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Low-income families who are robbed of their grocery funds may no longer get reimbursed if Congress doesn’t act by Sept. 30. Since late 2022, states have been authorized to use federal dollars to pay back victims of SNAP skimming thanks to a provision passed by lawmakers. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., who has advocated on behalf of SNAP skimming victims for years. “It’s frustrating and, frankly, very confusing that they don’t view this as a priority.”Despite the directive expiring, SNAP skimming continues to be a pervasive problem. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., proposed a bill in March that would require chip-enabled SNAP EBT cards and other safeguards, but the bill has yet to advance.

Persons: ”, “, Ruppersberger, Biden, Sen, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, Daniel Acker, Cindy Long, ” Long, Ashley Burnside, ” Gina, Gina, Vicky Negus, Negus, ” Negus, “ It’s Organizations: Assistance, SNAP, U.S . Agriculture Department, C.A, state’s Department of Social Services, Oklahoma Human Services, Bloomberg, Getty, NBC News, USDA, for Law, Social, “ SNAP, Reform Institute, American, Human Services Association Locations: California, Oklahoma, Boston, Massachusetts, Washington ,

☆ Virginia man arrested on suspicion of 'concealment of dead body' weeks after wife's disappearance
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A man has been arrested on suspicion of concealing a dead body four weeks after his wife went missing, authorities in Virginia said Thursday. Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Luge confirmed in a statement that Naresh Bhatt was arrested on the felony charge of concealment of a dead body. Authorities have not confirmed that a body has been found, just that Naresh Bhatt may have somehow concealed one. Mamta Kafle Bhatt. Naresh Bhatt is being held without bond and is due to appear in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Friday morning.

Persons: Mario, Naresh Bhatt, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, Kafle Bhatt, GoFundMe, Narash Bhatt Organizations: Manassas, Police, Department of Social Services, Authorities, Police Department, Domestic Relations Locations: Virginia, Nepal

☆ Card skimmers are hard to spot and on the rise. Here's what you can do to protect yourself.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewCredit card skimmers are on the rise nationwide and they're targeting the country's most financially vulnerable people. The FBI estimates that card skimming costs consumers and banks around $1 billion each year. Last year, Fair, Isaac and Company, a financial data analytics firm, found that debit card skimming grew by a whopping 96% compared to the previous year. Related storiesAuthorities nationwide say reports of card skimming and EBT fraud have increased over the past year. The New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued an EBT scam alert on July 2, warning of increases in card skimming and phishing.

Persons: —, Isaac, WJXT Organizations: Service, FBI, Isaac and Company, Business, Secret Service, Police, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Seattle Times, Authorities, New York Office, Assistance, NY Locations: Florida, Virginia , New York

☆ Chronic loneliness puts older adults at risk for stroke, study suggests
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And it may impact your stroke risk, according to a new study. This suggests that the biggest impact on stroke risk occurs over the long term. People who scored high on the loneliness scale both times they were surveyed had a much higher risk of stroke, the study said. And that feeling of loneliness is what the study found to be correlated to the increased risk of stroke, Soh said. “Make it be known that you are experiencing feelings of loneliness, and also identify what would be helpful for you specifically to address the feelings of loneliness,” Soh said.

Persons: ”, Yenee, Harvard T.H, Soh, Matt Pantell, Pantell, Edwin Tan, “, Vivek Murthy, ” Soh, Olivia Remes, Remes, Louise Hawkley Organizations: Lifeline, CNN, Department of Social, Behavioral Sciences, Harvard, of Public Health, Health, Center for Health, Community, University of California, University of Cambridge, Interact, Research Centers, University of Chicago Locations: Chan, San Francisco, United States, United Kingdom

☆ Who were the victims of Maya sacrifice? Ancient DNA reveals an unexpected finding
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But the impact of ancient DNA, which has revolutionized archaeology in Europe and higher latitudes, has been more limited in tropical areas because DNA degrades more easily in warm conditions. However, recent advances in ancient DNA technology are expanding its reach, she said. And suddenly, we now have the ability to do these large-scale genomic studies and apply ancient DNA as a tool to help us understand the past in Mesoamerica,” Warinner said. The team compared the ancient DNA with that of 68 residents of the present-day Maya community of Tixcacaltuyub. “They were super happy to learn that they were related to the people that once inhabited Chichén Itzá,” Barquera said.

