#economic injury loan

[follow-up-news]

More than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives, according to new estimates from a federal watchdog investigating federally funded programs that helped small businesses survive the worst public health crisis in more than a hundred years. The numbers issued Tuesday by the U.S. Small Business Administration inspector general are much greater than the office’s previous projections and underscore how vulnerable the Paycheck Protection and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs were to fraudsters, particularly during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The inspector general’s report said “at least 17 percent of all COVID-EIDL and PPP funds were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors.” The fraud estimate for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is more than $136 billion, which represents 33 percent of the total money spent on that program, according to the report. The Paycheck Protection fraud estimate is $64 billion, the inspector general said.

#covid-19

[saywhat-politics]

A Florida state representative who authored a controversial law banning teachers from mentioning their sexuality in class has been indicted on money laundering charges.

Click Orlando reports that Florida State Rep. Joe Harding is been hit with charges of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements over an alleged attempt to defraud the Small Business Administration out of COVID-19 emergency relief money.

"The U.S. Department of Justice said Harding, 35, created bank accounts for dormant business entities and used them to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans," Click Orlando writes. "The indictment accuses Harding of obtaining and attempting to obtain more than $150,000 from the SBA, which was deposited into two bank accounts."

If he is found guilty, Harding potentially faces decades in prison, as Click Orlando notes that the wire fraud charge alone carries a sentence of up to 20 years, while the money laundering charge could potentially tack on an extra decade to his sentence.

#florida #republican

[stupittmoran]

Data scientists from the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee identified nearly $38 million in potentially improper or fraudulent pandemic loans were obtained using Social Security Numbers of dead people.

The loans were made through both the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and Paycheck Protection Program.

[bighermie]

[transinatrade]

The Beginning

It's been about a month.

If you couldn't guess by my URL, I am a trans person (FTM) who is entering the HVAC trade. This is for a few reasons.

As the economic crisis rapidly sends us streaming forward toward poverty, my entry level job was not making us (my partner and I) enough money anymore.

Gifted kid burnout caught up to me a long time ago, and with the affordability of college being completely impossible without loans I would never have a hope of paying back, I turned to trades as an option of higher education without the ridiculous price tag.

I am more of a hands on person. Sitting down at an office desk was never for me, and I'm not sure why I ever thought it would be. I want to get my hands dirty, and have a new adventure every day.

Why HVAC specifically? Good question. I was interested in trades in general, how things work has always fascinated me. HVAC was a matter of elimination. Medical was not for me, blood and high stakes stress me out and the cost of those courses are very high. I've already flunked out of engineering classes in high school so anything related to it was a no go. Welding was another good option, but with loud sounds and bright lights my autism and bad hearing were not going to have a good time. The last two I was considering were HVAC and electrical. Each excellent fields and I had high interest in both, so I applied for EMT which is a combination of both (electrical mechanical technician, not the medical worker).

Now a new issue arose, one I have dealt with my whole life.

I am transgender.

The current trans panic, living in the bible belt, not passing well, and the already intimidating trades were a lot to take in a navigate, but I believe I have been very fortunate.

The first step was shopping around for a school and being very up front with how I identify and the situation. Emailing schools made it easier to imagine the school as an entity rather than a collection of people each with their own political views that make them view me very differently. I was ghosted by a couple schools, I am unsure if this is because of my identity or if they thought I was a spammer, but for my sake I'd like to think it was the ladder.

I managed to get pell grants, a few scholarships, loans that are far smaller than they would be for a four year degree, and finally an approved application.

The first couple of months were intimidating, there is a lot to learn in a small amount of time and a recent head injury was not helping. However, I do not give up easily. I found that passing had never been more important to me than ever, and I'm not entirely sure why. Perhaps the far more masculine men around me make me feel more inadequate. Perhaps the trans panic has indeed instilled a terror in me of being clocked as trans far more than I originally thought. Perhaps it is simply paranoia and the unknown. Whatever the case, I've found myself taking more steps than I usually do to pass, including binding. I never really did befores since having covid binding has restricted my breathing when any strenuous activity is involved, my chest is not large to begin with, and the mentioned current economic crisis has made it impossible to save for top.

