Renewal, Growth of Spring a Great Time to 'Rethink the Drink'

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on April 16, 2026, issued a public awareness announcement recognizing Alcohol Awareness Month in April, encouraging Oregonians to reflect on the role alcohol plays in their daily lives. The announcement highlights that more than one in five Oregonians drink excessively, contributing to approximately 3,000 alcohol-related deaths each year. OHA directs residents to its Rethink the Drink initiative for resources on healthier drinking habits.

Virtual Measles Briefing, Oregon, 1 p.m. April 17

Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Health & Science University physicians will provide an update on measles during a virtual media briefing at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026. Speakers include Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA's Public Health Division, and Dawn Nolt, M.D., MPH, professor of pediatric infectious diseases at OHSU's Doernbecher Children's Hospital. They will discuss latest measles data, recent OHA advisories on exposure locations, work with local public health authorities on case investigations, and wastewater surveillance data.

North Dakota HHS $3.6M Rural Health Transformation Grants

North Dakota HHS announced three new grant opportunities totaling $3.6 million through its Rural Health Transformation Program: Zero-Hour Physical Education ($700K), Community Gardens ($300K), and Community-Based Walking Programs ($2.6M). Applications will be accepted from April 22 through May 22, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT. The grants are funded by a $199 million CMS award to North Dakota, with award ranges from $10,000 to $125,000 each and potential renewal up to five years for successful recipients.

EC Clears Charlesbank / Nordic Capital / Tecomet / Orchid Merger

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of joint control over Tecomet and Orchid by Charlesbank and Nordic Capital under Article 6(1)(b) of the EU Merger Regulation. The decision, issued on 22 April 2026, was a simplified review finding the concentration does not raise doubts as to its compatibility with the common market. The parties operate in the manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies sector (NACE Rev. 2.1 code C.32.5). The provisional deadline for the decision was 05.05.2026.

Motherson / Nexans Autoelectric Merger, Article 6(1)(b) Decision

The European Commission issued a Phase 1 decision under Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 139/2004 for the Motherson / Nexans Autoelectric merger (Case M.12340). The Commission declared the concentration compatible with the common market, marking clearance without a full investigation. The merger involves companies operating in C.29.3 - Manufacture of motor vehicle parts and accessories (NACE Rev. 2.1).

PERMIRA / WARBURG PINCUS / CLEARWATER ANALYTICS Merger

The European Commission initiated Phase 1 review of Permira and Warburg Pincus's proposed acquisition of Clearwater Analytics under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. The case was processed under the super-simplified procedure and issued a Phase 1 clearance decision under Article 6(1)(b) on 22 April 2026, with a provisional deadline of 6 May 2026. Clearwater Analytics operates in computer programming, data processing, and hosting activities (NACE K.62.1, K.63.1) and auxiliary financial services (NACE L.66.19).

FCA PS26/6 Publishes First Phase SM&CR Reforms Reducing Firm Burden

The FCA has published PS26/6, implementing Phase 1 reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime. Most changes take effect on 24 April 2026, reducing burden on solo-regulated and dual-regulated firms through targeted measures on criminal record checks, the 12-week rule, SMF 7 and SMF 18 functions, statements of responsibilities, certification requirements, the Directory of certified persons, regulatory references, Conduct Rules, prescribed responsibilities, and enhanced firm thresholds. Regulatory reporting and process improvements apply from 10 July 2026, while changes aligned to PS25/23 on non-financial misconduct take effect from 1 September 2026.

SFO Investigates Three ECO4 Firms, Four Arrests

On 22 April 2026, the SFO announced a new investigation into three UK companies that worked on Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) contracts between 2022 and 2024. Investigators made four arrests and searched six properties across the UK, including in Cannock, Chilworth, Killamarsh, Southwell, and Wolverhampton. The SFO is requesting information from members of the public who may have knowledge of fraud related to the three companies: Warmfront, JJ Crump, and South Coast Insulation Services.

