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Scam artist impersonates Florida county employees and steals thousands

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www.abcactionnews.com – CNN – 2024-12-19 21:57:00

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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News from the South - Florida News Feed

2 journalists working for Kurdish media killed in clashes in northern Syria

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www.clickorlando.com – Associated Press – 2024-12-20 04:24:00

SUMMARY: Two Kurdish journalists, Nazim Dastan and Cihan Bilgin, were killed in northern Syria while covering clashes between Syrian Kurdish militias and Turkish-backed fighters. The incident occurred near the Tishrin Dam, a site of ongoing conflict between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and opposition forces. Meanwhile, following the fall of President Bashar Assad’s regime, Syria’s transition has been uneasy, especially for minority groups like Christians, under the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The U.N. warned against large-scale refugee returns to Syria, citing the country’s fragile peace and readiness for reintegration. Sweden also ended core support for the UN relief agency for Palestinians.

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Contract negotiations underway for Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO pick

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www.news4jax.com – Anne Maxwell – 2024-12-19 16:28:00

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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Report finds Florida’s affordable housing program helped 9,000 households | Florida

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – 2024-12-19 14:17:00

SUMMARY: A Florida Legislature report reveals that an affordable housing grant program assisted over 9,000 families from 2018 to 2020, spending $37.5 million and supporting 4,487 rental units. The program aims to enhance housing stability for low and moderate-income families and recommends targeted assistance for groups like teachers and the homeless. Local governments have utilized $250.3 million in state funds for various strategies, including down payment assistance and disaster relief. The report also highlighted 11 incentive strategies employed by 82 program participants, such as expedited permits and fee waivers, to encourage affordable housing development.

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