🌱 Man Steals $1M In PPP Loans + $100K PowerPlay Ticket Sold

Get on up, Philadelphia! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's what's happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Some sun, then clouds; mild. High: 58 Low: 50.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Philadelphia today:

1. A man who lived in Philadelphia has plead guilty to a scheme that stole nearly $1 million dollars in covid Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. In June 2021, Devron Brown was indicted on eleven felony counts, including two counts of bank fraud and attempted bank fraud, and nine counts of money laundering, for fraudulently obtaining approximately $937,500 in PPP loan proceeds. Officials say the 50-year-old made false representations regarding his alleged construction business, Just Us Construction, Inc. (WHP Harrisburg)
2. A Northeast Philadelphia gas station sold a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket that's good for $100,000. According to Pennsylvania Lottery officials, the Sunoco at 9200 Ashton Road sold a Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $100,000. The ticket matched four of the five white balls drawn Monday, 10-30-37-53-59, and the red Powerball 4 to win $100,000, less applicable withholding. (Philadelphia Patch)
3. A missing wedding ring from the late 1940s found at a Wawa is at the center of an unusual “cold case” in Delaware County. The Upper Providence Township Police Department said it took possession of a silver men’s wedding band last week that was found at the 1260 N. Providence Road Wawa. In order to close this cold case file and claim the ring, police said that "you will have to provide the initials" engraved on it. (NBC 10 Philadelphia)
4. Gunfire in Philadelphia's Nicetown section injured one man and damaged offices belonging to Pennsylvania Senator Sharif Street and the NAACP. Police said at least three bullets went through the windows of the buildings at the intersection of Germantown and Windrim avenues at 11:30 p.m. Monday. According to police, the victim, a 25-year-old man, may have been involved in a shootout because they found a trail of blood that led them to a bloody gun about a block away. (WPVI-TV)
5. The Black homeownership rate is steadily declining in Philadelphia, largely brought on by disparities in mortgage lending. This is despite the city's racial homeownership gap being smaller than that of the country as a whole, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Researchers there found that Black residents were nearly 3 times more likely to be denied a mortgage than white residents. (PhillyVoice.com)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• Online Youth Book Club, Hosted By The Yeadon Public Library (Virtual) (3:30 PM)
• Black Artist Conversations Hosted By The Rotunda At Clark Park Farmers' Market (6:00 PM)
• Stag & Doe Nights: Extended Store Hours, Refreshments, And Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides At Germantown Avenue (6:00 PM)
• Jazz Bridge Presents Trombonist Hailey Brinnel At Fellowship Hall (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• ACCT Philly has canceled tomorrow's TNR clinic, but stay tuned for future dates. (Facebook)
• Interested in paid time off, uniform allowance, career opportunities, and more? Apply today to become a crossing guard for the City of Philadelphia. (Facebook)
• The City of Philadelphia's RebuildPHL initiative is investing in parks, recreation centers, and libraries for Philadelphia’s future. (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Byrant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.