Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC
WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued the lists of institutions scheduled for a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) examination during the second quarter 2025 and third quarter 2025. CRA regulations require each federal bank and thrift regulator to publish its quarterly CRA examination schedule at least 30 days before the beginning of each quarter.
The Community Reinvestment Act is a 1977 law that requires the FDIC to assess a bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operations. CRA examinations allow federal regulators to assess an institution’s record of helping to meet those needs.
CRA examinations are scheduled based on an institution’s asset size and CRA rating. Absent reasonable cause, an institution with $250 million or less in assets and a CRA rating of Satisfactory can be subject to a CRA examination no more frequently than once every 48 months. Absent reasonable cause, an institution with $250 million or less in assets and a CRA rating of Outstanding can be subject to a CRA examination no more frequently than once every 60 months.
The schedules of institutions to be examined April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, and July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025, are based on the best information now available and are subject to change. For example, a regulated financial institution not otherwise scheduled for an examination may be examined in connection with the application for a deposit facility. Alternatively, some institutions may require more time and resources than originally allotted, thus delaying other scheduled examinations. If an institution is rescheduled for a different quarter, that information will be included on a later list.
Federal bank and thrift regulators encourage public comment on the institutions to be examined under the CRA. Comments about FDIC-supervised institutions should be directed to the institutions themselves or to the Deputy Regional Director of the appropriate FDIC regional office (attached). All public comments received prior to completion of a CRA examination will be considered.
The CRA examination schedules for the second quarter of 2025 and third quarter of 2025 are attached. Schedules also can be obtained by calling (703) 562-2200 or (877) 275-3342, faxing a request to (703) 562-2296, or writing to:
FDIC Public Information Center 3501 Fairfax Drive Room E-1002 Arlington, VA 22226
ATTACHMENTS:
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT: LaJuan Williams-Young 202-898-3876 lwilliams-young@FDIC.gov
A grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned a superseding indictment yesterday charging 13 Texas men for their roles in a robbery crew that engaged in robbery, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, and murder, including the killing of two individuals in July 2023.
The following 13 defendants, all of Houston, have been charged in the superseding indictment with one count of robbery conspiracy and one count of drug distribution conspiracy:
Derrick Dewayne Butler, also known as Kutt and Kutt Throat, 28;
Travon Maxwell, also known as Goonie, 29;
Emmanuel Winnfield, also known as Pimp, 36;
Herman Mitchell, also known as Boobie, 37;
Tyrone Raymond Bolton, also known as Honeybee, 32;
Joe Devon Champion, also known as Champ, 35;
Jonta Allen Glover, 32;
Dewayne Donnell Champion, also known as Wayne, 37;
Cedric Lynn Andrews, also known as Ced, 50;
Jermar Ballard Jones, also known as Mar, 37;
Christian Xavier Rucker, also known as Gucci, 30;
Samuel Lamonte Draper, 25; and
Jeremy James Jenkins, 21.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the robbery conspiracy count and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug distribution conspiracy count. In addition, the defendants are each charged with one or more counts of attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and Jones is charged with obstruction.
Three of the defendants, Butler, Rucker, and Jones, were also charged with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of causing death through the use of a firearm relating to the killing of two men on July 19, 2023. If convicted of murder in aid of racketeering, Butler, Rucker, and Jones each face a mandatory minimum of life in prison or a maximum of the death penalty.
Twelve of the defendants, Bolton, J. Champion, Glover, Winnfield, D. Champion, Mitchell, Andrews, Jones, Butler, Maxwell, Draper, and Jenkins, each face, if convicted, an additional mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI Houston Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Houston Field Office and Houston Police Department investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is part of both the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Houston and an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.
Trial Attorneys Justin G. Bish, Ralph Paradiso, Ben Tonkin, and Jodi Anton of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Byron H. Black and Kelly Zenón-Matos for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Houston VCI is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Justice Department’s OCDETF webpage.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
Bill Will Strengthen National Guard Units in Utah and Across America
WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has reintroduced the Guarding Readiness Resources Act today with Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) is introducing the House companion bill. This bipartisan legislation provides a critical exemption from the Miscellaneous Receipts Act for State Active Duty (SAD) reimbursement payments. This change ensures that these funds are directed back to the National Guard units that incurred the expenses, bolstering readiness and operational efficiency. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines R-MT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), James Risch (R-ID), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jim Justice (R-WV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Amy Klobuchar (R-NH), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jerry Moran (R-KS).
“The National Guard is essential to our national defense and emergency response system,” said Senator Lee. “Our legislation eliminates unnecessary hurdles, ensuring that the funds used by states to reimburse the National Guard go directly to maintaining and preparing our equipment for future missions.”
“The men and women of the National Guard are committed to the motto of ‘always ready, always there’—which is why it’s important our Guardsmen have the resources they need to stay mission-ready,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act would better ensure the Guard has access to the funds needed for the maintenance and readiness activities that help them keep our country safe.”
“The National Guard is America’s first responder, but outdated bureaucracy is draining resources, leaving critical equipment broken and unfunded after State Active Duty missions. The Guarding Readiness Resources Act fixes this by cutting red tape at the Department of the Treasury—ensuring the National Guard Bureau immediately gets the funds it needs to repair, replace, and maintain equipment. This keeps our Guardsmen mission-ready, whether responding to natural disasters or supporting local law enforcement,” said Congressman Harrigan. “I’m proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Senator Lee in the Senate to strengthen the Guard and protect American communities.”
The Guarding Readiness Resources Act addresses a longstanding challenge for the National Guard. While federal law allows the use of federal assets for state-directed missions, reimbursements for those expenses have been diverted to the U.S. Treasury instead of the appropriate Guard units, creating significant funding gaps. The legislation is endorsed by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) and the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS).
“Our National Guard members serve side by side with their active-duty counterparts, answering the call at home and abroad,” said CMSgt. Josh J. Baker, Vice President of EANGUS. “Yet, they continue to face inequities in pay, health care, and benefits that undermine their service and sacrifice. This legislation is a significant step toward correcting these imbalances and ensuring our Guardsmen are properly equipped, trained, and supported—whether they are responding to domestic emergencies or deploying overseas,” “EANGUS stands ready to work alongside Senator Lee and other congressional leaders to advance this bill. Our members, the backbone of the National Guard, deserve nothing less than full recognition and fair treatment for their dedication to our nation.”
“The National Guard continuously responds to the dynamic domestic challenges this nation faces,” said retired Maj Gen. Francis M. McGinn, President of NGAUS. “Immediate response often requires significant unforeseen state expenditures. While the law allows for federal reimbursement, it is executed in such a way that states never see those much-needed funds. This creates substantial budget gaps that threaten the readiness of the force. The Guarding Readiness Resources Act corrects this oversight and ensures the National Guard has the necessary resources to effectively fulfill their mission. We are grateful for the work of Senators Lee and Duckworth and ask for full congressional support for inclusion in the FY26 NDAA.”
Bill Specifics:
By adding a Miscellaneous Receipts exemption to section 710 of title 32, Congress will ensure that:
The U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) can direct reimbursement money back to National Guard units.
National Guard units will have available funding for maintenance, repair, and replacement costs of federal equipment when needed.
National Guard equipment, property, and training funds will remain ready for National Guard federal missions.
You can read the bill text HERE.
You can read the one-pager HERE.
