Amber Betts, WSDA
Link Source : https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2023/01/looking-back-on-2022-hunger-relief.html
" Below is an overview of the multiple programs run by Food Assistance – in partnership with hundreds of food pantries, food banks, tribes, and other hunger relief organizations – and their impact in 2022."--Amber Betts
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
A federally funded (United States Department of Agriculture – USDA) program that provides necessary food staples to low-income adults 60 years of age and over. Food Assistance provided $510,000.00 to agencies throughout Washington State to run this program. In 2022, 6154 seniors received monthly, nutrition-focused food packages, the value of which totaled $1.9 million.
Emergency Food Assistance Program
A state-funded program that provides funding to food banks and food pantries to assist with costs associated with hunger relief – including food, operating costs, training, and equipment. In 2022, Food Assistance provided $8.3 million in operational funding to agencies throughout Washington State, and these agencies (community food pantries) leveraged the funds to distribute 181 million pounds of food to 8.4 million food insecure Washington residents.
Emergency Food Assistance Program – Tribal
Through this state-funded program, 31 Washington State tribes received $870,000 in operational funding for their tribal food pantry and voucher programs. These operational funds support both food vouchers (with which food can be purchased from community supermarkets) and tribal food pantry operating costs (including food, training, and equipment), helping to feed 27,000 tribal members in 2022.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
A primarily federally funded (USDA) program that provides food (fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable) to hunger relief organizations (including food pantries and meal programs) for distribution to the community. In 2022, the Food Assistance program purchased and coordinated 894 truckloads, and distributed 21 million pounds of food across the state (worth over $30 million), in addition to $7 million of operational funding.
Resiliency Grants and Initiatives
This program, established in 2021, aims to address crisis and build resiliency in the Washington hunger relief system in response to COVID-19 and its long-term effects. Funded through the state Legislature and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery fund (part of the American Rescue Plan Act), this program awarded more than $20 million through competitive process grants to hunger relief organizations and tribes across Washington, including many new partners. A diverse advisory committee informed the program’s design.
Some of the resiliency-building projects funded in 2022 included:
Locally grown, culturally relevant produce purchased directly from small farms for distribution.
Locally grown and raised bison, beef, fish, and wheat for processing and distribution.
New and repaired coolers and freezers for increased fresh and perishable food capacity.
Costs of operation, including delivery, staffing (including living wages), rent, and more.
Refrigerated vehicles for home delivery, mobile pantries, and regional food distribution.
Warehouse equipment for increased efficiency, capacity, and safety.
Farm to Food Pantry
This program (established in 2014 with Harvest Against Hunger) encourages local resiliency through the establishment of long-term partnerships between hunger relief organizations and small-scale farmers. Through these partnerships, fresh produce is purchased from small farms, then distributed to food-insecure communities. In 2022, 25 participating agencies across 30 counties created new selling markets for 162 small farms. The $263,700 received directly by farmers resulted in 147,708 pounds of nutritious produce that was distributed to the community through 215 hunger relief locations.
TEFAP Farm to Food Bank
This is a federally funded (USDA) short-term grant program (established in 2019) to help reduce food waste and create partnerships between local farmers and growers with the hunger relief organizations in their area. In 2022, approximately $153,000 was awarded to four agencies to harvest, process, and distribute food donated by local growers. And through these partnerships, 127,098 pounds of fresh and processed food was rescued to be distributed to food-insecure individuals.
Cook WA Meal Kit
A pilot program established in 2022, modeled after meal kit companies like Hello Fresh. The Food Assistance team partnered with SNAP-Ed and Washington chefs to develop nutritious recipes for food pantry customers. Eleven food banks and one tribal nation participated in 2022, co-packing food, sauces, spices, and recipe cards into over 35,000 two-meal-equivalent meal kits for distribution through food pantries.