There have been a couple instances when I was misidentified as female, thankfully my voice saved me in that regard, but when I am stopped up due to the weather, it is not as convincing.

In one instance the wrong name was called (since I have been unable to change it) so I had to pretend like my name was simply not on the roster until I could correct the person in private, embarrassing everyone involved. My existence is very alien, so there is no system in place to change my name or inform staff other than by email or word of mouth. It is all very overwhelming.

Other than all of these moving parts, day to day has been very smooth. I can update in the future if there are any incidents or new challenges come up. Thank you for reading.

#transgender #trans masc #trans man #tech #trade #trade school #trade worker #transgenderfirst

[rotationalsymmetry]

I’ll take “your liberation is tied to my liberation, solidarity not charity, an injury to one is an injury to all” any day. Over being non-constructively hyper conscious about my privilege. 

Sure, it’s worth being aware when all the faces on the magazines in the check-out line are white. But the thing worth being aware of isn’t the idea that it somehow net benefits me to not have that many people of color as celebrities and politicians and so on. How does that benefit me? It harms people of color, and it indirectly harms me because it means I live in an unjust society where racial inequality gets in the way of building a world with more class equality, more public funding for social services, more sustainability, etc. 

I don’t benefit personally from Jeff Bezos existing as a billionaire and being white. I’m not convinced that Jeff Bezos benefits from being a billionaire. The harm done is disproportionately to people of color. And part of confronting the harm is untangling social norms that give white people more power, more voice, etc than people of color. But I don’t think a world of injustice overall benefits anyone, it just harms some people less than others. 

Having a very racist, punitive police and prison system does not harm me as a white person as much as it harms people of color. But I do not believe it benefits me either. It just harms me less. But it still harms me. I can oppose police and prisons and an economic system that allows billionaires to horde wealth while poor people die because they can’t afford necessities, without assuming that this opposition will cause me to make sacrifices that are not overall worth it to me.

One of the biggest privileges I had in my life was being able to go to college without taking out loans. And the world I want has that privilege for everybody. (or maybe a world where people don’t need college to get a decent job, whatever.) If what I would lose to get that world are a few nice extras that didn’t benefit me that much — I don’t know, maybe when I need glasses I get fewer color options, maybe I didn’t get skiing trips as a kid, I really don’t care people don’t need that shit — that’s worth it, that’s so much worth it that’s so much better I shouldn’t have nice extras when other people don’t have what they need to survive anyways if I got fewer nice extras in exchange for never being afraid that I might not have things I need, that’s beyond worth it. Not in some abstract “what if you didn’t know what life you’d get before you were born” sense, but in any life.

Patriarchy harms men (white, affluent, able bodied, cishet men) too. A world where you can die from being poor while others have excess harms rich people too. Racism harms white people (not as much as people of color, but it’s still overall harm.) Colonialism and the destruction of the biosphere provides fucking irrelevant material benefits to the colonizers at the expense of more important things (like idk living on a planet that isn’t dying) — it would still be bad if colonizers actually benefited, it is not necessary to demonstrate that a system of oppression is bad for everyone to oppose it, but I don’t think anyone does benefit. I think some things just make the world worse for everyone.

No amount of temporarily cheaper gas or cheaper material goods can justify the harms of living in an imperialist nation: the lies, the increase surveillance, the way that military equipment gets handed over to cops so that suppression of other people abroad is directly connected to suppression of dissent at home. The way that war profiteers turn around and fund politicians, destroying the democratic process. Not even counting the harm to vets. (And not even counting how much environmental harm the military does, we're literally destroying that which we need to survive.) It’s not worth it. For anyone. It’s just a really, really bad system.