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
This training was presented as a part of the National Center on Forensics conference at George Mason University on August 8th, 2023. In this session, Board Certified Pathologist and Medical Director Marissa Saint Martin discusses the challenges that pathologists often face in regard to mental health, specifically burnout. This training defines and discusses burnout while also highlighting specific strategies to overcome these stressful feelings and increase mental health and resiliency.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
The brush and riverine team assigned to the Texas Army National Guard as part of Operation Lone Star plays a vital role in enhancing border security along the Rio Grande River. This specialized team operates both on land and water, conducting coordinated patrols to detect and deter illegal crossings and criminal activity. On land, they navigate dense brush and rugged terrain to carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, and interdiction missions. On the water, they utilize boats to patrol the Rio Grande, providing rapid response capabilities and maintaining a strong security presence. By integrating ground and riverine operations, the team supports state and federal agencies in disrupting transnational criminal organizations and bolstering public safety along the Texas-Mexico border. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Master Sgt. Amber Monio and Staff Sgt. Derek Gutierrez)
VICTORIA – Workers and communities throughout B.C. are benefiting from Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) supported projects that reduce wildfire risk and increase fibre supply, keeping local mills and energy plants running in the face of U.S. tariff threats and unjustified softwood lumber duties.
With $28 million from the Province, FESBC is supporting 43 new and expanded fibre-recovery projects and 31 new and expanded wildfire-mitigation projects.
“In tough times, I want workers in our forest sector to know I’ve got their back,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Whether it’s better utilizing existing sources of fibre or helping protect communities from wildfire, the projects are supporting workers and companies as they develop new and innovative forest practices.”
Projects are taking place in all eight of the Province’s natural resource regions, helping create jobs, reducing wildfire risk and supporting B.C.’s pulp and biomass sector. They will be complete by the end of March 2025, in advance of wildfire season.
Fibre-recovery projects take wood fibre that would otherwise be burned or abandoned and put it in the hands of mills and forestry companies that can use it, helping keep forestry workers on the job. Through the Province’s continued investment in FESBC, the projects they support have delivered 44,000 logging truckloads worth of fibre out of the bush since April 2024. That fibre would once have been burned in slash piles and is instead creating jobs and revenue for local businesses.
“These projects are putting local businesses and people to work reducing wildfire risk and recovering fibre for local pulp mills, and pellet and energy plants,” said Jason Fisher, executive director, FESBC. “FESBC received strong proposals from across the province and we are pleased to support this strong group of proponents in their forest-management activities.”
Government continues to take action to support the forest sector in the face of U.S. softwood lumber duties and tariff threats, including through the recently formed Softwood Lumber Advisory Council, streamlining the permitting process and continuing to advocate to the federal government.
Quick Facts:
Founded in 2016, FESBC is fully funded by the Province to support forestry projects at the community level.
As part of Budget 2024, B.C. announced FESBC would get an additional $60 million over three years to continue community-focused wildfire risk-reduction and fuel-management projects, as well as improving utilization of biomass from harvested timber.
Since 2016, $79.6 million has been invested in 201 community wildfire risk-reduction projects through FESBC.
Learn More:
For information about fibre-supply and wildfire-mitigation projects, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/FESBCNewExpandedFunding.pdf
Highways Minister David Marit has proclaimed March 2 to 8 as Engineering and Geoscience Week in Saskatchewan to highlight the important work of those professionals.
“Engineers and geoscientists play an integral part of developing the infrastructure we use every day,” Marit said. “We are thankful for these hard-working professionals that call Saskatchewan home and help build and support the province during a significant period of growth.”
Engineers and geoscientists play a role in a wide variety of areas, infrastructure and industries.
This includes:
Agriculture;
Aerospace;
Environment;
Forestry;
Manufacturing;
Mining;
Utilities;
health care;
Education;
Highways; and
Natural resources.
“Saskatchewan people put their trust in the competence, integrity, and professional conduct of engineers and geoscientists,” Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGS) President Erin Moss Tressel said. “We are committed to protecting that trust by upholding the highest ethical and professional standards and recognizing the exemplary achievements and contributions of our members.”
APEGS is the regulatory body for the engineering and geoscience professions in the province with more than 15,000 members. The Minister of Highways is also the minister responsible for the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act for Saskatchewan.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it. Affected Product
Product Name: Regard Newborn Kit Lot number 104006, Exp. 9/30/2026, UDI (01)10194717119074(17)260930(10)104006 Lot number 103486, Exp. 8/31/2026, UDI (01)10194717119074(17)260831(10)103486
What to Do
Stop use and distribution of affected product. Provide a copy of this recall notice to all customers who may have received impacted product. Notify anyone who may use these devices.
On December 26, 2024, ROi, CPS LLC sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Correction Notice recommending the following actions: Actions for customers
Review inventory to determine if the item and lot numbers are present. Quarantine affected kits. Do not distribute affected kits to user facilities. Notify any customers who may have received affected product. Provide a copy of the notice to all customers who have received impacted product and require a response.
Customer responses will be requested to determine effectiveness of this recall.
Actions for end users
Do not use affected kits. Return kits to the distribution location. Reply to the notice by completing the reply form attached to the letter. ROi CPS, LLC will make sure all of the impacted Mecury Medical items are removed from the distribution location. Report any adverse health consequences experienced to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
Reason for Recall ROi CPS, LLC, is recalling newborn kits after receiving an Urgent Field Safety Notice for a kit component from the supplier Mercury Medical. The affected component is the Neo-Tee T-Piece resuscitator, which is being removed by Mercury Medical due to a undersized spring in the controller that may prevent the device from delivering the required pressure levels needed for effective ventilation. The issue could reduce positive pressure, affecting the patient’s breathing support. The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including low oxygen levels (desaturation), slow heart rate (bradycardia), lack of oxygen (hypoxia), high carbon dioxide levels (hypercarbia), and death. There have been no reported injuries or deaths associated with this issue. Device Use The ROi Regard Newborn Kit is a convenience kit containing finished medical devices to be used in Labor and Delivery. The Neo-Tee T-Piece Resuscitator included in the kit is a gas-powered emergency resuscitator intended to provide emergency respiratory support by means of a facemask or a tube inserted into a patient’s airway. It is intended for use with pediatric patients weighing less than 10kg (22lbs). The device is designed with in-line flow controller, in the circuit. Contact Information Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact ROi CS, LLC. Additional FDA Resources
Unique Device Identifier (UDI) The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly.
How do I report a problem? Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it. Affected Product
Do not use Single Use Guide Sheath Kits with model numbers models K-201, K-202, K-203 or K-204.
On January 15, 2025, Olympus sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Removal letter recommending the following actions:
Identify Single Use Guide Sheath Kits, models K-201, K-202, K-203, and K-204 in inventory. Do not use Single Use Guide Sheath Kits with these model numbers. Quarantine any affected product. Contact Customer Service at 1-800-848-9024, option 2, if affected products are found in inventory, to receive a Return Material Authorization. Olympus will issue a credit upon return of affected product. Acknowledge receipt of the letter through the Olympus web portal.
Enter the recall number “0467” Complete the form as instructed.
Forward the notice to other users who may have received affected products.
Reason for Recall Olympus is recalling certain models of Single Use Guide Sheath Kits after receiving complaints that the radiopaque tip of the guide sheath component fell off into the patient. Olympus’s preliminary findings show that the tip detaches from the guide sheath when excessive force is applied as instruments are inserted into the guide sheath, and/or if there is damage to the distal end of the sheath. The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including bleeding and death. There have been 26 serious reported injuries. There have been no reports of death. Device Use Single Use Guide Sheath Kits models K-201, K-202, K-203, and K-204 contain Single Use Guide Sheaths models SG-200C and SG-201C. These instruments are designed for use with an Olympus endoscope to collect cells or tissue specimens in the organs responsible for breathing. Contact Information Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Olympus Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at 1- 800-848-9024, option 1. Additional FDA Resources
Additional Company Resources
Unique Device Identifier (UDI) The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly.
