Dozens of public housing employees in New York City were charged with bribery and extortion on Tuesday in a record for the largest number of bribery charges filed in a single day by the Justice Department. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged 70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) with accepting cash bribes from contractors in exchange for Housing Authority contracts‚ The New York Times reported. The suspects are accused of accepting more than $2 million in bribes from contractors who wanted to work on nearly 100 of the Housing Authority’s buildings in all five boroughs. More than $13 million in work was awarded‚ with the suspects typically getting 10% or 20% kickbacks‚ sometimes more‚ prosecutors said. The suspects were arrested in handcuffs in a major raid Tuesday morning. “This culture of corruption at NYCHA ends today‚” said Damian Williams‚ the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York at a press conference Tuesday morning‚ calling it a “classic pay to play” scheme. Much of the Housing Authority corruption involved smaller contracts that initially flew under the radar‚ like window or plumbing repairs. If city contracts are less than $10‚000‚ local development managers can award them without going through the public bidding process. Lisa Bova-Hiatt‚ NYCHA’s chief executive‚ said the suspects “put their greed first and violated the trust of our residents‚ their fellow NYCHA colleagues and all New Yorkers.” “We will not allow bad actors to disrupt or undermine our achievements‚” she said. The smaller contracts have been flagged for potential corruption in the past by both investors and news outlets. Some contractors have even been charged before — in 2021‚ nine contractors were charged with bribery. Meanwhile‚ a host of other problems plague the city’s Housing Authority‚ which houses more than half a million New Yorkers across more than 2‚400 buildings. The agency has been criticized for operating old buildings with rodents‚ leaky pipes‚ and broken elevators‚ as well as for its backlog of hundreds of thousands of people on the housing waiting list. The properties currently need about $78 billion worth of repairs. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP At the same time‚ people are paying less rent to the agency than ever. In 2022‚ the Housing Authority collected a record low 65% of the rent it charged. The city’s Housing Authority is the largest in the country and receives more than $1.5 billion in federal funding. Mayor Eric Adams‚ a Democrat‚ has emphasized affordable housing‚ announcing back in the fall an ambitious goal of 100‚000 new homes to combat the city’s severe housing shortage.

  As the political landscape continues to evolve‚ Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2028. Despite facing a challenging national approval rating‚ Harris has found a stronghold of support within South Carolina‚ a state that plays a pivotal role in the Democratic primary process. Harris’s strategy appears to be one of deep community engagement‚ particularly within the African American demographic‚ which forms a significant portion of the Democratic base in South Carolina. Her frequent visits to the state since taking office have not gone unnoticed‚ with prominent South Carolina Democrats already voicing their support for her potential candidacy. An alarming reminder that a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for Kamala Harris to serve as President. https://t.co/x6BAzB46cx — Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) February 6‚ 2024 Representative James E. Clyburn‚ a heavyweight in South Carolina politics‚ has openly endorsed Harris‚ signaling a strong local backing that could prove crucial in a future bid for the presidency. This support is further bolstered by the sentiments of Trav Robertson‚ a former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party‚ who highlighted an “unspoken language” between Harris and African American women in the state‚ suggesting a deep-rooted connection based on shared experiences. However‚ Harris’s popularity in South Carolina stands in stark contrast to her national approval ratings. According to a Five Thirty Eight Project poll as of January 19‚ a majority of Americans disapprove of the Vice President‚ with only 37.5 percent approving of her performance. This discrepancy poses a significant challenge for Harris‚ who must work to bridge the gap between her regional appeal and broader national sentiment. Nikki Haley says "we WILL have a female president" in 2024. "It will either be me‚ or it will be Kamala Harris." pic.twitter.com/dTlXorsu9S — Julia (@Jules31415) February 2‚ 2024 Despite these challenges‚ Harris is not without her strengths. Polling conducted by Emily’s List‚ a Democratic fundraising organization‚ found that she enjoys high favorability ratings among key segments of the Democratic coalition‚ including Black women‚ younger voters‚ and college graduates. These demographics could form the cornerstone of her support base should she decide to run. Yet‚ there remains a considerable portion of Democratic and independent voters who are unfamiliar with Harris’s personal story‚ her background as California’s attorney general and junior senator‚ or her accomplishments as vice president. This lack of awareness presents both a hurdle and an opportunity for Harris to define her narrative and accomplishments more clearly to the electorate. In the meantime‚ Harris continues to play a supportive role in President Biden’s reelection campaign‚ while simultaneously nurturing her own political ambitions. Her actions suggest a careful balancing act between loyalty to the current administration and the cultivation of her own political future. As the political tides ebb and flow‚ it will be interesting to observe how Vice President Kamala Harris navigates the complex waters of public opinion. With her eyes set on 2028‚ Harris’s journey is a testament to the enduring nature of American political ambition and the ever-present quest for higher office.   The post Kamala Harris Eyes 2028 Presidency Amid Mixed National Sentiment appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