#And then people come online and play ‘guess who can self efface the hardest about all this privilege’ game #Who fucking cares that’s not real #This continent used to have idk dozens or hundreds of functioning cultures fully integrated with the ecosystems they lived in #And now we’ve got this bullshit #And it’s not sustainable and things are going to get a lot worse #And we’re talking as though light up sneakers with wheels could ever possibly cool enough to justify the hunger that’s coming

[newstfionline]

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Guam ‘very blessed’ with no early reports of major damage in the messy aftermath of Typhoon Mawar (AP) Chainsaws buzzed Friday as neighbors helped neighbors clear toppled trees and began cleaning the wreckage of Typhoon Mawar, which walloped Guam as the strongest typhoon to hit the island in over two decades but appeared to have passed without leaving death or massive destruction in its wake. While it was still early going in the recovery effort, police Sgt. Paul Tapao said there did not seem to be any major damage, main roads were passable and “Guam has been very blessed to have no storm-related deaths or any serious injuries.” To Tapao, the roar of the mechanical saws was a reminder of the resilience of the storm-prone U.S. Pacific territory and its people. “Everyone helps out with the cleaning,” he said. “That’s the Guamanian way.”

Welcome to America! Now learn to be in debt (NPR) Every time you swipe your credit card for a coffee or a carton of eggs, you take out a tiny loan from your bank. In many ways, the U.S. runs on borrowed money: a mortgage for a home, financial aid for college, a loan for a car, credit cards for nearly everything else. Over just two years, Americans went from pandemic-fueled, near-record savings to today’s highest-ever levels of personal debt. The U.S. economy counts on you to borrow money and stay in debt. Almost in a matter of a single generation, America has developed an extensive, even casual reliance on debt. Its epitome is the credit score, which often snares newcomers into a financial Catch-22—building credit history hinges on getting credit, but credit approval is dependent on having credit history. Being financially responsible in the U.S. has come to mean “borrow and repay,” says Barbara Kiviat, an economic sociologist at Stanford University. “It sort of crowds out the idea that maybe not borrowing in the first place is also a good idea,” she says. “But we’re now living in a world where so much hangs on that credit.” But what if you were taught to never owe anybody anything? “It’s such a cultural shift,” says Adina Appelbaum, who works with immigrants as a financial counselor and lawyer, “because in many countries they don’t have this culture of debt ... and there can actually be shame around having debt or a credit card.”

Henry Kissinger’s Legacy (National Security Archive) As Henry Alfred Kissinger reaches 100 years of age, his centennial is generating global coverage of his legacy as a leading statesman, master diplomat and realpolitik foreign policy strategist. “Nobody alive has more experience of international affairs,” as The Economist recently put it in a predictably laudatory tribute to Kissinger. But the historical record also documents the darker side of Kissinger’s controversial tenure in power: his role in the secret bombing campaign in Cambodia that killed over 100,000 civilians; the overthrow of democracy and the rise of dictatorship in Chile; disdain for human rights and support for dirty, and even genocidal, wars abroad, as well as involvement in the Nixon administration’s criminal abuses, among them the secret wiretaps of his own top aides.

More Russian Raids Down The Road (BBC) On Wednesday, Denis Kapustin, the leader of a Russian paramilitary group that conducted a border raid from Ukraine into Russian territory promised that more attacks are on the way. He claims that his group was able to seize “some weapons,” an armored personnel carrier, and multiple prisoners while only having two soldiers injured, though Moscow claims that Russian troops killed over 70 of the raiders. The Liberty of Russia Legion (LSR), which claimed joint responsibility for the Monday attack on Russian territory, said two of its forces were injured while ten more were killed. Both groups claim they want to take down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government, though their motives are a little less than pure. Kapustin has stated that he wants a mono-ethnic Russian state (Russia is home to over 190 ethnic groups), and an independent Ukrainian investigative group has shown his links to neo-Nazis in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Azov Battalion has similar ideals—it was founded by a known neo-Nazi, is consistently described as “a far-right nationalist” group, recruits known white supremacists from Western countries, and regularly uses Nazi symbolism.

Russia’s Old Bombs Elude Ukraine’s Modern Defenses (NYT) As Kyiv gears up for a much-anticipated counteroffensive, Ukrainian officials, independent analysts and American military officials say the Russians are increasing their use of Soviet-era bombs. Although they have limitations, the weapons, they said, are proving harder to shoot down than the fastest, most modern missiles that the Ukrainians have become adept at intercepting. The aircraft bombs don’t have propulsion systems like cruise missiles or stay in the air nearly as long as drones. The bombs are aloft for only 70 seconds or less and are much more difficult for Ukraine’s air defenses to track. They are little dots on radar screens that soon disappear after being dropped, Ukrainian officials said, and then they slam into villages. According to Ukrainian and American officials, the Russians have retrofitted some of the bombs with satellite navigation systems and wings that stretch their range, turning an old-fashioned weapon, which Moscow has thousands of, into a more modern glide bomb. “This is the evolution of the air war,” said Lt. Colonel Denys Smazhnyi of the Ukrainian Air Force. “They first tried cruise missiles, and we shot them down. Then they tried drones, and we shot those down. They are constantly looking for a solution to strike us, and we are looking for one to intercept them.”