How do I report a problem? Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
February 28, 2025 Federal Reserve Board begins 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances For release at 11:00 a.m. EST
The Federal Reserve Board in March will begin its regular study of household finances, the Survey of Consumer Finances, which provides the public and policymakers with detailed and important insights into the economic condition of American families. “This survey is an important source of information on the financial well-being of American families,” Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell said in a letter to prospective survey participants. “Our most recent survey, which took place in 2022, has been important to understanding the different ways that American families experienced the unusual economic conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.” The data collected will provide a representative picture of what Americans own—from houses and cars to stocks and bonds—how and how much they borrow, and how they bank, as well as their feelings about their economic situation and that of the United States more broadly. Past study results have contributed to policy discussions regarding the evolution of housing as a key component of wealth, the recovery of households from the Great Recession, changes in the kinds and amount of credit used by families, and a broad range of other issues. The current version of the survey has been undertaken every three years since 1983. It is being conducted through December of this year and for the Board by NORC, a social science research organization at the University of Chicago. Participants in the study are chosen at random from 119 geographic areas, including metropolitan areas and rural counties across the United States, using a scientific sampling procedure. A representative of NORC contacts each potential participant personally to explain the study and request time for an interview. Individual survey responses are kept strictly confidential. NORC uses names and addresses only for the administration of the survey and must destroy that identifying information at the close of the study. NORC is forbidden from giving the names and addresses of participants to anyone at the Federal Reserve or elsewhere, and that information is permanently destroyed after the survey is completed. Summary results for the 2025 study will be published in late 2026 after all data from the survey have been assessed and analyzed. The letter from Chair Powell will be mailed in mid-March to approximately 13,000 households urging their participation in the study. For media inquiries, please e-mail [email protected] or call 202-452-2955.
SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. today issued the following statements in response to the Orange County Superior Court’s order vacating its prior decisions concerning Huntington Beach’s Measure A. Measure A amended the city’s charter to purportedly allow the city to impose additional voting restrictions prohibited by state law for all municipal elections starting in 2026.
On November 15, 2024, the Orange County Superior Court concluded that the state’s lawsuit against Huntington Beach over Measure A was “not ripe for adjudication” because the measure “is permissive and discretionary in character, and thus currently presents no conflict with state elections law.” On December 16, 2024, the court dismissed the lawsuit on that basis. The court has now vacated its earlier orders, concluded that “there is a ripe justiciable controversy,” and set a hearing on the state’s petition for writ of mandate on April 3, 2025.
“Today is a good day. Our lawsuit against Huntington Beach can officially continue,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “All along, Secretary of State Weber and I have asserted that it is not too early to bring our lawsuit. Earlier this month, the California Fourth District Court of Appeal suggested that it agreed with us and asked the Orange County Superior Court to decide whether it would reverse course. The Orange County Superior Court has now done that, and a hearing on the merits will take place in April.”
“With today’s order, we are one step closer in our effort to protect each eligible Californian’s right to vote,” said Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
ATLANTA – Jerry Baptiste, the last of 20 defendants charged in a wide-ranging criminal scheme to steal Paycheck Protection Program funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been sentenced for his role in the scheme.
“This defendant and his co-conspirators used an unprecedented global crisis to defraud the government and the American people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Today’s tough, but fair, sentence sends the message that stealing from the government does not pay.”
“This sentencing wraps up an exhaustive investigation into a fraud scheme that stole emergency funds from businesses and individuals that desperately needed them during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will make every effort to ensure federal funds are used as intended and punish anyone who would steal from our government.”
“The sentencings of the 20 defendants serves as a reminder to those who committed PPP fraud that investigations into their criminal acts have not ended,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue their diligent search for those who defrauded the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the third superseding indictment, and other information presented in court: from April 2020 through May 2020, Jerry Baptiste conspired with Darrell Thomas, Denesseria Slaton, Amanda Christian, Charles Petty, Bern Benoit, and others to submit a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan application for Transportation Management Services Inc. (“Transportation Management”), a company that Benoit purported to own. The PPP loan application for Transportation Management falsely represented that it maintained 66 employees and an average monthly payroll of $332,167, and that it would use the PPP funds for payroll, lease payments or mortgage interest, and utilities.
To support its payroll figures, Transportation Management submitted with its PPP loan application false IRS Form 941s, which are the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, for each quarter of 2019. Transportation Management also included with its PPP loan application a fraudulent bank statement. Through the Transportation Management PPP loan application, Baptiste and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained $830,417. Baptiste also participated in preparing other fraudulent PPP loans.
Jerry Baptiste, 47, of Miami, Florida was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee to six and a half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of$830,417. On October 29, 2024, Baptiste pleaded guilty to money laundering pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement.
All the defendants in Baptiste’s case have now been convicted and sentenced, with punishments ranging from probation to 15 years’ imprisonment:
Darrell Thomas. On June 16, 2021, Thomas pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and money laundering. On May 9, 2022, Thomas was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $13,206,752.10 in restitution.
Andre Lee Gaines. On June 17, 2021, Gaines pleaded guilty to the charge of making a false statement. On October 5, 2021, Gaines was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay $806,710 in restitution.
Kahlil Gibran Green. On September 1, 2020, Green pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. On January 14, 2021, Green was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $830,000 in restitution.
Bern Benoit. On March 11, 2021, Benoit pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. On September 8, 2021, Benoit was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,105,217 in restitution.
Carla Jackson. On February 15, 2024, Jackson was found guilty of money laundering by jury verdict. On May 16, 2024, Jackson was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $335,238.22 in restitution.
Ricky Dixon. On August 1, 2022, Dixon pleaded guilty to the charges of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit money laundering. On January 25, 2023, Dixon was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,320,928.31 in restitution.
Meghan Thomas. On July 27, 2022, Thomas pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On May 23, 2023, Thomas was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,381,760.35 in restitution.
Jesika Blakely. On March 15, 2022, Blakely pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. On February 8, 2023, Blakely was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $5,348,498.89 in restitution.
Amanda Christian. On March 5, 2022, Christian pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On September 13, 2022, Christian was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $835,542 in restitution.
Dwan Ashong. On June 29, 2022, Ashong pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. On October 31, 2022, Ashong was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,604,807 in restitution.
John Gaines. On January 31, 2024, Gaines pleaded guilty to the charge of money laundering. On June 26, 2024, Gaines was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $806,710 in restitution.
Charles Petty. On November 2, 2021, Petty pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. On February 25, 2022, Petty was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $830,417 in restitution.
Derek Parker. On April 14, 2022, Parker pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On August 31, 2022, Parker was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $163,620.40 in restitution.
David Belgrave II. On May 25, 2022, Belgrave pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. On August 25, 2022, Belgrave was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, with 18 months on home detention, and ordered to pay $877,000 in restitution.
Charles Hill IV. On September 29, 2021, Hill pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On January 12, 2022, Hill was sentenced to five years’ probation, with 27 months on home detention, and ordered to pay $1,004,805 in restitution.
Ryan Whittley. On May 25, 2022, Whittley pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On August 29, 2022, Whittley was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $797,275 in restitution.
El Hadj Sall. On August 24, 2022, Sall pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On November 29, 2022, Sall was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $973,585 in restitution.
Rick McDuffie. On April 27, 2022, McDuffie pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On August 23, 2022, McDuffie was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $5,125 in restitution.
Teldrin Foster. On February 15, 2024, Foster was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, making a false statement to a federally insured bank, and money laundering by jury verdict. On June 25, 2024, Foster was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $9,606,627.35 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samir Kaushal and Nathan Kitchens, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tal Chaiken and Norman Barnett, of the Northern District of Georgia, and Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, prosecuted the case.