Timothy Pillow v. State - Community Corrections Denial Affirmed

The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee affirmed the trial court's judgment denying Timothy Christopher Pillow's request for an alternative sentence under the Community Corrections Act. Defendant, who had two prior felony convictions for aggravated robbery, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a violent felon, evading arrest with a motor vehicle, and identity theft under a global plea agreement resolving both 2021 and 2024 cases. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of eleven years' incarceration, finding that Defendant's history of criminal conduct and the need to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the current offenses warranted confinement. The appellate court concluded the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying community corrections.

State v. Tedunjaye - DUI Conviction Affirmed

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the Madison County Circuit Court judgment convicting Cliesha D. Tedunjaye of DUI, DUI per se, possessing a handgun while under the influence, violating the open container law, and failing to maintain her lane of travel. On appeal, the Defendant argued that the State failed to prove her intoxication because no alcohol was smelled on her person and the dashcam video of the traffic stop was missing. The appellate court rejected the sufficiency-of-evidence challenge, finding the evidence — including field sobriety test performance, slurred speech, a blood sample, and physical observations — sufficient to support the convictions. The effective sentence of eleven months, twenty-nine days to be served as forty-eight hours in jail with the remainder on supervised probation via community corrections was also affirmed.

Colorado Employment Situation February 2026

Colorado lost 7,200 nonfarm payroll jobs in February 2026, with private sector shedding all 7,200 positions while government remained unchanged, bringing total nonfarm employment to 2,953,500. The state's unemployment rate held steady at 3.9 percent, though the labor force contracted by 10,300 to 3,238,500 and the employment-population ratio fell to 64.0 percent, the lowest since September 2020. Over the year, Colorado's job growth rate of -0.3 percent lagged the national rate of 0.1 percent, with the largest private sector gains in educational and health services (≈13,400) offset by losses across financial activities, professional and business services, and manufacturing.

Connecticut Schedules Seven Substances as Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, Requires Business Compliance by March 25, 2026

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has released guidance following the Legislative Regulation Review Committee's approval of regulations designating seven substances as Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, including Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), 7-hydroxymitragynine, Bromazolam, Flubromazolam, Nitazenes, Tianeptine, and Phenibut. Businesses offering these products for sale must remove them from shelves immediately and return or destroy all inventory prior to March 25, 2026. Possession, manufacture, sale, or distribution of these scheduled substances is illegal and may result in felony charges.

Connecticut Schedules Kratom, Tianeptine as Schedule 1 Controlled Substances

Connecticut has designated seven substances as Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, effective March 25, 2026. The seven substances are: Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), Bromazolam, Flubromazolam, Nitazenes, Tianeptine, and Phenibut. The Connecticut Legislative Regulation Review Committee approved the regulations in February 2026. Attorney General William Tong has sent letters to all known distributors and manufacturers of Kratom products to ensure awareness and compliance with the new law.

CT Departments Warn of Scams During Financial Literacy Month

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and Department of Banking issued a joint advisory on April 14, 2026, during Financial Literacy Month, reminding consumers to use free budgeting tools, debt payoff calculators, and credit monitoring resources. The advisory highlights that as tax season ends, consumers are reviewing spending habits and setting financial goals, making them more vulnerable to scammers targeting wallets and banking information. The departments recommend creating detailed budgets, reviewing credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and signing up for bank account alerts.

NJ-CRC Legal Notice Publication Transitions to Online Platform

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) has transitioned its legal notice publication requirements from traditional print newspapers to online platforms pursuant to P.L.2025, c.72, signed into law by Governor Murphy on June 30, 2025. All future NJ-CRC legal notices shall be posted on the official website at nj.gov/cannabis/about/legal-notices/ rather than in printed newspapers. An archive of prior legal notices from December 2024 through February 2026 is maintained on the page, covering public meeting notices and date changes.

