Connect with us

West

Labor Department deploys ‘strike team’ to California over $21B unemployment debt, fraud concerns

Published

on

Labor Department deploys ‘strike team’ to California over B unemployment debt, fraud concerns

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Labor Department deployed a “strike team” to California to address federal findings of improper payments and alleged fraud within the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) program.

California has been found to have a depleted UI trust fund, along with $21 billion in borrowed federal funds to keep the system running, which federal officials say has led state employers to pay higher UI taxes to repay the debt.

In a statement, the department cited an 83-page California State Auditor report that determined the state’s UI system is high-risk in part due to “inadequate fraud prevention and claimant service [in its employment development department (EDD)], as well as a high rate of overturned eligibility decisions in its Unemployment Insurance Program.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom  (Tayfun Coskun/Getty Images)

Advertisement

“Financial issues and potential fraud in California’s unemployment insurance program will be fully examined. The previous administration turned a blind eye toward failing Labor programs. This ends now,” Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said.

“Immediately, we are engaging a specialized strike team to uncover any potential fraud or abuse and quickly moving to protect the American worker and taxpayers. I look forward to restoring the California UI program’s integrity and financial health.”

Chavez-DeRemer added that the “strike team” will include Labor Department specialists from both its national and regional offices.

The secretary also wrote a letter to the EDD, citing increasing improper payment rates, insufficient timeliness, data accuracy and quality concerns and questions about participants’ eligibility and the use of taxpayer funds.

California received about $290 billion in COVID relief, part of which helped what the California Post described as “rapidly implementing expanded unemployment benefits.”

Advertisement

FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS NEWSOM ‘KING OF FRAUD’ AS TRUMP LAUNCHES CALIFORNIA CORRUPTION PROBE

Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is cracking down on reported H-1B abuse. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

At least one California UI steward was convicted of using her position to file nearly $860,000 in fraudulent UI claims, while some civilians were convicted of creating nonexistent businesses to claim UI.

Before the strike team’s deployment, DOL Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said he found nearly $1 billion in taxpayer funds “at risk” nationwide due to COVID-related UI fraud.

D’Esposito, a former NYPD officer and ex-congressman from Long Island, said in a statement that an analysis of 6.5 million prepaid debit cards used for COVID UI benefits still had $720 million loaded on them.

Advertisement

WALZ’S MINNESOTA MESS COULD SPARK THE TOUGHEST FRAUD REFORMS IN DECADES

“My office has warned that, absent swift action, U.S. taxpayers risk losing nearly a billion dollars in fraudulently obtained benefits,” D’Esposito said in a statement.

“This is taxpayer money, and it demands immediate attention.”

D’Esposito said fraud is not a victimless crime and that every misspent dollar is one that an actual needy family could use.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

Quality Learning Center in Minnesota was found to be at the center of an alleged childcare fraud scandal in the state. (Madelin Fuerste/Fox News)

“When we root out fraud, we protect taxpayers and lower the real cost of living,” he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom and the state Senate’s top Republican for comment.

Related Article

EXCLUSIVE: Senate bill targets Minnesota-style ‘runaway fraud’ to force scammers to repay taxpayers

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement

San Francisco, CA

Driver Arrested After Pedestrian Killed, Three Injured In Mission District Crash

Published

on

Driver Arrested After Pedestrian Killed, Three Injured In Mission District Crash


One pedestrian died at the hospital and three others suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a driver struck them in SF’s Mission District earlier this week.

The San Francisco Police Department arrested a driver suspected of fatally striking four pedestrians in the area of 16th and Mission streets Monday morning, as KRON4 reports.

Officers responded to the scene at 12:13 am and found medics treating one pedestrian with life-threatening injuries. The person later died at a nearby hospital, and three other pedestrians sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver was reportedly detained soon after the collision. The department has not announced what charges they will receive.

Advertisement

“We hold the victim and their loved ones in our thoughts, and grieve this loss of life on San Francisco’s streets,” said Jodie Medeiros, executive director for Walk SF, in a release. “We all deserve to be able to get around safely in our city.”

This marks the ninth pedestrian death in San Francisco this year. It’s also the second such death in the Mission, following the tragic death of local musician Danielle Spillman at Mission Street and South Van Ness Avenue in April, as SFist reported previously.

Four pedestrians were killed throughout the month of March, including deaths in Chinatown, the Financial District, North Beach, and the Outer Mission. In late February, a two-year-old was run over in Mission Bay.