The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Driving Change: Women-Led Development Economics from the Ground Up
The International Economic Association’s Women in Leadership in Economics Initiative (IEA-WE) connects women economists worldwide and helps showcase their important empirical research, especially in developing countries. IMF Podcasts has partnered with the IEA-WE to produce a special series featuring the economists behind the invaluable local research that informs policymakers in places often overlooked. This episode of Driving Change features Bangladeshi economist Rumana Huque, whose research into the real costs of tobacco consumption is prompting a rethink of the country’s tobacco tax system. Transcript
Other episodes include Kenyan economist Rose Ngugi, whose indices help local counties design policies that work, Colombian economics Professor Marcela Eslava, whose research looks to fix Latin America’s dysfunctional social security network, and Ipek Illkaracan who makes the business case for investing in social care infrastructure.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement on the Trump Administration banning transgender service members:
“I’m appalled by the policy and rhetoric coming out of the Trump Administration vilifying and targeting transgender service members. These service members protect our freedom and put their lives on the line every day. They deserve leadership at the Pentagon that appreciates their contribution to our national safety. The rights of every American, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, matter and must be respected always.”
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla Announces LA Fire Captain, Union Leader Frank Líma as Guest for 2025 Presidential Address
Padilla and Líma survey the devastation of the Los Angeles fires [January 8, 2025] Additional photos of Senator Padilla and Captain Líma are available here.WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, announced that Frank Líma, a longtime Los Angeles City fire captain and firefighter union leader, will be his guest at President Trump’s 2025 Address to a Joint Session of Congress. Líma serves as the 12th General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and is a past president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF Local 112. Captain Líma was recently on the frontlines in the fight against the devastating Los Angeles fires in January.
“Captain Frank Líma has dedicated his life to protecting Los Angeles residents as a firefighter and labor leader. As Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters, he fights tirelessly for the fair treatment and pay of the brave firefighters who risk their lives to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Padilla. “We recently witnessed Captain Líma’s leadership and dedication, as he heroically sprang into action during last month’s fires in Los Angeles, putting his life on the line to save lives, homes, and businesses. As President Trump outlines his priorities for our country, we want to make clear that Los Angeles County cannot be forgotten. The community faces a long road to recovery and we need a fully staffed and supported firefighting workforce and federal support without conditions. But thanks to heroes like Captain Líma and so many other firefighters and first responders, our communities will get through this, together.”
“As we work to rebuild communities across Los Angeles, I am honored to join Senator Padilla as his guest to continue to put the spotlight on supporting our firefighters and our community,” said Captain Frank V. Líma. “Growing up in Los Angeles, I have lived out my lifelong dream of working as a union firefighter for our city. I have been proud to stand up for the rights of my sisters and brothers as an active Los Angeles City fire captain, current IAFF General Secretary Treasurer, and past President of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. Firefighters were in a fight for their lives last month against the once-in-a-generation fire that tore through our city — and we need all the federal support possible to help us recover. Los Angeles firefighters and Senator Padilla have always had the backs of our communities, and we need our country to do the same.”
Growing up in Los Angeles, California, Líma has dedicated his life to family, firefighting, and organized labor. He worked three jobs in his life — all union jobs — as a truck driver, a building trades carpenter apprentice, and a firefighter for the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD), which he joined in 1992.
Líma began his career as a proud Los Angeles City Local 112 union fire fighter at the age of 19, working at one of the busiest stations in the nation. He rose through the ranks of the LAFD as a firefighter, apparatus operator, engine captain, and for the past 20 plus years, a truck company captain. He worked in specialized companies, including hazardous materials and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). He was deployed to New York City on September 11 to work as a rescue worker at ground zero after the terrorist attacks, along with another deployment to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Now, in his third decade of service, Líma continues to be active in the field, picking up shifts at fire stations throughout Los Angeles. Líma’s work on the frontlines during floods and wildland disasters has provided much-needed disaster relief assistance to IAFF families.
Líma was elected to the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Local 112 Executive Board as a director, vice president, lead negotiator, and eventually president in 2012. He also served as a vice president for the California Professional Firefighters (CPF). He has served for over 12 years as an elected Executive Board vice president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, and continues to be active on the California State Board of Fire Services, a Board that he was appointed to by both Governor Brown and Governor Newsom. He still serves as a principal member of the NFPA 1710 Technical Committee for career fire fighters. He was also elected to serve as the secretary of the California Electoral College by his peers.
As Californians and Angelenos begin their recovery and rebuilding from the devastating fires, Líma will continue advocating for the communities he fought to protect and the firefighters who put everything on the line to save businesses, homes, and lives. As the past Union President for United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, he continues working for safer working conditions and better benefits for firefighters.
Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to secure and protect Southern Californians’ access to desperately needed disaster relief aid. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Padilla also delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging his Republican colleagues and President Trump to provide essential disaster recovery aid to California without conditioning it on the passage of partisan legislation.
Earlier this month, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced a package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Wildfire Emergency Act, the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. Last month, Padilla introduced another suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to protect firefighter pay.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement at the Interactive Dialogue on Nicaragua
UK Statement at the 58 Human Rights Council at the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO & UN, Simon Manley.
Thank you, Mr President.
Yesterday, Nicaragua declared that it is leaving this Council. We want to make it clear that this will not change the need to hold the authorities accountable for the suppression of human rights in Nicaragua.
In this spirit, we welcome the report of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua. We are alarmed by its findings, including further reports of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention. We are concerned that authorities have used physical and psychological violence (including threats, rape, beatings and prolonged solitary confinement) against those who participated in the 2018 protests, and against individuals who have been accused of publicly criticising the authorities.
In addition, the approval of the wide-ranging constitutional amendments passed on 30 January undermine the separation of the powers of the state and mark a further tragic development in the dismantling of the rule of law in Nicaragua.
Moreover, the increase in reports of transnational repression, including intimidation and harassment of Nicaraguans in exile, represents a further attack on human rights.
The ongoing limitation of Nicaraguans’ civil, political, and other human rights is unacceptable.
Harvey Ronald Gilbert, Professor Emeritus and former head of the Department of Communication Sciences, passed away on Feb. 8, 2025, at his home in State College, Pennsylvania.
Harvey Ronald Gilbert, Professor Emeritus and former head of the Department of Communication Sciences. (Contributed by the Gilbert family).
Gilbert was a respected and dynamic scholar of speech-language pathology who served UConn for two decades. He joined the University in 1990 and led the Department of Communication Sciences until 2005, earning a reputation for leading with integrity and fairness and supporting junior faculty. He continued to teach and mentor students until his retirement in 2010.
After Gilbert’s retirement, communication sciences split into the Department of Communication and the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. His influence as an administrator, educator, and researcher continues to shape both today.
Gilbert was known as a dynamic professor who helped students understand complex topics through humor. His research contributed to the understanding ofhow infants develop the ability to vocalize and how various health factors such as smoking, reflux, miner’s black lung disease, Parkinson’s, stuttering, and Down Syndrome impact voice and speech production.
As a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, he served on multiple committees includingchairing the one responsible for overseeing the academic accreditation of the more than 300 speech-language pathology and audiology programs in the country.
Gilbert is survived by his wife, Heather Dale Ricker-Gilbert, their children, and grandchildren.
VILNIUS, Lithuania, February 28, 2025 – After years of managing various donation strategies across Tesonet-founded companies, we’re taking things forward to make an even more significant impact by establishing the Tesonet Foundation. This initiative blends philanthropy with tech-driven solutions to create real, meaningful, and scalable results.
Tesonet Foundation will be a charitable and support foundation funded and managed by Tesonet and dedicated to creating long-term change for our community and future generations. Committed to advancing education and innovation, we strive to accelerate progress in every way we can.
The fund launches with €1 million initial funds
“We don’t wait around for things to change. We build, we push, we make things happen. That’s what Tesonet was built on and exactly what the Tesonet Foundation is here to do. We’ve scaled companies, built products, and pushed limits — now we also want to focus on giving back with lasting impact. Not just charity — strategy,” says Tomas Okmanas, co-founder of Tesonet.