NJ CRC Schedules Seven Public Meetings Through December 2026

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission published its 2026 public meeting schedule, listing seven upcoming meetings from April through December 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 11 a.m. via Zoom and YouTube, with agenda items including nominations for Chair and Vice Chair, cannabis business applications, microbusiness-to-standard conversions, and public comment. Registration to speak closes Tuesday, April 21 at 5 p.m., and written comments on the April 23 meeting are due Friday, April 24 at 5 p.m.

Guterres Attends World Bank, IMF Spring Meetings in Washington

UN Secretary-General António Guterres traveled to Washington, D.C. on 15 April 2026 to participate in the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF. He joined World Bank President Ajay Banga at the closing of the Water Forward Initiative, delivering remarks on access to water as a basic human right. He subsequently helped launch the Borrowers Platform, a new forum for borrowing countries to share experience, build technical capacity, and speak collectively on debt architecture reform. The Secretary-General also met separately with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

UN Security Council Press - Page Content Unavailable

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IMO Council Condemns Hormuz Attacks, Calls for Safe-Passage Framework

The IMO Council, during its extraordinary session on March 18–19, 2026, in London, strongly condemned threats and attacks against vessels and the purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, referencing UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026). The Council called for a coordinated international approach to security, urged all attacks on ships affecting civilian seafarers to cease immediately, and directed Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to initiate negotiations for a humanitarian safe-passage framework to evacuate vessels and seafarers trapped in the Gulf region.

Four States Ratify 2010 HNS Convention, Advancing Entry Into Force

Belgium, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Sweden deposited their instruments of ratification to the 2010 HNS Convention on 14 April 2026, bringing the total to 12 Contracting States — meeting the number-of-States criterion for entry into force. The 2010 HNS Convention establishes a liability and compensation regime for damage caused by hazardous and noxious substances carried by sea, with total compensation capped at 250 million SDR (approximately USD $360 million) per event. Shipowners are held strictly liable, must maintain State-certified insurance, and an HNS Fund will pay compensation once shipowner liability is exhausted, financed by post-incident contributions from cargo receivers. The earliest possible entry-into-force date is 30 November 2027, pending confirmation after 31 May 2026 that the 40-million-tonne cargo threshold has been met.

IMO Approves New Guidelines on Ship Registration

The IMO Legal Committee has approved the first international guidelines to prevent maritime fraud and misuse of flags, addressing a key regulatory gap given the absence of any binding international framework for ship registration. The Committee noted that 529 ships falsely flew a country's flag in the past year and that nearly 40 Member States had experienced fraudulent use of their flags by criminal groups. The guidelines provide practical measures for flag State registries to strengthen verification, ensure accurate ownership records, and improve oversight of registration procedures.

Operation Vulindlela Q4 Progress Report Briefing

The Presidency and National Treasury jointly invite media to the Operation Vulindlela Quarter 4 Progress Report Briefing on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 12:00–14:30 at the JSE, 2 Gwen Lane, Sandton. The briefing marks the third update under Phase II of Operation Vulindlela and will overview progress, highlight key reform milestones, and discuss economic implications and opportunities. RSVP is required by 21 April 2026. This is a media-only event.

Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026 Public Comment

South African National Treasury has released the Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026 for public comment, dated 17 April 2026. These draft regulations would replace the Exchange Control Regulations, 1961, representing a significant overhaul of South Africa's capital flow management framework. The Treasury has published the draft regulations, a media statement, and the gazette publication to facilitate stakeholder review and feedback.

CMF Tunisia Elected President of Union of Arab Capital Market Authorities

CMF Tunisia (Conseil du Marché Financier) was elected president of the Union of Arab Capital Market Authorities (UASA) on April 22, 2026. The election strengthens Tunisia's position as a regional hub for financial market regulation. UASA coordinates Arab capital market authorities on regulatory standards and market development across the region.

ICF Press Release, 22nd Apr

ICF published a press release on April 22, 2026, accessible via the CMF Tunisia regulatory portal. The document is available as a downloadable PDF file (com_220426_icf.pdf) on the CMF Tunisia website. The full content of the press release cannot be extracted from this page, which serves as a download gateway.

