'A brazen scheme of staggering proportions'
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The Justice Department charged 47 people with stealing $250 million from a pandemic food program for kids. How you can help people affected by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico. And what's next for King Charles?
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Feds: 47 exploited pandemic to steal $250M from food program
In the largest suspected COVID-19 fraud scheme yet, 47 people in Minnesota were charged with conspiracy and other counts after Justice Department officials say they stole $250 million in relief money. Prosecutors described "a brazen scheme of staggering proportions" that exploited a program to feed needy children in Minnesota during the pandemic. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger, the chief federal prosecutor in Minnesota, said the suspects used a Minnesota nonprofit as cover to claim reimbursements for meals never provided and spent the money on luxury cars, houses, jewelry and resort property abroad. A look into the allegations.
Previous sweep: 21 charged in COVID-19 fraud schemes, including fake vaccine cards.
Hurricane Fiona intensifies after pummeling Puerto Rico
Hurricane Fiona grew more powerful Tuesday after it blasted Puerto Rico, where most people remained without electricity or running water and rescuers used heavy equipment to lift survivors to safety. Turks and Caicos Islands officials imposed a curfew Tuesday as the Category 3 bore down on the small territory. Storm surge could raise water levels up to 5 to 8 feet above normal, the National Hurricane Center said.
📸 Flooded homes, streets: Photos show Hurricane Fiona's aftermath.
Earlier: Fiona pounded Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with up to 30 inches of rain that caused flooding, mudslides and destruction.
In Puerto Rico: More than 80% of people were without power Tuesday, water service was cut to two-thirds of the island, and at least 2,300 people and 250 pets were in shelters, officials said.
In the Dominican Republic: More than 1 million people were without running water and 700,000 were without power, authorities said.
Lives lost to Fiona: At least three deaths were reported: two in Puerto Rico and one in the Dominican Republic.
👉 How can I help? Mutual aid, nonprofits providing relief to Puerto Rico.
What everyone's talking about
Adam Levine denies cheating on pregnant wife but admits he 'crossed the line.'
Democracy is 'in jeopardy.' What can be done to strengthen it?
Open for business: Orlando's new Terminal C turns airport design upside down.
Coming to a coast near you: Massive wind turbines. Will Biden's plan pay off?
It’s everywhere: Sea-level rise’s surprising reach damages more than just the East Coast shoreline.
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Now that the funeral is over, what's next for King Charles?
After 10 days of pageantry and services, Queen Elizabeth II was buried in a quiet and intimate service away from cameras in Windsor Castle, where she was reunited with her husband, Prince Philip, and her parents. Now Charles and his family will begin seven more days of private mourning for the queen. But after that, what kind of king will emerge?
First things first, when is King Charles' coronation? Probably within a year. The ancient ritual of the coronation requires planning, although a lot of that has already been done. There hasn't been a coronation since June 1953, when Elizabeth was crowned.
What are his plans? Charles has made no secret of his desire to "slim down" the monarchy – reduce the number of working senior royals supported by taxpayers – and reduce the overall multimillion-pound annual cost of the royal show.
Ratings rise: A few days after the queen died, attitudes toward the king already improved, according a survey. Asked how they anticipate his reign, 63% said they think Charles will do a good job, up from 32% four months earlier.
What kind of king will Charles be? Will he unite the commonwealth? And what do critics have to say about him? A look at the future under King Charles III.
Funeral fashion faux pas? Jill Biden criticized for wearing fascinator instead of hat.
From coronation to death: See photos of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey.
Trump claims he would have had a better seat than Biden at Queen Elizabeth's funeral.
How memes can blur the lines between fact and fiction online
A well-crafted meme works like a virus; it tricks participants into passing it on. By tapping into human nature, memes can spread through an online community and infect every member, carrying its message through each “like” and “share.” USA TODAY reviewed thousands of internet memes and found a seemingly endless supply designed to sow discord and blur fact and fiction, and they flourished despite pledges by social media companies to curb such content. Experts said the memes have been weaponized to spread disinformation and polarize the population.
👉 A look at how such memes have played a key role in almost every disinformation campaign of the digital age.
Report: Trump warned in 2021 of legal trouble if he didn't return documents.
Trump replies to DOJ appeal in fight to resume Mar-a-Lago investigation.
Special master asks Trump lawyers about records declassification ahead of Tuesday conference.
Real quick
Beyond Meat exec accused of biting man's nose after a football game.
Hazing victim's family to get nearly $1 million in settlement from school.
2 'severely decomposed' bodies found in ex-Rhode Island mayor's home.
Feds seize 'staggering' amount of fake Adderall pills laced with meth.
Week 3 NFL power rankings: Two new teams join Bills, Chiefs in top 5.
Chicago building explodes: At least eight people were hospitalized after an explosion inside a building Tuesday on Chicago's West Side, authorities said. Photo and video showed rescue officials gathered in a street littered with debris where the top floor of a four-story apartment building collapsed. The cause remains unknown, but is under investigation.
🕷 Seeing more spiders lately?
They might just be lookin' for love in all the wrong places. This fall, some unannounced, startling guests might make their way into living rooms across the country: spiders! Even though you're bound to see spiders in your home throughout the year, the chances of seeing one heighten in the fall. But it's not to scare you for Halloween – it's to look for love. Or, in more proper terms, it's when the eight-legged creatures begin to mate. And if you do happen to spot a spider in your home, please don't kill it! They're mostly harmless and could help get rid of other pesky bugs. More to know about spider season.
A break from the news
🤔 Ask HR: "Is it appropriate to display your political affiliation at work?"
💰 End-of-summer steals: We're giving away five $7,000 patio sets. How to enter.
🐴 Giddy up, dude! 7 kid-friendly dude ranches with something for everyone.
💞 What is sexual health? Sex educator talks well-being, pleasure and porn.
😻 Some purr-y good news! Lost cat shows up, ringing the doorbell.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pandemic aid fraud scheme, helping after Hurricane Fiona, King Charles, memes, spider season. Tuesday's news.