DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Illinois' Demographic Collapse Continues: Get Out As Soon As You Can
Since the turn of the century, Illinois has been in the midst of a perfect demographic storm. Residents are leaving the state in record numbers. The number of Americans moving into Illinois has hit new lows. Net foreign immigration has fallen by half. And the number of births has dropped by more than 20 percent.
These demographic forces have all combined into a single troubling fact: Illinois is shrinking. The state has lost population five years in a row. In 2018 alone, the state lost 45,000 people, the second-biggest population drop in the country.
The state’s growing domestic out-migration has been especially problematic. More Illinoisans are leaving the state at the same time that fewer Americans from other states are moving in.
Wirepoints has analyzed Illinois’ demographics over the past 18 years, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Division and American Community Survey as well as migration data from the IRS.
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These demographic forces have all combined into a single troubling fact: Illinois is shrinking. The state has lost population five years in a row. In 2018 alone, the state lost 45,000 people, the second-biggest population drop in the country.
The state’s growing domestic out-migration has been especially problematic. More Illinoisans are leaving the state at the same time that fewer Americans from other states are moving in.
Wirepoints has analyzed Illinois’ demographics over the past 18 years, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Division and American Community Survey as well as migration data from the IRS.
More
Texas man brings steer to Petco to test ‘all leashed pets are welcome’ policy
Don’t have a cow, man - unless it's at Petco.
A man and woman from Texas couldn’t help but laugh as they recently walked their leashed steer into a Houston-area Petco to really see if “all leashed pets are welcome” at the store.
To Shelly Lumpkin and Vincent Browning’s surprise, the African Watusi was welcomed “with open arms,” Browning wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. “The staff members here are always super friendly and courteous to us. We really enjoy coming to this location...our favorite Petco BY FAR!!”
The post has since earned more than 400,000 views.
More/Video
https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-man-brings-steer-to-petco-to-test-all-leashed-pets-are-welcome-policy
A man and woman from Texas couldn’t help but laugh as they recently walked their leashed steer into a Houston-area Petco to really see if “all leashed pets are welcome” at the store.
To Shelly Lumpkin and Vincent Browning’s surprise, the African Watusi was welcomed “with open arms,” Browning wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. “The staff members here are always super friendly and courteous to us. We really enjoy coming to this location...our favorite Petco BY FAR!!”
The post has since earned more than 400,000 views.
More/Video
https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-man-brings-steer-to-petco-to-test-all-leashed-pets-are-welcome-policy
Numbers Don't Lie: Trump's Free Speech Executive Order Could Cost Colleges Billions
In light of President Trump’s executive order directing government agencies to restrict and remove federal research funding from universities that infringe on students’ rights to free speech, Campus Reform compiled existing government data to determine exactly how much federal research money is doled out each year.
The National Science Foundation, a government agency, produces annual spending reports regarding government-funded research in higher education. Campus Reform analyzed the numerous sets of data from 2017 and created a single report with the most relevant statistics to create a reader-friendly, comprehensive document.
Readers can identify what an individual state spends on “Research & Development” (R&D) and what percentage of that number is comprised of federal, state, and institution dollars, among other categories.
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The National Science Foundation, a government agency, produces annual spending reports regarding government-funded research in higher education. Campus Reform analyzed the numerous sets of data from 2017 and created a single report with the most relevant statistics to create a reader-friendly, comprehensive document.
Readers can identify what an individual state spends on “Research & Development” (R&D) and what percentage of that number is comprised of federal, state, and institution dollars, among other categories.
More
ICE SAYS MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING DEPUTY SHERIFF WAS ILLEGAL
The man police believe murdered Kittitas County, Washington, Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Thompson was an illegal alien.
Juan Manuel Flores Del Toro came to the United States from Mexico in April 2014 as a temporary farm worker. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman Tanya Roman told Fox News that Toro never had his visa extended and apparently did not return to Mexico, either.
With detention facilities overcrowded, ICE has released over 100,000 illegals onto the streets in the past three months.
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Juan Manuel Flores Del Toro came to the United States from Mexico in April 2014 as a temporary farm worker. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman Tanya Roman told Fox News that Toro never had his visa extended and apparently did not return to Mexico, either.
With detention facilities overcrowded, ICE has released over 100,000 illegals onto the streets in the past three months.
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New Populist Party Goes from Zero Seats to Largest Party in Dutch Election
A new populist, Eurosceptic party has achieved the remarkable feat of going from zero seats to becoming the largest single party in the Dutch Senate in a single election, as a young politician likened to a “Dutch Donald Trump” beat seasoned professionals in Wednesday’s poll.
Thierry Baudet’s Forum for Democracy party, which has gained attention for its Euroscepticism, campaigned against open borders politics and against what he calls “climate-change hysteria,” winning 86 seats across the Dutch regions. The victory put his party ahead of even the ruling mainstream conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), which achieved 80 seats.
Forum was founded in 2016, and this is the first regional election the party has contested. Remarkably, in some Dutch regions Forum was so unexpectedly successful it won the right to appoint more elected members than they actually have registered candidates living in those areas.
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Thierry Baudet’s Forum for Democracy party, which has gained attention for its Euroscepticism, campaigned against open borders politics and against what he calls “climate-change hysteria,” winning 86 seats across the Dutch regions. The victory put his party ahead of even the ruling mainstream conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), which achieved 80 seats.
Forum was founded in 2016, and this is the first regional election the party has contested. Remarkably, in some Dutch regions Forum was so unexpectedly successful it won the right to appoint more elected members than they actually have registered candidates living in those areas.
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A Children’s Book Is Causing a Political Scandal in Baltimore. It’s Quite a Tale.
What has become a full-blown political scandal in Baltimore started innocently enough. In fact, it began with a children’s book.
Mayor Catherine Pugh, a fitness fanatic, said that about a decade ago, she was inspired to encourage children to pursue healthy lifestyles, and so she created the “Healthy Holly” series of books, about a little girl devoted to self-improvement and the betterment of those around her.
At the time, Ms. Pugh, a Democrat, was a state senator who sat on the board of one of the state’s largest nonprofit health care companies. In what seemed like a happy ending, she struck a deal to sell 100,000 copies of the books to the company for $500,000.
But now, the arrangement has become public, raising questions not only about the propriety of the arrangement, but also about just how many children had access to the books.
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Mayor Catherine Pugh, a fitness fanatic, said that about a decade ago, she was inspired to encourage children to pursue healthy lifestyles, and so she created the “Healthy Holly” series of books, about a little girl devoted to self-improvement and the betterment of those around her.
At the time, Ms. Pugh, a Democrat, was a state senator who sat on the board of one of the state’s largest nonprofit health care companies. In what seemed like a happy ending, she struck a deal to sell 100,000 copies of the books to the company for $500,000.
But now, the arrangement has become public, raising questions not only about the propriety of the arrangement, but also about just how many children had access to the books.
More
Man faces 20-plus years for fighting police
Joshua Thomas James Petersen faced a lifetime ban from a downtown Ocean City bar after a night of drinking on March 16.
The 23-year-old Berlin resident couldn’t accept that. Now, he faces nearly 25 years in prison and more than $11,000 in fines, according to a police report, for assaulting two police officers attempting to arrest him late that evening after Petersen was twice escorted out of the bar.
Two officers intervened after Petersen’s third attempt to reenter the bar. While instructing Petersen to place his hands behind his back, the report said, “Petersen turned away from me and assumed a bladed fighting stance.” Petersen attempted to strike two officers, which led to him being taken down to the ground. Petersen continued to resist arrest until an officer was able to place the handcuffs on him.
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The 23-year-old Berlin resident couldn’t accept that. Now, he faces nearly 25 years in prison and more than $11,000 in fines, according to a police report, for assaulting two police officers attempting to arrest him late that evening after Petersen was twice escorted out of the bar.
Two officers intervened after Petersen’s third attempt to reenter the bar. While instructing Petersen to place his hands behind his back, the report said, “Petersen turned away from me and assumed a bladed fighting stance.” Petersen attempted to strike two officers, which led to him being taken down to the ground. Petersen continued to resist arrest until an officer was able to place the handcuffs on him.
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FORMER DNC CHAIR ED RENDELL: ‘AOC DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’
Former DNC Chairman Ed Rendell said that freshman Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “does not represent the Democratic Party” in an interview that aired Thursday night on “Erin Burnett OutFront”.
