Analysts accuse Bed Bath & Beyond of scaling back AC in stores to ...

New York (CNN Business) Retailers typically want their sales numbers to be red hot, not their customers. But Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) is reportedly dealing with cooled momentum and heated customers at its stores.

A new report from Bank of America claims that the company has cut air conditioning in an effort to quickly lower expenses to make up for a slump in sales.

Bed Bath & Beyond told CNN that any changes in store temperature guidelines did not come from corporate. "We've been contacted about this report, and to be clear, no Bed Bath & Beyond stores were directed to adjust their air conditioning and there have been no corporate policy changes in regard to utilities usage," said a representative.

Still, analysts at Bank of America who have conducted store visits report mounting concerns, including labor hours that have been meaningfully cut, scaled back utilities, reduced store operating hours and canceled remodeling projects. Rewards programs have also been scaled back and replaced. The analysts expect Bed Bath & Beyond's management will soon announce more store closures and halt openings of its Buy Buy Baby stores.

Meanwhile, fire sales and price reductions run rampant. The company continues to offer elevated promotions including up to 50% off bedding and furniture, free same-day shipping, $10 off a $30 purchase and 20% off purchases by college students and their parents.

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USA TODAY exclusive: Hundreds allege Donald Trump doesn't pay ...

Steve Reilly

USA TODAY

During the Atlantic City casino boom in the 1980s, Philadelphia cabinet-builder Edward Friel Jr. landed a $400,000 contract to build the bases for slot machines, registration desks, bars and other cabinets at Harrah's at Trump Plaza.

The family cabinetry business, founded in the 1940s by Edward’s father, finished its work in 1984 and submitted its final bill to the general contractor for the Trump Organization, the resort’s builder.

Edward’s son, Paul, who was the firm’s accountant, still remembers the amount of that bill more than 30 years later: $83,600. The reason: the money never came. “That began the demise of the Edward J. Friel Company… which has been around since my grandfather,” he said.

Donald Trump often portrays himself as a savior of the working class who will "protect your job." But a USA TODAY NETWORK analysis found he has been involved in more than 3,500 lawsuits over the past three decades — and a large number of those involve ordinary Americans, like the Friels, who say Trump or his companies have refused to pay them.

At least 60 lawsuits, along with hundreds of liens, judgments, and other government filings reviewed by the USA TODAY NETWORK, document people who have accused Trump and his businesses of failing to pay them for their work. Among them: a dishwasher in Florida. A glass company in New Jersey. A carpet company. A plumber. Painters. Forty-eight waiters. Dozens of bartenders and other hourly workers at his resorts and clubs, coast to coast. Real estate brokers who sold his properties. And, ironically, several law firms that once represented him in these suits and others.

Trump’s companies have also been cited for 24 violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act since 2005 for failing to pay overtime or minimum wage, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. That includes 21 citations against the defunct Trump Plaza in Atlantic City and three against the also out-of-business Trump Mortgage LLC in New York. Both cases were resolved by the companies agreeing to pay back wages.

Litigator in chief

In addition to the lawsuits, the review found more than 200 mechanic’s liens — filed by contractors and employees against Trump, his companies or his properties claiming they were owed money for their work — since the 1980s. The liens range from a $75,000 claim by a Plainview, N.Y., air conditioning and heating company to a $1 million claim from the president of a New York City real estate banking firm. On just one project, Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, records released by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in 1990 show that at least 253 subcontractors weren’t paid in full or on time, including workers who installed walls, chandeliers and plumbing.

The actions in total paint a portrait of Trump’s sprawling organization frequently failing to pay small businesses and individuals, then sometimes tying them up in court and other negotiations for years. In some cases, the Trump teams financially overpower and outlast much smaller opponents, draining their resources. Some just give up the fight, or settle for less; some have ended up in bankruptcy or out of business altogether.

Trump and his daughter Ivanka, in an interview with USA TODAY, shrugged off the lawsuits and other claims of non-payment. If a company or worker he hires isn’t paid fully, the Trumps said, it’s because The Trump Organization was unhappy with the work.

“Let’s say that they do a job that’s not good, or a job that they didn’t finish, or a job that was way late. I’ll deduct from their contract, absolutely,” Trump said. “That’s what the country should be doing.”

To be sure, Trump and his companies have prevailed in many legal disputes over missing payments, or reached settlements that cloud the terms reached by the parties.

However, the consistent circumstances laid out in those lawsuits and other non-payment claims raise questions about Trump’s judgment as a businessman, and as a potential commander- in- chief. The number of companies and others alleging he hasn’t paid suggests that either his companies have a poor track record hiring workers and assessing contractors, or that Trump businesses renege on contracts, refuse to pay, or consistently attempt to change payment terms after work is complete as is alleged in dozens of court cases.

In the interview, Trump repeatedly said the cases were “a long time ago.” However, even as he campaigns for the presidency, new cases are continuing. Just last month, Trump Miami Resort Management LLC settled with 48 servers at his Miami golf resort over failing to pay overtime for a special event. The settlements averaged about $800 for each worker and as high as $3,000 for one, according to court records. Some workers put in 20-hour days over the 10-day Passover event at Trump National Doral Miami, the lawsuit contends. Trump’s team initially argued a contractor hired the workers, and he wasn’t responsible, and counter-sued the contractor demanding payment.

“Trump could have settled it right off the bat, but they wanted to fight it out, that’s their M.O.” said Rod Hannah, of Plantation, Fla., the lawyer who represented the workers, who he said are forbidden from talking about the case in public. “They’re known for their aggressiveness, and if you have the money, why not?”

Similar cases have cropped up with Trump’s facilities in California and New York, where hourly workers, bartenders and wait staff have sued with a range of allegations from not letting workers take breaks to not passing along tips to servers. Trump's company settled the California case, and the New York case is pending.

Trump's Doral golf resort also has been embroiled in recent non-payment claims by two different paint firms, with one case settled and the other pending. Last month, his company’s refusal to pay one Florida painter more than $30,000 for work at Doral led the judge in the case to order foreclosure of the resort if the contractor isn’t paid.

Juan Carlos Enriquez, owner of The Paint Spot, in South Florida, has been waiting more than two years to get paid for his work at the Doral. The Paint Spot first filed a lien against Trump’s course, then filed a lawsuit asking a Florida judge to intervene.

In courtroom testimony, the manager of the general contractor for the Doral renovation admitted that a decision was made not to pay The Paint Spot because Trump “already paid enough.” As the construction manager spoke, “Trump’s trial attorneys visibly winced, began breathing heavily, and attempted to make eye contact” with the witness, the judge noted in his ruling.

That, and other evidence, convinced the judge The Paint Spot’s claim was credible. He ordered last month that the Doral resort be foreclosed on, sold, and the proceeds used to pay Enriquez the money he was owed. Trump’s attorneys have since filed a motion to delay the sale, and the contest continues.

Enriquez still hasn’t been paid.

