West Virginia State

Senior citizens are often targets for scams, and as scams are getting more sophisticated, it’s getting easier to deceive even the most tech-savvy person. Elder fraud involves a variety of scams targeting seniors, from fake prizes to pleas for help from their “grandchildren,” resulting in an annual loss of $3 billion, according to the FBI. Seniors are often targeted due to their good credit, financial security, and trusting nature. Here are the top elderly fraud scams of the year:

Top 12 elderly fraud scams of 2024

Jacksonville, FL

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Jacksonville Today

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

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

McPhersonBuzz News

As gas prices rise due to the Ukraine war, a new federal stimulus package expected in July 2024 could provide up to $3,200 to help low-income families. Gas Prices Soar – Government Aid on the Horizon As the war in Ukraine keeps pushing up gas prices and the U.S. government may soon offer help to […]

$4.24 per Gallon: Gas Prices Soar, $3,200 Stimulus Package in Sight for Low-Income Families

Small Business Trends

Take a look at the small businesses grants available now nationwide with up to $25,000, including mom-and-pop stores in some communities.

In the News: Grants of up to $25,000 Available Now

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

Rankin County, MS

Mississippi News Group

Written with artificial intelligence. Carly Gregg, a 14-year-old accused of fatally shooting her mother and injuring her stepfather, appeared in court on Tuesday, August 6. Judge David Morrow waived the 30-day justice hearings typically required for juvenile defendants as Gregg's trial approaches.

Teenager Charged in Rankin County Shooting of Parents Appears in Court

Savannah, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.

Federal Charges in Southern GA: Indictments and Sentences for Firearms and Drug Offenses

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet and Kansas Senator Roger Marshall sent a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to adapt USDA’s drought mitigation programs to provide sufficient resources to western farmers and ranchers. The letter details testimony and recommendations given by Colorado and Kansas producers, water experts, and...

Senators Urge Ag Secretary to Improve Drought Response

WashingtonExaminer

The Department of Veterans Affairs predicts it will have a $15 billion budget shortfall, which would put disability, medical, and benefit payments to over 7 million veterans and survivors at risk. The shortfall is attributed to an increase in filing prompted by the PACT Act. For this year, the DVA expects to be $2.9 billion […]

Millions of veteran benefits at risk as VA deals with predicted $15 billion budget shortfall

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'

Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

L.A. TACO has identified the police officer seen in a viral video sucker-punching a detained man named Alexander Mitchell in Watts over the weekend as Los Angeles Police Department Officer (LAPD) Joshua Sportiello.

LAPD Officer Identified After Punching Detained Man In Face In Watts On Video

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

Georgia State

The Current GA

ATLANTA – U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., introduced legislation Thursday that would provide federal funding to build 3 million new homes across the country and reduce rents by an average of 10%.

Warnock introduces affordable housing bill

Memphis, TN

Desoto County, MS

Walls, MS

July 16 - The DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office announced today that 21- year-old Jaheem Cunningham of Walls was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday in DeSoto County Court to one count of second-degree murder.

Man to be in Prison for 40 years After Pleading Guilty to Murder

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

South Carolina State

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Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

Military.com

Brittany Loy and her soldier husband were moving out of The Villages at Fort Moore, Georgia, this spring as they headed to a new posting in Alaska when they found out they were on the hook for a $2,000 move-out fee. The bill included the cost to replace the air conditioning unit in the home's back yard.An inspector reportedly found "a small piece of corrosion in the bottom corner of the unit" and blamed the deterioration on the family's male dog, Loy said. She hadn't noticed whether the damage was there when moving in and estimated that at least two...

Surprise Bills: Military Families, Advocates Fight Unexpected Base Housing Move-Out Fees

North Carolina State

The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Budget burdens, pharmaceutical options and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are concerns North Carolina congressmen in the Senate and House of Representatives are raising with Veterans Affairs.
                The budget shortfall could impact veterans across the nation with a disruption in payments as soon as October. Needed is $2.88 billion for disability and education benefits. Secretary Denis McDonough told Congress this month the projection for shortfall this year and next is $15 billion, of which $11.97 billion is for medical care next year.
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VA budget shortfall of $15B may impact October payments to veterans

Appling County, GA

A 40-year-old man from Appling County, Christopher Eric Stone, with a significant criminal history, was recently sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to officials from the Department of Justice.

Justice Signs Bill for VFDs

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