Lastly, if you get a message from someone claiming to be a relative who is asking for money, make sure you verify the number.

5 Scams That Seniors Need To Avoid

Maine State

Apple Valley News Now

BANGOR, Maine — Operators of illegal marijuana grow enterprises hidden inside rural homes in Maine don’t have to worry much about prying neighbors. But their staggering electric bills may give rise to a new snitch.

Utility company's proposal to rat out hidden marijuana operations to police raises privacy concerns

Jacksonville, FL

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contributor

Jacksonville Today

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

The Hill

Walloped by bogus claims for the pandemic-era Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC), the IRS says it’s ramping up audits and criminal investigations of suspected fraud. The IRS has sent out 28,000 rejection letters to businesses in recent weeks that could prevent “up to $5 billion in improper payments,” the agency said in a Thursday release. So far, 460 criminal cases have been opened against suspected fraudsters.

IRS to start ‘intensifying audits’ on bogus employee retention claims

Georgia State

Douglas, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Last week, a 32-year-old was arrested on trafficking charges after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop and abandoning the vehicle with a child in the passenger seat. The chase resulted in the discovery of 230 grams of methamphetamine, which the suspect allegedly threw out while fleeing on foot. According to local detectives, the vehicle the suspect was driving was registered to NFL football player Tyreek Hill.

Man Driving Vehicle Registered to Tyreek Hill Arrested on Drug Trafficking Charges in Douglas

Ocilla, GA

Last Thursday, agents from the South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) made an arrest following a successful execution of a search warrant at a residence in Ocilla. According to officials, the search yielded a significant quantity of drugs, including tablets suspected to contain fentanyl, associated with a criminal street gang.

Successful Drug Bust in Ocilla Leads to Arrest Linked to 'Local Criminal Street Gang'

Oak Grove, KY

23-year-old Brianna Smith was observed to be fraudulently activating gift cards at her Walmart job On December 5th, 2023. On that day, A Walmart loss prevention officer reported that Smith had fraudulently activated $1,014.82 worth of gift cards between November 22nd, 2023, and November 24th, 2023. Officers also received video evidence showing Smith activating the cards in the report and receipts for the entire transaction. A warrant was issued for Smith’s arrest due to her involvement in the fraudulent gift card scheme. She was later found and taken into custody for property theft on July 8th, 2024.

Brianna Smith steals $1,014 worth of gift cards while working at Walmart in 2023

Colorado State

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

Denver, CO

Migrants enrolled in the Denver Asylum Seekers Program won’t get cash benefits after all. The council amended a contract with Haven for Hope during the Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee meeting Wednesday. Instead of Haven of Hope providing migrants with cash assistance on debit cards, it will instead provide “culturally appropriate” food.

Denver revokes cash assistance for migrants

Atlanta, GA

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to over 28 years in prison for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances to dealers in the Middle Georgia region. Authorities revealed that investigators uncovered evidence linking the drugs provided by the defendant, 40-year-old Lagary Williams, also known as "Frog," from Atlanta, to a fatal overdose.

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Supplying Deadly Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose

POLITICO

The suit filed July 29 includes an emergency motion to ban Axon’s Body 4 cameras at political events during this year’s presidential campaign.

Ahead of DNC, suit aims to ban police bodycams with Chinese components from political events

The FCC has fined Audacy $14,000 for violating rules during a 2021 nationwide cash contest. A complaint was filed April 5, 2021, alleging one of the company stations participating in the contest “has not conducted a contest in a manner substantially as announced and advertised.”. The national cash contest...

Audacy Hit With $14,000 Fine Over How ’21 Cash Contest Was Conducted.

Newark, NJ

Morristown Minute

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man has been charged with numerous offenses related to narcotics distribution and firearms trafficking. Kyrell Domnie, 39, of Irvington, known by the alias "Fly Ky," was charged by complaint and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on July 17, 2024. He remains detained following the hearing.

Convicted Felon Faces Multiple Narcotics and Firearms Charges

A former Jacksonville police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Josue Garriga III, 34, faces a mandatory penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison and must register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not been set.

Former cop pleads guilty to enticing 17-year-old girl

New York City, NY

California State

Consumers could benefit from a $12 million Clif Bar settlement if they purchased bars with exaggerated nutrition claims. The settlement benefits consumers who purchased certain Clif Bar products between April 19, 2014, and March 31, 2023, for California and New York residents or between March 31, 2019, and March 31, 2023, for consumers outside California and New York.

$12M Clif Bar class action settlement

Arizona State

In a filing presented to the FCC, Resound Networks, LLC has asked for a waiver of obligations concerning broadband delivery on tribal lands in Arizona and Oklahoma. Resound has asked the FCC to recognize that it should be released of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) obligations in the 21 census block area because a service provider has already been engaged to provide assistance and Resound says its participation would be redundant and wasteful.

Resound Files RDOF Waiver to Avoid Redundancies

Wyoming State

WyoFile

Two Sweetwater County lawmakers seeking re-election filed a defamation suit Thursday against a political action committee affiliated with the hard-line Wyoming Freedom Caucus over mailers that attack them over a vote they say never happened.

Lawmakers sue Wyoming Freedom PAC over Trump-ballot mailers

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

Fox News

The Biden administration has paused travel authorizations for a controversial program that allows tens of thousands of migrants to arrive in the U.S. each month.

Biden admin freezes controversial migrant flight program after fraud revelations

Grandview, WA

Sunnyside, WA

Outlook, WA

Prosser, WA

Granger, WA

Bickleton, WA

Zillah, WA

Toppenish, WA

Paterson, WA

Buena, WA

Benton City, WA

Wapato, WA

Moxee, WA

Parker, WA

Roosevelt, WA

Harrah, WA

Boardman, OR

NewsBreak

Recall petition against Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas moves forward

A petition by Mabton City Council members to recall Mayor Rachel Ruelas is moving forward after a review by a Yakima judge on Wednesday. A second...

Recall petition against Mabton Mayor Rachel Ruelas moves forward

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