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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 10:34:07 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 ...

La familia de Luis Díaz está aliviada y agradecida por la liberación de su padre, le dice un primo a CNN

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

(CNN) — El primo de la estrella del Liverpool, Luis Díaz, dijo a CNN el viernes que su familia está aliviada y “realmente agradecida por todo el apoyo de toda la nación”, luego de la liberación del padre de Díaz por parte del Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) el jueves.Díaz padre fue secuestrado por guerrilleros del ELN el 28 de octubre en su ciudad natal de Barrancas, al noreste de Colombia, y fue entregado a una comisión mixta de personal de la ONU y sacerdotes católicos el jueves en la cercana ciudad de Valledupar. Unas horas más tarde fue recibido por sus familiares y amigos en su casa de Barrancas.El primo de Luis Díaz, José Brito Díaz, habló con CNN por teléfono desde Barrancas y dijo que era un momento de celebración para toda la familia y el pueblo en general.“Por supuesto, estamos muy agradecidos por todo el apoyo de toda la nación y de toda la gente de Barrancas. Damos gracias a Dios por venir a rescatarnos: en el momento más necesario, Dios respondió”, dijo Brit...

Cofundador de Apple regresa a EEUU tras sufrir derrame cerebral en México

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO – El cofundador de Apple, Steve Wozniak asegura que sufrió una apoplejía leve mientras asistía a un encuentro de empresarios en Ciudad de México.Wozniak envió un mensaje de texto a ABC News la noche del jueves en el que explicó que sintió mareos la mañana del miércoles y poco después sufrió de vértigo, antes de dirigirse a un hospital en donde se le practicó una resonancia magnética que reveló un “episodio cerebrovascular leve pero real”.Wozniak, de 73 años, tenía previsto intervenir el miércoles en un encuentro del World Business Forum (WOBI) que se realizó en la Ciudad de México entre el 7 y 8 de noviembre, al que acudieron cientos de líderes empresariales. Entre los oradores anunciados estaban Carly Fiorina, exconsejera delegada de Hewlett-Packard, y Muhammad Yunus, pionero de las microfinanzas galardonado con el Premio Nobel de la Paz. Hospitalizan en México a Steve Wozniak, cofundador de Apple Por qué se sobrecali...

Villarreal parts ways with 2nd coach of season after Pacheta exit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Villarreal parted ways with its second coach of the season by announcing the departure of José “Pacheta” Rojo on Friday.Villarreal only managed five wins in 12 games across all competitions since Pacheta took over. He replaced Quique Setién in September after the club lost three of its first four games to start the season.Villarreal is 13th in the 20-team Spanish league after winning three games. It finished fifth last season under Setién and reached the Champions League semifinals in 2022 under Unai Emery.It has underperformed this season despite having a talented attacking squad featuring striker Gerard Moreno, forward Yéremy Pino and midfielder Álex Baena — all occasional Spain players — along with Argentina right back Juan Foyth.The club said that sports director Miguel Ángel Tena would serve as caretaker coach for Sunday’s game at Atletico Madrid.Pacheta’s exit came a day after his team struggled to beat Maccabi Haifa 2-1 in the Europa League.After the game, Pache...

Ransomware attack on China’s biggest bank disrupts Treasury market trades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. Treasury says it is aware of a cybersecurity attack at China’s biggest bank that reportedly disrupted trading in the U.S. Treasury market and is in contact with financial regulators. A Treasury spokesperson said Friday that the department is monitoring the situation.Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Financial Services handles trades and other services for financial institutions. A statement on its website seen Friday said the ransomware attack this week disrupted some of its systems but that it had disconnected parts of the affected systems to limit the impact from the attack. The company, which is based in New York, said it was investigating and had reported the problem to law enforcement.All Treasury trades executed Wednesday and repo financing trades on Thursday were cleared, it said. It said ICBC’s banking, email and other systems were not affected. A representative from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association said it had no ...

¿Cuánto deberás pagar en impuestos en 2024? El IRS ajusta los rangos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

El IRS anunció el jueves los nuevos rangos del impuesto federal sobre la renta y deducciones estándar para 2024, los cuales se ajustan junto con la tasa de inflación, lo que significa que la cantidad de impuestos que se paga por los ingresos cambia gradualmente.La agencia ha aumentado los umbrales de ingresos para cada rango, aplicándose al año fiscal 2024 para las declaraciones presentadas en 2025. Para 2024, la tasa máxima del 37 % se aplica a personas con ingresos imponibles superiores a $609,350 y parejas casadas que presentan una declaración conjunta y ganan $731,200.Según el sistema tributario de EEUU, hay siete escalas que oscilan entre el 12 % y el 37 %. IRS ofrece nueva opción para presentar tus impuestos si vives en estos estados CNBC: El IRS usa así la inteligencia artificial para recaudar más impuestos Esto significa que quienes tienen niveles de ingresos más bajos pagan tasas más bajas que quienes tienen ingresos más...

2 people wanted in triple shooting near 16th Street Mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver police are looking for two people who were allegedly involved in a triple shooting near the 16th Street Mall. According to the Denver Police Department, the shooting happened on Oct. 15 at 1:52 a.m. in the Central Business District at 16th Street and Glenarm Place.Police said an altercation took place between a group and three males were shot. All three are expected to survive. Caught on camera: Driver plows through Denver construction site Now, police are looking to identify two people who are believed to have been involved. Denver police want to identify the people pictured. They are wanted in connection to a triple shooting on 16th Street and Glenarm Place. (Metro Denver Crime Stoppers)They were seen driving away in the vehicle pictured. Denver Police said two people allegedly involved in a triple shooting on 16th Street and Glenarm Place fled in this car. (Metro Denver Crime Stoppers) Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metro Denver Crime St...

1 hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after shooting in Pompano

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

A man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Pompano Beach.Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to reports of a shooting in the 2700 block of Northwest Fifth Street in Pompano Beach around 10:20 a.m., Friday. According to BSO, at the scene, deputies located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. BSO is investigating the incident. If you have any information on this crime, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Police identify 4 suspects involved in Miami-Dade police chase involving stolen U-Haul van

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

Authorities have identified and arrested the four individuals involved in a chaotic chain of events that unfolded Thursday, starting with a department store theft and ending up in a high-speed police chase featuring a stolen U-Haul van.On Friday, police identified the suspects involved as Mekal Wilson, 36, Norbert Baugh, 33, Shuneka Gordon, 38 and the driver of the vehicle, Jermaal Stennett, 36.Gordon is facing charges of retail theft with a prior conviction. Stennett and Baugh are facing charges of retail theft greater than $750.Wilson is facing charges of fleeing and attempting to elude police at high speed, battery, aggravated bodily harm with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, retail theft greater than $750, grand left in the 3rd degree, and resisting officer with violence to his person.The pursuit, initiated by Miami-Dade Police officers and Florida Highway Patrol troopers, followed the van northbound on the Florida Turnpike near 112th Avenue. The...

Miami toddler dies following accidental shooting incident in NW Miami-Dade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:07 GMT

A 4-year-old girl has died days after being accidentally shot by her younger brother in Northwest Miami-Dade.The child, who had been in critical condition since the incident on Sunday near Northwest 21st Avenue and 82nd Street, passed away despite efforts by rescue crews to save her.Police identified 25-year-old Quavanta Ennels as the individual in possession of the loaded gun. Ennels, a convicted felon, is currently under house arrest after posting bond.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.