Persons: ”, Rodrigo Barquera, Max Planck, “, El, Chichén Itzá, Donald Miralle, Rubén Mendoza, wasn’t, Christina Warinner, John L, Loeb, “ We’re, ” Warinner, Vera Tiesler, Tiesler, Johannes Krause, Warinner, It’s, ” Barquera, Ermila Organizations: CNN, Max, Max Planck Institute, California State University, telltale, Social Sciences, Harvard University, Evolutionary, Boys, Autonomous University of Yucatán, ” Twins, Twins Locations: Chichén, Mexico’s Yucatán, archaeogenetics, Leipzig, Germany, El Castillo, Monterey Bay, Europe, Itzá, Tixcacaltuyub

☆ South Korean city turns to matchmaking to boost low birth rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

They were participants at a mass blind-dating event hosted by Seongnam city, an attempt by the local government to reverse a falling birth rate in a country where the popularity of marriage and enthusiasm towards parenthood have nosedived. Jung Jae-hoon, a professor at the department of social welfare at Seoul Women's University, said it was "nonsense" to expect these events to lead to higher birth rates. "You need to spend more money directly on supporting pregnancy, child delivery and parenting to call it a policy to boost birth rates," Jung said. Despite criticism, thousands of people have signed up for this year's blind-dating events arranged by the Seongnam city. "Low birth rates cannot be resolved with a single policy," Shin said.

Persons: Lee Yu, Hwang Da, Hwang, Jung Jae, Jung, Shin Sang, Shin, It's, Soo, hyang Choi, Daewoung Kim, Josh Smith, Stephen Coates Organizations: Seongnam, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Seoul Women's University, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: SEONGNAM, South Korea, Seoul, Korean, United States, Japan, Seongnam

☆ See inside a tiny-home village that gives homeless people $200-a-month houses — and has a waiting list of 700 people
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Millionaire Marcel LeBrun is building a tiny-home village in Canada, just north of the Maine border. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's been nearly two years since 12Neighbours, a tiny-home village in Canada, welcomed its first resident. Marcel LeBrun at the 12Neighbours tiny-home village. Take a look inside the 12Neighbours tiny-home village. A resident of the 12Neighbours tiny-home village.

Persons: Millionaire Marcel LeBrun, —, Marcel LeBrun, LeBrun, " LeBrun, 12Neighbours, Marcel LeBrun LeBrun, Marcel LeBrun Every, Randy, Mark Osborne didn't, Marcel LeBrun Samantha Seymour, Marcel LeBrun 12Neighbours, who've, we're, Seymour Organizations: Residents, Service, Fraser Institute, Brunswick, Marcel LeBrun Village, Canadian Broadcasting Company, CBC, New, New Brunswick Housing Locations: Canada, Maine, Fredericton , New Brunswick, Maine , New Brunswick, Fredericton , New, New Brunswick, overpriced, 12Neighbours

Such recruitment-based adoptions are the most difficult to carry out, social workers say. Gonzaga, who worked with his wife Heather Setrakian at eharmony and then on the Family-Match algorithm, referred questions to Ramirez. Social workers say Family-Match works like this: Adults seeking to adopt submit survey responses via the algorithm’s online platform, and foster parents or social workers input each child’s information. Adoption-Share is part of a small cadre of organizations that say their algorithms can help social workers place children with foster or adoptive families. “It’s wasted time for social workers and wasted emotional experiences for children.”___Contact AP’s global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

Persons: –, Thea Ramirez, Ramirez, ” Ramirez, “ There’s, ”, Bonni Goodwin, “, Gian Gonzaga, Gonzaga, Heather Setrakian, Setrakian, Kristen Berry, ” Berry, Melania Trump, Virginia’s, Terry McAuliffe, Traci Jones, ” Jones, Virginia, Kylie Winton, Scott Stevens, Stevens, ” Jenn Petion, Petion, ” Petion, Fort, Bree Bofill, ” Bofill, Bofill, Ramirez didn’t, Ramirez wouldn’t, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Biden, Connie, didn’t, We’ve, “ It’s Organizations: Associated Press, AP, University of Oklahoma, American Enterprise Institute, Democrat, ”, Virginia Department of Social Services, Georgia Department of Human Services, FamiliesFirst, Family, Family Support, Fort Myers, Children’s Network of Southwest, Miami, Care, Winton, AS GUINEA, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Tennessee, Biden White, Science, Technology, Brown University, U.S . Health, Human Services Department, Florida Department of Health, Health Locations: Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Brunswick , Georgia, eharmony, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Children’s Network of Southwest Florida, Virginia , Georgia, New York City , Delaware, Missouri, Investigative@ap.org

☆ More than 14,000 licensed childcare centers in the US are behind on state-mandated inspections
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

More than 14,000 licensed childcare facilities across the US are due for a state-mandate inspection. Inspired by Morin's video, researchers at USAFacts, a not-for-profit group owned by current Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft Executive Steve Ballmer, compiled inspection data from 148,166 licensed childcare facilities in 41 states between June and September 2023 to discover that 14,683 licensed childcare facilities across the country are behind on receiving their state-mandated inspections. As for Minnesota, its state records reflect that 85% of its childcare facilities have received an inspection recently enough to comply with state law. Tennessee, for example, requires childcare facilities to be inspected four times a year, while California only requires it once every three years. In the case of Morin's son's childcare facility, prior state inspections had already flagged it repeatedly for grossly violating the child-to-caregiver ratios.