Trump frequently boasts that he will bring jobs back to America, including Tuesday in a primary-election night victory speech at his golf club in suburban New York City. “No matter who you are, we're going to protect your job,” Trump said Tuesday. “Because let me tell you, our jobs are being stripped from our country like we're babies.”

But the lawsuits show Trump’s organization wages Goliath vs David legal battles over small amounts of money that are negligible to the billionaire and his executives — but devastating to his much-smaller foes.

In 2007, for instance, dishwasher Guy Dorcinvil filed a federal lawsuit against Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club resort in Palm Beach, Fla., alleging the club failed to pay time-and-a-half for overtime he worked over three years and the company failed to keep proper time records for employees.

Mar-a-Lago LLC agreed to pay Dorcinvil $7,500 to settle the case in 2008. The terms of the settlement agreement includes a standard statement that Mar-a-Lago does not admit fault and forbids Dorcinvil or his lawyers from talking about the case, according to court records.

Developers with histories of not paying contractors are a very small minority of the industry, said Colette Nelson, chief advocacy officer of the American Subcontractors Association. But late or missing payments can be devastating for small businesses and their employees.

“Real estate is a tough and aggressive business, but most business people don’t set out to make their money by breaking the companies that they do business with,” she said, stressing she couldn’t speak directly to the specifics of cases in Trump’s record. “But there are a few.”

In the interview, Trump said that complaints represent a tiny fraction of his business empire and dealings with contractors and employees, insisting all are paid fairly. “We pay everybody what they’re supposed to be paid, and we pay everybody on time,” he said. “And we employ thousands and thousands of people. OK?”

Despite the Trumps’ assertion that his their companies only refuse payment to contractors “when somebody does a bad job,” he has sometimes offered to hire those same contractors again. It’s a puzzling turn of events, since most people who have a poor experience with a contractor, and who refuse to pay and even fight the contractor in court, aren’t likely to offer to rehire them.

Nevertheless, such was the case for the Friels. After submitting the final bill for the Plaza casino cabinet-building in 1984, Paul Friel said he got a call asking that his father, Edward, come to the Trump family’s offices at the casino for a meeting. There Edward, and some other contractors, were called in one by one to meet with Donald Trump and his brother, Robert Trump.

“He sat in a room with nine guys,” Paul Friel said. “We found out some of them were carpet guys. Some of them were glass guys. Plumbers. You name it.”

In the meeting, Donald Trump told his father that the company’s work was inferior, Friel said, even though the general contractor on the casino had approved it. The bottom line, Trump told Edward Friel, was the company wouldn't get the final payment. Then, Friel said Trump added something that struck the family as bizarre. Trump told his dad that he could work on other Trump projects in the future.

“Wait a minute,” Paul Friel said, recalling his family's reaction to his dad’s account of the meeting. “Why would the Trump family want a company who they say their work is inferior to work for them in the future?”

Asked about the meeting this week, Trump said, “Was the work bad? Was it bad work?” And, then, after being told that the general contractor had approved it, Trump added, “Well, see here’s the thing. You’re talking about, what, 30 years ago?”

Ivanka Trump added that any number of disputes over late or deficient payments that were found over the past few decades pale in comparison to the thousands of checks Trump companies cut each month.

“We have hundreds of millions of dollars of construction projects underway. And we have, for the most part, exceptional contractors on them who get paid, and get paid quickly,” she said, adding that she doubted any contractor complaining in court or in the press would admit they delivered substandard work. “But it would be irresponsible if my father paid contractors who did lousy work. And he doesn’t do that.”

But, the Friels’ story is similar to experiences of hundreds of other contractors over the casino-boom decade in Atlantic City. Legal records, New Jersey Casino Control Commission records and contemporaneous local newspaper stories recounted time and again tales about the Trumps paying late or renegotiating deals for dimes on the dollar.

A half-decade after the Friels’ encounter, in 1990, as Trump neared the opening of his third Atlantic City casino, he was once again attempting to pay contractors less than he owed. In casino commission records of an audit, it was revealed that Trump’s companies owed a total of $69.5 million to 253 subcontractors on the Taj Mahal project. Some already had sued Trump, the state audit said; others were negotiating with Trump to try to recover what they could. The companies and their hundreds of workers had installed walls, chandeliers, plumbing, lighting and even the casino’s trademark minarets.

One of the builders was Marty Rosenberg, vice president of Atlantic Plate Glass Co., who said he was owed about $1.5 million for work at the Taj Mahal. When it became clear Trump was not going to pay in full, Rosenberg took on an informal leadership role, representing about 100 to 150 contractors in negotiations with Trump.

Rosenberg’s mission: with Trump offering as little as 30 cents on the dollar to some of the contractors, Rosenberg wanted to get as much as he could for the small businesses, most staffed by younger tradesmen with modest incomes and often families to support.

“Yes, there were a lot of other companies," he said of those Trump left waiting to get paid. "Yes, some did not survive."

Rosenberg said his company was among the lucky ones. He had to delay paying his own suppliers to the project. The negotiations led to him eventually getting about 70 cents on the dollar for his work, and he was able to pay all of his suppliers in full.

The analysis of Trump lawsuits also found that professionals, such as real estate agents and lawyers, say he's refused to pay them sizable sums of money. Those cases show that even some loyal employees, those selling his properties and fighting for him in court, are only with him until they’re not.

Real estate broker Rana Williams, who said she had sold hundreds of millions of dollars in Manhattan property for Trump International Realty over more than two decades with the company, sued in 2013 alleging Trump shorted her $735,212 in commissions on deals she brokered from 2009 to 2012. Williams, who managed as many as 16 other sales agents for Trump, said the tycoon and his senior deputies decided to pay her less than her contracted commission rate “based on nothing more than whimsy.”

Trump and Williams settled their case in 2015, and the terms of the deal are confidential, as is the case in dozens of other settlements between plaintiffs and Trump companies.

However, Williams' 2014 deposition in the case is not sealed. In her sworn testimony, Williams said the 2013 commission shortage wasn't the only one, and neither was she the only person who didn't get fully paid. “There were instances where a sizable commission would come in and we would be waiting for payment and it wouldn’t come,” she testified. “That was both for myself and for some of the agents.”

Another broker, Jennifer McGovern, filed a similar lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump Mortgage LLC in 2007, citing a six-figure commission on real-estate sales that she said went unpaid. A judge issued a judgment ordering Trump Mortgage to pay McGovern $298,274.

Even Trump’s own attorneys, on several occasions, sued him over claims of unpaid bills.

One law firm that fought contractors over payments and other issues for Trump — New York City’s Morrison Cohen LLP — ended up on the other side of a similar battle with the mogul in 2008. Trump didn’t like that its lawyers were using his name in press releases touting its representation of Trump in a lawsuit against a construction contractor that Trump claimed overcharged him for work on a luxury golf club.

As Trump now turned his ire on his former lawyers, however, Morrison Cohen counter-sued. In court records, the law firm alleged Trump didn’t pay nearly a half million dollars in legal fees. Trump and his ex-lawyers settled their disputes out of court, confidentially, in 2009.