The clip of the former Pennsylvania governor aired during a story about Keystone State voters, which included interviews with residents from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
“I think, all of a sudden, the 2020 election went from a slam dunk for Democrats to something where we’re going to have trouble beating this guy because he’s going to make democratic socialism swing to the left, which I don’t think is real, but he’s going to make it into the issue,” Rendell stated before adding that “AOC does not speak for the Democratic Party.”
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The clip of the former Pennsylvania governor aired during a story about Keystone State voters, which included interviews with residents from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
“I think, all of a sudden, the 2020 election went from a slam dunk for Democrats to something where we’re going to have trouble beating this guy because he’s going to make democratic socialism swing to the left, which I don’t think is real, but he’s going to make it into the issue,” Rendell stated before adding that “AOC does not speak for the Democratic Party.”
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NEW EMAILS REVEALED BY JUDICIAL WATCH SEEM TO SHOW MORE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ON CLINTON’S PRIVATE SERVER
Newly revealed emails from Hillary Clinton’s private email server seem to show the then-soon-to-be secretary of state discussing classified foreign policy — sometimes with world leaders.
The documents, unearthed by Judicial Watch and revealed Thursday, would appear to contradict Clinton’s 2015 testimony, under oath, that she had already relinquished all of her classified emails to the State Department. In the correspondence, Clinton roves from apparently sensitive foreign policy concerns in Israel to helping a friend of her daughter Chelsea find employment at the State Department, Fox News reports.
In the emails, Clinton is discussing foreign policy concerns with then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair as well as suggesting she initiate “private, 100% off-the-record” back channel discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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The documents, unearthed by Judicial Watch and revealed Thursday, would appear to contradict Clinton’s 2015 testimony, under oath, that she had already relinquished all of her classified emails to the State Department. In the correspondence, Clinton roves from apparently sensitive foreign policy concerns in Israel to helping a friend of her daughter Chelsea find employment at the State Department, Fox News reports.
In the emails, Clinton is discussing foreign policy concerns with then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair as well as suggesting she initiate “private, 100% off-the-record” back channel discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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Republicans resigned to Trump losing 2020 popular vote but confident about Electoral College
Senior Republicans are resigned to President Trump losing the popular vote in 2020, conceding the limits of the flamboyant incumbent’s political appeal and revealing just how central the Electoral College has become to the party’s White House prospects.
Some Republicans say the problem is Trump's populist brand of partisan grievance. It's an attitude tailor-made for the Electoral College in the current era of regionally Balkanized politics, but anathema to attracting a broad, national coalition that can win the most votes, as past presidents did when seeking re-election amid a booming economy. Others argue that neither Trump, nor possibly any Republican, could win the popular vote when most big states are overwhelmingly liberal.
“California, Illinois, and New York, make it very, very difficult for anybody on our side to ever again to win the popular vote,” said David Carney, a Republican strategist in New Hampshire. Asked if he expects Trump to defy the odds next year, Carney said flatly, “No,” but added, “the president shouldn’t worry about it. Two hundred seventy — that’s what people remember.”
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Some Republicans say the problem is Trump's populist brand of partisan grievance. It's an attitude tailor-made for the Electoral College in the current era of regionally Balkanized politics, but anathema to attracting a broad, national coalition that can win the most votes, as past presidents did when seeking re-election amid a booming economy. Others argue that neither Trump, nor possibly any Republican, could win the popular vote when most big states are overwhelmingly liberal.
“California, Illinois, and New York, make it very, very difficult for anybody on our side to ever again to win the popular vote,” said David Carney, a Republican strategist in New Hampshire. Asked if he expects Trump to defy the odds next year, Carney said flatly, “No,” but added, “the president shouldn’t worry about it. Two hundred seventy — that’s what people remember.”
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Newt Gingrich: Make the Mueller report public -- Here's why
President Trump is right: Every American should be able to see what Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team have been doing for the last two years. The Mueller report should be made public.
As the president said Wednesday: "Let it come out. Let people see it.”
For two years, virtually every news organization – and every left-wing political organization – has been opining, speculating and fantasizing over what dirt Mueller’s team of anti-Trump lawyers could dig up on the president and his associates. Again and again, they have used the investigation as a cudgel to attack the Trump administration and rally the so-called “resistance.”