“We plan to launch Tesonet Foundation with €1 million in initial funds and will add more every year, marking the beginning of a long-term commitment to funding various societal needs like access to education and supporting communities. However, this initiative isn’t just a charity — it’s a deliberate strategy designed to shift the way we approach solving modern problems, all while creating lasting value for the future,” says Eimantas Sabaliauskas, co-founder of Tesonet.
Seeking an experienced fund manager to lead the way
The new director of the foundation, alongside the team, will develop a bold strategy to maximize impact — enabling us to manage donations, requests, and initiatives more effectively. With in-house resources and a strong focus on innovation, we aim to drive sustainable progress and create lasting change.
If you’ve got the drive, the vision, and the guts to help lead this charge — this is your shot to join us for a mission of delivering support where it matters most.
Founded in 2008 as a startup by two tech enthusiasts, Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas, Tesonet has rapidly grown into one of the largest business accelerators and investors in the Baltic States. It houses globally recognized companies such as joint cybersecurity powerhouse Nord Security and Surfshark, a market-leading web intelligence collection platform Oxylabs, the fastest-growing brand among hosting providers Hostinger, nexos.ai – an AI orchestration platform, and others.
With over 3,300 in-house talents and a fully developed infrastructure, Tesonet supports, funds, and scales businesses globally, sharing the goal of bringing meaningful tech for industry disruption. Since 2018, Tesonet has extended its reach by investing in successful ventures like CAST AI, Eneba, BC Žalgiris, BC London Lions, Šiaulių bankas, Turing College, Zapp, PartiQlar, and others.
Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC
WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released a list of orders of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in January 2025. There are no administrative hearings scheduled for March 2025.
The FDIC issued 12 orders and one adjudicated Decision and Order in January 2025. The administrative enforcement actions in those orders consisted of four consent orders, three prohibition orders, three orders to pay civil money penalties (CMPs), one order for restitution, one order terminating consent order, and one decision and order to remove and prohibit from further participation.
To view orders, adjudicated decisions and notices and the administrative hearing details online, please visit the FDIC’s Web page by clicking the link below.
LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old Dallas resident has been charged with conspiring to transport, attempting to transport and transporting two undocumented minors illegally in the United States for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jovanna Netzay Diaz is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver in Dallas at 10 a.m. She will then be expected in Laredo federal court shortly thereafter.
A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment Feb. 19 which was unsealed upon her arrest Feb. 27.
The charges allege that on Oct. 26, 2024, Diaz arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint in Laredo. Upon initial inspection, authorities allegedly observed a blanket moving between the second and third row of the vehicle.
Law enforcement soon found one minor underneath the blanket and another concealed on the floorboard of the vehicle’s front passenger seat, according to the charges. The minors were allegedly determined to be nine-year-old twins, who were nationals and citizens of Mexico with no familial connection to Diaz.
If convicted, Diaz faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 maximum possible fine.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
February 28, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Republican Conference Vice Chair, delivered remarks calling out the Biden Administration’s harmful energy regulations that put us in an energy emergency and urging solutions to fix it . Lankford is Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure.
CLICK HERE to download Lankford’s remarks on Box.
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s remarks on YouTube.
Excerpt
“Energy policies should be just common sense conversation. It shouldn’t be political. It should be—what do Americans need? And we should look beyond just today that the lights are on. We should at least look two years in the future and to say what’s about to happen in the country with our electric grid? Anticipate the problems that are coming. Make changes in policy here to make sure we don’t have an emergency there. So let’s declare the American Energy Emergency. Let’s fix it before we have the challenges that are coming in just a few short months.”
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dominion Lending Centres Inc. (TSX:DLCG) (“DLCG” or the “Corporation”), 2215 Coquitlam Avenue, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia V3B 1J6, along with Mauris Family Investments Inc. (an entity controlled by Gary Mauris), and 603908 B.C. Ltd. (an entity controlled by Chris Kayat and family), announced today that they have closed the previously announced sale of 7,782,400 class “A” common shares (the “Offered Shares”) by the Selling Shareholders (as defined below) at a price of $7.60 per Offered Share for gross proceeds to the Selling Shareholders of approximately $59.15 million (the “Offering”), less the commission paid to the Agents (as defined below) of $2,365,849.60 (or $0.304 per Offered Share), on a “best efforts” agency private placement basis. DLCG did not receive any proceeds from the Offering. Mauris Family Investments Ltd. (“MaurisCo”) and 603908 B.C. Ltd. (“KayatCo”) are collectively referred to herein as the “Selling Shareholders”.
The Offering was completed pursuant to an agency agreement (the “Agency Agreement”) dated February 28, 2025 between the Corporation, MaurisCo, KayatCo, Desjardins Capital Markets (“Desjardins”), Cormark Securities Inc. (“Cormark”) and Acumen Capital Finance Partners Limited (“Acumen”, and together with Desjardins and Cormark, the “Agents”) and the Share Purchase Agreements (as defined below). Share purchase agreements were entered into between each purchaser or beneficial purchaser, as the case may be, of the Offered Shares pursuant to the Offering (each a “Purchaser”), the Agents, the Corporation, MaurisCo and KayatCo in respect of such Purchaser’s purchase of a portion of the Offered Shares (the “Share Purchase Agreements”).
Prior to the Offering, MaurisCo beneficially owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 23,979,733 class “A” common shares, representing approximately 30.5% of the total issued and outstanding class “A” common shares. Prior to the Offering, KayatCo beneficially owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 23,253,532 class “A” common shares, representing approximately 29.5% of the total issued and outstanding class “A” common shares. Following the closing of the Offering, MaurisCo beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 20,088,533 class “A” common shares and KayatCo beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 19,362,332 class “A” common shares, representing 25.5% and 24.6%, respectively, of the issued and outstanding class “A” common shares, a decrease of approximately 5% and 4.9%, respectively.
MaurisCo and KayatCo have no other current plans to dispose of their remaining investment in the Corporation but may from time to time decide to acquire additional securities, dispose of some or all of the existing or additional securities or may continue to hold securities of the Corporation or develop plans or intentions that would relate to or result in the items in (a) to (k) of Item 5 of Form 62-103F1 to occur, in each case, depending on market and economic conditions, the business and prospects of the Corporation and other relevant factors. The Selling Shareholders, along with the Corporation’s board of directors and certain members senior management, have entered into lock-up agreements for a period of 180 days from the date of closing of the Offering, restricting them from disposing any securities of Corporation, subject to certain exemptions.
An early warning report relating to sale of Offered Shares by each of MaurisCo and KayatCo pursuant to the Offering will be filed on SEDAR+ under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca. To obtain a copy of such report, please contact the corporate secretary of the Corporation at jbell@dlcg.ca. The Corporation’s head office and Messrs. Mauris and Kayat’s mailing address is 2215 Coquitlam Avenue, Port Coquitlam, BC, V3B 1J6.
About Dominion Lending Centres Inc. Dominion Lending Centres Inc. is Canada’s leading network of mortgage professionals. DLCG operates through Dominion Lending Centres Inc. and its three main subsidiaries, MCC Mortgage Centre Canada Inc., MA Mortgage Architects Inc. and Newton Connectivity Systems Inc., and has operations across Canada. DLCG extensive network includes over 8,500 agents and over 500 locations. Headquartered in British Columbia, DLC was founded in 2006 by Gary Mauris and Chris Kayat.
DLCG can be found on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn @DLCGmortgage and on the web at www.dlcg.ca.
