Florida
Treasury probing Florida Gov. DeSantis’ migrant flights
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WBQ36WMXAVGSVLWKRD42O6YZGQ.jpg "Treasury probing Florida Gov. DeSantis’ migrant flights")
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Division’s inside watchdog is investigating whether or not Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis improperly used federal pandemic help to fly migrants to Martha’s Winery as a part of his effort to “transport unlawful immigrants to sanctuary locations.”
At situation is whether or not thousands and thousands of {dollars} in curiosity earned on State and Native Fiscal Restoration Funds, disbursed by means of the American Rescue Plan, was used to facilitate the transport of about 50 Venezuelans from Texas to Massachusetts in mid-September, with a stopover in Florida on the best way.
The restoration funds program has strict necessities on how the cash might be spent. Paperwork point out Florida officers paid Destin, Fla.-based Vertol Methods Co. $1.56 million for the Martha’s Winery flight and presumably for a flight to Delaware, the house state of President Joe Biden, that finally didn’t occur.
The inspector basic’s workplace has audit work deliberate on “recipients’ compliance with eligible use steerage,” Treasury Deputy Inspector Common Richard Ok. Delmar mentioned in a letter addressed to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who requested the investigation.
“We plan to get this work underway as rapidly as doable, in step with assembly our different oversight mandates and priorities,” the letter mentioned. Treasury doesn’t have a confirmed inspector basic.
Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for DeSantis, mentioned Wednesday that Florida’s Workplace of Coverage and Funds had “articulated to Treasury’s OIG that our use of this curiosity, as appropriated by the Florida Legislature, is permissible.”
“Opinions by Treasury are typical and, as said by the OIG, are ‘a part of its oversight duties,’” Fenske mentioned.
Markey wrote to the inspector basic’s workplace in September, shortly after DeSantis organized the journey, which acquired huge publicity. The Florida governor mentioned the migrants traveled voluntarily to Massachusetts.
“Using federal COVID aid funds on this method runs opposite to congressional intent and seems to violate federal regulation,” Markey and 6 different Massachusetts lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 17 letter to Delmar. Markey mentioned DeSantis was “successfully utilizing COVID-19 aid to attain political factors by exploiting weak immigrants.”
The White Home has known as the journey to Martha’s Winery a “merciless, premeditated political stunt.”
Delmar didn’t point out when the probe could be full. Different regulation enforcement businesses all through the U.S. have additionally launched investigations of migrant journeys organized by Republican lawmakers to Democratic strongholds.
The flight has additionally spawned an investigation by a Texas sheriff and two lawsuits. The Treasury Division referred inquiries to the inspector basic’s workplace, which didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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Related Press reporter Curt Anderson contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved.
NEW YORK — Columbia hired Florida assistant Kevin Hovde as its head coach Monday, according to multiple media reports.
Hovde was on the staff at Columbia for five seasons, two alongside current Florida coach Todd Golden. He joined the program as the director of basketball operations in 2011 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. In 2015-16, his final season at Columbia, the Lions went 25-10 and won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
After his time at Columbia, Hovde went to San Francisco, Richmond and then Florida. He’s been with the Gators since 2022. Florida is a No. 1 seed in the men’s NCAA tournament and the Gators are in the Sweet 16.
Hovde succeeds Jim Engles, who took over in 2016, a year after Hovde left. This season, Columbia had its best non-conference record ever, starting 8-0 and receiving votes in the poll before finishing 11-2, including a win at Villanova. It was the best start to a season since the 1969-70 team.
The Lions struggled to a 1-13 mark in the Ivy League because of injuries.
Hovde becomes the second Florida assistant to land a head coaching job after John Andrzejek was hired by Campbell last week.
Hovde met his wife Jackie while at Columbia. She graduated from the school in 2009 and was a two-sport letter winner in field hockey and basketball.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Highway speeds could increase in Florida as a bill moves forward to the state Senate.
The transportation bill would boost the maximum speed limit on interstates and Florida’s Turnpike from 70 to 75 mph.
WATCH BELOW: Florida Senate bill seeks to raise speed limits
Florida Senate bill seeks to raise speed limits
Senate Bill 462, a bill introduced by state Sen. Nick DiCeglie from Pinellas County, would require the Department of Transportation to increase the maximum speed from 65 to 70 mph on four-lane divided highways in rural areas.
The bill would also raise the speed limits from 60 to 65 mph, where deemed “safe and advisable.”
Some drivers like Bernardo Nichele are in full support.
“People can go a little bit faster without putting everyone in danger, so I think it will work,” Nichele said. “Raising it a little bit is not the problem. I think the problem is people are distracted.”
Some said cellphones are the problem on the highways, but others, like Raymond Rawls, worry the speed limit change will only put drivers in danger.
“We have enough accidents now. If they want to do something constructive, hire more state troopers, write some tickets,” Rawls said. ”But adding speed, you might as well give an arsonist a match.”
There are at least 18 states that have maximum speeds of 75 mph. The bill must pass two committees before coming to the full Senate for a vote.
Florida
Pete Davidson and new flame Elsie Hewitt spotted in NYC after getting hot and heavy during Florida vacation
Pete Davidson and his girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt, were spotted cooling off on a casual outing in New York City after getting hot and heavy in Florida.
The comedian and the model stepped out with several bags in tow while waving down a black SUV in Brooklyn on Saturday, according to photos obtained by Page Six.
Davidson braved the wind in a hoodie, jacket and jeans, while Hewitt bundled up in a gray sweatsuit set, a scarf and boots.
They kept a low profile and hid behind sunglasses while walking through the street.
Davidson, 31, and Hewitt, 29, appeared to have landed in the Big Apple after they were photographed packing on the PDA in Palm Beach, Fla., on March 15.
Per photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the couple couldn’t keep their hands off each other during the beach getaway.
They appeared head over heels while locking lips and tongues in the ocean.
Page Six exclusively revealed that the “Saturday Night Live” alum and the influencer were dating.
An insider told us Hewitt was “different from anybody else he’s ever dated.”
“Although things are new for Pete, he really likes this woman,” our source said. “She respects Pete and his desire for privacy.”
We also learned that Davidson’s family “approve of this relationship and love seeing Pete so happy.”
On Saturday, the duo hard launched their relationship on Instagram with Hewitt sharing a video of the actor in a white bathrobe.
Hewitt has famously been linked to Jason Sudeikis, Ryan Phillippe and Selena Gomez’s fiancé, Benny Blanco.
Davidson, meanwhile, has dated a slew of high-profile people, including Kate Beckinsale, Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande.
The “Suicide Squad” actor, however, recently told W Magazine that he wanted to be known as more than a “f–king loser who just dates people.”
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