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TexasTowelie's JournalFederal Law Enforcement Action Involving Fraudulent Genetic Testing Results in Charges Against 35
Federal Law Enforcement Action Involving Fraudulent Genetic Testing Results in Charges Against 35 Individuals Responsible for Over $2.1 Billion in Losses in One of the Largest Health Care Fraud Schemes Ever ChargedA federal law enforcement action involving fraudulent genetic cancer testing has resulted in charges in five federal districts against 35 defendants associated with dozens of telemedicine companies and cancer genetic testing laboratories (CGx) for their alleged participation in one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever charged. According to the charges, these defendants fraudulently billed Medicare more than $2.1 billion for these CGx tests. Among those charged today are 10 medical professionals, including nine doctors.
The Department of Justice, Criminal Division, together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and FBI spearheaded today’s landmark investigation and prosecution that resulted in charges against CEOs, CFOs and others.
In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI), announced today that it took adverse administrative action against cancer genetic testing companies and medical professionals who submitted more than $1.7 billion in claims to the Medicare program.
Today’s announcement is a culmination of coordinated law enforcement activities over the past month that were led by the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit, resulting in charges against over 380 individuals who allegedly billed federal health care programs for more than $3 billion and allegedly prescribed/dispensed approximately 50 million controlled substance pills in Houston, across Texas, the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, the Northeast, Florida and Georgia, and the Midwest. These include charges against 105 defendants for opioid-related offenses, and charges against 178 medical professionals.
Read more: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-law-enforcement-action-involving-fraudulent-genetic-testing-results-charges-against
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Trump Lashes Out at Whistleblower
Pro-gun display seeks to educate O'Rourke rally attendees at Kent State
There were few signs of unrest during Wednesday evening’s Kent State University visit from Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, as gun-rights supporters turned out for a promised open-carry display to counter the former U.S. congressman’s outspoken push for gun restrictions.
Ron Jones of the Akron-Canton Proud Boys, along with a handful of its members and its supporters, stood across from the crowd of supporters awaiting O’Rourke. On a table in front of Jones sat a mix of rifles and smaller firearms, all secured with metal rope and padlocks. A sign on the front asked onlookers, “Which one of these should be banned?”
O’Rourke recently presented a proposal for a mandatory gun buyback program during the third Democratic presidential debate. Kent State alumnus Brett Pucillo commented on a Record-Courier Facebook post that people should join him in an open carry demonstration at the event. Jones said the Proud Boys did not work with Pucillo, but that they supported his efforts and wanted to do something similar.
Because the outdoor area of Kent State University is considered public property, Jones said, the Proud Boys were able to demonstrate close to the crowd awaiting O’Rourke.
Read more: https://www.record-courier.com/news/20190925/pro-gun-display-seeks-to-educate-orourke-rally-attendees-at-kent-state
(The Record-Courier, Ohio)
Pro-gun display seeks to educate O'Rourke rally attendees at Kent State
There were few signs of unrest during Wednesday evening’s Kent State University visit from Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, as gun-rights supporters turned out for a promised open-carry display to counter the former U.S. congressman’s outspoken push for gun restrictions.
Ron Jones of the Akron-Canton Proud Boys, along with a handful of its members and its supporters, stood across from the crowd of supporters awaiting O’Rourke. On a table in front of Jones sat a mix of rifles and smaller firearms, all secured with metal rope and padlocks. A sign on the front asked onlookers, “Which one of these should be banned?”
O’Rourke recently presented a proposal for a mandatory gun buyback program during the third Democratic presidential debate. Kent State alumnus Brett Pucillo commented on a Record-Courier Facebook post that people should join him in an open carry demonstration at the event. Jones said the Proud Boys did not work with Pucillo, but that they supported his efforts and wanted to do something similar.
Because the outdoor area of Kent State University is considered public property, Jones said, the Proud Boys were able to demonstrate close to the crowd awaiting O’Rourke.
Read more: https://www.record-courier.com/news/20190925/pro-gun-display-seeks-to-educate-orourke-rally-attendees-at-kent-state
(The Record-Courier, Ohio)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency denies key permit for Enbridge Line 3
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Friday denied a key water permit to Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 oil pipeline, requiring the Canadian oil company to satisfy several additional requirements before it can reapply for the permit.
The agency issued a “denial without prejudice” for the proposed 340-mile long pipeline’s 401 certification, a permit awarded by a state’s regulators if the project’s impact on water falls within the state’s standards. Federal agencies cannot issue a federal permit or license without a state approving the 401 certification.
In a news release Friday, the agency said it needs more information in three areas: “oil spill response modeling in the Lake Superior Watershed, a pre- and post-construction monitoring plan for aquatic resources, and a revised proposal for mitigating more than 400 acres of forested wetlands that will be impacted during construction.”
