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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

NY Officials Enter Fight to Curb Immigration Services Fraud

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Friday, April 3, 2015   

NEW YORK - The White House's immigration-reform actions have been stalled by a challenge in federal court, but city and state officials in New York still are preparing for them to take effect.

On Thursday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio launched a task force to combat immigration-services fraud, saying the reforms could create new opportunities for criminals who prey on immigrants.

Lucia Gomez, executive director of the immigrant-rights group La Fuente, said she's already seen cases where people posing as attorneys have charged immigrants for services they don't need.

"This is going to be an uphill battle to make sure to get individuals to not go to these service providers," she said. "But the best way to do that is to get up front and center and make sure that they have all the information they need to make an educated decision."

The task force is conducting a public awareness campaign aimed at rooting out scam artists before any reforms are implemented. It's also asking victims of fraud to come forward without worrying about deportation.

The task force includes members of the state Assembly, the Department of Consumer Affairs and advocacy groups. With immigration-services fraud becoming more sophisticated, Gomez said, the teamwork is important.

"Having this level of coordination - I think, that goes a long way to deter this kind of activity from occurring," she said, "and at least being able to go after these folks in a more systemic and strategic way."

President Obama last fall rolled out a series of executive actions designed to help undocumented immigrant children and their parents gain legal status in the United States. A coalition of states recently won a court order temporarily blocking the actions.


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Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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