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The Great Grift: COVID-19 aid thieves bought fancy cars, a Pokemon card — even a private island

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

YANKEETOWN, Fla. (AP) — A freshwater spring bubbles amid the mangroves, cabbage palms and red cedars on Sweetheart Island, a two-acre uninhabited patch of paradise about a mile off the coast of this little Gulf Coast town.Pelicans divebomb nearby into the cool waters of Florida’s Withlacoochee Bay and the open view westward holds the promise of dazzling sunsets.It may have seemed like an ideal getaway for Florida businessman Patrick Parker Walsh. Instead, he’s serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in part, to buy Sweetheart Island.While Walsh’s private island ranks among the more unusual purchases by pandemic fraudsters, his crime was not unique. He is one of thousands of thieves who perpetrated the greatest grift in U.S. history. They potentially plundered more than $280 billion in federal COVID-19 aid; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent.The loss represents close to 10% of the $4.3 ...

Red Sox plan to wear alternate uniforms less frequently in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

Over the past couple of seasons the Red Sox have worn their red, blue and yellow alternate uniforms as frequently as their standard white and gray sets, but according to manager Alex Cora the club plans to dial it back a little in 2024.Speaking on DraftKings’ The Name Redacted Podcast, Cora said the Red Sox plan to implement a set uniform schedule that will see alternates worn on specific days of the week, with the home whites and road grays becoming much more prominent.“We’re going to use the red on Fridays, we’re going to use the City Connect on Saturdays, and the rest of the week we’re going to wear white,” Cora said. “And on the road there’s going to be a lot of gray and the blue top on Friday. There’s going to be structure.”The change marks a departure from the club’s more freewheeling approach from the past few seasons, with uniforms typically being chosen each game by that day’s starting pitcher. The Red ...

Rich Shertenlieb out at 98.5 The Sports Hub’s ‘Toucher and Rich’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

For the past 17 years, Rich Shertenlieb and Fred Toucher took to the air and entertained the region with their highly rated morning radio show “Toucher and Rich.”The show has come to an abrupt end on 98.5 The Sports Hub.Toucher announced at the beginning of Friday’s show that Thursday’s episode was Shertenlieb’s last.Toucher said he learned about the news later Thursday.“We do the show, we have the meeting after the show,” he said. “I’m in my car driving back, and I get a call that yesterday was Rich’s last show on the station. I assumed Rich was going to be here. We all assumed Rich was going to be here.”Speculation about Toucher & Rich’s future continued on Thursday when Shertenlieb announced he would no longer be running the show’s account on X, the former Twitter platform.The change came a couple weeks after the X account with nearly 150,000 followers had dropped Toucher’s name and left the account for only Shertenlieb (@heyrichhey). But now, the account’s handle...

Volvo XC60 lights it up with the 2023 recharge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

As a historic chart-topper in Grasso’s Garage, the Volvo brand delivers an excellent experience to consumers with all of their vehicles. As someone who has reviewed hundreds of vehicles, the Volvo brand always surfaces to the top. This week, is the ever popular Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge, hybrid mid-size luxury SUV, fit for all consumers.Volvo continues utilization of their popular and potent 2.0 Liter Turbo-charged direct injection engine. Producing 312 horsepower in addition to their hybrid/electric technology which produces an additional 143 horsepower from its electric motor, the T8 Recharge offers an astounding 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque; do I have your attention now?  The XC60 brings not only power to its consumers but also the comfort and quietness of what SUV consumers demand.Our 2023 Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge Ultimate came with an array of packages and options for everyone to enjoy which are not mandatory items like other manufacturers. We noticed a Climate Package for...

Concord officials look to cover up Massachusetts historic signs due to their ‘offensive’ nature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

Concord officials are looking to cover up signs that have stood in town for nearly a century because they say the plaques have lost their appeal and are offensive to Indigenous people.In 1930, the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission distributed three markers to the town as part of an initiative recognizing the 300th anniversary of the original colony’s founding.The Select Board this week voted to cover up the signs, a step that officials say was needed to create a more respectful community for all.The signs convey what life was like close to four centuries ago when settlers founded the town in 1635. But officials say the markers don’t accurately represent the history nor the people who live and visit Concord today.Officials had yet to cover the signs as of Wednesday. The markers highlight an oak tree that settlers bought from Indians for the town’s incorporation, the site of an Indian fishing weir and a slope where settlers built their first dwellings.Donna McIntosh, th...