Climbers celebrate Mount Everest 70th anniversary amid melting glaciers, rising temperatures (AP) As the mountaineering community prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, there is growing concern about temperatures rising, glaciers and snow melting, and weather getting harsh and unpredictable on the world’s tallest mountain. Since the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) mountain peak was first scaled by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay in 1953, thousands of climbers have reached the peak. Recent research found that Mount Everest’s glaciers have lost 2,000 years of ice in just the past 30 years. Researchers found that the highest glacier on the mountain, the South Col Glacier, has lost more than 54 meters (177 feet) of thickness in the past 25 years. The glaciers are losing ice at rates that likely have no historic precedent, said Duncan Quincey, a glaciologist at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The change is happening “extremely rapidly” he said. “It’s causing challenges for everybody within that region and, of course, for the millions of people who are living downstream,” since much of Southern Asia depends on rivers that originate in the Himalayas for agriculture and drinking water. Both floods and droughts are likely to become more extreme, he said.

Chinese hackers spying on US critical infrastructure, Western intelligence says (Reuters) A state-sponsored Chinese hacking group has been spying on a wide range of U.S. critical infrastructure organizations, from telecommunications to transportation hubs, Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft said on Wednesday. The espionage has also targeted the U.S. island territory of Guam, home to strategically important American military bases, Microsoft said in a report, adding that “mitigating this attack could be challenging.” While China and the United States routinely spy on each other, analysts say this is one of the largest known Chinese cyber-espionage campaigns against American critical infrastructure. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday the hacking allegations were a “collective disinformation campaign”. Mao said the campaign was launched by the U.S. for geopolitical reasons and that the report from Microsoft analysts showed that the U.S. government was expanding its channels of disinformation beyond government agencies.

Son of local lawmaker arrested in rare killing that left four dead in Japan (Washington Post) The police arrested the 31-year-old son of a local lawmaker on Friday in connection with an assault that left four people dead, according to police. The suspect has been identified as Masanori Aoki, the son of Nakano City assembly speaker Masamichi Aoki. The armed and masked suspect had barricaded himself in a building after allegedly killing a woman and two police officers in the central Japanese prefecture of Nagano on Thursday. The first three victims died at a hospital. The gunman, who was wearing camouflage clothing, a mask and sunglasses, stabbed the woman and then opened fire with what appeared to be a hunting rifle when police arrived, reports said. A fourth person injured in the attack, Yasuko Takeuchi, 70, was unable to be recovered from the scene until after police apprehended the attacker, when she was pronounced dead, according to local media. Gun crimes are extremely rare in Japan, where firearms are strictly regulated. Anyone trying to get a gun in Japan needs to apply for a permit, attend a class on gun safety and laws, and pass a written test. There is a full-day training course on safe shooting techniques.

Leaked Report: “CIA does not know” is Israel Plans to Bomb Iran (The Intercept) Whether Israel’s escalating threats of war with Iran over its nuclear program are saber-rattling or something more serious is a mystery even to the CIA, according to a portion of a top-secret intelligence report leaked on the platform Discord earlier this year. The report reveals an undisclosed military exercise conducted by Israel. “On 20 February, Israel conducted a large-scale air exercise,” the intelligence report states, “probably to simulate a strike on Iran’s nuclear program and possibly to demonstrate Jerusalem’s resolve to act against Tehran.” “CIA does not know Israel’s near term plans and intentions,” the report adds, speculating that “Netanyahu probably calculates Israel will need to strike Iran to deter its nuclear program and faces a declining military capability to set back Iran’s enrichment program.” Biden has not opposed a unilateral Israeli attack on Iran—and his national security adviser recently hinted at blessing it. “We have made clear to Iran that it can never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Jake Sullivan said in a speech earlier this month. Sullivan went a step further, adding, “As President Biden has repeatedly reaffirmed, he will take the actions that are necessary to stand by this statement, including by recognizing Israel’s freedom of action.”

