Leslie Bethea, a Tennessee woman, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining coronavirus relief funds and using the money for personal luxuries such as travel and plastic surgery. The Department of Justice has ordered Bethea to pay back the money she fraudulently obtained and has warned that those who attempt to defraud the government during the pandemic will be held accountable.
News Mash
This week's earthquakes in Turkey have caused immense destruction, leaving 19,000 dead and thousands of others huddled in the streets, braving sub-zero temperatures. Rescue teams are working to reach those still trapped in the debris, while aid organizations are providing relief to those affected. Anger is growing over the government's response to the tragedy, as the quakes continue to take more lives.
Burt Bacharach, legendary composer and Oscar winner, has passed away at the age of 94. Throughout his 70-year career, Bacharach wrote dozens of hit songs, including "Walk on By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," and "I Say a Little Prayer." His music was popular across generations, from the 1950s to the 21st century, and will continue to live on for years to come.
A U.S. government official has confirmed that a Chinese spy balloon shot down over the Atlantic Ocean last weekend was equipped with high-tech surveillance equipment, including antennas and solar panels. The balloon was linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, and the equipment was "clearly for intelligence surveillance." The U.S. government has warned citizens to be aware of the potential for Chinese espionage, and is likely to investigate the incident further.
This article reports on the fatal shooting of Russell Heller, a Republican council member from Milford, NJ, in the parking lot of the PSE&G Central Division headquarters building. The shooter has been identified as Gary T. Curtis, a former employee of PSE&G, who was later found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This is the second attack in seven days in New Jersey resulting in the death of a local elected official.
This article discusses the US government's response to a Chinese surveillance balloon shot down by US jets over the Atlantic coast last weekend. The balloon was part of a fleet of balloons used for spying, outfitted with high-tech equipment capable of collecting communications signals and other sensitive information from targets across the globe. The US is considering sanctions and other potential actions in response to the incident, which is not the first time the US has encountered Chinese surveillance balloons.
The trial of three men accused of fatally shooting the emerging rapper XXXTentacion began this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On Wednesday, jurors watched a gripping surveillance video that captured the murder of the local rap star and heard testimony from a family friend. Prosecutors showed the silent, graphic video from June 18, 2018 documenting the final minutes of the life of XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy. If convicted, the three men could face the death penalty.
The NTSB released an investigative report on the April 17, 2021 crash in Spring, Texas, revealing that the driver had moved to the back seat after the crash and was wearing a seatbelt. The report also determined that Autopilot could not have been used on the street where the crash happened. The NTSB is continuing to investigate the crash and will release a final report in the coming months.