Strangers in St. George, South Carolina, rallied to help an unhoused man and his dog during a rare winter storm in late January, while a Minnesota woman was sentenced to prison for SNAP fraud, and the family of "Today" host Savannah Guthrie faces a kidnapping ordeal. These events, along with warnings about nature loss impacting businesses and concerns over a potential oil grab in Venezuela, highlight a range of issues making headlines.
In St. George, South Carolina, Carlos Canales encountered Chris Brannon and his dog, Mowgli, struggling in the cold during a late January storm. Canales, witnessing Brannon shivering, gave him all the cash he had. As the temperature plummeted, Canales, according to CBS News, "saw the icicles on his beard." He provided hot food and, inspired by his wife's encouragement, continued to assist Brannon.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Latasha Thomas, 39, was sentenced to a year in prison for defrauding the federal government of over $325,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced that Thomas was convicted on one count of mail fraud and would be required to pay restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture, as reported by Fox News. Thomas conspired with her daughter, Ambrosia Thomas, in the scheme.
The family of "Today" host Savannah Guthrie is grappling with the abduction of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing on February 1st. According to ABC News, the family is facing a ransom demand for bitcoin and a Monday deadline. In a video message, Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, pledged to pay the ransom, stating, "We beg you now to return our mother to us so we can celebrate with her."
In other news, a new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (Ipbes) warns that businesses risk extinction if they fail to protect and restore the natural world. The BBC Business reported that the assessment, based on contributions from leading scientists and approved by 150 governments, highlights the urgent need for companies to shift from harmful practices to those that benefit nature.
Finally, the NY Times reported on concerns that President Trump's plan for Venezuela's oil industry could revive memories of colonial exploitation and violate international law. Critics of the plan, which involves a potential "oil grab," echo the global outcry of "No blood for oil!" from the Iraq war era.
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