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☆ Florida legislator who sponsored ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law resigns amid Covid-relief fraud charges
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Florida state representative who sponsored legislation opponents dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill resigned Thursday, a day after he was accused of fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars from a federal Covid-relief program. State Rep. Joseph Harding, a Republican, said his resignation would be "effective immediately." He has been indicted on a slew of charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements and other crimes. He sponsored a bill this year prohibiting “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s primary schools. The bill, which was criticized as an attack on Florida’s LGBTQ community, was signed into law in March by Republican Gov.

☆ Here's what a 2023 recession could mean for entrepreneurs and how they can prepare
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

If we're heading into a recession, entrepreneurs will have to prepare their businesses now. If these predictions are accurate, entrepreneurs will need to begin preparing their businesses now for the challenges ahead. Insider spoke with founders and experts to understand how a recession could affect entrepreneurs' bottom lines and the steps they could take now to prepare. Ryan Niddel, a serial entrepreneur and growth specialist, said a recession was not an ideal time to be in debt. "Even in a recession, there are market sectors that continue to do well or even, in some cases, do better," he said.

☆ The author of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill resigns after being indicted on charges of swindling COVID-relief loans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The author of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill resigned on Thursday after a federal indictment. Florida state Rep. Joe Harding was indicted on charges of fraud worth over $150,000. Federal prosecutors alleged that Harding made fake businesses, bank accounts and pocketed COVID loans. In 2022, Harding sponsored Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" Bill,which is officially called the "Parental Rights in Education" bill. If found guilty, Harding faces up to 20 years on the wire fraud charges; 10 years related to the money laundering allegations; and five years in prison for allegedly making false statements.

☆ Legislator behind Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law is accused of Covid-relief fraud
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Florida legislator who sponsored legislation critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay" bill was accused of illegally obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Covid-relief funds, authorities said Wednesday. Joseph Harding, 35, was indicted on six counts of wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements and other crimes, the U.S. attorney’s office for Northern Florida said in a release. Harding sought more than $150,000 in loans and received roughly $45,000 in January and February 2021, according to the indictment. "This bill goes way beyond the text on its page," former Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat who is gay, said in February. He could face 20 years in prison for the fraud charges, 10 years for money laundering and five years for making false statement, the release says.

☆ The sponsor of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill was indicted on federal charges of money laundering and wire fraud related to COVID relief loans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Azmi Haroun | Erin Snodgrass | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The sponsor of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill was indicted on money laundering charges. He raked in more than $150,000 through his scheme, per the US Attorney's Office, and was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on six counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. In the indictment, prosecutors said that Harding used the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans, meant for COVID-related expenses, to enrich himself between December 2020 and March 2021. If found guilty, Harding faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years on the wire fraud charges; 10 years on the money laundering allegations; and five years in prison for allegedly making false statements. In 2022, Harding sponsored Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" Bill, which is officially called the "Parental Rights in Education" bill.

☆ Maryland bans use of TikTok, other Chinese, Russian products by state agencies after NBC News report
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Sarah Fitzpatrick | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kit-Ramgopal-Byline.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The state of Maryland on Tuesday banned the use of TikTok and other Chinese and Russian products by state agencies, citing reporting by NBC News about hackers linked to the Chinese government stealing millions in Covid benefits from state governments in the U.S. “There may be no greater threat to our personal safety and our national security than the cyber vulnerabilities that support our daily lives,” said Gov. In the past, Alibaba and Alipay have declined to comment about accusations of being national security risks. WeChat has denied being a national security risk. Also in November, the state of South Dakota banned the use of TikTok by state agencies.

☆ Hackers linked to Chinese government stole millions in Covid benefits, Secret Service says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Sarah Fitzpatrick | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kit-Ramgopal-Byline.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Hackers linked to the Chinese government stole at least $20 million in U.S. Covid relief benefits, including Small Business Administration loans and unemployment insurance funds in over a dozen states, according to the Secret Service. One senior Justice Department official called it “dangerous” and said it had serious national security implications. ‘The horse is out of the barn’As soon as state governments began disbursing Covid unemployment funds in 2020, cybercriminals began to siphon off a significant percentage. China’s targets include state governments, which can have inadequate cybersecurity defenses. “The state governments don’t allocate a lot of cyber protection money to their state I.T.