Tunisia CMF Takes Presidency of Arab Securities Union

The Tunisia Financial Market Authority (CMF) has assumed the presidency of the Arab Securities Union (ASU) on April 22, 2026. This leadership transition reflects the rotating presidency structure of the regional organization uniting Arab securities regulators. The announcement was published on the CMF website with a PDF statement available for download.

Two Global X ETFs List April 23 on TSE

The Tokyo Stock Exchange announces the initial listing of two Global X ETFs on April 23, 2026: Global X Nasdaq 100 Daily Covered Call ETF (Code: 563A) and Global X S&P Developed Cash Flow Top 100 ETF (Code: 564A). Both ETFs have a base price of JPY 999 with daily price limits of JPY 1,149 (upper) and JPY 849 (lower), trading in 1-unit lots. The announcement provides pre-listing pricing parameters to market participants ahead of the initial trading date.

TSE Delists Yamadai and KUBOTEK from Standard Market

TSE has decided to delist Yamadai Corporation (7426) and KUBOTEK CORPORATION (7709) from the Standard Market effective October 1, 2026. The delisting designation period runs from April 22, 2026 through September 30, 2026. Both companies failed to meet continued listing criteria under Securities Listing Regulations, Rule 601, Paragraph 1, Item (1), as confirmed by TSE's examination of the Table of Distribution of Stocks. The affected securities will be excluded from use as securities in lieu of money for margin transactions, when-issued transactions, trading participant security money, and participant bonds starting April 23, 2026.

4 Companies De-Designated from TSE Securities Under Supervision

TSE has de-designated Polaris Holdings Co.,Ltd. (3010), FUJITA CORPORATION Co.,Ltd. (3370), Sockets Inc. (3634), and JOHNAN ACADEMIC PREPARATORY INSTITUTE,INC. (4720) as Securities Under Supervision (Confirmation) effective April 23, 2026. The de-designation follows TSE's examination of the Table of Distribution of Stocks submitted by the companies, confirming compliance with continued listing criteria within the improvement period. This action removes the four Standard Market-listed companies from enhanced supervisory oversight status.

California CRD Opposes HUD Rule Threatening Eviction of 28,670 Mixed-Status Family Members

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) submitted a formal comment letter on April 21, 2026, opposing HUD's proposed rule that would deny federal housing assistance to otherwise eligible families residing with an ineligible relative due to immigration status. The proposed rule would replace a decades-old proration system — under which HUD provides benefits only to eligible household members without disqualifying the entire family — with a blanket denial of assistance. CRD estimates that 7,190 mixed-eligibility households in California, representing approximately 28,670 individuals, would face eviction or forced family separation if the rule takes effect.

Sacramento Museum, $255k Settlement, Keffiyeh Ban

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) reached a $255,000 settlement with the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) in Sacramento, resolving a discrimination complaint filed by a former employee. CRD found that MOSAC discriminated against the employee based on Arab national origin and ancestry by selectively enforcing a dress-code policy targeting the employee's keffiyeh (traditional Arabic headscarf), then subjected the employee to escalating harassment and retaliation after an internal complaint was filed. The museum, without admitting liability, must revoke its political-symbols policy, provide three years of anti-discrimination training, update internal complaint procedures, notify staff and the board of CRD's findings, issue a formal apology, and pay $255,000 in compensation.

Earth Day Event Plants Trees at Northview Elementary

For Earth Week, the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Department of the Environment, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources held a tree planting event at Northview Elementary School in Prince George's County Public Schools. Students planted 30 redbud, flowering dogwood, and tulip poplar trees. The event was part of the Schoolyard Forests Program, which has reached over 1.5 million native trees planted as part of the Maryland 5 Million Trees initiative's goal of 5 million trees by 2031.