“The MPCA informed the company that additional information is needed to determine if the Line 3 project would comply with state water quality standards,” the MPCA said. “The MPCA’s denial without prejudice does not prevent Enbridge from reapplying for 401 Certification in the future with the additional information required”
Read more: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/government-and-politics/4682437-Minnesota-Pollution-Control-Agency-denies-key-permit-for-Enbridge-Line-3
Beto O'Rourke: UAW is fighting for our future
LORDSTOWN — After spending time on the picket line in front of the idled General Motors complex, Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke said the striking United Auto Workers are not just fighting for themselves, but for the future of America.
“Without unions, these UAW members willing to strike, without the concessions that they must win, there’s a real chance we lose the middle class in a country that is already economically divided as it’s ever been,” O’Rourke said. “The wealth inequality in America is unprecedented at least in our lifetime. You’d have to go back to the last gilded age in this country to see anything close to that — so they’re really fighting for us.”
O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman, spent more than two hours Wednesday in Lordstown — first at a labor roundtable with a dozen people and then a visit to the main gate at the idled GM plant where about 30 people greeted him. O’Rourke carried five boxes of pizza to the picket line while a campaign worker carried another seven.
It was part of a two-day swing through Ohio for O’Rourke, who is struggling in the polls, that began Tuesday with stops at a UAW picket line in West Chester, and meeting voters in Dayton and Columbus. On Wednesday, he was in Lordstown and Kent (and started his day in Pittsburgh).
Read more: https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2019/09/beto-orourke%E2%80%88uaw-is-fighting-for-our-future/
(Warren, Ohio Tribune Chronicle)
Beto O'Rourke: UAW is fighting for our future
LORDSTOWN — After spending time on the picket line in front of the idled General Motors complex, Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke said the striking United Auto Workers are not just fighting for themselves, but for the future of America.
“Without unions, these UAW members willing to strike, without the concessions that they must win, there’s a real chance we lose the middle class in a country that is already economically divided as it’s ever been,” O’Rourke said. “The wealth inequality in America is unprecedented at least in our lifetime. You’d have to go back to the last gilded age in this country to see anything close to that — so they’re really fighting for us.”
O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman, spent more than two hours Wednesday in Lordstown — first at a labor roundtable with a dozen people and then a visit to the main gate at the idled GM plant where about 30 people greeted him. O’Rourke carried five boxes of pizza to the picket line while a campaign worker carried another seven.
It was part of a two-day swing through Ohio for O’Rourke, who is struggling in the polls, that began Tuesday with stops at a UAW picket line in West Chester, and meeting voters in Dayton and Columbus. On Wednesday, he was in Lordstown and Kent (and started his day in Pittsburgh).
Read more: https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2019/09/beto-orourke%E2%80%88uaw-is-fighting-for-our-future/
(Warren, Ohio Tribune Chronicle)
Starr, Willacy, Brooks counties could be added to RGV MPO
WESLACO, RGV – The Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization has only just come into existence but the planning area it considers for transportation projects may be expanded.
At a board meeting on Wednesday, staff were tasked with looking into the feasibility of adding Starr, Willacy and Brooks counties to the MPO, along with those parts of Cameron County that were never part of the Brownsville or Harlingen-San Benito MPOs.
Earlier this year, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a declaration that merged Hidalgo County MPO, Brownsville MPO, and Harlingen-San Benito MPO into the new new RGV MPO.
“When we merged, one of the stipulations we agreed was that we reserve the right to expand the MPO,” said RGV MPO Chairman Ambrosio Hernandez. “I am looking at Starr County, Brooks, Willacy and South Padre Island because I think the bigger we are, the more we need to help each other to provide infrastructure.”
Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/starr-willacy-brooks-counties-could-be-added-to-rgv-mpo/
Southwest announces continued growth of Hawaii air service
HONOLULU (AP) — Southwest Airlines expects to more than quadruple its daily number of seats flying into and between Hawaii's islands before the completion of its first year of Hawaii service.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Thursday that the airline credits strong customer demand for its Hawaii growth.
Officials say the Dallas-based carrier began flying to Hawaii in March with one daily, round-trip flight between Honolulu and Oakland, California.
Southwest expects to fly between Honolulu and Lihue, Hawaii, and Honolulu and Sacramento, California, beginning in November rather than January.
Read more: https://www.oaoa.com/news/state/article_022e737c-0211-5841-829a-89ff2270add8.html
(Odessa American)
Congressional candidate speaks to Corsicana Democrats
Stephen Daniel, a Democratic candidate for Texas’s Sixth Congressional District, spoke to and heard from around 25 supporters in Corsicana last week. The meet and greet, hosted by Kathy Collier and her husband, also served as a fundraiser for Daniel, who announced that he was running for Congress in July.
Daniel hopes to turn the Sixth District blue for the first time since the early 1980s. He pledged to bring back service, dignity, and leadership to the office.
“People are sick of the craziness in Washington,” he said.
Daniel told the gathered Democrats that he would focus on healthcare, women’s rights and passing reasonable gun laws if he is elected.
Read more: https://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/congressional-candidate-speaks-to-local-democrats/article_0bd55a12-dfdd-11e9-b4cb-6b31e38cbf5f.html
The seat is currently held by Republican Ron Wright.
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
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Current location: Bryan, Texas
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