☆ Executives at ‘fintechs’ made hundreds of millions handing out PPP Covid cash, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Washington-Based Investigative Reporter With The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

The report says Reis is not Black or a veteran. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis$80 billion in fraudIt’s well known that the $800 billion PPP program was plagued by fraud, with some fraud estimates as high as $80 billion. In a text message obtained by the committee, Reis commented on his company’s success, noting it made nearly $1.5 billion in less than six months processing PPP loans. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus CrisisThe report cited a text message in which Kristen Spencer described the anticipated windfall from processing PPP loans. In July 2021, two months after the last PPP loans went out the door, the Spencers bought an $8 million, 10,975-square-foot mansion, according to local property records.

☆ U.S. plans to boost purchases of Native goods, revitalize tribal languages
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The Biden administration will announce new actions on Wednesday to give Native American tribes more say in managing federal lands, boost purchases of tribal energy and other goods and services, and revitalize Native languages, the White House said. U.S. President Joe Biden and other Cabinet officials will announce the measures at this year's two-day Tribal Nations Summit, with additional steps focused on providing better access to capital for tribal nations, the White House said. Biden's three signature piece of legislation - laws dealing with infrastructure, climate and COVID-19 relief - have provided nearly $46 billion in funding for tribal communities and Native American people, the White House said. The Small Business Administration will announce plans to boost access to financing opportunities, while the Energy Department plans to increase federal agencies’ use of tribal energy through purchasing authority established under a 2005 law unused for more than 17 years. The government will also release of a draft 10-year plan to revitalize Native American languages and underscores the urgency for immediate action, while formally recognizing the role that the U.S. government played in erasing Native languages.

☆ Feds want a manager to oversee the troubled water system in Jackson, Mississippi
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

— The federal government filed a proposal Tuesday to appoint a manager for the troubled water system in Mississippi’s capital city, which nearly collapsed in late summer and continues to struggle. The goal is to achieve long-term sustainability of the system and the city’s compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and other laws. According to the agreement, that litigation will be put on hold for six months while all parties try to improve the water system. Edward “Ted” Henifin was appointed as interim third-party manager of the Jackson water system and Water Sewer Business Administration, the city’s water billing department. While there is much more work ahead, the Justice Department’s action marks a critical moment on the path to securing clean, safe water for Jackson residents.″Jackson has had water problems for decades.

Insider breaks down the four qualities he said in his book were key toward boosting productivity. He developed the so-called the FASE method — focus, attention, systematization, and energy — for boosting productivity. In his 2017 book, "Lead Yourself: The Definitive Method to Be More Productive," Peralt wrote that four key qualities are essential to boosting productivity. "You need to be motivated and hungry to have a reason to start the process because, undoubtedly, it requires effort," Peralt wrote. An action-oriented attitudeAccording to Peralt, one of the most important qualities you need to improve your productivity is an action-oriented attitude.

☆ The Disney CFO Who Raised Concerns About Bob Chapek Has Respect on the Street
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Nina Trentmann | Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Christine McCarthy, Walt Disney Co. ’s longtime finance chief, took an unusual step when she expressed a lack of confidence in the chief executive to directors of the entertainment giant. But Ms. McCarthy had raised concerns to Disney directors, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CFO Journal The Morning Ledger provides daily news and insights on corporate finance from the CFO Journal team. Following the leadership shake-up, Disney faces a challenge to regain trust from the street and Ms. McCarthy needs to realign with her old and new chief executive Mr. Iger, analysts said. Age 67, Ms. McCarthy is likely to stay on while Mr. Iger reviews Disney’s strategy and searches for another successor to himself, analysts said.

☆ Elon Musk has upended Twitter’s business. Here’s how he could fix it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Tesla CEO has previously said he “hates advertising” and, as Twitter’s owner, professed a desire to make the company more reliant on subscription revenue than advertising dollars. Twitter has always struggled to turn its outsized influence in media, politics, and culture into a highly successful advertising business. Twitter’s advertising business has long been smaller than that of rivals like Facebook, in part because it didn’t offer the same level of user targeting. To successfully overhaul Twitter into a thriving subscription business would be to buck the trend of many other media properties that have struggled with the model. Twitter’s ad woesWhether he likes advertising or not, the business made up 90% of Twitter’s revenue prior to Musk’s takeover and replacing it won’t be an immediate shift.