In 2012, Virginia-based law firm Cook, Heyward, Lee, Hopper & Feehan filed a lawsuit against the Trump Organization for $94,511 for legal fees and costs. The case was eventually settled out of court. But as the case unfolded, court records detail how Trump's senior deputies attacked the attorneys' quality of work in the local and trade press, leading the firm to make claims of defamation that a judge ultimately rejected on free speech grounds.

Trump claims in his presidential personal financial disclosure to be worth $10 billion as a result of his business acumen. Many of the small contractors and individuals who weren’t paid by him haven’t been as fortunate.

Edward Friel, of the Philadelphia cabinetry company allegedly shortchanged for the casino work, hired a lawyer to sue for the money, said his son, Paul Friel. But the attorney advised him that the Trumps would drag the case out in court and legal fees would exceed what they’d recover.

The unpaid bill took a huge chunk out of the bottom line of the company that Edward ran to take care of his wife and five kids. “The worst part wasn’t dealing with the Trumps,” Paul Friel said. After standing up to Trump, Friel said the family struggled to get other casino work in Atlantic City. “There’s tons of these stories out there,” he said.

The Edward J. Friel Co. filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 5, 1989.

Says the founder's grandson: “Trump hits everybody.”

Contributing: John Kelly, Nick Penzenstadler, Karen Yi, David McKay Wilson

Exclusive: Trump's 3,500 lawsuits unprecedented for a presidential nominee

USA TODAY exclusive: Hundreds allege Donald Trump doesn't pay his bills

Trump, companies accused of mistreating women in at least 20 lawsuits

Exclusive: More than 100 lawsuits, disputes over taxes tied to Trump and his companies

Dive into Donald Trump's thousands of lawsuits

Trump casino empire dogged by bad bets in Atlantic City

As campaign rolls on, so do Trump's lawsuits in Florida

How USA TODAY NETWORK is tracking Trump court files

Trump and the Law

4 tricks phone scammers are using in 2022 – and how to stop them

Cemile Kavountzis,

for T-Mobile

Whether you’re about to sit down to dinner, catching up with an old friend or simply taking a well-deserved nap, an unwanted robocall always seems to disrupt your day at the most inconvenient time.

But unwanted robocalls and scams are more than just annoying interruptions; they can actually be dangerous. Last year, the volume of scam call attempts exploded to record highs. They were the top complaint reported to the FCC and Americans lost some $30 billion to these ploys.

If you’re concerned, or even just annoyed, you should be. There was a 116% increase in scam attempts last year alone, according to new network data reported by T-Mobile, and the bombardment of calls is set to soon pass pre-pandemic levels.

Despite efforts across the wireless industry, the tactics used by bad actors around the globe have become more aggressive over time and even more deceptive in their efforts to appear legitimate. Scammers are relentless – and they are not going to stop as long as they keep making money.

At the end of 2021, T-Mobile released its first-ever Scam and Robocall Report, which identified trends across the country, insights into scammer behavior and ways the company responded. T-Mobile’s Scam Shield technology, for example, identified or blocked more than 21 billion scam calls for their customers in 2021 – more than double the number of calls in 2020. That’s roughly the equivalent of 700 spam calls every second.

“We are protecting every single customer with the free scam-fighting tools in Scam Shield, regardless of their plan or device,” said Jon Freier, president of T-Mobile’s Consumer Group, in a statement on the company’s website. “We know that scammers won’t stop as long as they continue to be successful, so we are doing everything we can to make their job as hard as possible.”

The T-Mobile report also shared some of the most common phone scams and ways to protect your information.

1. ‘Neighborhood’ calls

One location-based trick scammers use is called neighbor or neighborhood spoofing, in which they disguise their number to appear as if it is coming from a local number, using a similar area code or prefix to your number.

T-Mobile’s Scam and Robocall Report found certain areas of the country are more heavily targeted by scam calls than other parts. The states with the highest volume of scam call attempts in 2021 were Texas, Florida, Arizona and Georgia. Among those, Dallas/Fort Worth was the top metro area for receiving scam calls.

To help stop neighborhood spoofing, last year companies across the wireless industry implemented number verification powered by STIR/SHAKEN. T-Mobile was the first to implement number verification for customers and T-Mobile, Sprint and Metro by T-Mobile customers with an eligible device will get a checkmark to confirm the phone number displayed on your phone is the actual number calling and hasn’t been spoofed by a scammer.

2. Legitimate businesses scams: fake auto warranties

One of the biggest concerns heading in to 2022 is scammers posing as legitimate businesses. If you’ve gotten a call from someone regarding your car’s warranty, you’re already familiar with this one. In 2021, the top scam was fake auto warranties, making up 51% of all scam call attempts.

Other common fraudulent calls were from individuals pretending to represent car insurance companies (6%), social security (10%), wireless providers (9%) and package delivery (4%).

What is particularly concerning about scams like the auto warranty scam is the caller may already have some personal details about your car or warranty. These calls often start with a robocall instructing you to press a number and stay on the line.

To help screen these calls, you can use tools such as Caller ID combined with number verification or use your wireless provider’s scam identification tools. As part of Scam Shield protections, T-Mobile gives free Caller ID to every customer. And when a scam threat is detected, customers automatically receive a “Scam Likely” warning on their Caller ID display. They can then decide if they want to answer the call or not.

Even if you decide to answer a likely scam call, to protect yourself from any suspected fraudulent business calls, your best bet is to hang up and call the company back directly by looking up their customer service contact information on the Internet.

3. Time of year: tax season and health care scams

Scammers are savvy and will capitalize on seasonal events to ramp up call attempts. With tax season coming up, phone scammers will often prey on people’s anxiety surrounding their taxes.

To keep yourself protected, know that generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. They also won’t call about an unexpected tax refund. If you receive a call requesting immediate payment in the form of gift cards, threatening to bring in law enforcement for unpaid bills, or demanding payment without a bill or opportunity to question the amount, stay alert – it’s likely a scam.

Similarly, scam calls relating to health care spiked during open enrollment for health insurance and Medicare in late fall and winter. The FCC issued a $225 million fine – the largest in its history – in 2021 to a Texas-based telemarketer for robocalls falsely claiming to represent major health insurance companies.

Along with a seasonal ramping up, another method scammers use to appear above board is keeping regular business hours Monday to Friday with peak volume on Wednesdays. T-Mobile’s report found spam call volume drops by as much as 85% on weekends.

To keep yourself protected against the newest seasonal threats, you’ll want software that is updated regularly. T-Mobile claims that its scam protections are updated every 6 minutes, every day, all day. And unlike apps from third-parties, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield sits within the network, so it uses AI, machine learning and patented technology to update against new threats in real time.

4. Technical support calls

Another avenue scammers use to weasel their way in is fake technical support calls. These calls can result in cyber criminals getting access to your data or planting malicious code on your phone or computer.