Plastic Bags (ABC News) While many places purport to collect and recycle plastic shopping bags, a new investigation found that in reality it’s rare that bags make it to designated recycling centers even when properly returned to retailers who claim that they’ll recycle them. ABC and nine local stations and affiliates across the country dropped 46 bundles of plastic bags fitted with electronic trackers into drop-off locations associated with the American Chemistry Council’s Wrap Recycling Action Program, which has 18,000 drop-off points nationwide. The trackers were superglued inside multiple layers of clean plastic bags, and were monitored over the course of their journeys. After months of tracking, as of May, half of the trackers last pinged at landfills or incinerators, seven last pinged at refuse transfer stations that don’t recycle plastic bags, and six still remain in the store where they were dropped. Another three are now thousands of miles overseas in Malaysia or Indonesia, exported to Asia, and three were inconclusive. Only four of the 46 bundles last pinged in a facility that recycles plastic bags.

#headlines #news

[pestcontrolstyle]

Benefits of Oviedo Pest Control Service

Parasite infestations may be an individual's worst nightmare. Coming from rodents sprinting in the attic room to pests quietly feeding on wooden establishments, insects can easily ruin your building and also your satisfaction. In such scenarios, hiring the assistance of a professional Oviedo pest control company may be a wise selection. These specialists are outfitted with the expertise and resources to do away with pests as well as stop them from coming back. Within this article, our team will definitely discover five essential benefits of tapping the services of an insect control service.

Effective Pest Elimination

Some of the key advantages of employing a Oviedo pest control service is their potential to effectively do away with bugs from your house. Pest control experts possess significant training and also expertise in handling a large variety of parasites, including pests, rodents, and wildlife. They comprehend the habits, habits, as well as lifecycles of these pests, enabling them to develop tailored methods for eradication.

You might certainly not have accessibility to the exact same amount of expertise and information when you try to handle an insect problem on your own. Pest control professionals have actually access to focused products and approaches that are certainly not conveniently offered to the typical resident. These products are actually designed to target certain pests while minimizing injury to human beings, pets, as well as the atmosphere.

Long-Term Pest Deterrence

While eliminating existing parasites is actually important, avoiding future infestations is similarly important. Parasite control services don't only cease at eradication; they also pay attention to long-lasting protection. They will certainly examine your residential property for possible access aspects and also breeding grounds, addressing these issues to make your house much less desirable to parasites.

Normal bug control treatments can generate a protective barrier around your home, functioning as a deterrent for bugs trying to attack. This aggressive approach ensures that your residential property continues to be pest-free in the years and months to come, sparing you coming from the anxiety as well as expenditure of repeating infestations.

Health and Safety

Parasite problems position notable health and wellness risks to house owners. Several bugs lug diseases or may activate allergic reactions in people. For instance, roaches are actually recognized to spread bacteria, while mosquito bites may send harmful sickness like West Nile infection as well as Zika virus. Furthermore, the chemicals frequently utilized in do-it-yourself Oviedo pest control can be hazardous if mishandled.

Qualified bug control solutions focus on the safety of your household and pet dogs. They are trained in the appropriate use of chemicals and follow stringent protection protocols to decrease any sort of risks. By hiring specialists, you can feel confident that the insect trouble will definitely be actually fixed without compromising your health.

Economical Solutions

Some individuals might be reluctant to hire a Oviedo exterminator solution as a result of concerns concerning the price. However, in the long run, qualified pest control can be a cost-effective answer. When you seek to handle a parasite trouble by yourself and it worsens or even continues to persist, you may end up spending more money on do it yourself treatments and repair services for the damages caused by the bugs.

Parasite control experts certainly not only do away with pests efficiently however likewise aid stop future infestations, possibly saving you loan in the long-term. Also, the worth of a pest-free home, free from the stress as well as inconvenience of taking care of parasites, is countless.