Reserve Food Warehouse
To help with stability in the hunger relief network amidst food shortages and rising food costs in 2022, Food Assistance team members used a partner organization warehouse to hold purchased shelf-stable foods to be released as needed to the hunger relief network. Over 26 truckloads carrying 974,555 pounds of food were purchased, stored, and distributed to the network from this warehouse in 2022.
TEFAP Reach and Resiliency
A federally funded (USDA) short-term grant established in 2022, helping to expand the TEFAP program into more remote, rural, tribal, low-income, and underserved areas by supporting the additional operating costs; $827,000 was awarded in 2022.
Local Food Purchasing Assistance
A federally funded (USDA-AMS) short-term grant program that helps improve regional supply chain resiliency through partnership. In 2022, $2.7 million was awarded to 29 hunger relief organizations and tribes to establish direct purchase partnerships with socially disadvantaged farmers, producers, and ranchers across the state.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
Tukwila property owner penalized for oil spill to the Duwamish River.
TUKWILA –
A Tukwila property owner has been served a $28,000 penalty after allowing oil to leak into the Duwamish River. John Roach leased space on his riverfront property to several businesses and individuals, including semi-truck companies, allowing the land to be improperly used for vehicle maintenance. The property has a documented history of spills and other violations.--DOE
Newest round of clean-water funding focuses on small communities
$303 million proposed for projects across the state.
We're proposing to award $303 million in grants and loans for 114 high-priority clean water projects across the state. Our Water Quality Combined Funding program supports communities by helping them upgrade wastewater treatment and sewer systems, manage polluted stormwater, and complete a variety of other projects to prevent and clean up diffuse sources of pollution, also known as nonpoint pollution.--DOE
Yakima County massage therapist suspended on allegations of sexual misconduct.
OLYMPIA – State health officials suspended the license of Yakima County massage therapist Jesus Bautista Rodriguez (MA60736453) pending further legal action.--DOH
New WDFW report calls for science-based approaches for climate-resilient water supply.
OLYMPIA – A new report recently released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) calls for new strategies and policy tools to address consequences of increasing human demand for water and the effects of climate change on Washington’s rivers and streams. --WDFW
(2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC
KILMER APPLAUDS DECISION TO APPROVE PERMANENT CLEAN WATER ACT PROTECTIONS FOR BRISTOL BAY, BLOCKING PROPOSED MINE.
Link Source: Rep. Kilmer's office
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final determination to approve permanent Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay, blocking the proposed Pebble Mine.
“I applaud the Environmental Protection Agency for taking the necessary steps to ensure Bristol Bay is permanently protected,” said Rep. Kilmer. “The Pebble Mine would threaten our fisheries, impacting not only the environment but also our economy. At a time when Washingtonians can’t afford a hit to their livelihoods, we need to make sure that we’re acting to protect our natural resources and the jobs that depend upon them.”
The Pebble Mine is a proposed open-pit mine that would excavate gold, molybdenum sulfite, and copper from 150 square miles of the Bristol Bay watershed. In January 2014, the EPA released a report titled “Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska.” The report concluded that allowing a mine in the Bristol Bay Watershed would destroy as many as 94 miles of salmon streams and up to 5,350 acres of wetlands, including important spawning grounds.
More congressional news...
KILMER APPOINTED TO REGIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL BY HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER JEFFRIES
Cantwell, Murray Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
(3) WORLD & NATIONAL HEADLINES
WORLD:
Following Year of Political Discord, Iraq's New Government Tackles Pressing Challenges, Institutes Reforms, Senior Official Tells Security Council
Country Representative Details Initiatives, Reforms, Diplomatic Endeavours--UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15189.doc.htm
In its first three months in office, Iraq’s new Government has shown its commitment to tackle the most pressing challenges facing the country, including endemic corruption, poor public service delivery and high levels of unemployment, the senior United Nations official in the country told the Security Council today, while underscoring the need of accountability.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), said that, since 2003, too many opportunities to conduct meaningful reform have been wasted due to pervasive corruption. However, Iraq’s new Government, ending more than a year of tensions, political discord and power play, has tackled the myriad national challenges, including the recovery of stolen funds and the investigation of corruption allegations.