XNW5004 Phase 2 Study, 65 Subjects, Follicular Lymphoma

A new Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT07545603) evaluating XNW5004 tablets for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The single-arm, open-label, multicenter study plans to enroll 65 subjects with EZH2 wild-type disease, who will receive 1200 mg of study drug twice daily in 28-day cycles for up to 48 weeks of initial treatment, with tumor assessments every 8 weeks. This registry entry provides investigators, patients, and sponsors with a formal record of study design, eligibility criteria, and procedural schedule.

OAB Mixed-Methods Multi-country PROMs Quality of Life Study NCT07545148

NCT07545148 is an observational clinical trial registry entry for a mixed-methods, multi-country study examining patient-reported outcomes and quality of life in individuals living with Overactive Bladder (OAB). The study aims to understand OAB's lived burden across daily activities, emotional wellbeing, mental health, social life, relationships, and work. Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov by the National Library of Medicine, this trial collects no biological samples and focuses on qualitative and quantitative patient experience data.

NCT07544446: Randomised Study of Psycho-Oncological Initial Consultation for Cancer Patients

NCT07544446 is a randomised controlled trial registered on ClinicalTrials.gov investigating whether an initial consultation with a psycho-oncological specialist reduces anxiety, depression, and improves quality of life in cancer patients compared to standard treatment alone. The study, developed by patients, will follow 276 participants over 6 months with assessments at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The intervention group receives a detailed initial consultation with a psycho-oncology specialist plus standard treatment; the control group receives standard treatment only. The study is being conducted simultaneously at multiple hospitals.

ORHEELS Randomized Radiotherapy Trial for Heel Spur Syndrome

The ORHEELS trial (NCT07546240) registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on April 22, 2026, will compare two low-dose radiotherapy fractionation schedules for Heel Spur Syndrome. The study plans to enroll patients with HSS who have failed conservative care, randomizing them to either a Polish standard dose of 6 Gy in 6 daily fractions (5x/week) or a reduced dose of 3 Gy delivered twice weekly. The trial's primary objective is to assess non-inferiority between daily and twice-weekly radiation fractionation regimens, with approximately 30% of HSS patients estimated to have persistent pain despite conservative treatment.

Efficacy of AI-Based Rehabilitation for Anxiety Disorders NCT07545070

A clinical trial registration for NCT07545070 on ClinicalTrials.gov describes a study evaluating AI-based rehabilitation combined with standard treatment against treatment as usual alone in patients with anxiety disorders. The trial is registered with an anticipated start date of April 22, 2026, with N/A as the study kind. The trial will assess whether the AI-based intervention improves outcomes compared to standard care alone.

Phase 1 KIVU-305 CEACAM5 ADC Trial for Solid Tumors

NIH has registered a Phase 1 first-in-human, open-label study (NCT07545356) evaluating KIVU-305, a CEACAM5-directed antibody-drug conjugate, in participants with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The 2-part study will assess safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy. This is a clinical trial registration entry documenting study design, conditions, and interventions as listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Iparomlimab Tuvonralimab Head Neck Cancer Phase II Trial

This single-arm, open-label Phase II study (NCT07546383) evaluates iparomlimab and tuvonralimab, administered with or without chemotherapy, in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) who have progressed after at least one prior systemic therapy. The trial includes a safety run-in phase of approximately three patients, followed by assignment to monotherapy (both antibodies at 5 mg/kg on Day 1, every 3 weeks) or combination therapy adding up to six cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is objective response rate per RECIST 1.1, with secondary endpoints including disease control rate, 6-month progression-free survival, 6-month overall survival, and safety profile.

Low-dose Bevacizumab Plus Adebrelimab Combined With TACE-HAIC for Unresectable HCC

A single-arm Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT07543783) has been registered as of April 22, 2026, enrolling 38 participants with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg, Q3W) plus adebrelimab (1200 mg, Q3W) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using the FOLFOX regimen as first-line treatment. The study, sponsored by the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, uses Simon's two-stage optimal design (alpha=0.05, power=0.8) with objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1 as the primary endpoint.