Anyone with information may contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text “TIP411,” beginning with “SFPD.”

Wife of SoMa Hit-and-Run Suspect Says ‘My Husband Is Not a Villain’

Advertisement

Image: Google Maps



Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Von Miller lobbying Broncos to bring him back (here’s the latest update)

Published

on

Von Miller lobbying Broncos to bring him back (here’s the latest update)


Von Miller has made it abundantly clear that he would like to return to the Denver Broncos and finish his career where it started. Miller has made that fact known at every possible opportunity, including a Von’s Vision charity event on Wednesday.

“I would love to bring back those Super Bowl 50 vibes, love to assist, to be the vice president to Bo Nix, to Courtland Sutton,” Miller said. “I’ve been the guy and also I’ve been the vice president as well. I would love to contribute to us getting back to the glory land, to holding up that trophy.”

Miller went on to note that he has lobbied coach Sean Payton to sign him (Payton coached Miller at a flag football tournament earlier this year).

Unfortunately for Miller, it sounds like there are no plans for a potential reunion with his old club. The Denver Post‘s Luca Evans reported that “as of last week,” there have been no talks between the Broncos and Miller’s representatives about a potential contract.

Advertisement

With a crowded outside linebacker room, Denver seems unlikely to re-sign Miller, but the 37-year-old pass rusher said he will “for sure” play in 2026. After totaling nine sacks with the Washington Commanders last fall, Miller will probably be able to find a home as a rotational pass rusher, but it might not be with the Broncos.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.



Source link

Continue Reading

Seattle, WA

Seattle travel alert: Massive road closures, light rail shutdowns this weekend

Published

on

Seattle travel alert: Massive road closures, light rail shutdowns this weekend


Transportation officials are warning travelers to prepare for heavy traffic congestion and significant delays as massive construction closures hit highways across the region and light rail lines this weekend.

Major highway closures this weekend

What we know:

Advertisement

The Washington State Department of Transportation said major construction projects are taking over several regional corridors from Friday, May 29, until the morning of Monday, June 1. 

Crews are squeezing a large amount of work into a short spring window so they can pause construction during Seattle’s “summer of soccer.” 

Advertisement

This means drivers will face concentrated traffic impacts now rather than disruptions spread throughout the summer season.

Here’s what is scheduled for this weekend: 

  • Kirkland (Southbound I-405): All southbound lanes will be closed from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 70th Place from 11 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday for fish barrier correction work. Miles-long backups are expected.
  • Seattle (Northbound I-5): Two northbound lanes will remain closed across the Ship Canal Bridge, further restricting traffic inside the city.
  • Seattle (Eastbound SR 520): Eastbound lanes and all connecting ramps between I-5 and Montlake Boulevard will close from 11 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. Crews are preparing for a traffic switch on the Montlake off-ramp. Only transit and HOV 3+ vehicles will be allowed to use the Montlake Boulevard direct access ramps to eastbound SR 520 across Lake Washington.
  • Issaquah/Snoqualmie (Westbound I-90): The eastbound SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway on-ramp to westbound I-90, along with the westbound I-90 off-ramp to westbound SR 18, will close for paving from 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

Timeline:

Advertisement

The closures start Friday evening, with I-90 ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m., followed by the full I-405 and SR 520 closures at 11 p.m. All highways are scheduled to fully reopen to regular traffic by 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. on Monday, June 1.

WSDOT also said much of the work is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled if it rains. 

Advertisement

Light rail disruptions

In addition to the highway gridlock, Sound Transit passengers will face major service disruptions on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31. 

Maintenance crews are shutting down parts of the region’s light rail network to complete rail replacement through downtown Seattle stations and perform work on the Crosslake Connection.

Advertisement

During the weekend shutdown, the 1 Line will completely close between the Capitol Hill and Stadium stations. Simultaneously, the 2 Line will be closed between Lynnwood City Center and South Bellevue stations.

The Source: Information in this story came from the Washington State Department of Transportation and Sound Transit. 

MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

Advertisement

Is Mark Zuckerberg in Seattle? Here’s what we know

Accused monk seal rock thrower pleads not guilty in Hawaii court

Trump’s no-bond policy for immigrants in custody played out for years in Tacoma, WA

Advertisement

Late World Cup bookings expected to drive Seattle economic surge

Top spots in Seattle to watch the World Cup

Advertisement

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
 

TransportationKing CountyDowntown SeattleCapitol HillBellevueLynnwood
Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending