Monthly Archives: July 2022

Accused of swindling the federal government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic relief money, Ascension Parish resident Tynea Lynnshay Gray promised her followers on social media a cut of the action if they helped her in one of her schemes.

Her promises often came with exhortations like "'Y'all know what to do,'" a witness has alleged to a federal grand jury, to implicitly encourage those followers to contact her, file bogus paperwork and take other steps to receive the pandemic aid on false pretenses.

The federal grand jury in Baton Rouge has accused Gray of taking the U.S. pandemic unemployment assistance program and a related small business loan programfor about $571,000 combined through schemes that went on between June 2020 and October 2021.

In one of the schemes, Gray, a 23-year-old college graduate who was honored a decade ago as a Gonzales middle school student for being a top fundraiser among her peers, convinced around two dozen people to claim falsely that they lived in California and worked at a California Walmart that had closed in the COVID pandemic, the indictment alleges.

These people falsely claimed they had lost their jobs at the Walmart and filed for supplemental unemployment assistance. Those claims alone netted more than $550,000 combined for Gray and many of the applicants, the indictment alleges.

Gray, who listed a Donaldsonville address at the time of the scheme but recently moved to Prairieville, has been charged with two counts of mail fraud and a count of wire fraud.

Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Baton Rouge are also seeking to force her to forfeit the money.

The indictment was unsealed earlier this month after agents picked her up July 11, court papers say.

Gray, who has a past history of state financial fraud allegations against her in Louisiana,has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges but remains in detention as a flight risk, court papers say.

Her federal public defender, Catherine Maraist, pointed out on Monday that an indictment is only an allegation, saying the truth will come out as the case proceeds. She declined further comment.

The federal government put out hundreds of billions of dollars through the CARES Act and other measures to keep people and businesses solvent during the slowdowns from the pandemic. Those measures included the supplemental unemployment program, known as PUA, and a $649 billion program to sustain small businesses, known as the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP.

Like other states, California managed its own share of the federal program.

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At least 27 times, Gray had people request debit cards for the supplemental unemployment assistance from the California program in their names and with their personal information and had the cards shipped to her home address then in Donaldsonville, the federal grand jury alleges.

"Once received, Gray sometimes delivered the debit cards to individuals in exchange for a portion of the funds," the grand jury alleges in the indictment.

The indictment names Gray as the only defendant.

Holly Sheets, spokeswoman for federal prosecutors in Baton Rouge, said she could not comment any further than what is in the public record.

At least seven times, the grand jury also alleges, Gray submitted claims without the knowledge of people named in applications. In June 2020, she also submitted an unemployment claim in her own name with same false story about a lost job at a Walmart California.

The indictment details two unnamed people, an "Individual A" from the White Castle and Plaquemine areas and a "C.W." of Baton Rouge, who each had bogus unemployment claims submitted in their names totaling a combined $16,831.

Individual A filed the claim with Gray's aid and from her laptop in Donaldsonville in July 2020 while C.W. had a claim filed without his knowledge the same month, the indictment alleges.

In February 2021, Gray also filed false claims with the federal small business program, or PPP, with the business name Royaldiamondzkollection LLC and two other businesses. She was able to pull in at least $20,833 in PPP funds, the indictment alleges.

In a hearing on Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Scott D. Johnson found Gray was a flight risk. Among the reasons for his ruling, he noted the weight of evidence against her, her past criminal history, past failure to show up for state court proceedings, past attempts to evade law enforcement, and past violations of probation, parole or supervised release.

Since 2016, Ascension prosecutors have accused Gray of multiple bank fraud, forgery, theft and bogus check schemes and won a 2020 bank fraud conviction against her, state court papers say. She also has pending charges in St. Mary Parish.

Though some earlier Ascension charges were later dropped, others are still pending, including late September and early October 2021 allegations that she cashed nearly $5,000 in bogus checks in the name of a former employer at a local grocery store in Gonzales.

For the 2020 bank fraud conviction, Gray received a suspended sentence as a first-time offender.

In late February, she received an automatic first-time offender pardon from the state. She was arrested a little more than two months later on new forgery and felony theft counts in Ascension, court papers say.

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'Y'all know what to do': Ascension woman enticed others in scam of pandemic aid, grand jury alleges - The Advocate

The News Herald| USA TODAY Network

PANAMA CITY Ascension Sacred Heart Bay officials on Aug. 3 will unveil a $6 million radiology suite at its Panama City hospital.