Real-World Study of IL-23 Inhibitors in Active Crohn's Disease

ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT07545317, a prospective observational study evaluating IL-23 inhibitors in adults with active Crohn's disease in real-world clinical practice. The study will assess clinical remission at Week 12 and track endoscopic, biomarker, imaging, and safety outcomes through Week 52. A nested comparative analysis will compare bio-naive participants on IL-23 inhibitors with a concurrent cohort on TNF inhibitors.

Phase 1 Evolocumab PK Study, Single Dose, Healthy

NIH registered Phase 1 clinical trial NCT07545226 on April 22, 2026, a pharmacokinetics study comparing two evolocumab drug products in healthy participants. The trial will evaluate Drug Substance A (Test) against Drug Substance B (Reference) following a single subcutaneous dose. This study is classified as Phase 1 and targets healthy participants without specified medical conditions.

Secretary McLean Announces Seniors Investment in Edmonton

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) issued a media advisory announcing that Secretary of State (Seniors) Stephanie McLean will visit Edmonton on April 23, 2026, to make a significant investment announcement to help seniors stay connected and active in their communities. The announcement will take place at 10:00 a.m. MDT at the Sage Seniors Association, with Minister Eleanor Olszewski and MP Matt Jeneroux also in attendance.

Canada Opens 2026 Volunteer Awards Nominations

Minister Patty Hajdu announced 19 recipients and 5 special mention recipients of the 2025 Canada's Volunteer Awards, selected from 268 total nominations. Each recipient will direct a grant of $2,500 to $10,000 to a non-profit of their choice. The call for nominations for the 2026 awards is open from April 22, 2026 to June 17, 2026.

Legal Aid Statistics Quarterly April to June 2026

The UK Ministry of Justice has announced the release of legal aid statistics for April to June 2026, covering activity in the legal aid system for England and Wales. The statistics will be published on 24 September 2026 at 9:30am and will include data on criminal and civil legal aid, family mediation, providers of legal aid, and central funds payments. This is a pre-release notice indicating the publication date rather than the statistics themselves.

Sherita Booker, Cleveland Tax Preparer, Charged With Filing False Returns

Sherita Booker, a Cleveland tax preparer, was charged by criminal complaint on April 9 with Aiding or Assisting in the Preparation of False and Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns. During the investigation, IRS-CI agents discovered that Booker attached fraudulent Schedule C documents to clients' Form 1040 returns even though those clients did not own businesses, using additional schemes to reduce tax owed to the IRS. If convicted, Booker faces up to three years in prison per count. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna L. Fasko and Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio.

Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return, $266,053 Tax Loss

Michael Graves of Charlton Heights, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, admitting to underreporting income and causing tax losses totaling $266,053.00. For tax year 2016, Graves listed income as $816.00 but corrected income was approximately $427,256.00, resulting in a tax loss of $125,285.00. Graves also admitted to falsely listing annual income as $816.00 for years 2017-2020, underreporting by $608,163.00 and wrongfully withholding $140,768.00. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2026.

Maryland AG Secures $562,000 Settlement for 17 Investors Defrauded by Otis H. Jackson

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a $562,000 settlement with Otis H. Jackson and his companies, Social Solutions LLC and SITO Capital LLC, resolving an investigation into an unregistered securities scheme that defrauded 17 investors between 2019 and 2024. Jackson sold promissory notes to investors for a purported affordable housing program in Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood, misusing funds for personal expenses including mortgage payments, dining, and cash transfers instead of the stated program. Under the Consent Order, Jackson and his companies are permanently barred from Maryland's securities and investment advisory business.

Dental Assistant and Family Members Sentenced for Illegal Opioid Distribution

Samantha Cook, Alice Deese, and Janice Deese were sentenced by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General for illegally distributing oxycodone to Dr. Andrew T. Fried, a licensed dentist. Cook sold more than $100,000 worth of oxycodone to Dr. Fried over 18 months, obtaining the pills using Medicaid and Medicare benefits of her mother and step-grandmother. Cook received a 10-year suspended sentence with three years of supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, and exclusion from participating as a provider in any state or federal healthcare programs.