Peace of Mind

Perhaps some of one of the most useful advantages of working with an insect control solution is the assurance it provides. Coping with an insect infestation may be bothersome and also exceptionally taxing. The continual fret about parasites damaging your home or even dispersing ailments may take a price on your emotional and also psychological wellness.

By turning over the insect control to professionals, you may rest as well as restore control of your home. You can easily appreciate your residence without the steady anxiety of running into undesirable parasites. This satisfaction is actually valuable and also supports a boosted lifestyle for you as well as your loved ones.

Conclusion

Finally, pest control solutions use a variety of benefits that create all of them a practical financial investment for property owners facing pest infestations. These experts certainly not merely get rid of insects efficiently yet also offer long-lasting deterrence, focus on health and safety, deal cost-efficient answers, and take satisfaction to your residence. When faced with a pest problem, it's a good idea to look for the proficiency of a pest control company to defend your residential property as well as your wellness. Don't allow parasites take over; take control with the help of professionals.

All American Pest Control

Oviedo, FL 32765

[phone]

Pest Control Oviedo

#Oviedo Pest Control #Oviedo Exterminator #Pest Control Oviedo #Youtube

[shadowmaat]

Do Not Read

I started reading a new scifi book the other day. Pretty standard fare about a wet-behind-the-ears engineer getting his first job on a ship. Add in the complication of him needing to take a "trash" berth due to his bio-mom's hubby putting out a hit on him and it adds to the excitement.

The first hint of trouble was the deeply stratified economic caste system. Not that it exists so much as the protag's unwavering derision for anyone who isn't working class. Both the rich and the poor apparently get everything handed to them on a platter, never have to work a day in their lives, and think they're better than everyone else. His vicious hatred of the poor (the Doles) was uncomfortable to read as he acted as if they were lazy vermin and no better than animals.

I could... tolerate it, though, with the hope that the rest of the book would be teaching him that he was wrong and that being poor didn't automatically make you a bad person.

That was fine right up until the protag got injured and one of the crewmates helping him out was the gay (or bi) boyfriend of another crewmember. The protag passed out from his injury and woke up in a bed to find the gay dude cuddling him. HIS VERY FIRST INSTINCT was to check and make sure his underwear was still on. Because, y'know, The Gays routinely molest unconscious straight dudes. *grinds teeth*

Oh, the protag went out of his way to mention he didn't think THIS Gay would have done that, but he still felt the need to be careful. Tch.

I stopped reading and deleted the book off my kindle. Thankfully it was only a loan so I didn't give money to the author. I decided to check him out, though, and boy howdy was that a journey.

He's ex military, which doesn't necessarily mean his views are suspect, but certainly makes it less likely that the homophobia and antipoor attitude was some accidental misunderstanding.

He's a huge gun rights activist who thinks assault rifles belong in the hands of anyone who can get them (as long as they're white, I'm sure). That kinda fits with the military background, unfortunately, and is an enormous red flag.

He supports T.rump and M.usk, which should be all you need to know to understand how bad and toxic he is, but just to add the frosting on the red flag cake, he also owns several big cats. Not because he's a rehabber or in any way involved in wildlife management, but just because he likes them. Egad.

If you're looking for a good hard scifi book to read, DO NOT read S.ummer's E.nd by J.ohn van S.try. Absolute trash. Avoid at all costs.

[gwydionmisha]

#Secret Service #PPP Loans #News

[saywhat-politics]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Secret Service said Friday that it has recovered $286 million in fraudulently obtained pandemic loans and is returning the money to the Small Business Administration.

The Secret Service said an investigation initiated by its Orlando office found that alleged conspirators submitted Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications by using fake or stolen employment and personal information and used an online bank, Green Dot, to conceal and move their criminal proceeds.

The agency worked with Green Dot to identify roughly 15,000 accounts and seize $286 million connected to the accounts.

“This forfeiture effort and those to come are a direct and necessary response to the unprecedented size and scope of pandemic relief fraud,” said Kevin Chambers, director for COVID-19 fraud enforcement at the Justice Department.

Billions have been fraudulently claimed through various pandemic relief programs — including Paycheck Protection Program loans, unemployment insurance and others that were rolled out in the midst of the worldwide pandemic that shutdown global economies for months.