Fake technical support calls will often begin with the scammer saying they’re with a well-known company and that an issue has been detected with your device. From there, they’ll walk you through various steps to “fix” your phone or computer. Don’t be fooled – scammers who pull this trick will be attempting to download dangerous software used to obtain your data.

T-Mobile warns that every wireless customer should use some form of scam protection to help prevent these calls getting through. Fortunately, in addition to “Scam Likely” warnings, T-Mobile’s Scam Shield also includes Scam Block, which once activated, blocks all “Scam Likely” calls before they ever reach your phone, giving you the peace and quiet you deserve. If you are a T-Mobile customer, you can download the Scam Shield app for free in your device’s app store.

As long as scammers are still able to make money off unsuspecting victims, their tactics will keep evolving. Thankfully, the technology used to protect people from these cyber criminals will continue to advance, as well – that’s why it’s crucial to utilize scam protection software to protect yourself.

To learn more about T-Mobile or view the 2021 Scam and Robocall Report, visit https://www.t-mobile.com.

Genesis GV80 in Tiger Woods car accident: Was SUV safe?

Are Genesis cars and SUVs safe?

After Tiger Woods crashed a Genesis GV80 SUV in the Los Angeles area Tuesday, causing devastating leg injuries, the safety of the little-known luxury brand made by Korean automaker Hyundai was thrust into the spotlight.

On social media, some people speculated that the SUV's safety features may have saved the golf legend's life, given that authorities said he was traveling at a high speed. Others questioned whether the vehicle should have done a better job of protecting Woods.

Independent assessments of Genesis vehicles have given them high marks for safety.

"Genesis vehicles, as well as other models from its parent company Hyundai Motor Group, have generally performed quite well in our safety tests, which include crashworthiness, crash avoidance and headlight evaluations," Joseph Young, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said in an email.

More on the GV80:Golf legend rolls over in Genesis SUV

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:These are the safest new cars, trucks, SUVs of 2021

While new vehicles are substantially safer than vehicles from decades earlier, they are not impervious to deadly accidents. More than 36,000 people were killed in car crashes on American roadways in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What's more, small increases in speed can make a collision much deadlier. A crash that is easily survivable at 40 mph can be fatal at 50 mph or more, according to a recent study conducted by IIHS and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Genesis GV80 thrust into the spotlight

That Genesis is in the conversation at all is a surprising turn of events for a brand that has struggled to prove its relevancy since Hyundai spun it off as its own brand several years ago.

To be sure, Genesis has won accolades from critics for its design and reliability. The GV80 was one of three finalists for the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award.

But only 6% of luxury car shoppers considered buying a Genesis in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with 22% for the leader, BMW, as well as 19% for Audi, 19% for Lexus and 17% for Mercedes-Benz, according to Cox Automotive, which owns Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader.

Genesis U.S. sales declined by 23% in 2020 to 16,384, making it 30th out of 31 major brands for the year, ahead of only Fiat.

"Their sales have struggled," said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader. The brand "has a lot of building to do."

Sales have disappointed from the beginning due to the fact that its lineup consisted exclusively of passenger cars until recently, Krebs said. Passenger cars have fallen out of favor in recent years as Americans embraced SUVs and pickups. The GV80 is supposed to help reverse the tide for the brand.

Genesis was hoping to draw more positive attention with its sponsorship of last weekend's Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour event hosted by Woods. The brand gave a GV80 to the event winner, Max Homa, and loaned a GV80 to Woods for his personal use. That was the vehicle he crashed.

Genesis safety

Despite its sales struggles, from a safety perspective, Genesis has performed well.

In its widely followed 2021 safety awards – coincidentally announced Wednesday – IIHS gave its highest honors, Top Safety Pick+, to the Genesis G70 and Genesis G90 luxury cars.

Notably missing were the brand's other two vehicles: the G80 and the GV80.

But that's because both of those vehicles were too new for IIHS to test in time for its initial 2021 Top Safety Pick announcement. They both went on sale in the fall.

"We are actually in the process of testing the GV80 right now. In fact, our last crashworthiness test of the GV80 is on the calendar for today," IIHS spokesman Young said Tuesday. "So, we’ll likely have results out sometime next month.

The Genesis GV80's safety features include:

• 10 standard airbags, "including a center-side airbag unique to Genesis that deploys between the front seats," Genesis spokesman Jarred Pellat said in an email.

• Advanced driver assistance systems, including forward-collision alert avoidance, evasive steering technology and an interior camera that alerts the driver if they're falling asleep.

• New vehicle architecture, known in the industry as a "platform," built with a passenger compartment reinforced with "high strength steel for rigidity and safety," Pellat said.

The 2021 Genesis GV80, which carries a starting price of nearly $50,000, also has a 14.5-inch horizontal touchscreen on the center console and an 8-inch digital instrument panel.

Some safety critics have accused automakers of distracting drivers by integrating larger and larger screens into their vehicles. There was no immediate evidence that Woods was distracted when he veered off the road on Tuesday.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

5 things to know for July 1: SCOTUS, Abortion, Ukraine, Brittney ...

If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter.

Today is the traditional getaway day for many people heading into the July 4 holiday weekend , and the 5 Things crew is hitting the road too. We'll see you back here on Tuesday after enjoying some fun in the sun and fireworks shows! If you need a little diversion before your holiday festivities begin, take CNN's Summer Quiz ! Here's what you need to know to

(You can get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here .)

1. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ended its blockbuster term on Thursday with two major opinions on climate change and immigration. The court dealt a huge blow to the Biden administration by curbing the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to broadly regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants . But in a win for the White House, the court gave President Joe Biden the green light to end the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy , which allows officials to send non-Mexican migrants to Mexico to await their US immigration court hearings. These rulings come as the conservative Supreme Court continues to transform the legal landscape around an assortment of hot-button issues, including abortion, gun rights, and religious liberty.

2. Abortion

President Biden on Thursday called for dropping filibuster rules to pass abortion rights into law. Ending the filibuster -- the 60-vote threshold in the Senate needed to pass most legislation -- would mean bills could pass by a simple majority instead of being held up by a minority. However, despite Biden's newly announced support for the filibuster carveout, his best bet in doing so would be next year, and only if Democrats gain at least two Senate seats and hold the House of Representatives, an extremely tall task. Meanwhile, several Democratic-leaning states are implementing regulations that either further protect or expand abortion-related laws and policies. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee , for example, issued a directive Thursday that bars state police from cooperating with out-of-state agency requests for abortion-related information.

JUST WATCHED Watch Biden call for filibuster rule change to codify abortion rights into law Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Watch Biden call for filibuster rule change to codify abortion rights into law 01:12

3. Ukraine

After a highly consequential summit this week, President Biden and NATO leaders pledged to support Ukraine for " as long as it takes ," although few were willing to offer an actual timeframe for an end to the conflict. Ukraine's allies ramped up their response to the war this week with new sanctions and more military aid, but it remains unclear whether these steps can change the battlefield momentum that currently favors Russia . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO leaders to help him regain the initiative during a virtual address to the summit, pleading for more modern weapons and sustained support to battle the Russians. On the ground, Russian forces left Snake Island in the Black Sea , after Zelensky on Thursday said Ukraine carried out a "remarkable operation." Russia, however, claimed it had withdrawn "as a gesture of goodwill."

JUST WATCHED Symbol of Ukrainian resistance at center of new dispute Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Symbol of Ukrainian resistance at center of new dispute 02:20

4. Brittney Griner

The trial in Russia of American basketball star Brittney Griner is expected to begin today after officials there claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage in February, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Griner , a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's offseason, was arrested at a Moscow airport and has been detained for more than four months. Russian authorities accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Her detention, which has been extended for six months pending the trial's outcome, has sparked a wave of support in the US. Griner's wife, Cherelle , is urging President Biden to strike an exchange deal with Russian authorities to release Griner and bring her home safely as soon as possible.

JUST WATCHED Brittney Griner's wife: Effort to free her doesn't match the rhetoric Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Brittney Griner's wife: Effort to free her doesn't match the rhetoric 01:32

5. Travel chaos

As the US heads into the busy July 4 holiday weekend, travel experts warn delays and cancellations are likely to impact flights over the next few days. More than 1,500 flights were canceled in the US this past weekend alone, and Delta Air Lines has already trimmed about 100 flights a day from its July schedule to "minimize disruptions." Delta also issued a waiver for July 4 travelers as it braces for passenger volumes "not seen since before the pandemic." And as airports fill up with the most travelers in years, weather will also be a big factor this weekend, impacting both airlines and fireworks displays. Most of the US will see the chance of rain through Monday, with the South and Northeast expecting thunderstorms in several areas.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

See what's streaming in July

"Stranger Things" Season 4 Volume 2 hit Netflix at midnight! Here's what else you should stream this month

UCLA and USC to join Big Ten conference

The two Southern California powerhouse universities -- UCLA and USC -- are completely shaking up the college sports landscape . (Fight on!)

Enormous chocolate factory shuts over salmonella outbreak

The biggest chocolate factory in the world is facing a not-so-sweet situation

'Extraordinarily rare' Princess Diana portrait goes on display in London

Interesting fact: Princess Diana went to an art studio for more than 30 sittings to complete this masterpiece

How two women with the exact same name became best friends

These women quickly realized they had more in common than their relatively unusual name

QUIZ TIME

Which company is being accused of turning off the AC in its stores to save money as its sales plummet?

A. IKEA

B. Bed Bath & Beyond

C. Best Buy

D. Petco

TODAY'S NUMBER

141

That's how many reports of rape Uber recorded on its platform in 2020, the rideshare company disclosed in a safety report released Thursday . About 91% of the victims of rape were riders and about 7% of the victims were drivers. Women made up 81% of the victims while men comprised about 15%, according to the 78-page report.

TODAY'S QUOTE

"The Navy accepts responsibility for what happened."

-- Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of US Pacific Fleet, acknowledging a series of failures led to a , the commander of US Pacific Fleet, acknowledging a series of failures led to a fuel leak at a Hawaii military facility that sickened nearby families. In March, the Defense Department announced it would permanently close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility after approximately 20,000 gallons of fuel spilled and hundreds of people complained about illnesses linked to the contaminated water.

TODAY'S WEATHER

JUST WATCHED Storms could impact holiday travel Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Storms could impact holiday travel 02:53

AND FINALLY

Bigfoot and Bamboo: The Unlikely History of Fireworks

Vicky White and Casey White: Missing corrections officer accused of ...

(CNN) A missing Alabama corrections official accused of helping a murder defendant escape from jail last week had a nonphysical "special relationship" with him that included allowing him privileges while incarcerated, a sheriff said Tuesday.

The relationship between Vicky White, an assistant director of corrections for northwestern Alabama's Lauderdale County, and the now-fugitive Casey White was confirmed in part through tips from inmates at the county detention center, Sheriff Rick Singleton told CNN.

"We have confirmed through independent sources and other means that there was in fact a relationship between Casey White and Vicky White outside of her normal work hours -- not physical contact, but a relationship of a different nature," Singleton said.

"We were told Casey White got special privileges and was treated differently while in the facility than the other inmates," Singleton said.

Authorities are looking for both Vicky White and Casey White, who are not related, after the corrections officer on Friday morning left the Lauderdale County detention center with the 38-year-old inmate while he was handcuffed and shackled in her patrol car, the sheriff said.

A warrant has been issued for Vicky White's arrest on charges of permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree, Singleton said Monday

Vicky White said she was taking Casey White to a courthouse for a mental health evaluation and would then go get medical care because she wasn't feeling well. Authorities later discovered no hearing or evaluation was scheduled for Casey White that day, and Vicky White never arrived at the medical facility. Her patrol car was found abandoned Friday morning in a shopping center's parking lot, less than a mile from the detention center.

The situation has left Vicky White's co-workers in shock. The day she disappeared was to be her last day at work after nearly two decades with the department, Singleton has said. She submitted her retirement paperwork last week, sold her home about a month ago, and had thought about moving to the beach, he added.

"All of her co-workers are devastated. We've never had any situation like this with Vicky White. She was a model employee," Singleton told CNN's Ryan Young on Monday. Previously, Singleton had said the corrections official had "an unblemished record" and was "an exemplary employee."

Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton holds a picture of Casey White.

"If she did this willingly, and all indications are that she did ... I guess we're trying to hold on to that last straw of hope that maybe for some reason she was threatened and did this under coercion, but absolutely you'd feel betrayed," Singleton said.

Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly told CNN he worked with Vicky White almost daily for 17 years and last spoke with her the day before she disappeared.

"I would have trusted her with my life," he said. "I am so disappointed in her. She was trusted and she exploited that trust."

Vicky White had been living with her mother for the past five weeks after selling her home, but never mentioned her retirement or Casey White, the mother, Pat Davis, told CNN affiliate WAAY . "I never heard of him, never seen his picture, nothing. I didn't know anything about him," Davis told the outlet.

Pat Davis said she is in disbelief about the situation and wants her daughter to come home.

"We don't know if she was took by force or if she was voluntarily in this. But we just want her back, that's all we want," Pat Davis told WAAY

Sheriff: 'I'd be surprised if they're still in Alabama'

Video shows Vicky White's patrol car stopped -- about eight minutes after leaving the jail -- at an intersection about two blocks from the shopping center parking lot where it would be found abandoned, Singleton said.

That indicates the car was driven straight to the parking lot, and the driver never attempted to go to the courthouse, the sheriff said.

But the video doesn't show what happened after the car arrived at the parking lot.

Singleton told CNN he believes the pair left the lot in a second vehicle -- perhaps transferring to a vehicle that was staged there or being picked up by someone.

The gold/copper 2007 Ford Edge was the last car Vicky White and Casey White were believed to be last seen in on April 29, 2022.

The US Marshals Service said Tuesday the pair was last seen on April 29 in Rogersville, Alabama, in a gold/copper 2007 Ford Edge with unknown Alabama plates.

"I'd be surprised if they're still in Alabama," the sheriff said. He noted officials at the Mexican and Canadian borders have been notified of the search.

Vicky White would have money from the recent sale of her home, but her retirement fund paperwork had not yet been processed, Singleton said.

The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the location of the missing inmate ($10,000) and officer ($5,000).

Casey White is 6-foot-9 and while he may have changed his appearance since leaving the jail, his height will still make him stand out, US Marshal Marty Keely said Monday.

The inmate and officer should be considered dangerous and may be armed with an AR-15 rifle and a shotgun, Marshals said in a Tuesday news release.

Escaped inmate is 'extremely dangerous'

Casey White is "an extremely dangerous person," Singleton said.

He was serving 75 years in prison for a series of crimes in 2015, including a home invasion, carjacking and a police chase, according to the Marshals Service.

He was transferred from a state prison to Lauderdale County's detention center on February 25 to attend court hearings on two capital murder charges he faces related to the 2015 stabbing death of 59-year-old Connie Ridgeway, the Marshals Service said.

He confessed to the crime in 2020 then pleaded not guilty, according to Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly.

Casey White was serving 75 years for a series of crimes and was awaiting a capital murder trial.

"We're assuming he's armed because she was armed," Singleton said of Casey White. The sheriff warned people not to approach the inmate if they see him and to call police instead.

In 2020, while Casey White was being held in Lauderdale County's detention center, authorities learned he planned to escape the jail and take a hostage, Singleton said.

"We shook him down, and we did find a shank in his possession -- a shank is a prison knife. And we retrieved that. We immediately had him shipped back to the Department of Corrections," Singleton said Monday.

The jail already had a policy mandating two sworn deputies accompany inmates at all times, including during transportation to the courthouse -- but "we emphasized that policy with him," Singleton said.

Vicky White violated the policy by leaving the jail alone with Casey White, but since she was second-in-command at the facility other officers didn't push back, Singleton said. "Being the boss and over the transport, she just informed the booking officer that she was going to carry him to the courthouse and drop him off, which was a flagrant violation of policy. But I'm sure because it was her boss, the booking officer didn't question it," he noted.

As part of her job, Vicky White "was frequently throughout the cell blocks, has contact with all the inmates at one time or another," Singleton said. "But as far as a romantic relationship or something like that, we have no evidence or proof that that was the case, although it's a possibility," he added.

Correction: An earlier version of this story included the wrong age for Connie Ridgeway; she was 59 when she died.

Ryan Young
Jaide Timm-Garcia
Jason Hanna
Kelly Mccleary

Breonna Taylor protests: NFAC plans to hold armed march in ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Black militia is planning to hold an armed march in Louisville on Saturday to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, according to a video from the leader of the group.

John Fitzgerald "Jay" Johnson, the self-proclaimed grand master and founder of the NFAC, which stands for the Not F***ing Around Coalition, said in a video posted on Sunday that those wishing to march must come in a specific uniform: black boots, black pants, black button-down shirt and black mask. He added that members must come with several types of guns.

"Understand the seriousness of this situation," said Johnson, who goes by the name The Real Grandmaster Jay. "Breonna Taylor was murdered in her home. ... We gotta go in on this one."

FLASH SALE:Click here to get unlimited digital access at $39 for one year. Offer limited to new subscribers.

In a video published Monday, Johnson said that the group will meet at noon Saturday at Central High School, 1130 W. Chestnut St. But on Tuesday afternoon, Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman Jessie Halladay said the NFAC will change locations so that it is not on school property.

Unlawful possession of a weapon on school property is a felony in Kentucky. Halladay said she did not have any additional information to share about the rally location.

Johnson met electronically with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Louisville Metro Council President David James on Monday, according to James, who added that he organized the meeting.

Cameron is investigating the killing of Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who was unarmed in her South End apartment when Louisville police fatally shot her March 13. Cameron spokeswoman Elizabeth Kuhn confirmed the phone call took place.

"The conversation was productive," Kuhn wrote in an email. "Attorney General Cameron discussed his continued commitment to moving forward with our office’s independent and thorough investigation into the death of Ms. Taylor."

The militia made waves July 4 when roughly 1,000 members of the group marched in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where there is a mountainside carving of three Confederate leaders: Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson. Authorities said the event was peaceful, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but the group's presence caused a stir on social media.

Protesters have taken to the streets of Louisville for 55 days to demand justice for Taylor, who was shot as police served a "no-knock" search warrant as a part of a narcotics investigation. No drugs were found in the apartment.

Court records show that police obtained a warrant with a no-knock provision for Taylor's apartment signed by Circuit Judge Mary Shaw. Even so, officials have said that plainclothes officers knocked and announced their presence before breaking in Taylor’s door with a battering ram.

Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was also in the apartment, fired one shot in response, hitting Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the thigh. Mattingly and Officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove returned fire, striking Taylor five times.

She died in her hallway.

FACT CHECK: Debunking 7 widely shared rumors in the Breonna Taylor police shooting

More:Breonna Taylor was briefly alive after police shot her. But no one tried to treat her

Like many of the protesters, Johnson, the leader of the NFAC, is demanding that the three officers involved in the shooting be fired by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and criminally charged by Cameron. One of the officers in the shooting, Hankison, was fired last month and is in the process of appealing the termination.

In a call last week organized by local activist Lebron Seay, Johnson told David James, D-6th District, and Louisville Chief of Community Building Vincent James that 5,000 to 6,000 people from his group will hold an armed march in Louisville if there is not progress made in Taylor's case.

"I would be so remiss not to tell you that there are a lot of people nationwide that are ready to descend on your city to extract justice if you cannot give us some type of guarantee that something is coming soon," Johnson said.

David James said during the call that the investigation has taken so long due to Fischer's "piss-poor leadership," as the city did not turn over the police's investigative to Attorney General Cameron until a few weeks ago.

In an interview with The Courier Journal, David James said he had not spoken with Johnson before and joined the call to "help answer any questions" and to make sure Johnson "was aware of whatever the facts were."

David James also said that the "lack of transparency" of Fischer's administration has led to a distortion of facts and that he was asked to join the call after the Louisville mayor refused to do so.

Jean Porter, a spokeswoman for Fischer, told The Courier Journal on Tuesday that the mayor was not invited to the call with Johnson.

Opinion:Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron can't submit to outside pressure in Taylor case

David James said he is "not a big fan of people carrying weapons while they're protesting or marching through the city, no matter who they are." However, he added that the group consists of "law-abiding citizens following the rules and laws of the state of Kentucky" and that they have the right to protest.

The Metro Council president added that he is more worried about people reacting to the NFAC and that there may "be one person that does one stupid thing, and then we have a problem."

Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said the department is aware of Johnson's video announcing the NFAC's intentions to come to Louisville and the department has attempted to reach out to the group's organizers "to understand what their plans are."

"We have had several protests posted over the past several weeks, some of which have occurred and some which have not," Mitchell said. "We will take the appropriate steps to prepare for whatever may occur."

Mitchell declined to comment further on whether the department has successfully reached Johnson and what steps the department is taking to ensure the march is safe.

According to Porter, Louisville police have been in contact with Johnson about tentative plans for the march and "their shared goal for a peaceful event."

When asked during a Tuesday press briefing if the state would send police to the armed march in Louisville, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said his administration has not received a request to get involved.

"Any time a request comes in, we'll have to look at the danger that's out there for life and safety of folks," Behsear said. "But at the time, we have not received any official request for assistance."

Contact Ben Tobin at bjtobin@gannett.com and 502-377-5675 or follow on Twitter @TobinBen. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: subscribe.courier-journal.com.

Their stores were burned, ransacked and looted. What's next for ...

MINNEAPOLIS – Brandy Moore likened the charred remains of her south Minneapolis clothing store and recording studio to the pangs for equality that minorities here feel.

Smoke continued to waft in the air 24 hours after people protesting the death of George Floyd burned Moore's storefront and several others along Lake Street.

"My business burned down two days ago. You see the flames? It's still going," Moore, 41, said Sunday. "That flame down in people's soul? It's still going. They want justice."

She is among dozens of Minneapolis and St. Paul business owners, small and large, trying to rebuild after fiery riots and demonstrations in the Twin Cities on Thursday and Friday. Her company, Levels, which she owns with business partner Daniel Johnson, also has a St. Paul location that remains undamaged. The venture is Moore's "baby."

Sweeping the sidewalks, feeding the needy:Minneapolis is trying to recover after days of George Floyd protests

Moore, a black woman, said she started the business from the trunk of her car once she left a job with Minneapolis Public Schools in 2011 to pursue her passion for fashion and music.

It had been opened for five years before people broke in Friday and started a fire that destroyed the business and several adjacent stores. When she was alerted to the break-in, Moore went to Lake Street and watched nearly a decade of work collapse into the concrete.

"I'm hurt that I lost this. But ... I can't cry right now," she said. "I can't go home and cry and be hurt because I lost businesses. George Floyd lost his life. He'll never be here again."

She's confident she can recover but isn't sure if she can rebuild at the same location – in the heart of a diverse southside neighborhood. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help with those expenses. Other small businesses face similar uncertainty, but several fundraisers have been started to help support Minneapolis' smallest companies.

As looters ransacked his St. Paul store, he hid in the bathroom and whispered to 911

In St. Paul's Midway neighborhood, just blocks from where Moore's second Levels location was protected by armed men standing on its porch, one business owner said he hid in his office as people ransacked, urinated in and damaged the building.

Jim Segal closed Ax-Man Surplus earlier than normal Thursday afternoon because daylight looting took hold at the nearby intersection of University and Snelling avenues. After sending customers and employees home and locking the front door, Segal said he continued to work in the office of the 6-decade-old company. Then he heard multiple glass windows break.

"Luckily, I have a steel door because they were trying to enter the office," said Segal, who bought the surplus store about 20 years ago. "I don't think they knew anybody was in there, but I basically barricaded myself within a bathroom inside the office."

He felt as if he were in a movie, the St. Paul native said. As display cases were shattered and electronics taken from inside his store, he whispered to 911 dispatch asking for help.

"Police said, 'Don't even bother boarding up your store,'" Segal said Saturday. "'There's a 50/50 chance it won't be here tomorrow."

8 minutes, 46 seconds and 'inherently dangerous':What's in the criminal complaint in the George Floyd case

About 6:30 p.m. Thursday, he returned to the St. Paul Ax-Man location, one of three in the metro, in an unsuccessful effort to stop people running in and out of his store.

A company agreed to board up his windows, Segal said, but left quickly after arriving, not wanting to work among the crowd. He tried to get a license plate of someone stealing, but others tried to take his phone so he retreated to his car.

Segal sat in his vehicle for hours as rioters peed in his store and took items ranging from knickknacks and DVDs to a snowblower. He said coronavirus concerns forced him to close his business for the better part of two months. They'd been reopened a little more than a week when the building was ransacked.

"I don't recall ever being in a situation where I was that panicked. I was petrified, actually," he said. Ax-Man won't reopen for at least a week or two, and Segal fears it may close permanently because of the lack of sales during the spring. That would mean a loss of livelihood for him and about 10 employees.

Who are they? Officials blame 'out-of-state' agitators but those at the heart of protests are homegrown

He sympathizes with those upset about Floyd's death in police custody on Memorial Day, describing the video of Minneapolis police officers' actions "horrific."

"This is just stuff, no comparison (to a person dying)," said Segal, a white man. "But what I'm disappointed about is the lack of leadership in the government – Mayor (Melvin) Carter, Mayor (Jacob) Frey, Gov. (Tim) Walz – to just allow lawlessness.

"Indefensible what happened to Mr. Floyd, but this doesn't make it better. And I don't know what does."

Insurance helps small business owners, but a full recovery is 'a lot more complicated'

While Moore and Segal both said they are insured, they don't believe insurance alone will enough to replace everything they've lost. People typically see business owner and think "wealth," Segal said.

"That's not true for me," he said. "I'm the last one to get paid."

Understanding insurance policies can be difficult for many small business owners, said Allison Sharkey, executive director of the Lake Street Council, which supports local companies. Lake Street has always been an area for Minneapolis's immigrant entrepreneurs to start businesses, she said, and many of those folks may not be familiar with aid systems or insurance proceedings.

"There's a lot of detail to go through in your contract that most people don't really understand until a situation like this happens," Sharkey said. "It's a lot more complicated than just paying a $500 deductible and thinking the rest is going to be covered."

Minority business owners may not have the credit or assets to withstand closures as long as white business owners with more resources, she said. The council, and other metro business associations like it, try to fill that gap and provide guidance, but insurance claims won't stop some businesses from completely fading away.

Injured on the job:Journalists blinded, injured, arrested covering George Floyd protests nationwide

For Moore, she's frustrated when people bring up the fact she's insured because it ignores the work she put into the building and the items she won't get back.

"When you get it out the mud – meaning when you get it on your own, no handouts ... someone just handing you money doesn't equate," she said. "It's deeper than that."

Financial support is coming for Twin Cities small businesses left in rubble amid George Floyd protests

When Segal returned to his business Friday, he found a person who lived nearby sweeping glass from the sidewalk, which raised his spirits.

Monetary support has begun, too. It's especially vital, small business advocates say, because many companies were already running out of money because of closures due to COVID-19.

The Lake Street Council has received more than $1.5 million to help support the hundreds of businesses that line the heavily damaged area. Sharkey said companies owned by people of color and immigrants have been especially affected by the days of unrest. Several "big, beautiful" buildings on the southside have been replaced by rubble, which will be eventually replaced by vacant lots.

