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Guilty plea: St. Louis woman admits bank and pandemic loan fraud

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis woman appeared in federal court Monday and admitted to committing bank fraud and pandemic loan fraud in 2021 and 2022.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Nikia French, 30, recruited people on the social media app Instagram to let her use their bank accounts. French would create counterfeit checks, deposit them into said accounts, then withdraw the money before the bank noticed the checks were no good.French ran her scam between February and April 2022. She deposited more than $73,000 in checks, and withdrew more than $34,000 in cash. Top Stories: Kim Gardner gets extra time to respond to A.G.’s lawsuit In April 2021, French submitted a pair of Paycheck Protection Program loan applications, asking for a total of $23,000. She identified as self-employed, but lied about her gross income and submitted fake documents to conceal her fraud. She also lied about not being convicted of a felony involving fraud.She'd p...

Survey on Broncos stadium possibilities one step toward decision, but “It’s early in the process”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

PHOENIX — The Broncos recently ramped up their survey efforts as they continue through a long process that ultimately will lead to a decision about whether to build a new stadium.The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group started touring stadiums during the season and is keeping tabs on building projects around the NFL, as well.The survey season-ticket holders received recently included questions about the preferred location of a new stadium, what’s important about the game day experience, how far people are willing to travel, if they’d prefer a permanent roof, retractable roof, canopy or no roof and a raft of other queries. That wider survey came after Denver talked with 112 focus group participants and 34 club partners as a starting point. So far, team president Damani Leech said the team has about 7,000 completed surveys and the resulting data is slated to be finalized in about a month.“It’s early in the process, gathering information, really want to know what fans think across a v...

CPW plans to cut NW Colorado hunting licenses by more than 40% to protect challenged herds

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

Thousands of elk, deer and antelope have been migrating out of northwestern Colorado due to hard winter conditions and many have died of starvation, forcing state wildlife managers to consider cutting the number of hunting licenses they issue by more than 40%.Deep, hard-packed snow covering rangeland already devastated by drought has made it difficult for these animals to find enough food, forcing many to graze along roads as they move, Colorado Parks and Wildlife managers announced Tuesday morning. Vehicle collisions with wildlife this past winter also took an exceptional toll.Semi-trucks whizzing east from Utah into Colorado along U.S. 40 plowed through antelope herds and killed more than ten on at least four occasions, CPW officials said.Wildlife managers charged with determining how much hunting can be sustained were wrestling with difficult decisions. Northwestern Colorado towns and ranches rely on revenues from hunting. Reducing hunting licenses would intensify the economic ch...

Comal Heritage Food Incubator will move to RiNo ArtPark

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

After six years, Comal Heritage Food Incubator is closing up shop in the Taxi mixed-used development in the River North Art District. But that won’t last long: This summer, the award-winning operation will reopen nearby as a bigger restaurant and teaching kitchen within the 2,600-square-foot space of RiNo ArtPark, at 1900 35th St.“The ArtPark outpost has twice as much space as Comal’s current location, which will allow us to better serve the community with larger cohorts of participants and more diverse equipment to accommodate a variety of businesses and trainees,” said Jules Kelty, executive director of Focus Points Family Resource Center, which runs Comal.“We’re also looking forward to collaborating with all of the nonprofit partners, including Redline Denver, Denver Public Library and, of course, RiNo Art District,” Kelty added.The future home of Comal Heritage Food Incubator at the RiNo ArtPark. (Unfound Door, provided by Comal Heritage...

Xi Jinping’s Moscow visit: Laying the groundwork for a new world order?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

President Xi Jinping’s (pictured) recent trip to Russia carries significant ramifications and undertones. It serves as a gauge for China’s maneuverability in challenging American clout and dominance. Undeterred by the escalating American ire, the Chinese head honcho boldly undertook his Moscow excursion, fully aware of its symbolic and meaningful value, writes Salem AlKetbi, UAE political analyst and former Federal National Council candidate.Having publicly declared before the nation’s parliament that the US is spearheading a crusade to “contain, encircle, and repress” China, the Chinese leader is now intent on cementing his country’s position on the global arena.John Kirby, the spokesperson for the American National Security Council, succinctly encapsulated the US outlook on a global scale. He pointed out that China and Russia harbor a mutual yearning to contest America’s supremacy and subvert the international framework built on the tenets of the UN and the rule of law. According ...

