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Former wrestler indicted in Mississippi welfare fraud case | Mississippi

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | – 2023-04-20 15:04:00

(The Center Square) — A Mississippi native and former professional wrestler, Ted DiBiase Jr., was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday with misappropriating millions of dollars in welfare funds intended for the poor.

The native was indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit from programs receiving federal money; six counts of wire fraud; two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds; and four counts of money laundering.

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The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that DiBiase and his alleged co-conspirators — former Mississippi Department of Human Services executive director John Davis, Christi Webb, Nancy New, and others — fraudulently directed funds from the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program for their own purposes.

Davis was accused by the of ordering Webb and New to award sham contracts in 2017 to various individuals and entities for social services, at least five sham contracts that were awarded to DiBiase's companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC.

The government says in the indictment that DiBiase didn't the contracted services such as speaking engagements and a program for at-risk youth and instead used the funds to buy a boat, a vehicle, and provide a down payment on a house.

He could face penalties of five years for conspiracy, 20 years apiece for each count of wire fraud, and 10 years apiece on each theft count.

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“Prosecutors decide whom to charge with a , and we're grateful to see them continuing to advance this case,” said Auditor Shad White in a statement. “We will continue to their efforts with the evidence that our investigators and federal investigators have uncovered.”

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The Center Square

Attorneys general say EPA water rule is costly and unlawful | Arkansas

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | – 2024-03-27 12:00:00

(The Center Square) – A proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule that would monitor indirect wastewater discharges from slaughterhouses is unlawful and would be costly to businesses, 27 attorneys general said in a letter to the agencies.

The EPA monitors wastewater discharge from 171 of the 5,055 meat and poultry product facilities in the United States, according to the letter led by Kansas Kris Kobach and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. The new rule would affect nearly 3,800 producers, some family-owned farms in Arkansas, according to Griffin.

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Poultry generates the most cash receipts of any other agricultural product in Arkansas, according to information from the Arkansas Farm Bureau. One in four agrarian are in poultry production, according to the Farm Bureau.

“The EPA's proposed rule would add additional regulations on processing plants with indirect wastewater discharges—discharges that are already treated by a municipal or other wastewater treatment facility, which are themselves subject to EPA regulations,” the attorneys general said in the letter. “That's an extra layer of regulation that doesn't accomplish anything. And the EPA lacks the legal authority to impose such regulations.”

The rule is part of a settlement of a North Carolina filed against the EPA by several environmental groups of the discharge of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, into the .

“Under the consent decree, EPA has obligations to sign a notice of proposed rulemaking by December 13, 2023 and to sign a taking final action on the proposal by August 31, 2025,” the agency said in its filing.

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Some judges have questioned using a settlement as the basis of rulemaking, according to the attorneys general.

“Finally, it appears that EPA is relying primarily on data put together by the groups that were suing them to up with this rule,” the letter said. “This practice not only puts forward poor policy but also harms the integrity of our judicial system. This administration must stop abusing the legal system in order to achieve results it otherwise cannot get.”

The EPA said in its filing the rule would “improve water quality and protect human and the by reducing the discharge of nutrients and other pollutants to the nation's surface waters.” The agency met with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, North American Meat Institute, the North American Renderers Association and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the agency said.

“The preferred option is estimated to cost $232 million annually and reduce pollutant discharges by approximately 100 million pounds per year,” EPA said.

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16 states, led by Gulf states, sue Biden administration over LNG export ban | National

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Bethany Blankley | contributor – 2024-03-22 06:39:00

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Attorneys general coalition ask Ninth Circuit to intervene in Mayorkas asylum case | National

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Bethany Blankley | contributor – 2024-03-20 11:27:00

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