[ubaid214]

Speedy Loans 101: Everything You Have to Know

In today's fast-paced earth, economic problems can occur unexpectedly. Whether it's an unexpected medical statement, a vehicle restoration, or an immediate house expense, having access to fast funds can make all the difference. That is wherever rapid loans enter into play, offering a lifeline for those needing immediate money infusion. In this informative article, we'll explore into the planet of rapid loans, exploring what they are, how they function, and important factors to keep in mind. Quick loan

Knowledge Rapid Loans Fast loans, also known as payday loans, income advances, or short-term loans, are designed to give borrowers with quick use of a little bit of cash. These loans are typically unsecured, indicating they don't need collateral, and are intended to be repaid within a brief period, often within a few weeks or months.

How Do Fast Loans Work? The procedure of obtaining an instant loan is relatively straightforward. Borrowers may apply for a loan online or face-to-face through a lender or financing platform. The application form on average involves fundamental particular and financial information, such as evidence of money and identification. Unlike conventional loans, quick loans frequently have minimal eligibility needs, making them accessible to people who have poor credit or limited financial history.

After the applying is accepted, funds are usually disbursed rapidly, sometimes within the same day as well as within hours. Borrowers will then utilize the funds for any purpose, whether it's protecting unexpected costs, spending costs, or handling other financial needs.

Essential Factors While rapid loans provide a easy solution for short-term economic wants, there are numerous essential considerations to remember:

Large Interest Prices: Quick loans often have high-interest rates and fees, creating them a pricey type of borrowing. Borrowers must cautiously review the phrases and conditions of the loan deal to know the total charge of borrowing.

Short Repayment Period: Quick loans normally have short repayment periods, which can range between a few days to a few months. It's required for borrowers to really have a clear arrange for repayment to avoid falling into a cycle of debt.

Impact on Credit Rating: While fast loans might not require a credit check always for agreement, timely repayment is crucial. Failure to repay the loan punctually can result in additional costs and injury to the borrower's credit score.

Alternative Possibilities: Before deciding on an instant loan, borrowers should investigate alternative sourced elements of funding, such as for instance personal loans from banks or credit unions, funding from buddies or family, or seeking aid from community organizations.

Realization Rapid loans could be a important resource for individuals experiencing sudden economic challenges, providing quickly usage of much-needed cash. Nevertheless, it's essential for borrowers to approach these loans with caution and fully understand the terms and conditions before proceeding. By carefully evaluating the expenses and considering option possibilities, borrowers may make informed decisions that most useful suit their financial wants and circumstances.

[insideoutvietnam]

SBA Offers Economic Assistance to Mid-Atlantic Small Businesses Affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that Mid-Atlantic small businesses affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26, 2024 may apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). “The SBA joins the entire federal family in grieving for the…

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#GlobeNewswire

[thepublicnews]

Contractor Who Was Awarded $34.5 Million in Government Money and Provided Zero Masks Pleads Guilty to Fraud

The VA and FEMA agreed to pay a first-time vendor in a desperate search for protective equipment. Now Robert Stewart admits he defrauded three federal agencies and lied about being in the Marine Corps.

An amateur mask broker who was awarded more than $38 million in federal contracts to provide N95 masks has pleaded guilty to defrauding three different federal agencies as part of a scheme to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert Stewart Jr., 35, pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements, wire fraud and theft of government funds Wednesday in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia, including charges that he lied to the Department of Veterans Affairs in April in order to win a $34.5 million no-bid deal to supply personal protective equipment to nurses and doctors in a sprawling health system serving 9 million veterans. He similarly acknowledged lying to the Federal Emergency Management Agency when he stated he had masks “stored securely in our climate control warehouse located in VA and PA,” according to his plea agreement.

Stewart was a key figure in a ProPublica investigation published in May in which he invited a reporter to tag along on a doomed mask deal, which produced zero masks for the VA and revealed that Stewart had none and had no plan for finding them or financing a purchase. Stewart’s hapless journey provided the first details of a shadowy network of brokers and investors who were pursuing billions in loosely monitored contracts from government agencies desperately trying to deal with the virus.

“Mr. Stewart made intentionally false statements to the VA and to FEMA in order to be awarded lucrative contracts,” U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick, head of the district’s Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Unit, told the court Wednesday.