The suitewill feature improved imaging capabilities for patients, including a new MRI machine andupgraded equipment that offers patients additional comfort and convenience.It also will offera new waiting room and testing rooms for high-quality image MRI, X-ray, CT scan, fluoroscopyand a multi-use space.

The suite is next to the hospitals main entrance lobby withcontrolled access directly to the emergency room.

Ascension receives award: Ascension Sacred Heart Bay gets national award for heart disease and stroke treatment

PCB ER facility: $11 million freestanding emergency room coming to Panama City Beach. Here are the details

The new facility comes right after Ascension Sacred Heart Bay wasawarded theAmerican Heart Association's SilverPlus Get With The Guidelines-Strokequality achievement award in early July for demonstrating a commitment to following the latestresearch-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke.

"The new suite compliments our accredited advanced primary stroke program with recognition by the American Heart Association for high-quality stroke care," Ascension Sacred Heart Bay President Robin Godwin said. "It offers patients a non-invasive, fast and simple imaging procedure that delivers crucial information for diagnosis and treatment to their doctor."

Ascension Sacred HeartBay opened a women's diagnosticcenterat its Panama City hospital on Feb. 21 and a pediatric clinic at itsPanama City Beach location on April 15.

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$6 million radiology suite coming to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay - The News Herald

SAGINAW, MI Ascension Medical Group Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, in partnership with the Ascension Field Neurosciences Institute, will again be offering free sports physicals and concussion baseline assessments for middle and high school students.

This years tests will run from 4-8 p.m., Monday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 26.

The hospital group says there are a limited number of appointments available, so calling ahead is advised. Anyone looking to schedule a physical or concussion test can call 989-497-3118.

Assessments will be provided at Ascension Medical Group Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, 4677 Towne Centre Road, Medical Arts Building 3, on the second floor.

Tests are estimated to take 15 minutes for a sports physical or 30 minutes for both a physical and concussion baseline.

Physicals will be performed by trained sports medicine physicians, orthopedic sports surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers and Central Michigan University family medicine residents and medical students.

Concussion baseline assessments are performed to measure normal functioning in multiple areas of the brain that are commonly affected following a concussion.

Assessments are done using the TRAZER Health risk assessment Concussion baseline/ RTP Protocol, where simulations mimic active gameplay and provide detailed data about an athletes performance capabilities.

Areas measured by this test include reaction time, reaction speed, heart rate, acceleration & deceleration capabilities and more.

Baseline assessments allow for comparison of post-injury state to baseline parameters for accurate diagnosis and proper return to play protocol.

Each student will need to bring a completed Michigan High School Athletic Association medical history/consent form and baseline consent form signed appropriately by a parent or guardian.

Parental attendance is required for students under 18. Forms are available online at http://www.fni.org.

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Ascension St. Marys offering free sports physicals and concussion testing - MLive.com

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK| Gonzales Weekly Citizen

Louisiana reported 18,230 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, down 3.8% from the previous week. The previous week had 18,949 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Louisiana ranked second among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 7.7% from the week before, with 862,778 cases reported. With 1.4% of the country's population, Louisiana had 2.11% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 23 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Ascension Parish reported 463 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 388 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 37,919 cases and 295 deaths.

Across Louisiana, cases fell in 39 parishes, with the best declines in Orleans Parish, with 1,268 cases from 1,479 a week earlier; in Terrebonne Parish, with 467 cases from 568; and in Bossier Parish, with 650 cases from 747.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Within Louisiana, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in West Carroll Parish with 776 cases per 100,000 per week; Morehouse Parish with 683; and Jackson Parish with 654. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Jefferson Parish, with 1,534 cases; East Baton Rouge Parish, with 1,396 cases; and Orleans Parish, with 1,268. Weekly case counts rose in 24 parishes from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Tangipahoa, Lafayette and Ascension parishes.

In Louisiana, 42 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 43 people were reported dead.

A total of 1,363,543 people in Louisiana have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 17,516 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 90,410,386 people have tested positive and 1,026,951 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, July 24. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Hospitals in 33 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 33 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 38 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

Excerpt from:

Ascension Parish reported 463 additional COVID-19 cases this week - Weekly Citizen

Job seekers are encouraged to explore opportunities with Ascension Saint Thomas Rehabilitation Hospital. The new, state-of-the-art facility with industry-leading robotics technology opened this summer on the Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown campus. A joint operation of Ascension Saint Thomas and Kindred Rehabilitation Services, a division of LifePoint Health, the 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital provides personalized and innovative post-acute care to patients recovering from neurological, orthopedic, and cardiac events.

