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Crunching the numbers

• Since March, the Trump administration has awarded at least $1.8 billion to 345 first-time federal contractors, a ProPublica analysis found. Some of the companies, which are tasked with maintaining the medical supply chain, formed just days or weeks before scoring their contracts and lack experience acquiring medical products. Roughly half of the first-time contractors also didn’t have to participate in a competitive bidding process usually required to obtain federal contracts.
• Facebook paid $6.5 million to air a TV ad about a Facebook group called “Cheers For The Frontline!” None of the posts in the ad actually came from the group, NBC News reported.
• One third of Americans have symptoms of anxiety, depression or both, according to data from the Census Bureau.

Eye on local news

• From the San Antonio Express-News: Gregorio Palomino’s company, CRE8AD8 or “create a date,” received $39 million from the US Department of Agriculture to buy millions of pounds of food and deliver it to food banks in seven states. The contract, which was awarded to CRE8AD8 over more established companies, was meant to make use of surplus food and help families during the pandemic. An Express-News investigation discovered that claims made by the company about its credentials, including its previous clients, didn’t check out.
• The Denver Post examined inequality in Colorado, which is being exacerbated by the pandemic. Low-wage earners are more vulnerable to layoffs and more likely to have to report to work in person. For instance, a JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley had an outbreak of 264 cases that forced a two-week shutdown. At a King Soopers grocery store in Denver, where 11 workers tested positive for covid-19, about 30 percent of customers don’t wear face masks, an employee said.
• From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: The Tarrant County Jail temporarily lost its state certification due to an inmate’s death.

New on Big If True

This new episode of Hard Reset looks at our recent two-part series on civil courts, legal aid and covid-19. Check out more episodes here or on Apple Podcasts.

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Send me feedback, questions and tips: bryant@bigiftrue.org and 405-990-0988.
 
– Mollie Bryant