Contact information for the Corporation is as follows:
Eddy Cocciollo President 647-403-7320 eddy@dlc.ca
James Bell EVP, Corporate and Chief Legal Officer 403-560-0821 jbell@dlcg.ca
NEITHER THE TSX EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced a Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of 621 West 45th Street, a state-owned parcel in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. The site, currently utilized as a surface parking lot, spans approximately 50,584 square feet along the east blockfront of Twelfth Avenue between West 45th and West 46th Streets. This project presents an opportunity to transform one of the largest undeveloped parcels on Manhattan’s far West Side into a vibrant hub of residential and mixed-use development, addressing the critical need for affordable housing in the area. Applicants can view the Request for Proposals document here and submit a proposal to Empire State Development by May 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
“The West Side of Manhattan has a storied history as a vibrant, inclusive community, and I’m committed to strengthening that legacy by building for a more affordable future,” Governor Hochul said. “By transforming this underutilized State-owned property into a dynamic mixed-use development with a significant affordable housing component, we’re taking aim at low housing supply in a high-demand area and building a stronger community for residents in Hell’s Kitchen and beyond.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “This is an extraordinary opportunity to transform a state-owned asset into a thriving residential and mixed-use development that meets the needs of New Yorkers while enhancing the vibrancy and diversity of the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. By repurposing this underutilized site, we can deliver affordable housing, create engaging public spaces, and catalyze economic growth in one of Manhattan’s most dynamic communities. We look forward to reviewing innovative proposals that will bring this vision to life and make a lasting, positive impact on the community.”
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Governor Hochul’s 2025 budget is making historic inroads in our push to make New York more affordable and included a proposal to build up to 15,000 new homes on State-owned land. This announcement is a concrete example of that promise in action. This long underused and distressed site along 12th Avenue on Manhattan’s far West Side is ideal for inclusive mixed use development, and especially affordable homes, that will anchor, diversify and stabilize this area of Hell’s Kitchen, making it even more of a destination than it already is — it will be home for many.”
The parcel offers a unique opportunity to address New York’s housing crisis through innovative redevelopment. Previously used as a surface parking lot supporting the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the site occupies a prominent location in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, adjacent to the Hudson River waterfront. With its proximity to Hudson River Park, transportation hubs and vibrant local amenities, the redevelopment of this underutilized parcel will serve as a cornerstone for inclusive growth, delivering much-needed affordable housing, fostering mixed-use development, and enhancing the quality of life for current and future residents.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) outlines key development objectives designed to maximize the site’s potential and ensure a transformative impact on the community. These include:
A minimum of 25 percent on-site affordable housing units, contributing to inclusive and accessible living opportunities in the neighborhood
A mix of residential and commercial spaces that reflect the area’s needs and character, providing amenities and services to support residents and enliven the streetscape
Incorporation of community spaces to foster a sense of belonging and social interaction among residents and visitors
Preservation of the Intrepid Museum’s parking and pedestrian bridge access rights, ensuring seamless integration with existing cultural and recreational assets
Building form and facades designed to create a vibrant and varied streetscape, enhancing the visual appeal and walkability of the neighborhood
Representative Jerry Nadler said, “It is no secret that New Yorkers are facing a housing crisis, and the transformation of a state-owned surface level parking lot on 12th Avenue across from the Intrepid into a mix of residential and commercial development with at least 25% affordable is a win for the entire City. This Hell’s Kitchen property is one of the largest undeveloped parcels on the far west side and its transformation will create a vibrant mixed-use development, while also ensuring that the Intrepid retains its needed parking and access for them and the community to the Hudson River Park with pedestrian bridge access.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “I’m pleased to see more affordable housing is coming to the West Side of Manhattan. The plan announced by Governor Hochul and Empire State Development will transform over 50,000 square feet of a state parking lot into new affordable and market rate housing, as well as amenities and support services for the neighborhood. I look forward to working with Community Board 4 and Empire State Development throughout the process to help bring this project to life.”
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “What the world needs now, is a whole lot more housing. Between Donald Trump’s prohibitive steel tariffs and devastating layoffs and cuts at HUD, the federal government is making it incredibly difficult to build housing during a national affordability crisis. That’s why I’m glad to welcome plans for a new residential building in my Assembly district – one that offers both much-needed affordable housing and commercial growth on the far West Side of Manhattan. However, we cannot stop here – I continue to urge the Governor to identify and map potential underutilized or vacant land for housing opportunities across the state.”
Council Member Erik Bottcher said, “It’s exciting to see even more new affordable housing being proposed in our community. Governor Hochul and Empire State Development’s initiative will transform a surface parking lot into desperately needed housing, along with essential services and community resources. I’m eager to work with Community Board 4 and Empire State Development to support this project and help bring it to completion.”
Manhattan Community Board 4 Chair Jessica Chait said, “Manhattan Community Board 4’s Affordable Housing Plan has championed utilizing underdeveloped and unused city- and state-owned land as one of the most effective ways to create the housing New Yorkers desperately need, and we are delighted that the Governor has directed Empire State Development to advance on projects like this. We look forward to working with ESD and its partners to develop a project that produces real homes and community benefits while also respecting the historic neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen.”
The project builds on the Governor’s bold vision to expand the state’s housing supply through innovative measures such as the Pro-Housing Communities Program and Executive Order 30, which promote barrier-breaking solutions to spur much-needed development. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured landmark agreements that include new tax incentives for Upstate communities, targeted relief to create additional housing in New York City, and a $500 million capital fund to develop up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned property. An additional $600 million in statewide funding and new protections for renters and homeowners underscore the Governor’s commitment to affordability and equity.
These efforts build upon the Governor’s FY23 five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan aimed at creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes — including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations — and electrifying an additional 50,000 units. To date, more than 55,000 homes have been created or preserved under this initiative. The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program, making Pro Housing Certification a prerequisite for municipalities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Currently, 275 communities have been certified, including New York City — reflecting a growing statewide commitment to addressing New York’s critical housing needs.
The Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that it will be visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic incidents since October 2023. Created pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, the Task Force set as its first priority to eradicate antisemitic harassment in schools and on college campuses.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bitcoin’s price fluctuating below $100,000, many analysts predict a prolonged period of high volatility in the crypto market. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages.The platform now offers a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and up to 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing excellent opportunities for investors.
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Healthy coastal ecosystems play crucial roles in the U.S. economy, from supporting multibillion-dollar fisheries and tourism industries to protecting coastlines from storms.
They’re also difficult to manage, requiring specialized knowledge and technology.
That’s why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the federal agency best known for collecting and analyzing the data that make weather forecasts and warnings possible – leads most of the government’s work on ocean and coastal health, as well as research into the growing risks posed by climate change.
The government estimates that NOAA’s projects and services support more than one-third of the nation’s gross domestic product. Yet, this is one of the agencies that the Trump administration has targeted, with discussions of trying to privatize NOAA’s forecasting operations and disband its crucial climate change research.
As a marine environmental historian who studies relationships among scientists, fishermen and environmentalists, I have seen how NOAA’s work affects American livelihoods, coastal health and the U.S. economy.
Here are a few examples from just NOAA’s coastal work, and what it means to fishing industries and coastal states.
Preventing fisheries from collapsing
One of the oldest divisions within NOAA is the National Marine Fisheries Service, known as NOAA Fisheries. It dates to 1871, when Congress created the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries. At that time, the first generation of conservationists started to worry that America’s natural resources were finite.
By conducting surveys and interviewing fishermen and seafood dealers, the fish commissioners discovered that freshwater and saltwater fisheries across the country were declining.
Looking back on 150 years of NOAA’s fisheries history.
Oil spills and raw sewage were polluting waterways. Fishermen were using high-tech gear, such as pound nets, to catch more and more of the most valuable fish. In some areas, overfishing was putting the future of the fisheries in jeopardy.
One solution was to promote aquaculture, also known as fish or shellfish farming. Scientists and entrepreneurs reared baby fish in hatcheries and transferred them to rivers, lakes or bays. The Fish Commission even used refrigerated railroad cars to ship fish eggs across the country.
Men carry pails of fish specimens to a U.S. Fish Commission ‘fish car’ – a train car designed specifically for transporting fish or fish eggs to stock U.S. rivers, lakes and coastal waters – in this historical photo. Smithsonian Institution Archives
Corals build up reefs over centuries, creating “cities of the sea.” When they’re healthy, they provide nurseries that protect valuable fish species, like snapper, from predators. Reefs also attract tourism and protect coastlines by breaking up waves that cause storm-driven flooding and erosion.
