SUMMARY: Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood announced the arrest of 26-year-old Keith Merard for orchestrating a fraud scheme involving stolen Starlink satellites. Surveillance footage captured Merard loading stolen equipment into a SUV in South Florida over nearly a year. He created fake email accounts impersonating county officials to fraudulently obtain equipment from local vendors with open credit lines, resulting in $55,000 in purchases. His capture occurred after he activated a stolen Starlink, leading authorities to him. Merard faces charges of organized fraud and identity theft. In response, Volusia County improved cybersecurity and alerted vendors to scam attempts.

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The post Scam artist impersonates Florida county employees and steals thousands appeared first on www.abcactionnews.com

SUMMARY: The Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) is close to selecting George Guy, current head of the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, as its new CEO after a tumultuous year of leadership changes. The JHA board praised Guy’s extensive experience, including managing over 800 housing units and serving as president of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. This decision follows the resignation of former CEO Dwayne Alexander amid a scandal over mismanagement of nearly $2 million in utility reimbursement funds. The JHA plays a crucial role in managing housing for low to moderate-income families and overseeing housing voucher programs.

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The post Contract negotiations underway for Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO pick appeared first on www.news4jax.com

SUMMARY: California has declared a state of emergency due to the rapid spread of bird flu (H5N1) among dairy cows, with the virus detected in at least 866 herds across 16 states. Over 60 people have contracted the virus, primarily experiencing mild symptoms, although one Louisiana patient has been hospitalized with severe illness. Governor Gavin Newsom’s declaration aims to enhance state response and resource allocation. While the general public’s risk remains low, experts emphasize caution as illness severity could increase with more infections. Health officials advise precautions for those in contact with infected animals and discourage the consumption of raw milk, which poses additional risks.

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The post California declared an emergency over bird flu. How serious is the situation? appeared first on www.local10.com