"($1.5 million) sounds like a big number, but we're gonna need a lot more government and nonprofit support," Sharkey said. "We have a long road ahead of us."

George Floyd protests:How did we get here?

She said her organization had already begun to save money to distribute to companies dealing with financial contractions from the coronavirus, but it has not been shifted to riot recovery. The council will request an aid package from the state, but Sharkey thinks they'll need federal dollars as well.

"We're headed toward a recession," she said. "We're really going to have to create a long-term strategy along with stakeholders, business owners, property owners business groups, elected officials."

Donations to that fund can be made here.

Fundraising has begun in Segal's area, as well. The Hamline Midway Coalition has received more than $75,000 to help aid small businesses in their recovery from property damage and lost sales.

Kate Mudge, the coalition's director, said the organization has been raising money to help small and minority business owners worried about gentrification and corporatization coming with the new U.S. soccer stadium built nearby.

"We already have been dealing with a pandemic, we've been dealing with some long-term issues in our community, and this is the icing on the cake. We hope that this is gonna bring new people to Midway, new businesses," she said. "We've dealt with worse."

Donations to the Midway fund can be made here.

Despite the uncertainty, the organizations are confident many businesses will survive if community support keeps up.

"I'm not blaming people, you can't judge anybody's pain or anger. Everyone acts and reacts to things in different ways," Moore said. "I have a black-owned business, it was burned down and we were protesting, for a black man's life that was taken. So, I was just a little confused on where we're going with this. But, at the end of the day, everything is about sacrifices."

Tyler Davis can be contacted at tjdavis@dmreg.com or on Twitter @TDavisDMR.

Fact check: Coke did not write 'Try to be less white' on its soda cans

The claim: Coke wrote 'Try to be less white' on its soda cans

A widely shared image of a Coca-Cola can with the words “Try to be less white” printed on its side is drawing online criticism. Several posts encouraged followers to boycott Coca-Cola products.

"I'm not buying anymore Coke products," claims a meme in a June 7 Facebook post.

This claim is the most recent accusation of anti-white bias on the part of the company. But this is not a real Coke can.

USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users that posted the image for comment.

Fact check: No, straightaways weren't required as airstrips in Eisenhower interstate system

Coke confirms can is inauthentic

Ann Moore, communications director for the Coca-Cola Co., confirmed in an email to USA TODAY that the can was not real.

“The mock Coca-Cola can appearing in some social media feeds was not created, distributed or authorized by The Coca-Cola Company,” she wrote.

Expert says the image is altered

A reverse image search for the picture in the posts does not yield any relevant results, but expert analysis suggests it was doctored.

Mark Scanlon, director of the Centre for Cybersecurity & Cybercrime Investigation at University College Dublin, told Reuters inconsistencies in the can’s lettering indicate it was likely digitally altered.

Snopes debunked other images of Coke cans altered to read “Try to be less white” in February.

Coke is subject of misinformation after being accused of anti-white bias

This most recent altered image comes after months of criticism and misinformation directed at Coca-Cola.

The controversy began in February when Newsweek reported Coca-Cola had told employees to “Try to be less white” in a company training course. Accusations of anti-white bias inspired an abundance of online misinformation.

Fact check:Georgia is not removing Coca-Cola products from state-owned buildings

Some viral memes falsely claimed Coke CEO James Quincey had insulted conservatives who boycotted the brand.

Over the last few months, USA TODAY has debunked several claims in this vein, including the false claim that Coca-Cola refused to hire white executives.

Our rating: Altered

We rate the claim that an image shows Coca-Cola wrote "Try to be less white" on its soda cans ALTERED, based on our research. A spokesperson for the company confirmed it has not produced or authorized any cans with that phrase. An expert has suggested the image is likely altered. This image is the latest in a string of misinformation about Coke's perceived anti-white bias.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

Man reported income of $18,497; IRS sent him a $980,000 refund ...

Darla Mercado

CNBC

There are big tax refunds, and then there are $980,000 tax refunds.

Ramon Christopher Blanchett, of Tampa, Florida, and self-described freelancer, managed to scoop up a $980,000 tax refund after submitting his self-prepared 2016 tax return.

He also allegedly claimed that he earned a total of $18,497 in wages — and that he had withheld $1 million in income taxes, according to a Jan. 18 forfeiture complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

In reality, Blanchett received $2,098 in wages from one employer and $1,399 from another employer, according to the complaint.

He withheld no federal income taxes from either, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in the filing.

The story was initially reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

Blanchett could not be reached by CNBC for comment. His contact information was not immediately available, and no attorney was listed for him in the U.S. Attorney's complaint.

Though the massive refund check made it out the door at the IRS, the taxman is taking steps to get the money back.

More:Intimidated by taxes? These online tools can help you navigate your federal returns

Taxes 2019:10 common filing mistakes to avoid this year

Thus far, Uncle Sam has managed to seize $919,251 from three bank accounts and a 2016 silver Lexus RC registered in Blanchett's name.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is now fighting over $809.94 — the amount of money refunded to Blanchett when he cancelled the insurance coverage on the Lexus, according to the complaint.

Here's how a case like this one might slip through the cracks.

Fraud prevention

While the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit managed to identify $9.69 billion in tax fraud in 2018, and it initiated 1,714 investigations around tax crimes, sometimes phony returns slip through.

"We have filters to try to detect fraudulent refunds and claims, but there are the ones that get through and get paid," said Eric Smith, a spokesman for the IRS.

The IRS can head off phony tax returns by matching them to the information returns businesses send the tax agency to show that they've paid someone, said Leandra Lederman, a tax law professor at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law.

The agency's fraud detection systems were able to protect $7.6 billion in revenue between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30 last year, but they delayed the processing of nearly $20 billion in legitimate refunds, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service's 2018 annual report to Congress.

"There's pressure on the IRS to get refunds out to people quickly," Lederman said.

There's an additional set of checks and balances in place for very large tax refunds.

That kicks in at a high threshold: The Joint Committee on Taxation is supposed to review tax refunds that exceed $2 million (or $5 million if the taxpayer is a C-corporation).

Revamping systems

Additional funding for the IRS — particularly an investment in its computer systems — could help the agency better sniff out suspicious returns, tax experts said.

Feb. 14:Tax refunds are smaller by an average of $186 after second week of filing season

Feb. 12:Government shutdown stymied frozen tax refunds, tied up IRS phone lines, report shows

In fact, the Taxpayer Advocate Service's top recommendation in its 2018 report was for Congress to increase IRS resources so that the agency can replace its IT systems.

The agency received $11.43 billion in funding last year, of which $110 million went toward its tech upgrades via its Business Systems Modernization Account.

"It comes down to how the system was functioning and whether it was properly staffed," said Mark W. Everson, former IRS commissioner from 2003 until 2007 and vice chairman of Alliantgroup, a tax consultancy.

"Resource constraints affect that almost inevitably," he said.

© CNBC is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.