TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalCNMI: Ex-Dynasty workers ask court to issue $4.2M in default judgment
The 15 former foreign workers of the defunct Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino have asked the federal court to issue a default judgment holding the owner and management of Tinian Dynasty liable to pay them $4.2 million in damages.
The 15 plaintiffs, through counsel Samuel Mok, said the deliberate choice of Tinian Dynasty’s owner, Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investment Ltd. (HKE), and management, Mega Stars Overseas Limited, not to retain an attorney to represent them in this case makes decision on the merits impossible.
“This is because a corporation cannot appear pro se and must be represented by an attorney,” Mok said.
The lawyer said the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 55 explicitly authorizes a court to strike the answer of a corporate defendant and enter default and default judgment if the corporation fails to appear with legal counsel.
Read more: https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/ex-dynasty-workers-ask-court-to-issue-4-2m-in-default-judgment/
Fraudster Left Prison, Became Pastor, Stole $25 Million From Followers: SEC
A fraudster convicted of running an investment scam emerged from prison as a pastor who targeted Orange County’s Vietnamese community in a $25 million Ponzi scheme, alleges the Securities and Exchange Commission.
After the SEC announcement was made Tuesday, a court appointed federal equity receiver and his Costa Mesa-based counsel revealed they are seeking the public’s help in finding victims, who are also believed to be residing in San Jose and Chicago.
Former Chicago options trader Kent R.E. Whitney was sentenced Dec. 8, 2011, to 44 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to wire fraud three months earlier, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. He had swindled more than $600,000 from around 10 victims who invested with him.
The SEC alleges in the latest complaint that Whitney founded The Church for the Healthy Self three months after being released from federal prison in 2014. His LinkedIn page lists one of his previous Chicago companies, CME Group, and his church, without mentioning the stretch behind bars in between those two stops.
Read more: https://ocweekly.com/fraudster-left-prison-became-pastor-stole-25-million-from-followers-sec/
City council endorses I-27 extension through San Angelo
SAN ANGELO – The journey of 500 miles is one step closer after the San Angelo city council passed a unanimous vote Tuesday in favor of an interstate running through town.
The council's endorse is the first step in the lengthy processes of getting an interstate extended to the Concho Valley.
"San Angelo is one the largest cities in the nation without an interstate," Rep. Mike Conaway said in a 2018 Standard-Times article.
This could change with the extension of Interstate 27.
Read more: https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/local/2019/03/21/city-council-approves-interstate-27-extension-through-san-angelo-texas-2019/3211562002/
If completed, I-27 would run from Laredo to Denver. The interstate would run through Midland/Odessa to connect to the existing completed segment running between Lubbock and Amarillo. It would also relieve traffic on I-35.
Robert Lee mayor Allyson Crenshaw booked on theft charges, Coke County sheriff confirms
Coke County sheriff Wayne McCutchen has confirmed that Robert Lee mayor Allyson Crenshaw was arrested Monday morning, March 25, 2019, on suspicion of theft.
McCutchen said Crenshaw was booked, processed and released at the sheriff's office within hours that same day.
On Feb. 4, 2019, Crenshaw was alleged to have committed theft greater than $750 but less than $2,500 from the City of Robert Lee, a state jail felony, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the San Angelo Standard-Times requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
Crenshaw was "a public servant, namely Mayor of the City of Robert Lee, and such property appropriated by (Crenshaw) had theretofore come into her custody, possession, or control by virtue of her status as such a public servant,' records state.
Read more: https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/crime/2019/03/25/city-robert-lee-texas-mayor-arrested-suspicion-theft/3269756002/
Border Patrol orders quick releases of families
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of migrant families and children entering the U.S. from Mexico is so high that Border Patrol is immediately releasing them instead of transferring them to the agency responsible for their release, forcing local governments to help coordinate their housing, meals and travel.
"We need to work toward a clean sweep," Border Patrol Deputy Chief of Operations Richard Hudson said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press sent to sector chiefs Thursday. "This should be our daily battle rhythm."
Agents are still doing medical screenings and criminal checks, but the decision means thousands of families will be released without first going through U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, which manages their deportation cases.
The Del Rio and Rio Grande Valley sectors in Texas and the Yuma, Arizona, sector earlier announced that agents would begin to release families on their own recognizance. A Border Patrol official not authorized to speak on the matter said Wednesday that El Paso and San Diego planned on doing the same. Some sectors were not part of the change, including Tucson, Arizona and El Centro, California.