☆ Indian court sends Pernod Ricard exec, Aurobindo director to agency custody
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The court's decision came hours after P. Sarath Chandra Reddy of Aurobindo Pharma and Pernod Ricard's Benoy Babu were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the country's federal financial crime-fighting agency. The ED last month raided several liquor companies, suppliers and distributors in a money-laundering investigation, according to media reports. Babu is a general manager at Pernod Ricard and handles the French company's international brands business in India, according to his LinkedIn profile. Spokespersons for Pernod Ricard and Aurobindo did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Shares in Aurobindo, which makes a range of medicines from antibacterials to antidepressants, fell by 11.75% by close of day.

☆ U.S., Taiwan wrap up 'productive' trade meeting - USTR
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan and the United States concluded two days of "productive" trade talks in New York on Wednesday, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative said. The meetings were part of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, a program opposed by China, which views self-governing Taiwan as its own territory. The U.S. delegation included representatives from USTR, the National Economic Council, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Treasury, the Small Business Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration, USTR said. It includes negotiations on 11 areas of trade, including trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, anticorruption, agriculture, digital trade, labor, and the environment. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, the United States has been keen to bolster support for Taiwan, especially as it faces increased political pressure from China to accept its sovereignty claims.

☆ Taiwan, U.S. to hold in person trade talks next week
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Flags of the United States and Taiwan displayed on phone screens are seen in this multiple exposure illustration photo taken in Poland on August 4, 2022. Taiwan and the United States will hold in-person trade talks next week in New York under a new joint initiative announced in June, the U.S. and Taiwanese governments said, a program opposed by China, which views the island as its own territory. Washington and Taipei unveiled the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade in June, days after the Biden administration excluded Taiwan from its Asia-focused economic plan designed to counter China's growing influence. The U.S. Trade Representative's office said in a Thursday statement the "conceptual discussions" would take place Tuesday and Wednesday, with Assistant United States Trade Representative Terry McCartin as the lead trade official. The U.S. delegation will also include representatives from the National Economic Council, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Treasury, the Small Business Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration, it added.

☆ Atlassian's work-from-anywhere policy helped my spouse and I ditch long-distance and finally be together. Here's why I think more companies need to do the same
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She spoke with Insider about relocating under Atlassian's remote work policy, called Team Anywhere, that was implemented in 2020. She shared her experience and why she feels the company's approach to remote work has been working. AtlassianAtlassian's remote work policy works because of its online culture and management's transparency about the processAtlassian has a Slack culture that is just so vibrant, which is probably unique from a lot of other companies. Sometimes, we start fun conversations like "use one gif to describe your weekend," that really help in a remote environment. Atlassian's remote work policy allows for extended travel while workingAnother benefit we've gotten is freedom to travel and work remotely.

☆ VCs say successful founders work as 'founder associates' first. Here's how to land the job, how much it pays, and why it's in demand.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Nina Anika Klotz | Nathan Rennolds | Business Insider Deutschland | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A founder associate is a relatively new job open to career starters and young professionals. VCs help startups find founder associatesSandow said Atlantic Labs felt that, given the demand of founders, the fund should create a "structured work experience" for founder associates. Niklahs added that "most founders understand that a founder associate is not an executive assistant — they're far too expensive." "Candidates have to be hungry and have the drive to learn and go through everything with the founders," Sandow said. Salaries and exit opportunitiesAt VC firms, a founder associate is a full-time entry-level job.

☆ Sheng Wang's clean humor can make anyone laugh, 'from grandmas to porn stars,' he says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-06 | by ( Diep Tran | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

That’s because Wang’s notoriety has just increased substantially, following his first-ever Netflix comedy special, “Sweet and Juicy.” Then again, Wang admits that it’s pretty easy to recognize him these days thanks to his look. But on “Sweet and Juicy,” Wang sports a goatee and a shoulder length mane of black hair. As Wang puts it, “It’s a look!” His hair grew out during the pandemic and he just didn’t cut it. And yet, he’s still surprised at how much his comedy special has resonated, not just with other Asian Americans, but with a diverse array of people. “It’s just all kinds of people at different ages, different careers, different parts of society, parents and their children, from grandmas to porn stars,” says Wang.