Encouraging the Iraqi Government to persevere, she called for systemic change through socioeconomic reform, stronger institutions and better governance. She also spotlighted the recent victory of Iraq’s national football team, adding that after decades of violence, Iraq’s hosting of the Gulf Cup for the first time since 1979 was a testimony to a return to normality the country’s potential to rally not only the nation but also regional partners around a common and positive objective.
Nonetheless, there are concern over violations of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, she noted, declaring: “Messaging by strikes does nothing but recklessly heighten tensions, kill people and destroy property.” Moreover, Iraq is one of the most explosive-ordnance-contaminated countries in the world, she said, noting that in 2022, those remnants of war are the leading cause of child casualties and one third of civilian casualties.
Echoing her concerns, Dr. Ahmed, Director of Donor and International Relations, Iraqi Health and Social Care Organization, also described Iraq as one of the most explosive-ordnance-contaminated countries in the world. Decades of successive wars and conflicts — including the latest conflict with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Da'esh — have created an obstacle to the safe and dignified return of Iraq’s 1.2 million displaced persons and a threat to people’s lives.
He also described the process of accreditation for mine action organizations as lengthy and wasteful. Citing a “steep winding down in donor funding” that has hit mine action operators — in particular national non-governmental organizations — he reported that humanitarian funding for local actors dropped from 4.7 per cent in 2020 to 2 per cent in 2021, far from the target of 25 per cent. Nonetheless, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has been leading efforts to “localize” demining processes through a model that brings together international and national non-governmental organizations to transfer skills and knowledge.
In the ensuing discussion, many speakers, congratulating Iraq’s national football team for its recent victory, commended not only the formation of the new Government, but the appointment of three women to the Cabinet, while also stressing the need to combat corruption, tackle unemployment and promote security in the country.
Japan’s delegate, underlining the importance of UNAMI’s electoral assistance, also welcomed the Iraqi Government’s active engagement in building confidence among neighbouring countries through regional dialogues. In that regard, closure of the United Nations Compensation Commission in December 2022 — following Iraq’s final payment to Kuwait — marked an important milestone. He also drew attention to steady cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait on missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property.
In another vein, the representative of China warned that the current situation in Iraq remains dire as terrorists are still conducting asymmetric attacks, resulting in casualties among civilians. He called on the international community to support Iraq in combating terrorism, eliminating extremist forces, such as Da’esh, preventing their return and consolidating hard-won gains in countering terrorism.
Along similar lines, Albania’s delegate expressed concern about continued attacks by terrorist groups, voicing support for Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also drew attention to the risks posed to Iraq by climate change, which are already seriously impacting the country’s security and human rights situations.
The representative of Mozambique, also speaking for Gabon and Ghana, said that, while the end of Iraq’s year-long political deadlock is encouraging, efforts to ensure the defeat of Da’esh, and international support for Iraq’s role in that endeavour, must continue.
Rounding up the discussion, Iraq’s delegate, outlining the Government’s new priorities, noted they are built upon international partnerships and focus on holding early elections, countering corruption, countering poverty and unemployment, and improving national security, among others. Reporting on improved relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, he said talks are under way on legislation relating to oil and gas, customs revenues and other matters. He also reported that 4 million internally displaced persons have already returned to Iraq.
Moreso, after four decades of discriminatory policies, a recent decree guarantees land ownership rights to Yazidis, he said, calling for increased international support for services provided to victims of Da’esh crimes. In addition, he pledged the new Government’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — which are being hindered by climate change and the scarcity of water resources — noting that Iraq has implemented several green economy projects to date.
In other world headlines...
UN aid convoys deliver lifesaving relief to Ukraine’s war-ravaged east.