Read more: https://www.oaoa.com/news/us_news/article_c3166c73-80ee-59b6-b172-58d5b958fa3a.html
(Odessa American)
Audit questions how Oregon spent some of the $11.6 billion received for federal programs in 2018
The Oregon Secretary of State’s annual financial audit of state agencies that receive federal dollars uncovered a number of concerning issues, including questionable costs and data errors within foster care and other welfare programs.
Instead of the usual deep dive on a specific issue or agency, the audit takes a sweeping look at federally funded programs and in some cases, examines small sample sets in order to determine potential patterns.
Among the findings, audit officials said Thursday that the review of the 2018 fiscal year found Department of Human Services officials had not properly tracked payments to welfare recipients under the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. That problem led to overpayment in some cases, according to the audit. The review also found inaccuracies in identifying who is eligible for assistance, a recurring problem that the state has faced since 2010.
Also, in a review of 60 foster care cases, the audit reported several instances in which the state didn’t complete criminal background checks or properly vet prospective foster homes. In conjunction with those findings, auditors questioned as much as $800,000 in costs.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/03/audit-questions-how-oregon-spent-some-of-the-116-billion-received-for-federal-programs-in-2018.html
Oregon teens push for lowering voting age to 16
Hundreds of teens spent their spring break pleading with Oregon state lawmakers to consider lowering the voting age to 16, saying young people deserve a say on issues that will directly shape their future including gun control and global climate change.
"The decisions our election officials make now will affect us for the rest of our lives, which is why we need a say," Jeremy Clark, a 14-year-old from Portland, testified on Wednesday. "We are tired of waiting for the adults to take action."
Legislators are considering changing the state constitution to lower the voting age to 16 in all elections, including for federal office. The move would ultimately need approval from voters in the 2020 ballot.
Teens around the country have emerged as a powerful political force since a school shooting at Parkland, Florida, that left 17 students and teachers dead. Students have since staged multiple school walkouts calling for more gun control, and have separately staged political demonstrations demanding action on climate change.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/03/oregon-teens-push-for-lowering-voting-age-to-16.html
Marianne Williamson adds 'meaning' to Democratic presidential field with quixotic 'inner' campaign;
When Steve Novick was asked about one of the Democratic presidential candidates earlier this month, he drew a blank.
The long-time progressive activist, who’s closely following his party’s nomination sweepstakes, had to put the name into Google:
Marianne Williamson. Aha! An American spirituality teacher, author and entrepreneur.
She officiated at Elizabeth Taylor’s eighth (and last) wedding, a circus-like event at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/03/marianne-williamson-adds-meaning-to-democratic-presidential-field-with-quixotic-inner-campaign-her-rivals-are-noticing.html
Oregon foster kids removed from county juvenile jail that limited tampon access
Oregon child welfare officials are removing foster children from a Klamath Falls residential program located in a county juvenile jail, after lawyers and state lawmakers raised concerns that the girls did not have free access to tampons.
Girls recently were given access to three free tampons at a time, but only if they turned over their used hygiene products to staff.
Four girls in foster care were assigned to the program as of this week, and the state is moving all of them to other locations by April 1, a Department of Human Services spokesman said.
Lawyers who represent children in foster care first sounded the alarm about the hygiene products earlier this month, after one of the teenagers complained that staff would only provide tampons if she earned points for good behavior.
Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/03/state-removes-foster-youth-from-program-that-limited-tampon-access.html
Oregon Health Authority falls short on fixing Medicaid payment problems
The Oregon Health Authority still needs to strengthen its efforts to detect and avoid improper Medicaid payments, the Oregon Secretary of State's office said Wednesday.
The office's audit division released a follow-up report to a 2017 audit that found widespread problems in the Health Authority's payment system for Medicaid.
The report on Wednesday found that two of the eight recommendations in the audit have been put in place and six recommendations have been partially implemented.
OHA officials agreed with all the recommendations.
"While OHA has made progress, more work is still needed to fully resolve these recommendations and further improve processes to reduce improper payments," the report said.
Read more: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/27/oregon-health-authority-short-on-fixing-medicaid-payment-problems/3278835002/
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,140