☆ A top Wall Street analyst says cannabis-banking reform is far more likely than many investors think. Here are the top 4 stocks he says to bet on.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cantor Fitzgerald's Pablo Zuanic says a cannabis banking bill may pass before the end of the year. Passage of the SAFE Banking Act would give cannabis stocks a much-needed boost. A long-awaited cannabis-banking bill may pass in the lame-duck session of Congress this year, a top Wall Street analyst says. The bipartisan SAFE Banking Act is a narrow cannabis reform bill that would allow companies that sell or cultivate THC to access the banking system. Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, have previously opposed the SAFE Act proceeding ahead of more comprehensive, criminal-justice-focused cannabis reform.

Among state flagship universities, UGA has one of the country’s largest disparities between its proportion of Black students and that of Black high school graduates from the state — second only to the University of Mississippi. “Black students admitted to UGA — they have a lot of options,” said Alton Standifer, deputy chief of staff to the university president, referring to the competition among colleges to enroll Georgia’s Black students. Still, many Black students in Georgia choose to attend more diverse institutions or opt for a historically Black college or university. A reliance on SAT scores can disadvantage Black students, whose average SAT score in 2019 was 933, more than 180 points below that of white students. Selective public universities like UGA that used the Common App have seen an increase in applicants, including traditionally underrepresented students, such as Black students.

☆ How the cloud-software startup Gusto won over investors and small businesses by breaking away from the pack
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Still, tools for small businesses is a huge market — one that a tech industry that has focused on the more lucrative enterprise market has largely ignored. According to the Small Business Administration, there are 32 million small businesses in the US employing about 61 million people, nearly half of the country's private workforce. As companies grow and chase larger enterprises as customers, they lose sight of the discrete needs of small businesses, she said. The startup hopped on pandemic-era workplace trends, adding products for small businesses to apply for government loans and for employees to access their wages between paychecks. GustoGusto has ruthlessly prioritized areas like payroll and tax-filing that small businesses need to run.

And we still do.”A recent study of small business owners by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that inflation and supply chain issues are the top challenges entrepreneurs face today. One in three small business owners call inflation their highest concern and 67% of them have raised prices in response to inflation. “The Paycheck Protection Program continues to be disadvantageous to smaller businesses, businesses owned by people of color, and businesses without employees. According to NBC Bay Area, searches for “Black-owned businesses near me” peaked in June 2020, with companies like Yelp making it easier for people to find and support Black-owned businesses, per data from Google. She said that during the height of the social justice movement, corporations and financial institutions pledged to support Black-owned businesses.

☆ How small-business owners determine when it's time to hire, and the roles they need most to scale up
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-22 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Two entrepreneurs share their advice on when to hire and who to bring on to grow your company. This article is part of Talent Insider, a series containing expert advice to help small business owners tackle a range of hiring challenges. "When you find yourself doing more managerial tasks rather than being a leader," it's time to hire, Kaur said in a follow-up email. Engel brought on a marketing associate last year and a senior marketing director this year once she had filled the other roles. "It's not a corporate job," she added, "so you have to have someone who can take initiative and be willing to pivot because that's the success of a small business."

☆ I made $4 million in revenue over the last 5 years from my multiple income streams. Here's how I reached financial freedom and now work 10 hours a week.
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-16 | by ( Kimanzi Constable | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

At first, she worked 100-hour weeks to pay off her $40,000 student debt and reach financial freedom. This is how Schroeder-Gardner scaled her blog and income streams, as told to Kimanzi Constable. I worked 50 to 60 hours weekly to build the blog on top of working 40 hours a week at my job. The course sold well and my income streams of course sales, affiliate links, sponsored posts, and display advertising on my blog increased with my growing audience. I spend ten hours a week writing posts, making Pinterest graphics, and filtering affiliate and sponsorship offers.

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