Attractive opportunities are available for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants to join our team at our brand new facility. This is a rare opportunity to help build and shape the culture of a brand new hospital!

IN-PERSON DATE: Wednesday, July 27, from 4 to 8 PM CST

ADDRESS FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDEES: 310 21st Ave N., Nashville, Tennessee, 37203Parking garage located off Patterson St., hospital entrance located in the parking garage.

VIRTUAL DATES: JULY 25 27, from 9 AM to 12 PM CST

VIRTUAL REGISTRATION LINK: Click here

Search open jobs and apply before the event here.

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Ascension Saint Thomas Rehabilitation Hospital to Host Hiring Event - Williamson Source

No matter what your image of modern China, its nowhere near complete until youve seen it through New York-based, China-observing directorJessica Kingdons eyes. Working in the mould of photographers Lauren Greenfield (Queen of Versailles) and Edward Burtynsky (Manufactured Landscapes), theTribeca Film Festivalwinner trains her camera on the impacts of Chinas fast-exploding economy in the Oscar-nominated Ascension, leaving audiences with striking and frequently absurd scenes burned into their imaginations. Without contextualising what were seeing, the hi-def collage asks us to make sense of a society even more stratified and excessive than our own.

Kingdons curiosity spans the class divide, from assembly lines where women prepare silicone sex dolls for demanding clients to private dining rooms where nouveau-riche elites learn how to eat a banana with fork and knife. The title, taken from a poem written by her great-grandfather Zheng Ze, refers not to the rise of China (as one might presume) so much as the many obstacles blocking upward movement in a time of rapid change.

'Ascension' ranges from production lines to the lives of the wealthy. Source: XTR

Over a mesmerising 95 minutes condensed from visits to more than 50 locations around the country the director works her way up the social ladder, while never losing sight of the labourers toiling at the bottom of this putatively communist societys booming hyper-capitalist economy. The surreal first shot finds cleaning women balancing along the edge of a posh hotels rooftop pool, while a galling late scene watches an oblivious influencer complaining of possible heat stroke while ignoring the gardener working just a few yards away.

Ascension contains no talking heads, no spoken commentary or relevant data. Its a feature-length film essay on contemporary China a cinematic coffee-table book, filtered through the directors wry and by-no-means-apolitical American perspective. Kingdon approaches the subject as an outsider, with whatever biases that may entail; given her half-Chinese heritage, she understands this culture better than most. Meanwhile, audiences must draw their own conclusions from each scene. What may seem ironic to one viewer (like an embroidery machine stitching Keep America Great scarves) could resonate quite differently for someone else. We learn from what we see, but its also a litmus test of sorts, evoking pride in some and prejudice in others.

Early on, she shows outdoor billboards touting the Chinese Dream, President Xi Jinpings abstract term for the peoples collective and individual improvement. Work hard, and all wishes come true, reads another banner whereas a giant digital screen scolds jaywalkers at an intersection, publicly shaming those who take shortcuts. The carrot and the stick. But who among the labourers recruited to earn $US2.99 ($A4.40) an hour for easy work are actually living the dream?

Kingdon enters a number of these factories, where her footage recalls mid-century American films about industrial efficiency and progress except, the workers depicted look bored out of their minds. (The film is an extension of Kingdons 2017 short Commodity City, a 10-minute montage of the endless stalls in Yiwus five-mile (8 kilometre) indoor mall, where blas salespeople sit before walls of disposable goods.) Then come the more enterprising types, like livestreamer Jade Face, who offers makeup tips on the Taobao shopping platform, or the striver in the Star Boss program who says, After the two-day training, I decided to work to death.

The midsection of the film focuses on those enrolled in various seminars and coaching sessions to improve their standing. Women learn business etiquette, including when to hug and how to smile (pleasantly expose the upper eight teeth), while men study to become butlers or bodyguards. These scenes, which feel more intimate than the films impersonal opening act, repeat a strategy from Harun Farockis 1990 feature How to Live in the German Federal Republic, compiled entirely from instructional videos, in that such training exercises inevitably seem humorous when taken out of context (heck, theyre awkward to participate in as well).