Persons: haven't, —, Deacon, Dani Morin, Steve Ballmer, Morin, USAFacts, Amber Thomas, Thomas, you've, Katherine Glenn, Applegate, Rhett Organizations: Service, Los Angeles Clippers, Microsoft, Minnesota Department of Human Services, USAFacts, Ohio Department of, Family Services, California's Department of Social Services Locations: California, Idaho, Ohio, Minnesota, . Tennessee, Hawaii , Illinois, West Virginia , New Hampshire , Florida , Kansas , Massachusetts , Nebraska, Pennsylvania

☆ North Carolina woman facing false report charge in case where she reported her own killing, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Carma Hassan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A North Carolina woman is facing false report and other charges after police say she sent anonymous messages to a friend and the Department of Social Services saying she had been attacked and killed. Maggie Sweeney, 37, was arrested on Monday and released on a written promise to appear in court, police say. She faces charges of making a false report to a police station, a false report of serious injury or death through telephone, and resisting a public officer, according to a police news release posted on Facebook Monday. Police began their investigation as a missing person case after she was reported missing Friday. Family, friends, and the community as a whole were also very concerned and worried about Sweeney’s welfare,” the department said, in the post.

Persons: Maggie Sweeney, Sweeney, Franklin, “ Sweeney, ”, Randy Dula, Devin Holland, “ Organizations: CNN, Department of Social Services, Facebook, Police, ” Franklin Police Locations: North Carolina, Macon County, Sweeney’s

☆ Fact Check-Ireland doesn't have a higher rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The posts (seen here and here) include a picture of a receipt for a 584-euro Jobseeker’s payment. Ireland's DSP says the maximum weekly rate for a single person is 220 euros (here). In its commentary to Reuters, the DSP underlined the rates are equal for all and there are no special rates in place for migrants or other individuals. Ireland pays no more than 220 euros in a Jobseeker’s Allowance per week to a single person but will pay more to families or people with any dependents. The country does not have special Jobseeker’s Allowance rates for migrants.

Persons: ”, “ That’s, Read Organizations: Irish Department of Social Protection, Twitter, Reuters, Ireland Locations: Ireland

☆ 16 abused children freed in Philippines after man’s arrest in Sydney
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Teele Rebane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Sixteen children allegedly abused in the Philippines have been rescued after Australian police found sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney. The investigation began in January when the Australian Border Force intercepted a Queensland man, 56, as he returned to Sydney from the Philippines, the statement said. After searching his phone, the ABF found child abuse material and messages detailing his intent to pay a facilitator who would enable him to sexually abuse children in the Philippines. The man was charged with three offenses including grooming and possession of child abuse material, which carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. “We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims,” she said.

Persons: ”, Andrew Perkins, Portia Manalad Organizations: CNN, Philippine National Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Philippine Department of Social Welfare, Development, Philippine National Police Women, Children Protection, AFP, Philippine Internet Locations: Philippines, Sydney, Metro Manila, Northern Philippines, Queensland, Manila, Philippine, Australia, United Kingdom, Netherlands

☆ North Carolina couple accused of performing 'exorcism' on child, 4, who died
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A North Carolina couple are accused of performing an amateur exorcism on their 4-year-old son, who later died. Skyler died Jan. 9 "from injuries related to the abuse sustained by his parents," authorities said. The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. They are alleged to have restrained and isolated the child and performed an exorcism, the station reported. They had other children in their custody who are now in the care of the Department of Social Services, the sheriff's office said.

☆ Second migrant this year dies by suicide in New York City shelter, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A second migrant died by suicide in a New York City shelter last week, according to officials and NBC New York. "These families are coming to New York City after a months-long harrowing journey, in some cases, still reeling from the trauma they experienced along the way," the spokesperson said. A bus carrying migrants arrives into the Port Authority bus station in New York City in Aug. 2022. Spencer Platt / Getty Images fileThousands of migrants have arrived in New York City by bus from out-of-state since the spring. Several migrants told NBC News they have struggled to find work and build their lives upon arriving in New York.

Federal dollars are also not an option for reimbursement because regulations prohibit federal funds from being used to replace stolen SNAP funds. SNAP participants say they cannot wait that long after a month or more of stolen benefits plunged them into financial turmoil. Washington, D.C., also reimburses SNAP skimming victims. In the meantime, anti-hunger advocates say there’s no reason states can’t fill the gap for SNAP skimming victims. How states can helpCalifornia, one state that restores stolen benefits, has a law allowing state funds to be used that dates back to 2013.

☆ Former NYPD officer sentenced to 25 years to life in freezing death of 8-year-old son
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A former New York City police officer whose 8-year-old son died after he was forced to sleep in the family's freezing garage, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Thursday. Michael Valva, 45, was found guilty of second-degree murder and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in November in connection with the January 2020 death of his son Thomas Valva. Valva sobbed in court Thursday and apologized for his actions, NBC New York reported. Thankfully, the story of this defendant ends here, but the pursuit of justice for Thomas and Anthony continues," Tierney said. Surveillance footage submitted at the trial showed Michael Valva screaming at Thomas and ordering him outside to hose him down with water.

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