Ethiopia: Northern aid access improving but some areas still hard to reach.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Interview with Nick Schifrin of PBS NewsHour--USUN
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele Sison will travel to Seattle, Washington, February 6-7, 2023, to highlight America’s multilateral leadership and to discuss the many ways in which that leadership reflects U.S. values of democracy and human rights and contributes to our country’s safety, security, and prosperity. During her visit, the Assistant Secretary will headline events hosted by the World Affairs Council of Seattle and meet with students at the University of Washington and Seattle University to discuss today’s shared global challenges, as well as career opportunities at the Department of State and in international organizations.
NATIONAL:
Thursday, February 2, 2023
New Jersey Man and Company Operating Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities in Wisconsin Charged with Health Care Fraud
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin returned an indictment yesterday charging Kevin Breslin, 56, of Hoboken, New Jersey, and KBWB Operations, LLC, doing business as Atrium Health and Senior Living (Atrium) in Park Ridge, New Jersey, with a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items, or services.
The indictment alleges that the scheme operated from January 2015 to September 2018. The indictment charges the defendants with health care fraud, six counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit tax fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the indictment, Breslin was the Chief Executive Officer of Atrium, which operated 24 skilled nursing facilities and nine assisted living facilities in Wisconsin and Michigan. These facilities included:
Atrium Post Acute Care of Appleton, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Black River Falls, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Bloomer, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Chetek, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Chilton, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Ellsworth, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Kewaunee, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Lancaster, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Little Chute, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Marshfield, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Menominee, Michigan;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Mineral Point, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Neenah, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of New Holstein, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Oconto Falls, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Plymouth, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Shawano, Wisconsin, at Birch Hill,
Atrium Post Acute Care of Shawano, Wisconsin, at Evergreen,
Atrium Post Acute Care of Shawano, Wisconsin, at Maple Lane,
Atrium Post Acute Care of Stevens Point, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Two Rivers, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Weston, Wisconsin;
Atrium Post Acute Care of Williams Bay, Wisconsin; and
Atrium Post Acute Care of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
The indictment alleges that from January 2015 through September 2018, Atrium billed Medicare for over $189,000,000 and received over $49,000,000 and that they billed Medicaid for over $218,000,000 and received over $93,000,000. The indictment alleges that when the defendants obtained money from Medicare and Medicaid, they certified that they would follow all required quality of care standards, but they did not do so, and that they would operate their facilities with adequate staffing, supplies, and services, but they did not do so.
The indictment alleges that as part of the scheme to defraud, Breslin and Atrium diverted funds from the Wisconsin facilities through guaranteed payments to Atrium owners, guaranteed monthly return-on-investment payments to investors that were financing the construction of skilled nursing facilities in New Jersey, and construction costs for the New Jersey facilities. The indictment further alleges that the diversion of funds caused inadequate care of residents, including a shortage of clean diapers, inadequate wound care supplies, inadequate cleaning supplies, and a lack of durable medical equipment and respiratory supplies. In addition, the diversion of funds caused non-payment to vendors, which caused numerous services to be cut off, including physical therapy for residents, fire alarm monitoring services, phone and internet services preventing staff from obtaining prescription orders and accessing electronic medical records systems, and necessary repairs and maintenance of the physical plant facilities.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Breslin and Atrium withheld insurance premiums from employees’ paychecks but failed to pay those monies over to the third-party administrator for use in paying health claims, causing payment of employees’ health claims to be stopped. The indictment further alleges that the defendants withheld 401(k) retirement savings account contributions from employees’ paychecks but failed to pay those monies over to the third-party pension administrator.
The indictment also alleges that Breslin and Atrium evaded payment to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service of state and federal income taxes and employment taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks.
If convicted, Breslin and Atrium face penalties of five years in federal prison on the conspiracy to commit tax fraud charge, and 20 years on each health care fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering charge. The conspiracy to commit tax fraud charge and each of the health care, wire and mail fraud charges carry a $250,000 fine; the money laundering charge carries a $500,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration; the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Medicare Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit; and the FBI investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber for the Western District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Karla-Dee Clark of the Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division are prosecuting the case.