$242 million upgrade planned at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A $242 million overhaul will modernize the main terminal concourses and gate areas at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, officials said.The project announced Thursday by the Metropolitan Airports Commission an Delta Airlines, the airport’s dominant carrier, is expected to be completed by late 2025, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.Metropolitan Airports Commission CEO Brian Ryks said the goal is to create “an exceptional airport experience for the millions of passengers who travel through” the airport annually.The plan calls for a unified design for the concourses and about 75 Delta gates, with new flooring, wall finishes and brighter LED lighting. Technology upgrades will improve flight and gate information screens. More power outlets will be added at gate seating.The MAC is investing $182.5 million in the project, with Delta contributing $60 million. No taxpayer funds will be used.Most of the work will occur at night so little disruption is ex...

Man, 19, charged in Toronto home invasions, value of damages and stolen property worth $1.3M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

Toronto police have charged a 19-year-old in a series of early-morning home invasions, with investigators alleging the total value of damages and property taken was over $1 million.Investigators said the accused and another suspect hit four straight homes starting on September 11, 2023. In the first incident, police were called to a residence in the Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue area, where the accused and another unknown suspect threw a rock through the glass of the front door and entered the residence. The pair allegedly entered and confronted the resident, demanding car keys.Police said they dragged the victim to their bedroom and forcibly took the keys. They then fled in the victim’s car.On September 12 and 13, the accused and a suspect attended separate residences in the Bathurst Street and Highway 401 area and Bayview Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East. On both occasions, police said the pair threw a rock through a front door glass window, entered the homes, stole car ...

Wisconsin judge orders former chief justice to turn over records related to impeachment advice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge on Friday ordered the former chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to produce records related to her work advising the Republican Assembly speaker on whether to impeach a current justice.Former Chief Justice Patience Roggensack was one of three former Supreme Court justices asked by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to give him advice on pursuing impeachment. Vos has floated impeachment against liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz based on how she rules on a pending redistricting lawsuit Democrats hope will result in new legislative electoral maps.The liberal watchdog group American Oversight filed a lawsuit seeking records from Vos and the three former justices. Vos and two of the former justices, David Prosser and Jon Wilcox, turned over records. That included an email from Prosser to Vos advising against impeachment. Vos turned over more than 21,000 pages of documents last week, American Oversight attorney Ben Sparks said at a Friday hearing.W...

Toronto Public Library says sensitive data may have been exposed in cybersecurity incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

The Toronto Public Library (TPL) says sensitive data may have been “exposed” as a result of a cybersecurity incident that knocked down its website two weeks ago.TPL says they have filed a report with Toronto police and a further investigation needs to be done before they can determine the individuals affected and “the extent of the exposure.”“We continue to actively collaborate with third-party experts to assess the scope of the exposure and individuals impacted,” reads a Friday statement from TPL. “We anticipate the investigation will take some time to complete.”The library was able to confirm the incident was a ransomware attack earlier this week. The attack shut down the public computers and printing services at all branches, as well as the library’s website, “your account” service, tpl:map passes and digital collections.“We understand how much the public relies on our services, and fully acknowledge and share the frustration ...

3 charged in Richmond Hill armed carjacking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:51 GMT

York police and Provincial Carjacking Task Force (PCJTF) investigators have charged three suspects and recovered a stolen vehicle following a carjacking in Richmond Hill.On Saturday at approximately 1 a.m., a carjacking occurred at a residence in the area of Weldrick Road East and Strathearn Avenue. Two suspects confronted the victim as he drove into the garage of his home, while a third suspect waited in a separate vehicle. The suspects demanded the victim’s cell phone and keys to his BMW X6 while threatening him with a knife, then left the area speeding in both vehicles.The PCJTF was notified and an investigation began, and on Sunday the suspects were observed operating the stolenBMW X6 in tandem with a Tesla. The driver of the Tesla was arrested and found with a large amount of cash and multiple car keys, including a key for the stolen BMW X6. During the arrest of the other suspects, one intentionally drove towards an investigator. There were no injuries.Wahidullah Wahidullah, 22...