The corals of Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico and other tropical areas provide over $3 billion a year in benefits – from sustaining marine ecosystems to recreation, including sport fishing.
A third important aspect of NOAA’s coastal work involves controlling invasive species in America’s waters, including those that have menaced the Great Lakes.
Zebra and quagga mussels, spiny water flea and dozens of other Eurasian organisms colonized the Great Lakes starting in the late 1900s after arriving in ballast water from transoceanic ships. These invaders have disrupted the Great Lakes food web and clogged cities’ water intake systems, causing at least $138 million in damage per year.
Zebra mussels found attached to this boat at an inspection station in Oregon show how easily invasive species can be moved. The boat had come from Texas and was on its way to Canada. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA
In the Northwest Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, invasive lionfish, native to Asia and Australia, have spread, preying on native fish essential to coral reefs. Lionfish have become one of the world’s most damaging marine fish invasions.
When Republican President Richard Nixon proposed consolidating several different agencies into NOAA in 1970, he told Congress that doing so would promote “better protection of life and property from natural hazards,” “better understanding of the total environment” and “exploration and development leading to the intelligent use of our marine resources.”
The Trump administration is instead discussing tearing down NOAA. The administration has been erasing mentions of climate change from government research, websites and policies – despite the rising risks to communities across the nation. The next federal budget is likely to slash NOAA’s funding.
Commercial meteorologists argue that much of NOAA’s weather data and forecasting, also crucial to coastal areas, couldn’t be duplicated by the private sector.
As NOAA marks its 55th year, I believe it’s in the nation’s and the U.S. economy’s best interest to strengthen rather than dismantle this vital agency.
Christine Keiner conducted research at the NOAA Library for her books “The Oyster Question” and “Deep Cut.”
Americans’ trust in government and politicians is at record lows. In a 2022 Pew Research survey, about two-thirds of respondents said that all or most people who run for office want to serve their own personal interests rather than the community’s.
I have taught political ethics to hundreds of public policy students at the Harvard Kennedy School over the past 25 years. One of the most important concepts we discuss is directly tied to that falling faith in government. It’s a term people love to throw around but can’t always define: conflicts of interest.
Conflicts of interest pervade public service and jeopardize the quality of government action by degrading officials’ judgments. Controlling such conflicts is essential to the success of democracy because all citizens rely on millions of officials – from the president down to the person analyzing water quality in your city – to do their jobs conscientiously, using their best judgment. Citizens’ safety depends on government action in countless ways: to keep drinking water, food and medicines safe; to protect everyone from dangerous products and from individual and corporate predators; to keep airplanes, cars and trains from colliding; to ensure access to education, health care and pensions.
But what counts as a conflict of interest? In the public sector, they arise when an official has “secondary,” private interests that may affect their judgment about how best to promote the public good. The more intense these private interests are – such as the promise of great financial gain or the welfare of loved ones – the greater the conflict and risk to public good.
Not just money
Secondary interests often stem from financial concerns: future employment prospects, corporate positions, stock holdings, real estate and gifts. But secondary interests can also arise from concern for the well-being of family members and friends.
A conflict between primary and secondary interests – public vs. private – threatens the public by clouding the good judgment of officials. They may be tempted, even unconsciously, to make decisions that achieve secondary interests at the cost of not doing their best to advance the public interest.
During his last weeks in office, for example, former President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter and, preventively, many members of his family. The Constitution establishes the president’s pardon power as a mechanism to correct miscarriages of justice in the court system. Did Biden’s concern for the welfare of his family – a secondary, private interest – cloud his judgment about how best to use this extraordinary power to pardon for the sake of justice, a primary, public interest? It is impossible to peer inside his mind, but anyone can see that there was a strong conflict of interest.
Many public officials mistakenly deny that there is a conflict at all. Charlie Wilson, a secretary of defense in the 1950s, was previously president and CEO of General Motors, a defense contractor. “For years I thought what was good for our country was good for General Motors, and vice versa,” he said during confirmation hearings. “The difference did not exist. Our company is too big. It goes with the welfare of the country.”
After Trump was elected in 2016, he famously said that “the president can’t have a conflict of interest.” It wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now. Conflict of interest is an ethical principle that applies to everyone acting in a public role. The principal law regulating conflict of interest in the federal government does exempt the president and vice president. However, the emoluments clause of the Constitution prohibits some conflicts of interest.
The president enters his second term with large private assets in social media platform Truth Social and cryptocurrency $Trump – industries that the United States is figuring out how to regulate.
When leaders have a conflict of interest, it doesn’t necessarily mean they make bad judgments or act corruptly. Nevertheless, such conflicts can reduce citizens’ confidence about their leaders’ judgment.
Cost for the country
Conflicts of interest create three problems for democracy.
Most important, the public suffers when officials’ judgments are compromised: when they are no longer doing their level best for Americans because they are concerned about various private interests rather than with citizens’ rights and well-being.
Second, conflicts of interest reduce trust and confidence in government and democracy. Even if officials who have large conflicts of interest resist the pull of secondary interests, members of the public may – especially in this time of cynicism about government – still suspect that their leaders are acting corruptly.
Third, when officials use their powers to benefit their private interests rather than the public interests, they profit from their offices: This is corrupt and unfair.
Reducing risk
Though conflicts of interest are ubiquitous, there are good strategies to mitigate and manage them.
Federal agencies, as well as many state and local governments, require officials to mitigate their conflicts of interest by divesting from secondary interests, such as shifting from specific stock holdings to general funds and resigning from positions on boards of directors. Most U.S. presidents since Jimmy Carter have put their substantial assets into blind trusts in order to manage their conflicts of interests. In a blind trust, the owner knows the value of the trust but not the particular stocks and other holdings in it.
Transparency and disclosure is another common management tool. When information about officials’ secondary interests is publicly available, citizens can better understand the forces that affect the judgment of those in government. For example, people who have undergone Senate confirmation for high-level positions in the federal government must file extensive disclosures that detail their assets and many of their prior sources of income.
Finally, it is important to create offices and procedures with staff dedicated to monitoring and mitigating conflicts of interest. In the executive branch, the seventy-some staff at the Office of Government Ethics, and many more ethics officers across the federal government, regulate conflicts of interest and other ethical issues. In February 2025, Trump dismissed the office’s director, who had been confirmed by the Senate two months before.
Many states and cities have ethics commissions that adjudicate conflicts of interest, deciding when officials should recuse themselves from particular decisions in which they are conflicted. In 2002, for example, New York City’s Conflicts of Interest Board issued an advisory opinion about how multibillionaire Michael Bloomberg, the mayor at the time, should manage his conflicts of interest. They advised that he should recuse himself from all matters relating to the Bloomberg company, divest from large stock holdings and transfer those assets into professionally managed mutual funds, among other recommendations.
Wealth – and hyperwealth
Many conflict of interest measures are formulated with moderately wealthy individuals in mind. For example, the median wealth of a U.S. senator in 2018 was US$1.75 million. At that level, measures such as blind trusts, divestment and recusal are usually very workable.
Hyperwealthy multibillionaires, however, raise unprecedented conflict of interest concerns that are far more difficult to mitigate and manage. Because their financial interests are enormous and range across many parts of the economy, standard conflict of interest measures have proven difficult to implement.
Archon Fung serves on the National Governing Board of Common Cause, whose mission is to “to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest.” The organization has advocated to control conflicts of interest of many public figures, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
He also consults for Apple and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Boston Review.
How emotionally close you are to your pet is not necessarily a good measure of how your relationship affects your well-being.Nattalia Nuñez/Unsplash, CC BY-ND
For many people, pets provide unconditional love, companionship and a sense of security. But not all human-pet relationships are beneficial, and some may contribute to stress and anxiety rather than relief.
