A former U.S. Congressional candidate was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his scheme to use COVID-19 relief funds for personal expenditures and filing a false report with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) by concealing thousands of dollars of in-kind contributions by employees.

Nicholas Jones, 36, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and falsification of records on June 1. In addition to the prison sentence, Jones was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and $90,564.84 in restitution.

Source: Former Congressional Candidate Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Falsification of Records | OPA | Department of Justice

Source: Justice Department Announces Charges and Arrests in Two Cases Involving Export Violation Schemes to Aid Russian Military | OPA | Department of Justice

…the new proposal would effectively open the door to Medicare potentially covering a wider array of dental services if medical science can demonstrate that oral health substantially improves the outcomes of different diseases and treatments.

Under the proposal, rule makers and bureaucrats would have greater flexibility to approve whole new areas of dental coverage as well as to pay for specific procedures on a case-by-case basis, experts say.

Source: Proposed rule would expand dental coverage under Medicare – UPI.com

The company said its booster is for adults for whom a Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna updated booster vaccine is not accessible or clinically appropriate, and for adults who elect to receive the Novavax vaccine because they would otherwise not get a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Previously, the Novavax vaccine was used only as a two-dose primary series. It is the fourth coronavirus vaccine available in the United States, and unlike the others, it uses a protein-based technology.

“The U.S. now has access to the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted, the first protein-based option, as a booster,” Novavax President and CEO Stanley Erck said in a news release Wednesday. “According to CDC data, almost 50% of adults who received their primary series have yet to receive their first booster dose. Offering another vaccine choice may help increase COVID-19 booster vaccination rates for these adults.”

Source: FDA, CDC sign off on Novavax COVID vaccine as first booster shot

Randy Kaufman, a Republican candidate for the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board, suspended his campaign Tuesday after media reports of his arrest Oct. 4 on a charge of public sexual indecency. Source: GOP candidate for Maricopa College Board could face felony charge | 12news.com

Originally posted on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine: Firstly, some funnies from Debby Gies followed by some funnies from Sally. Thanks to those who share the funnies on the internet. D.G. Writes is where you will find an archive full of wonderful posts across several subjects including writing tips, social issues and book reviews.My thanks to Debby…

Smorgasbord Laughter is the Best Medicine – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Clerical Collars and Misfortunes — Filosofa’s Word

The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, alleges that, since at least March 20, the Retsel Corporation, Connie Uhre and Nicholas Uhre discriminated against Native American customers through policies and practices that denied Native Americans the full and equal enjoyment of access to the services, accommodations and privileges at the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that on March 20, Connie Uhre told other Rapid City hotel owners and managers that she did “not want to allow Natives on property…The problem is we do not know the nice ones from the bad natives…so we just have to say no to them!” That same day, Connie Uhre allegedly posted a statement in a comment thread from her Facebook account announcing that “we will no longer allow any Native American [sic]” in the Grand Gateway or in the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino. The complaint further alleges that on at least two occasions on March 21 and March 22, respectively, the defendants turned away Native Americans who sought to book a room in the Grand Gateway.  

Source: Justice Department Files Lawsuit Challenging Policy Barring Native Americans From Accessing South Dakota Hotel and Sports Lounge | OPA | Department of Justice

A near-record number of U.S. chickens and turkeys have died in this year’s outbreak of avian flu, as a different form of the virus than farmers battled before has infected more wild birds that then transmit the disease, officials said.

More than 47 million birds have died due to infections and cullings. This has spurred export bans, lowered egg and turkey production, and contributed to record prices of the staples ahead of the U.S. holiday season.

Source: U.S. nears record poultry deaths from bird flu; virus type complicates fight – Agweek | #1 source for agriculture news, farming, markets

I’ve played a couple of Beach Boys songs lately, and one that has been mentioned more than a couple of times is God Only Knows, so I figured it should be next in the lineup! Brian Wilson wrote this song with Tony Asher, who was an advertising copyrighter and lyricist that Wilson worked with on […]

♫ God Only Knows ♫ — Filosofa’s Word

I listened to another book by a pioneering sociologist, most well known as the author of The Souls of Black Folk, and co-founder of what is now the NAACP, whom I have admired since elementary school: This novel is certainly a testament to the exploitation and cruelty of which human beings are capable. But it […]

Review: The Quest of the Silver Fleece, By W.E.B. Du Bois — Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story