Bring That Week Back: Dec. 29
FEMA wants its money back, George Wright is safe, and more.
1 / 9
FEMA Ask Hurricane Victims to Return Relief Money - The Federal Emergency Management Agency this week announced that it is seeking to recover more than $385 million — about $4,622 per recipient per recipient — it says was mistakenly paid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Congressional testimony revealed FEMA workers made clerical errors and failed to properly interview applicants wanting to receive financial aid.—Britt Middleton(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
2 / 9
Money Woes Force Closure of Bishop Eddie Long’s School - After 18 years of operation, Bishop Eddie’s Long’s New Birth Christian Academy told parents on Dec.22 that it would shutter its doors indefinitely due to funding constraints, leaving hundreds of students without a school in the middle of the academic year. The news is the latest scandal to rock the embattled pastor, who this year fended off claims of sexual abuse, fraud and, most recently, learned that his wife of 20 years had filed for divorce. (Photo: AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File)
3 / 9
U.S. Fugitive George Wright Safe From Extradition - The Portuguese lawyer of U.S. fugitive George Wright said on Dec. 22 that the country’s Supreme Court blocked the most recent appeal by the U.S. to extradite the convicted killer, based on an earlier appeal that Wright had obtained citizenship in the country. Wright was nabbed by U.S. agents in September after being on the run for 41 years; he faces the remainder of a 15 to 30-year prison sentence stemming from a 1962 murder of a New Jersey man.(Photo: AP Photo/Armando Franca, file)
4 / 9
Police Suspect Jahessye Shockley Was Murdered - On Dec. 21, Arizona police revealed that Jahessye Shockley, the five-year-old who has been missing since Oct. 11, had likely been killed and her body dumped in a trash can before her mother reported her missing. Authorities say the child’s mother, Jerice Hunter, is still the “No. 1 focus” in the little girl’s disappearance. They believe the child’s body may be in a landfill south of Phoenix(Photo: AP Photo)
5 / 9
Bank of America to Pay $335 Million Settlement Over Discriminatory Loans - Bank of America settled a $335 million dollar suit with the Justice Department on Dec. 21 after the bank allegedly hiked up fees and interest rates for qualified African-American and Latino borrowers between 2004 and 2008.(Photo: Sacramento Bee/MCT /Landov)
Photo By Sacramento Bee/MCT/Landov
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 9
Rep. Frederica Wilson Introduces Anti-Hazing Legislation - In the wake of the hazing death of FAMU's Robert Champion, Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson announced on Dec. 27 that she has been working with the HBCU community and plans to introduce a federal anti-hazing bill when Congress reconvenes in January that would help end hazing on college campuses.(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
7 / 9
Murder Rates Drop Across the Country - As the year comes to a close, homicide statistics continue to be released and some cities are hitting record lows. City leaders credit the decline on fewer repeat violent offenders and increased community engagement.(Photo: Glen Argov/Landov)
8 / 9
Agreement Reached on Payroll Tax Cuts - Holding firm in his insistence that Congress extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits into the new year, President Obama finally induced House Republicans on Dec. 22 to back the plan, at least temporarily.(Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