Finally, in the films last half-hour, Kingdon enters the realm of wealth and leisure, revealing how those with disposable income spend their free time in video arcades and amusement parks, or educating themselves on fine European cuisine. Kingdon (who shares cinematography credit with Nathan Truesdell) has a great eye, framing scenes from unexpected but striking angles. Whether its dozens of inner tubes seen from above or a graveyard for bright yellow Ofo cycles (a bike-sharing company that folded in 2017), occasional artful shots elevate the more traditional character-focused material. Still, hardly any of Kingdons footage could be considered conventional, rendered all the more unusual by composer Dan Deacons electronic score, which swarms and thrums somewhat ominously in the background.

Viewed a certain way, it would be fair to call Ascension an epic film with a cast of hundreds (though we only learn the names of a couple of people). Its hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of her project, and its Kingdons work as editor that makes Ascension such a remarkable achievement. She organises all these disparate scenes into a logical upward progression, and even though we seldom know where we are or who exactly were observing, these foreign situations are relatable, engaging and often unforgettable. As a word of advice: If possible, find a way to immerse yourself in the movie, which has even shown a few times on Imax screens. As a window into a nations soul, theres no better way to watch. Its the ideal way to see one of the years top docs.

Ascension screened onSBS VICELAND andis streamingat SBS On Demand for a limited time.

Original post:

'Ascension' Review: Oscar-nominated doc will change the way you look at China - SBS

Staff Report| Gonzales Weekly Citizen

Qualifying for the Nov. 8, 2022 election as of July 22 at 5 p.m.The qualifying period for candidatesis July 20-22. This information is unofficial until qualifying is closed with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Ascension Parish

School Board District 1:

Robyn Penn Delaney

School Board District 2:

Scott Duplechein

School Board District 3:

Julie Burnett Blouin

School Board District 4, Seat A:

Marty J. Bourgeois

Jennifer Miranda

School Board District 4, Seat B:

John D. Murphy

School Board District 5, Seat A:

John DeFrances

James J. Moore

School Board District 5, Seat B:

Taft C. Kleinpeter

School Board District 6, Seat A:

Jared "Boo" Bercegeay

School Board District 6, Seat B:

Louis D. Lambert

School Board District 7, Seat A:

Karen Hays Braud

Joey Cernich Sr.

Wade Schexnaydre

School Board District 7, Seat B:

Jake D. Lambert

PSC District 3:

Lambert C. Boissiere III

Willie Jones

Davante Lewis

Gregory Manning

Jesse T. Thompson

Judge, Court of Appeal 1st Circuit, 1st Dist., Division D:

Tanner Magee

Steven Miller

Judge, Court of Appeal 1st Circuit, 1st Dist., Division B:

Mitchell "Mitch" Theriot

U. S. Representative 6th Congressional District:

Brian Belzer

Rufus Holt Craig Jr.

Garret Graves

U. S. Representative 2nd Congressional District:

Troy A. Carter

"Dan" Lux

U. S. Senator:

Beryl A. Billiot

Gary Chambers Jr.

Devin Lance Graham

"Xan" John

John Kennedy

W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson

Bradley McMorris

MV "Vinny" Mendoza

"Luke" Mixon

Salvador P. Rodriguez

Aaron C. Sigler

Syrita Steib

Thomas Wenn

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Who qualified for the Nov. 8 election? See the Ascension Parish candidates on the 2022 ballot - Weekly Citizen

Earlier this year at GAMA Expo we got to spend some time with Justin Gary, the CEO of Stone Blade Entertainment and creator of the Ascension deck-building game series, and he was very excited to show us his two latest games, as well as tenth anniversary edition of Stone Blades first game release.

First up, Solforge: Fusion, his collaboration with Richard Garfield. Calling it the first hybrid deck-building game, Justin walked us through the basics and gave us a little hands-on demo:

Next, we took a look at the retail version of Ascension Tactics, which combines the strategic deck-building and lore of Ascension with tactical miniature combat:

Finally, he reassured us that his original deck-builder Ascension wasnt going anywhere, giving us a rundown of the new 10 year Anniversary Ascension set, hinting at further announcements for the game to come soon:

Were hoping to get some more time with Justin in a couple of weeks during Gen Con, stay tuned to Gaming Trend for further news on all of these games and more!