Psychologists have been studying attachment theory for decades. This framework explains how people form emotional bonds, seek closeness and manage separation. People with secure attachment tend to feel safe in relationships, while those with attachment anxiety may crave closeness but frequently worry about rejection or loss.
Just like with human relationships, people form attachment bonds with pets. Some form secure attachments, finding comfort in their pet and viewing them as a reliable source of companionship. Others experience anxious attachment, feeling excessive worry, distress and a heightened need for reassurance when separated from their pet.
In our recently published research, my research team and I found that attachment anxiety is strongly linked to depression symptoms among owners. This suggests that well-being isn’t just about having a pet, but about the quality of your bond.
Strong bonds aren’t always healthy bonds
My team and I set out to explore whether the way people bond with their pets has a measurable effect on their mental well-being.
We surveyed over 1,000 pet owners in the U.S. about their closeness to their pets; how often they engaged in activities like playing, cuddling or spending time together; and whether they felt secure or anxious in the relationship. We also measured symptoms of depression to examine how different characteristics of pet bonds might influence mental well-being.
Our results revealed a clear pattern: Higher pet attachment anxiety was the strongest predictor of depression symptoms. In other words, people who felt overly dependent on their pets, constantly worrying about being apart from them or whether their pet “loved” them back, were more likely to experience depression symptoms.
For mental health, emotional security in your relationship with your pet may matter more than how frequently you interact. Darwin Boaventura/Unsplash, CC BY-ND
Surprisingly, simply feeling emotionally close to a pet was not enough to predict better mental health. While some may assume that a stronger bond with a pet automatically leads to greater well-being, our findings suggest that the quality of the attachment matters more than its intensity. People with secure pet relationships reported better well-being, while those with higher attachment anxiety experienced greater distress.
We also found that while frequent pet interactions were linked to stronger and more secure human-pet bonds, interaction frequency did not significantly predict mental health outcomes. This reinforces the idea that emotional security in the relationship, rather than just the frequency of interaction, is what truly matters for mental health.
Interestingly, people who owned both a cat and a dog reported more depression symptoms than those with only one type of pet. While our study did not determine the cause, one possibility is that managing multiple pets can add stress or increase the burden of caregiving.
How pet relationships shape your mental health
Our findings highlight that pet ownership is not a one-size-fits-all solution for mental health. The way people bond with their pets – whether they feel emotionally secure or experience anxiety in the relationship – may be just as important as pet ownership itself in shaping well-being.
This research also raises important questions about the role of emotional support animals and animal-assisted interventions. If pet ownership is going to be integrated into mental health care, it may not be enough to simply encourage pet companionship. Instead, the quality of the human-animal bond could be a key factor in whether pets provide comfort or contribute to emotional distress.
This study does not suggest that people should stop seeking emotional support from pets. Instead, it highlights how the way people bond with their pets can influence well-being in ways they may not always realize.
For those who rely on their pets for emotional support, recognizing these patterns may help foster a bond that feels reassuring rather than stressful. Pets can provide deep comfort, but caregiving comes with challenges, too. Reflecting on both the joys and responsibilities of pet ownership can help strengthen the human-animal bond, supporting the well-being of both pets and owners.
Brian N. Chin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Conversation asked epidemiologistAnnette Regan to explain why this flu season is different from last year’s and what people can do to help reduce the spread.
How do flu cases and hospitalizations this year compare with previous years?
Beginning in late January and extending through February 2025, flu hospitalizations have been higher than any other week since before 2009.
Most flu cases appear to be from influenza A strains, with a split between influenza A/H3N2 and influenza A/H1N1. These are two different subtypes of the influenza A virus.
Researchers believe that historically seasons that are predominated by influenza A/H3N2 infections tend to be more severe, but infections from influenza A/H1N1 can still be very severe.
This year’s season is also peaking “late” compared with the past three flu seasons, which peaked in early or late December.
Unfortunately, there have been a number of deaths from flu too this season. Since Jan. 1, 2025, alone, over 4,000 people, including 68 children, have died from flu. While the number of deaths do not mark a record number, it shows that flu can be a serious illness, even in children.
Unless directed otherwise, everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu shot.
Why are flu cases so high this year?
There are a number of factors behind any severe season, including poor community protection from low immunization rates and low natural immunity, virus characteristics, vaccine effectiveness and increased human contact via travel, office work or schools.
Unfortunately, flu vaccination rates have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the 2023-24 flu season, 9.2 million fewer doses were administered in pharmacies and doctors’ offices compared with an average year before the pandemic.
Flu vaccination rates began dropping after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in higher-risk groups. Flu vaccination in children has dropped from 59% in 2019-20 to 46% in 2024-25. In adults 65 years and older, the group with the greatest risk of hospitalization and death, flu vaccination rates dropped from 52% in 2019-20 to 43% in 2024-25.
Lower vaccination rates mean a greater portion of the population is not protected by vaccines. Data shows that vaccination reduces the risk of flu hospitalization. Even if a vaccinated person gets infected, they may be less likely to experience severe illness. As a result, low vaccination rates could contribute to higher flu severity this season.
However, low vaccination rates are probably not the only reason for the high rates of flu this season. In previous severe seasons, genetic changes to the viruses have made them better at infecting people and more likely to cause severe illness.
The effectiveness of annual flu vaccines varies depending on how well the vaccine matches the circulating virus. The effectiveness of vaccines ranges from 19% to 60% in any given season. In the 2023-24 flu season, the vaccine was 42% effective.
Similarly, early 2024-25 data from the U.S. shows that the vaccine was 41% to 55% effective against flu hospitalizations in adults and 63% to 78% effective against flu hospitalizations in children.
Something as simple as regular handwashing could keep you from getting the flu.
How do seasonal flu symptoms differ from COVID-19 and other illnesses?
It’s important to remember that people often incorrectly refer to “the flu” when they have a common cold. Flu is caused only by the influenza virus, which tends to be more severe than common colds and more commonly causes a fever.
Many of the signs and symptoms for flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are the same and can range from mild coldlike symptoms to pneumonia and respiratory distress. Common flu symptoms are fever, cough and fatigue, and may also include shortness of breath, a sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and headache.
Some symptoms, such as changes in or loss of taste and smell, are more common for COVID-19. For both COVID-19 and flu, the symptoms do not start until about one to four days after infection, and symptoms seem to last longer for COVID-19.
The only way to know what virus is causing an infection is to test. This can be done using a rapid test, some of which now test for flu and COVID-19 together, or by seeing a doctor and getting tested using a nasal swab. There are prescription antiviral medications available to treat flu and COVID-19, but they need to be taken near the time that symptoms start.
Some people are at high risk of severe flu and COVID-19, such as those who are immunosuppressed, have diabetes or have chronic heart or lung conditions. In these cases, it is important to seek early care and treatment from a health care professional. Some doctors will also prescribe via telehealth calls, which can help reduce the strain on doctors’ offices, urgent care centers and emergency rooms when infection rates are high.
What can people do now to help steer clear of the flu?
There are a number of ways people can reduce their risk of getting or spreading flu. Since the flu season is still underway, it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine. Even in seasons when the vaccine’s effectiveness is low, it is likely to offer better protection compared with remaining unvaccinated.
Handwashing and disinfecting high-traffic surfaces can help reduce contact with the flu virus. Taking efforts to avoid contact with sick people can also help, including wearing a mask when in health care facilities.
Those who have been diagnosed with flu or are experiencing flu-like symptoms should avoid contact with other people, especially in crowded spaces. Covering coughs and sneezes can help reduce the amount of virus that is spread.
Annette Regan receives research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Global Vaccine Data Network, and she is employed by the Department of Research & Evaluation at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