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-make-the-mueller-report-public
As the president said Wednesday: "Let it come out. Let people see it.”
For two years, virtually every news organization – and every left-wing political organization – has been opining, speculating and fantasizing over what dirt Mueller’s team of anti-Trump lawyers could dig up on the president and his associates. Again and again, they have used the investigation as a cudgel to attack the Trump administration and rally the so-called “resistance.”
More
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-make-the-mueller-report-public
Seattle is Dying
KOMO's Eric Johnson explores the impact the drug and homelessness problem is having on our city and possible solutions in "Seattle is Dying."
San Antonio bars Chick-fil-A from airport, cites 'legacy of anti-LGBT behavior'
San Antonio's City Council voted Thursday to block Chick-fil-A from opening a store at the San Antonio International Airport citing the company’s "legacy of anti-LGBT behavior."
The council voted 6-4 to deny Chick-fil-A from joining the new Food, Beverage and Retail Prime Concession Agreement for the airport, but approved chains like Smoke Shack and Local Coffee.
“With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion," said Councilman Roberto Trevino, according to News 4 San Antonio. "San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior."
“Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport,” he said.
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The council voted 6-4 to deny Chick-fil-A from joining the new Food, Beverage and Retail Prime Concession Agreement for the airport, but approved chains like Smoke Shack and Local Coffee.
“With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion," said Councilman Roberto Trevino, according to News 4 San Antonio. "San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior."
“Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport,” he said.
More
Democrats want $100 million to hand out free diapers
House Democrats want to spend $100 million to give away diapers to low-income families.
Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut on Thursday introduced the End Diaper Need Act. The bill is sponsored by other high-profile Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
The bill would create a "$100 million demonstration program" aimed at distributing free diapers and related products to poor families.
A statement from Lee indicates the money would be sent to cities, states and nonprofit groups, which would then help distribute diapers.
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Reps. Barbara Lee of California and Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut on Thursday introduced the End Diaper Need Act. The bill is sponsored by other high-profile Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
The bill would create a "$100 million demonstration program" aimed at distributing free diapers and related products to poor families.
A statement from Lee indicates the money would be sent to cities, states and nonprofit groups, which would then help distribute diapers.
More
Google Influenced Midterm Elections, May Have Cost Republicans Seats: Study
New research reveals that Google built biases into its search results that influenced the 2018 midterm elections - possibly costing Republicans three congressional districts.
First things first - the study was conducted by Dr. Robert Epstein - a San Diego-based Harvard Ph.D. who founded the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. He's also a Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology (AIBRT), a UCSD visiting scholar, and served as editor-in-chief of Psychology Today.
He also supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 (just like Google!).
Down to the findings:
Epstein and AIBRT analyzed Google searches linked to three highly competitive southern California congressional races in which Democrats won, and found that Google's "clear democrat bias" may have flipped the seats away from Republican candidates. According to the study, at least 35,455 undecided voters within the three California districts may have been persuaded to vote Democrat due to the biased Google search results.
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First things first - the study was conducted by Dr. Robert Epstein - a San Diego-based Harvard Ph.D. who founded the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. He's also a Senior Research Psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology (AIBRT), a UCSD visiting scholar, and served as editor-in-chief of Psychology Today.
He also supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 (just like Google!).
Down to the findings:
Epstein and AIBRT analyzed Google searches linked to three highly competitive southern California congressional races in which Democrats won, and found that Google's "clear democrat bias" may have flipped the seats away from Republican candidates. According to the study, at least 35,455 undecided voters within the three California districts may have been persuaded to vote Democrat due to the biased Google search results.
More
Barbra Streisand says Michael Jackson's accusers were "thrilled to be there"
Barbra Streisand is facing criticism for comments she made on Michael Jackson's accusers. In an interview with The Times of London, Streisand shared her thoughts on "Leaving Neverland," a documentary that tells the stories of two men who allege Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
Streisand said she believes Jackson's accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. "Oh absolutely," she said, according to The Times report, published on Friday. "That was too painful."
She also said, of Jackson, "His sexual needs were his sexual needs, coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has," she said.
"You can say 'molested,' but those children, as you heard them say, they were thrilled to be there," she said. "They both married and they both have children, so it didn't kill them."