“At the time, Mr. Stewart made these representations, he well knew he didn’t possess the masks.”

Stewart and his Arlington, Virginia-based business, Federal Government Experts LLC, were not ultimately paid by the VA for masks because none were delivered.

But Stewart did collect a huge payday from another government program responding to the pandemic, the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. Stewart pleaded guilty to wire fraud and a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration, which guaranteed $350 billion in loans to help struggling businesses stay afloat, many of which could be forgiven.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Stewart, trying to collect federally backed bank loans, provided false tax forms showing his business employed 37 people for a total quarterly payroll of $960,000, when his business actually employed nine people. Celtic Bank approved Federal Government Experts’ PPP loan of $805,000, most of which Stewart has repaid to the bank, according to court filings.

Stewart also pleaded guilty to collecting about $261,000 on false pretenses from another small business loan program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which provides low-interest financing to struggling small businesses during disasters.

The prosecutor told the judge that Stewart gave about $60,000 of that cash to himself as wages and also spent lavishly, including renting a private jet to hunt down masks, which ProPublica reported last spring.

“There was definitely some extravagant spending,” the prosecutor said.

Stewart, who declined comment in the courtroom Wednesday, is an Air Force veteran, a designation which gave him an edge when seeking federal contracts, especially from the VA. But prosecutors said that in a separate scheme, he claimed to be a decorated veteran of the Marine Corps, which was untrue.

From September 2013 to October 2020, Stewart collected nearly $74,000 in medical and educational benefits from the VA by falsely claiming he had been honorably discharged at the rank of Marine corporal. Stewart also pleaded guilty to that charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Last year, when ProPublica asked Stewart to explain what designated his business as owned by a disabled veteran, which gives an edge in contract competition, he declined to provide a specific disability.

As Stewart entered his plea, Judge Rossie Alston Jr. at one point turned to him and said, “I was inclined after reading what you did to lock you up.”

But prosecutors did not object to Stewart’s request that he remain free under court supervision while his lawyer negotiates terms for him to aid in a separate congressional investigation into the failed federal coronavirus response.

Stewart’s sentencing is scheduled for June. He faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison.

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How to Become more Financially Stable in 2024

Do you want to become more financially stable in 2024? If so, then you have come to the right place. Here you will find out what steps you can take to better your situation today, so you can look to a brighter future.

Invest in Yourself

Having further education means you’ll have more knowledge and skills that support your career. Financial knowledge is also very important if you want to enhance your quality of living. A lot of people don’t see the point in taking a financial course or exploring extra income opportunities. This is a major mistake though, as you could be holding yourself back in life and this can impact your situation more than you realize.

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Set an Expense Budget

Recording your finances is necessary. It helps you to monitor your spending patterns and you can also use it to aid your financial planning going forward. For basic costs, such as housing, utilities, food and even transport, you should make sure that these do not exceed 50% of your income. You can then set your budget for saving at 20%, followed by anything else you may have to pay out for at 30%.

Spend Wisely

Even though you do earn more, that doesn’t mean that you have to spend more. This is especially the case when it comes to luxury or unnecessary things. The surplus you have should be saved and then invested. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can be financially free sooner than ever.

Set up an Emergency Fund

You never know when you are going to lose your job or when disaster is going to strike. You might even experience an injury which renders you unable to work. If this is the case then it is possible for you to seek help with structured settlement payments, but you still need to plan for other aspects of your life too. Having an emergency fund is one of the best things you can do for yourself as it helps you to withstand any economic uncertainty and it also helps you to secure your finances should you face unexpected events.

Pay Debt

Loans that have a very high interest rate, such as credit card loans or even personal debts should be paid off as soon as possible. This will stop you from incurring this kind of debt again. On top of this, non-performing liabilities should also be kept to a minimum if possible. You need to limit your spending budget in general and then set aside the amount you need for expenses and savings. If you can do this then you will soon find it easier to clear all of the debt you need.

Plan for Retirement

If you don’t plan for your retirement then you will be making a huge mistake. The earlier you can save for your retirement, the better, so be mindful of this and take steps to make sure that you are always taking into account the latest interest rate changes regarding your future savings.