El Monte launches guaranteed income program for residents

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

Select El Monte residents will be eligible to receive an extra $500 a month for 12 months as a part of the city’s new guaranteed income program.El Monte city officials announced Tuesday that the new income program would serve as a way to “help alleviate the negative effects of COVID-19 El Monte residents experienced,” a news release said.To be eligible for the guaranteed income program, El Monte residents must be: The female heads of a household without a spouse or partnerHave dependents under the age of 18Have an income below the poverty level based on 2023 data from the U.S. Department of CommerceAble to prove financial assistance is needed due to being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemicAble to submit documents verifying school enrollment, proof of residency, proof of income and a government-issued IDEligible residents are encouraged to apply for the new program online, in person or by mail. The application will be available until April 15, according to a news release.More informat...

This sticker allows doctors to speed in California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

A little-known part of California's vehicle code gives doctors the legal right to break speeding laws - so long as they are responding to an emergency.Vehicle Code 21058 allows a physician responding to an emergency call to be exempt from some of the laws governing speed limits.According to the California Medical Association, the exemption only applies when traveling to emergencies, when driving on freeways - and does not allow the driver to ignore other traffic rules (such as stop signs or HOV lanes).The doctor exemption also does not allow them to be unsafe on the roads - even when speeding. The second part of the law even clarifies that a doctor using this permission without due consideration for the end result will be held responsible."The provisions of this section do not relieve the driver of the vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, nor protect the driver from the consequences of an arbitrary exercise of the privileges...

The Growing Success of Nate Rodgers Fitness Lifestyle Brand, Nemesis X

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

Are you looking to unlock your full potential and overcome your inner nemesis? Look no further than Nemesis X, the fitness lifestyle brand created by Nate Rodgers to inspire individuals to overcome their negative self and unlock their limitless potential.Entrepreneur and influencer Nate Rodgers has recently leveled up his new fitness lifestyle brand, Nemesis X. Inspired by his own personal story, the brand promotes the idea that individuals must defeat their inner obstacles to achieve greatness. They must take charge of their own personal development and be their own agent of change. Nate believes that it’s “You vs. You” in achieving goals, conquering fears, and overcoming life’s challenges.Nemesis X is more than just a fitness lifestyle brand; it’s a movement that encourages individuals to defeat negative self-talk and embrace challenges. “Looking in the mirror and facing our fears is sometimes the hardest battle, but the first step into becoming the b...

Dr. Mary Mason, A Doctor Turned Entrepreneur, Shares Her Journey

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

Dr. Mary Mason, the visionary founder of Little Medical School, is a multi-talented and passionate individual. A board-certified internist, mother of three, doctor’s wife, former C-suite executive for a Fortune 25 company, and a dedicated entrepreneur, she brings a wealth of experience to her innovative educational programs. Little Medical School’s mission is to inspire and shape the future of healthcare by providing children aged 1-14 with immersive, hands-on, role-playing experiences that utilize real medical tools and engaging, meticulously designed activities created by their expert educational staff.The inception of Little Medical School was deeply rooted in Dr. Mason’s own childhood experiences. She fondly recalls her eagerness to learn from her mother, a trailblazing physician herself, and her excitement in exploring medical tools and concepts. Driven by her desire to recreate those formative moments, she founded Little Medical School to expose children to t...

Parker Matthews: The Heartfelt Story Behind ‘Layover’ and His Journey to Musical Success

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:35:10 GMT

LA-based singer and songwriter Parker Matthews has quickly earned his spot in the global music scene, with his work attracting massive attention in and out of the country. His latest single, “Layover”, out now on Spotify, has been highly praised by fans and others in the industry, with many acknowledging Matthews’ unique style, sound, and even the message behind it. The fast-rising artist shared with us the inspiration behind “Layover” and how he got into music.Parker Matthews uncovered his passion for music at a young age. He grew up being bullied at school, and to ‘escape’, he started listening to music. He always wore headphones to distract himself from the world. At home, things were challenging. His parents were going through a divorce, and he felt like everything he believed in was crashing, pushing him to go all in.Matthews buried himself deep in music, listening to the likes of Adele, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera. “I spent every...