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Streisand said she believes Jackson's accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. "Oh absolutely," she said, according to The Times report, published on Friday. "That was too painful."
She also said, of Jackson, "His sexual needs were his sexual needs, coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has," she said.
"You can say 'molested,' but those children, as you heard them say, they were thrilled to be there," she said. "They both married and they both have children, so it didn't kill them."
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Trump’s Executive Order to Colleges: Protect Free Speech or Risk Billions in Federal Grants
Polly Olson, a student at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, last year handed out homemade Valentine cards on her campus with Christian messages until college officials told her she was restricted to a “free speech zone.”
On Thursday, Olson told her story at the White House before President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting free speech on college campuses.
“My mother told me when she was homeschooling me that I would need to know what my First Amendment rights were, because someday they would be violated, and I would have to stand up for them,” Olson said, speaking at the East Room event. “I was told I was soliciting and disrupting the learning environment, and that it would not be tolerated, and that I would have to stop handing out valentines.”
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On Thursday, Olson told her story at the White House before President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting free speech on college campuses.
“My mother told me when she was homeschooling me that I would need to know what my First Amendment rights were, because someday they would be violated, and I would have to stand up for them,” Olson said, speaking at the East Room event. “I was told I was soliciting and disrupting the learning environment, and that it would not be tolerated, and that I would have to stop handing out valentines.”
More
Federal Budget Includes Inlet Dredge Funding
OCEAN CITY – The Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District this week announced it was receiving an additional $68 million in federal funding for critical navigation projects across the region including a boost in funding for the continued maintenance dredging of the Ocean City Inlet.
The funding is being provided to the Army Corps of Engineers-Baltimore District through the Trump Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2020 federal budget. The funding announced last week includes roughly $1.1 million for operation and maintenance of the Inlet and navigation channels in the Sinepuxent Bay and $600,000 for Assateague Island bypass operations, in which the dredged sand is beneficially placed immediately south of the inlet along Assateague Island to mitigate the impacts of sediment transport and erosion caused by the Ocean City Inlet and its jetties. Previously, the Assateague Island Restoration project was funded as a separate project by Congress through construction funding.
The Inlet and other channels in and around the commercial harbor naturally fill in and are in constant need of maintenance dredging, but the problem has become more acute in recent years to the point the Inlet is often impassable and unnavigable for larger vessels on even the highest of tides. While maintenance dredging will continue thanks in large part to the supplementary funding announced this week, local, state and federal officials have been exploring a long-term solution including dredging the Inlet channel to a greater depth and possibly even a reconfiguration of the jetties or a relocation of the channel.
More
The funding is being provided to the Army Corps of Engineers-Baltimore District through the Trump Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2020 federal budget. The funding announced last week includes roughly $1.1 million for operation and maintenance of the Inlet and navigation channels in the Sinepuxent Bay and $600,000 for Assateague Island bypass operations, in which the dredged sand is beneficially placed immediately south of the inlet along Assateague Island to mitigate the impacts of sediment transport and erosion caused by the Ocean City Inlet and its jetties. Previously, the Assateague Island Restoration project was funded as a separate project by Congress through construction funding.
The Inlet and other channels in and around the commercial harbor naturally fill in and are in constant need of maintenance dredging, but the problem has become more acute in recent years to the point the Inlet is often impassable and unnavigable for larger vessels on even the highest of tides. While maintenance dredging will continue thanks in large part to the supplementary funding announced this week, local, state and federal officials have been exploring a long-term solution including dredging the Inlet channel to a greater depth and possibly even a reconfiguration of the jetties or a relocation of the channel.
More
Louisiana Convenience Store Owner Accused of $1.2 Million Food Stamp Fraud
Authorities arrested Mohammad Abudayeh, 25, of Alexandria, on March 14 and charged him with multiple fraud charges— including money laundering, unauthorized use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, racketeering, computer fraud, and bank fraud.
The Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud Unit opened an investigation into the owner of an Alexandria convenience store in June 2018 after receiving a tip that he had been purchasing SNAP benefits from patrons receiving those benefits.
Authorities identified Abudayeh as a suspect over the course of the investigation, discovering that he allegedly conducted more than $1.2 million in food stamp fraud between October 2017 and March 2019.
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