In other national news:
Three Individuals Charged with Operating Multimillion-Dollar Elder Fraud Scheme
A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned an indictment yesterday charging three individuals with operating a mail fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of U.S. victims, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable.--DOJ
New Website, Technical Assistance and Enforcement Guidance Strengthen Protections for Survivors Applying for and Living in HUD-Assisted Properties.
HUD AWARDS $315 MILLION IN HISTORIC GRANTS TO ADDRESS UNSHELTERED AND RURAL HOMELESSNESS
The first of its kind package of grants and vouchers follows progress of 100,000 people and families housed and 40,000 housing units added to development pipeline by House America communities
(4) BUSINESS HEADLINE NEWS
Washington State:
Cryptocurrency website M.LBNK123.COM appears to be engaged in fraud.--DFI
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Securities Division has received a complaint from a Washington resident regarding a purported cryptocurrency website, m.lbnk123.com. The investor was introduced to an individual named “Zhenhai Yu” (“Yu”) through social media. Yu told the investor to invest in Tether (“USDT”) stablecoins claiming they would shortly triple in value.
Yu initially sent the investor a link to the website, lbank.info[1]. Yu explained that LBank is a cryptocurrency exchange that would hold the investor’s USDT. After agreeing to invest, Yu sent the investor a separate link to M.LBNK123.COM, claiming the website was associated with the LBank website. The website opens to a purported Lbank login page. Yu told the investor to start an account on M.LBNK123.COM and wire funds to a third party overseas that would purchase the USDT and deposit them into the investor’s supposed LBank account.
Shortly after investing, the USDT in the investor’s Lbank account purportedly tripled in value. Yu told the investor that in order to receive a higher return, the investor needed to invest more money. The investor invested a few more times, for a total of $65,000, and wired the funds to other third parties within the United States.
The investor attempted to close and withdraw the funds from their LBank account but was unable to do so. LBank “customer service” claimed that that the investor could not withdraw their funds because the investor had entered into a contract and agreed to borrow $300,000. The investor was told that they would not be able to withdraw funds from their account until they invest $300,000. Yu told the investor that if they did not pay, they would also lose their investment and money. The investor lost their entire $65,000 investment. These allegations have not been verified by DFI.
This appears to be related to a scam that is on the rise called, “Pig Butchering.” (https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2022/PSA221003). This scheme involves fraudsters contacting victims online, gaining their trust, and advising them to invest on fake websites or applications. After investing, these fake websites or applications may give the impression their investments are making large returns. The fraudsters may misspell URLs to make it appear they are associated with a financial institution or cryptocurrency exchange.
This also appears to be what is commonly called an “Advance Fee Fraud(link is external).”
How to Protect Yourself from Fraud
DFI urges consumers to exercise extreme caution before responding to any solicitation offering investment or financial services. Investment professionals need to be licensed with DFI to offer investments to Washington residents. In addition, most investment products sold need to be registered with DFI.
To check the licensing status and to find out if there are any complaints against an investment professional or investment product, please visit FINRA Brokercheck(link is external) or contact the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Securities Division at (360) 902-8760.
If you live outside of Washington State, contact your state securities reg
IN OTHER BUSINESS HEADLINES:
Key points to keep in mind when filing 2022 tax returns--IRS
(5) LOCAL MEETINGS
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS
Clallam County Commission work session for 2/6/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02062023-716
Clallam County Commission meeting for 2/7/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02072023-717
A special meeting will be held February 8th at 1 PM for a Clallam Community-BPA Stakeholder Meeting.
https://clallampud.net/commission-meetings/
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 2/6/23
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/2071e2cd-c9c0-4ef5-bfa3-5271e1ca5e7b
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA
for 2/6/23
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=3106
Port of Port Townsend Commission meeting for 2/8/23
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-02-08-CommMtg-Agenda.pdf
