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Largest taxpayer fraud in CA history Santa Barbara County officials investigate allegations of fraud in County Jail By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Santa Barbara authorities are currently investigating allegations that at least 157 Santa Barbara County jail inmates have stolen $1.2 million or more in unemployment benefit payments in a large-scale, statewide fraud scheme. The inmates allegedly filed bogus claims through California’s Employment Development Department, and since the investigation is still ongoing, the amount of inmates and money stolen could be higher. In a statement to the NewsPress, EDD Deputy Director of Public Affairs Loree Levy said: “EDD has been working with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Inspector General on cross-matches with inmate populations to identify suspect claims. We’re also pursuing
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Many thankful for their health on Thanksgiving
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
A shopper loads up a basket of Black Friday deals at Sears in La Cumbre Plaza the morning of Nov. 23, 2007.
how to integrate such crossmatches moving forward as part of enhanced prevention efforts during this unprecedented time of pandemic-related unemployment fraud across the country. In addition, EDD is working collaboratively with state cyber-security experts.” Santa Barbara County Assistant District Attorney Brian Cota sat in on a Zoom call Tuesday with more than 100 law enforcement officials across the state to discuss how the fraud was committed. He told the News-Press on Wednesday that while he can’t speak to how the inmates may have pulled it off, it’s likely they would have needed outside accomplices. “The process for signing up (for the benefits) is you do it online and answer some questions and provide information, then they send out
Braving Black Friday Stores take precautions before opening Friday
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
If Black Friday seemed crazy before the pandemic, it’s extra intimidating this year. But stores are working to make it safe even amid a surge of COVID-19 cases. Many large brands, like Macy’s and Target, have made deals available online throughout November. They’ve made it easier to save money without hopping in line Friday. “Target has been doing a good job at spreading it out so we don’t have a big line out the door,” said Kelly Nassif, store director of the Target in Goleta. Target will have extra sales throughout the weekend and will still be offering services like curbside order pickup. But Ms. Nassid said there won’t be a large number of employees at registers and counters, an effort to keep staff safe and lines spread out. “That’s for their safety and our team’s safety,” she said. “We’re not going to have a large army to serve our guests.” The store is also skipping the bins and pallets that usually line the aisles on Black Friday in an effort to give customers space. “This year, it won’t feel like Black Friday,” Ms. Nassif said. “There will be plenty of space for guests to shop.” If a line forms, the store is ready with a barricade and security on site. Ms. Nassif isn’t too worried, but she is getting prepared for many possibilities.
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
At left, James Hardaway of Boulder, Colorado, said he was in town to visit his kids, which is what he’s most thankful for this year. At right, Goleta resident Jehan Ibrahem is thankful this year for her family and that she hasn’t come down with COVID-19.
By JOSH GREGA NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
“We don’t know what it’s going to look like. The unknown is always the scariest part, but Target has done a great job at staying resilient,” she said. She likes that there are multiple deals on hot-ticket items, like televisions. This way, no one will get desperate for one sale. Target will even price match items advertised as “Black Friday
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Now” deals until Dec. 24. Macy’s started its deals Nov. 4 and launched even more specials Nov. 16. It features many products around $5, some retailing up to $45. “This year, Black Friday at Macy’s is about allowing our customer to shop when, where and how they want — safely and friction-free,” Abigail James,
Macy’s senior vice president of customer activation, said in a news release. “Macy’s is unveiling our biggest holiday deals earlier than ever, with specially-curated deals available online and in stores throughout the month of November. Whether shopping Please see black friday on A2
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STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Shoppers leave Paseo Nuevo mid-morning on Nov. 27, 2009.
2020 has been an unusual year to say the least. But today is Thanksgiving, and many people walking State Street on Wednesday who were in town for the holiday expressed thankfulness that they have managed to stay healthy amid the year-defining COVID-19 pandemic. Many who spoke to the NewsPress on Wednesday afternoon were people who had arrived in Santa Barbara from out of town. Berkeley resident Russell Grange remarked that he and his fiancé, Dana Stranz, came down to Santa Barbara to get some sunshine and a change of scenery, burn some vacation days, and spend today’s holiday with his uncle and aunt. Mr. Grange added that he and his fiancé wanted to go somewhere for Thanksgiving that would enable them to travel
responsibly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “We intentionally chose a spot that we could get to without really having to make any stops along the way,” he said. Mr. Grange said he is thankful that he and Ms. Stranz are in good health, for the fact that they are both still employed due to being able to work remotely, and that there is more freedom in America to move about amid the pandemic than in other parts of the world, such as Europe. “I’m glad to have the mobility to still be able to have a bit of freedom of movement,” he said. Orange County resident Stacy Vencill told the News-Press that she came to Santa Barbara for the holiday with her husband, 9-yearold son, and 7-year-old daughter. Her family doesn’t have any relatives in town, so today will consist of a morning of horseback
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