CARES Act Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

DOJ Has Charged Nearly 500 With COVID-Related Fraud In The Past Year

By NPR News March 26, 2021

On the anniversary of the CARES Act, the Justice Department says that over the past year it has charged 474 defendants with fraud or other criminal schemes tied to the pandemic. The grand total that fraudsters tried to scam from the government and the public in those cases is more than $569 million.Read More

IRS Says Its Own Error Sent $1,200 Stimulus Checks To Non-Americans Overseas

By NPR News November 30, 2020

The IRS now says its own error caused thousands of non-Americans living overseas to mistakenly receive $1,200 stimulus checks — and the mistake could happen again if more stimulus money goes out.Read More

Billions In COVID-19 Relief Loans May Have Been Handed Out To Scammers, Report Says

By NPR News October 28, 2020

A store displays a sign before closing down permanently following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, on Aug. 4, 2020 in Arlington, Va. The Small Business Administration's inspector general office said billions of dollars in relief loans may have been handed out to fraudsters or ineligible applicants. CREDIT: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The Small Business Administration had to quickly disburse coronavirus relief loans. But some of that may have been handed out to fraudsters, an agency report says.Read More

Wells Fargo Fires More Than 100 Employees Accused Of Coronavirus Relief Fraud

By NPR News October 15, 2020

Wells Fargo has fired more than 100 employees whom it says personally defrauded a pandemic relief program from the Small Business Administration. CREDIT: Scott Olson/Getty Images

The employees' alleged actions were outside of their work responsibilities and do not involve Wells Fargo's customers, the company said. The bank says it's cooperating with law enforcement. Read More

White House Eyes Piecemeal Pandemic Aid After President Trump Ends Talks On Overall Package

By NPR News October 7, 2020

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks with reporters during her weekly press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday. Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images

hite House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday that he and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are discussing potential stand-alone bills for aid to airlines, small businesses and Americans. He said the Trump administration was "still willing to be engaged" on piecemeal aid bills, though it was not optimistic about a comprehensive aid bill.Read More

ANALYSIS: Federal COVID Relief Money Helps Fill Some Idaho College Budget Holes, But Only Some

By NWPB News September 25, 2020

The $49.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act money will only go so far on Idaho’s college campuses. It won’t cover all of the schools’ COVID-related losses — or the revenue the schools have lost to the pandemic.Read More

After Delays, Republicans Rolled Out A New Pandemic Relief Bill. Democrats Balked

By NPR News July 27, 2020

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, with President Trump at the White House. The GOP has unveiled a new pandemic relief bill but tough negotiations lie ahead with Democrats. Evan Vucci/AP

After days of delays, congressional Republicans unveiled their $1 trillion proposal for a fifth wave of pandemic relief. Democrats are not on board — signaling tough negotiations ahead.Read More

Nursing Homes Struggle As Staff Choose Unemployment Checks Over Paychecks

By NPR News June 21, 2020

Some nursing homes and long-term care facilities say they're struggling to fill shifts as certified nursing assistants opt for unemployment benefits during the pandemic.Read More

Congress Gave Colleges A $14 Billion Lifeline. Here’s Where It’s Going

By NPR News May 18, 2020

Like so many sectors of the economy, higher education is taking a big hit from the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has so far distributed more than $10 billion in relief funds to colleges. Read More

3.4 Million Homeowners Skip Payments. But Many Are Scared, Say Congress Needs To Act

By NPR News April 27, 2020

Homeowners say that to catch up on payments, lenders demand big balloon payments they can't afford. Advocates want Congress to mandate that missed payments simply be added to the end of the loan term.Read More