Articles for Pandemic Aid

Clock is ticking for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid
3 months, 1 week ago

Clock is ticking for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Governments must obligate all their …

Pandemic Local Money Projects Treasury Republican Plan
The Great Grift: COVID-19 aid thieves bought fancy cars, a Pokemon card — even a private island
1 year, 1 month ago

The Great Grift: COVID-19 aid thieves bought fancy cars, a Pokemon card — even a private island

Associated Press  

YANKEETOWN, Fla. — A freshwater spring bubbles amid the mangroves, cabbage palms and red cedars on Sweetheart Island, a two-acre uninhabited patch of paradise about a mile off the coast of this little Gulf Coast town. Instead, he’s serving five and half years in federal prison for stealing nearly $8 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds that he used, in …

Florida Pandemic According Covid Billion Million Federal
How California schools are spending billions in record pandemic aid
1 year, 6 months ago

How California schools are spending billions in record pandemic aid

LA Times  

Second-grade students work at their desks at Weaverville Elementary School in rural Northern California in 2021. California school districts are largely on track to spend billions of dollars in pandemic aid before their 2024 deadline — with much of the funding targeting summer and after-school learning — but questions persist over how well the money is being spent to help …

Pandemic Students School Money Districts San Francisco California
The Great Grift: 5 things to know about how COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted
1 year, 6 months ago

The Great Grift: 5 things to know about how COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The greatest grift in U.S. history was brazen, even simple. “Here was this sort of endless pot of money that anyone could access,” said Dan Fruchter, chief of the fraud and white-collar crime unit at the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Washington. Between March 2020 and the end of July 2020, the agency granted 3.2 …

Pandemic Fraud Money Relief Washington Federal Aid
Federal COVID aid OK’d to pay for roads, natural disasters
1 year, 11 months ago

Federal COVID aid OK’d to pay for roads, natural disasters

Associated Press  

— State and local governments will soon gain new flexibility to spend billions of federal coronavirus relief dollars on things not directly related to the pandemic, including new roads and bridges and aid to people affected by wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. The broadened spending authority for the previously approved pandemic aid was one of many of provisions wrapped …

Relief Treasury Spending Governments Pandemic Aid Federal Covid
2 House chairs seek probe into airlines’ use of federal aid
2 years, 3 months ago

2 House chairs seek probe into airlines’ use of federal aid

Associated Press  

Two leading House Democrats are asking for a federal investigation into whether airlines used any of the $54 billion they received in government pandemic relief to pay employees to quit. They asked the Treasury Department’s inspector general to investigate and report back by Sept. 22 how airlines used the taxpayer money and whether any of it was spent on reducing …

Airlines House Federal Aid
California recovers $1.1 billion in unemployment aid amid fraud investigation
2 years, 6 months ago

California recovers $1.1 billion in unemployment aid amid fraud investigation

LA Times  

The California Employment Development Department was overwhelmed with unemployment benefits applications and widespread fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic. California officials have recovered $1.1 billion in unemployment insurance funds amid an ongoing investigation into widespread pandemic-related fraud, authorities said Tuesday. “We’re taking aggressive action to return that money to the taxpayers.” The California Employment Development Department was overwhelmed with unemployment benefits …

Pandemic Fraud Unemployment Claims State Newsom Aid
Biden seeks $10B for aid to Ukraine, $22.5B for coronavirus
2 years, 9 months ago

Biden seeks $10B for aid to Ukraine, $22.5B for coronavirus

Associated Press  

The Biden administration is seeking another $10 billion to help protect Ukraine against the Russian invasion and $22.5 billion more to cover pandemic-related expenses, two major additions to budget talks already underway. Young said the money would cover “additional humanitarian, security and economic assistance in Ukraine and the neighboring region in the coming days and weeks.” Last week, Biden administration …

Ukraine Budget Congress Young Biden Covid Billion
Wolf’s final budget, like his first, features public schools
2 years, 10 months ago

Wolf’s final budget, like his first, features public schools

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf’s eighth and final budget proposal unveiled Tuesday would push state spending past $43 billion for the first time, with the Democratic governor asking lawmakers for the largest-ever increase in aid for public schools, plus more money for direct care workers, higher-education institutions and college scholarships. All told, Wolf’s plan would increase spending through the …

Tax Budget Pennsylvania Senate Spending Republican State
As North Korea’s economy flounders, hints of easing isolation
3 years, 1 month ago

As North Korea’s economy flounders, hints of easing isolation

Al Jazeera  

There are tentative signs that the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ may relax borders following a devastating collapse of trade with China. After almost two years of near-total isolation due to what the world now knows is COVID-19, there are signs that Kim Jong Un’s secretive regime may be taking tentative steps toward loosening controls as the country grapples with severe economic deprivation …

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Pandemic windfall for US schools has few strings attached
3 years, 3 months ago

Pandemic windfall for US schools has few strings attached

Associated Press  

As the federal government releases historic sums of pandemic aid to the nation’s schools, it’s urging them to dream big, to invest in seismic changes that will benefit students for generations to come. “Now with the COVID relief, we’re going to be able to put a significant dent into the challenge.” The administration has encouraged schools to take leaps, not …

Pandemic School Money Districts Teachers Funding Relief
In this pandemic, Duterte has his priorities all wrong
3 years, 6 months ago

In this pandemic, Duterte has his priorities all wrong

Al Jazeera  

The Philippines’ government has to change course on the pandemic and focus on helping the poor stay afloat. The sudden growth of community pantries mirrors not just the extent of the Philippines’ economic crisis but also the extent of the government’s neglect. The Philippines was also hit the hardest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, suffering the …

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US jobless claims fall again as some states end federal aid
3 years, 7 months ago

US jobless claims fall again as some states end federal aid

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week — the latest encouraging sign for the rebounding U.S. economy — just as Republican-led states are moving to cut off a federal benefit for the jobless. “Today’s data indicates that unemployment aid is not keeping workers on the sidelines,” said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation. “Emergency unemployment …

Pandemic Jobs States Payment Ohio Republican End
2.7 billion people did not get state aid during pandemic: Oxfam
4 years ago

2.7 billion people did not get state aid during pandemic: Oxfam

Al Jazeera  

COVID-19 pandemic has hit billions of people hard with poverty set to surge in almost every country, Oxfam says. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures to contain it have hit millions of people hard, with poverty set to increase sharply in almost every country for the first time in decades unless action is taken now, according to a new …

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What's the status of a second $1,200 stimulus check?
4 years, 1 month ago

What's the status of a second $1,200 stimulus check?

CBS News  

Hopes for another large round of federal assistance for Americans hurt by the coronavirus pandemic are reviving, with President-elect Joe Biden calling on Congress to "come together and pass a COVID-relief package." Already, there are signs that consumers may be paring spending as the surge in COVID-19 cases saps their confidence in an economic rebound, paired with a lack of …

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