An aerobatic pilot drew a smile in the sky for a hospice patient who was overdue for a smile on his face. And while the gesture was meant for one person‚ it brought joy to an entire town. The massive face appeared over Worchester‚ England‚ last month‚ and brightened the days of thousands. Worchester News looked into the artwork and discovered that a man named Rich Goodwin created it for a friend named Ray Stanton‚ who is a patient with St Richard’s Hospice‚ an independent charity caring for adults with serious progressive illnesses. TikTok Ray‚ 66‚ worked as a transportation engineer and loves airplanes. As a young man‚ he would often take his children to air shows and aeronautical museums. “To see the smile in the sky and then look at Ray’s smile was just fantastic‚” Rich told the publication. “I haven’t seen him smile for a while‚” he said before adding that hospice’s care “is above and beyond anything.” Hospice Patient’s Family Thanks Pilot For the ‘Precious Memories’ St Richard’s Hospice helps over 3‚000 patients‚ family members‚ and grieving people each year. The organization gets funding from the country’s National Health Service (NHS). Donations cover the rest of the costs. @strichardshospice A smile in the sky for Ray… Today our patient‚ Ray Stanton‚ 66‚ was treated to a special fly-past from aerobatic pilot Rich Goodwin Ray‚ a former transportation engineer‚ is an aeroplane enthusiast and enjoyed the sky-high spectacle with his wife‚ Angela‚ and children‚ Sophie-Rae and Matthew Our heartfelt thanks to Rich for helping us create such precious memories for Ray‚ his family‚ and everyone who witnessed the smile in the sky over Worcester. @Worcester News #Worcester #Worcestershire ♬ original sound – St Richard’s Hospice “This was such a special moment for everyone watching – and we feel privileged to have helped make it happen for Ray and his family‚” Chief Executive at St Richard’s Hospice Mike Wilkerson told the publication. Ray watched Rich draw the smile in the sky from outside his home in Worchester. His wife‚ Angela Stanton‚ and children‚ Sophie-Rae Byrne and Matthew Stanton‚ were by his side. TikTok “We would like to say a huge‚ heartfelt thank you to Rich for creating such precious memories for Ray‚ his family‚ and everyone who witnessed the smile in the sky‚” said Ray’s family. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Sky-High Spectacle: Pilot Creates Smile In The Sky To Brighten Hospice Patient’s Day. appeared first on InspireMore.

Sometimes‚ memes explain more than a thousand word essay — especially when it comes to trends like Stanley cups and tumblers. If you’re not familiar with the craze‚ Stanley is a company that makes a variety of travel-friendly drinkware. Suddenly‚ everyone decided that they had to have one of these refillable bottles in every single color. In fact‚ people are willing to stand in line for hours on end just to obtain specialty versions of these travel mugs‚ according to USA Today. Sure‚ hydration is important‚ but wouldn’t any brand of water bottle do the trick? Not if you’re on social media‚ where influencers are flexing their extensive Stanley collections. However‚ with any trend‚ there are always those who follow and those who make fun. Some of the memes that have been born out of the Stanley cup obsession are pretty hilarious! Here are our favorites. 1. A disclaimer for casual Stanley cup users: i have a stanley tumbler but in a normal way i swear— paddington bear stan account (sped up 5x) (@adriyoung) January 6‚ 2024 While some people treat their Stanley collection like a religion‚ others really do just want to stay hydrated! However‚ it can be hard to convey a neutral stance on the viral travel cup. 2. If you thought everyone was talking about a different Stanley Cup‚ you’re not alone. Anytime anyone mentions their Stanley Cup. pic.twitter.com/JYTJgpbhbU— Jonathan Goldstein (@afundrummer) January 8‚ 2024 It’s a pretty confusing time for hockey fans. Maybe the NHL should consider changing the name of their trophy! The post Stanley Cup Memes To Quench Your Thirst For Laughter. appeared first on InspireMore.

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'Technically and economically nonviable'

Katelynn Richardson called out the National Science Foundation

Cringe‚ but hilarious

'Increased financial stress'

'He knew he was wrong'