See below for our list of partners and affiliates:

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Stone Blade Entertainment rides high this year with Soulforge: Fusion and Ascension Tactics - Gaming Trend

PORT-AU-PRINCE On the one-year anniversary of his ascension as Haitis interim Prime Minister, Ariel Henry said he is committed to bring peace to the country, hold elections and combat inflation and gas shortage.

This is the only condition that will allow us to continue importing fuel and make it available permanently, Henry said in a July 21 address, meant to be a sort of state-of-the-union update to the nation.

Nor must dialogue be an opportunity to waste time in useless quarrels and to needlessly prolong the suffering of people and this situation of chronic disability, Henry added, referring to competing approaches on moving the country forward.

On the one-year anniversary of his ascension as Haiti, Prime Minister Ariel Henry reaffirmed promises to peace and hold elections, among others. Critics found the speech, and his governance, lacking.

To view the full story, please subscribe toThe Haitian Times. You can choose a$60 Annual Subscriptionora$5 Weekly Pass.

When you join The Haitian Times family, youll getunlimited digital accessto high-quality journalism about Haiti and Haitians you wont get anywhere else. Weve been at this for 20 years and pride ourselves onrepresenting you, our diaspora experienceand aholistic view of Haitithat larger media doesnt show you.

Join now or renew to get: Instant access to one-of-kind stories and special reports Local news from our communities (especially New York and Florida)Profiles of Haitians at the top of their fields Downloadable lists and resources about Haitian culture Membership merch, perks and special invitations

First-time subscribers also receive aspecial welcome gifthandmade in Haiti by expert artisans!Do it for the culture and support Black-owned businesses.

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PM Henry Criticized for not putting Haitians first in one-year address, government - Haitian Times

Member recruitment

Perry Highland Womens Association is hosting a membership recruitment Drive at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Ascension Lutheran Church, 8225 Peebles Road in McCandless. The nonprofit womens association is dedicated to giving back to the community and making a difference in the world for more than 70 years.

Worship service at Hartwood Acres

On Aug. 7, at 10 a.m., Elfinwild, Parkwood and Hampton Presbyterian Churches will partner to host a combined worship service outdoors at the Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheatre. The service will be led by the pastors of the participating churches. The HPC praise band and the PPC praise members will contribute music to the service. Communion will be offered as a part of the service. The Amphitheatre is located at 4070 Middle Road in Allison Park.

Members are encouraged to donate to their individual churches as usual; however, any monies collected that day will be donated to the North Hills Community Outreach, HEARTH and Anchorpoint. Bring blankets and chairs. The HPC praise band will present a short (30-minute, or so) concert prior to the one-hour service, and play a couple of songs afterward; so, bring a picnic brunch early for the music and stay after a little longer.

Call any of the three church offices for details or questions, Dirk Lesnett at Elfinwild U.P., 412-486-5400; Jeffrey Potter at Parkwood U.P., 412-486-9220; or Ted Martin at Hampton P.C., 724-443-3201.

Depreciation Lands Museum events

Mark your calendars for these events at Depreciation Lands Museum, 4743 S. Pioneer Road, Hampton:

Flax to Linen, 1-4 p.m. Aug 28. Watch the process and perhaps lend a hand. Admission is charged.

Hydref, the museums fall festival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 1. The museum comes alive with re-enactors, demonstrators, craftspeople, food, music and childrens activities. Admission is charged.

Lantern tours, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22. A quiet, family-oriented, historical alternative to Halloween. Prepaid tickets are required.

Beggars Day, Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 30. The last Sunday to visit the museum for the season offers old-fashioned Halloween begging for all costumed children.

For more information, visit dlmuseum.org.

Memorial Park EPC

Memorial Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church is hosting its annual church picnic on Aug. 28 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the church campus, located at the intersection of Peebles Road and Duncan Avenue in Allison Park.

Church goers and community members are invited to attend for games, music and more.

Immediately following the second worship service, people can grab a boxed lunch from Jasons Deli, which will be available to order when they register for the picnic, or guests can bring their own picnic lunch to eat on the Clayton lawn.

There will be several lawn games available to play such as corn hole, ladder ball, can jam, guessing games and more. There will be a bounce house and knocker balls. The church will host its first-ever baking competition: The Sugar Rush. There are three different categories: cookies, cakes, and pies. The winner will take home bragging rights and a custom baking apron.

For more information or to register, visit MYmpcepc.org/Picnic.

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In brief: Recruitment drive, Hartwood Acres worship service and more in the North Hills - TribLIVE